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Welcome to the We Love the Eighties Community

This community is dedicated to the music, movies, television, games, radio, and pop culture that defined the 1980s. It is a place for people who lived the decade, as well as those who appreciate what made it unforgettable. Members use this forum to check in during live radio blocks, share weekly listening memories, and talk about what the music, shows, and moments of the 80s bring back for them. Guests are welcome to browse selected discussions, while full participation requires registration. If you would like to understand the intent behind this community and how it is curated, you can read more here: About This Community. Explore current conversations, share your memories, and take part in a community built around real 80s experiences.

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  1. On This Day August 11 1982 – Bombing on Pan Am Flight 830 Killed One and Injured Fifteen

    On This Day August 11 1982 – Bombing on Pan Am Flight 830 Killed One and Injured Fifteen

    On this day August 11 1982, tragedy struck Pan Am Flight 830 when a bomb exploded mid flight during its journey from Tokyo to Honolulu. The explosion occurred over the Pacific Ocean and killed one passenger while injuring fifteen others. The device had been placed under a seat and detonated...
  2. On This Day August 5 1981 – President Ronald Reagan Fired Over Eleven Thousand Air Traffic Control Workers

    On This Day August 5 1981 – President Ronald Reagan Fired Over Eleven Thousand Air Traffic Control Workers

    On this day August 5 1981, President Ronald Reagan fired 11,359 air traffic control workers after they defied his order to end a nationwide strike and return to work. The strike was led by the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization, which was seeking better pay, shorter workweeks, and...
    • Pete
    • News story
    • 1981 events 80s news air traffic controllers labor strike ronald reagan
    • Category: On This Day in 80s News
  3. On This Day August 2 1985 – Delta Air Lines Flight 191 Crashed Near Dallas Fort Worth

    On This Day August 2 1985 – Delta Air Lines Flight 191 Crashed Near Dallas Fort Worth

    On this day August 2 1985, Delta Air Lines Flight 191 crashed while attempting to land at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport during a severe thunderstorm, resulting in the tragic loss of 137 lives. The Lockheed L 1011 TriStar encountered a powerful weather phenomenon known as a microburst...
    • Pete
    • News story
    • 1985 events 80s news airline disasters aviation history delta flight 191
    • Category: On This Day in 80s News
  4. On This Day July 20, 1982 – The Hyde Park and Regent Park Bombings Occurred in London

    On This Day July 20, 1982 – The Hyde Park and Regent Park Bombings Occurred in London

    On this day July 20, 1982, two deadly bombings carried out by the Irish Republican Army shook central London. The attacks took place in Hyde Park and Regent Park and targeted British military personnel during ceremonial duties. The first bomb exploded in Hyde Park as the Household Cavalry passed...
    • Pete
    • News story
    • 1982 events 80s news hyde park bombing ira attacks london history regent park bombing
    • Category: On This Day in 80s News
  5. On This Day: July 18, 1984 – McDonalds Massacre in San Ysidro California

    On This Day: July 18, 1984 – McDonalds Massacre in San Ysidro California

    On this day July 18, 1984, tragedy struck the quiet community of San Ysidro, California when a heavily armed man opened fire inside a local McDonalds restaurant. The attack resulted in the deaths of 21 people and left 19 others injured, marking it as one of the deadliest mass shootings in United...
    • Pete
    • News story
    • 1984 shooting 80s news california news mass violence mcdonalds massacre san ysidro tragedy
    • Category: On This Day in 80s News
  6. On This Day: July 17, 1981 – Hyatt Regency Walkway Collapse in Kansas City

    On This Day: July 17, 1981 – Hyatt Regency Walkway Collapse in Kansas City

    On this day July 17, 1981, a catastrophic structural failure occurred at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Kansas City, Missouri, when two suspended walkways collapsed during a crowded tea dance in the hotel’s atrium. The disaster killed 114 people and injured more than 200 others, making it one of the...
    • Pete
    • News story
    • 1981 tragedy 80s news engineering ethics hyatt regency disaster kansas city history structural failure
    • Category: On This Day in 80s News
  7. On This Day: July 17, 1989 – The B2 Spirit Stealth Bomber Took Its First Flight

    On This Day: July 17, 1989 – The B2 Spirit Stealth Bomber Took Its First Flight

    On this day July 17, 1989, the B2 Spirit stealth bomber made its maiden flight at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Developed by Northrop for the United States Air Force, the B2 represented a major leap in aviation technology, combining radar evasion, long range capability, and heavy payload...
    • Pete
    • News story
    • 1989 aviation 80s news b2 spirit cold war technology military history stealth bomber
    • Category: On This Day in 80s News
  8. On This Day: July 17, 1989 – Splash Mountain Opened at Disneyland

    On This Day: July 17, 1989 – Splash Mountain Opened at Disneyland

    On this day July 17, 1989, Splash Mountain officially opened to the public at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. The log flume style attraction became an instant favorite with guests, blending classic Disney storytelling, innovative ride technology, and one of the most thrilling drops in theme...
    • Pete
    • News story
    • 1989 attractions 80s news disney parks disneyland history splash mountain theme park rides
    • Category: On This Day in 80s News
  9. July 5, 1982 - America This Morning Debuts on ABC

    July 5, 1982 - America This Morning Debuts on ABC

    On this day July 5, 1982, America This Morning premiered on ABC as an early morning news program designed to deliver national headlines, weather, and overnight developments to viewers before the traditional morning shows began. Originally created as a short broadcast for early risers and...
  10. On This Day: June 30, 1981 - Jerry Lee Lewis Rushed to Hospital in Memphis

    On This Day: June 30, 1981 - Jerry Lee Lewis Rushed to Hospital in Memphis

    On this day June 30, 1981, rock and roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis was rushed to a hospital in Memphis after suffering a severe tear in his stomach. The situation was critical, and doctors initially gave him less than a 50 percent chance to survive. The news shocked fans across the country, as the...
  11. On This Day: June 30, 1981 - Grant Tinker Becomes President of NBC

    On This Day: June 30, 1981 - Grant Tinker Becomes President of NBC

    On this day June 30, 1981, Grant Tinker officially replaced Fred Silverman as president of NBC, stepping into one of the most powerful roles in American television. At the time, NBC was struggling in the ratings behind ABC and CBS, and Tinker was brought in to turn the network’s fortunes around...
  12. On This Day: June 30, 1987 - Iran Contra Hearings Interrupt American Television

    On This Day: June 30, 1987 - Iran Contra Hearings Interrupt American Television

    On this day June 30, 1987, televisions across the United States were interrupted as the Iran Contra affair hearings were broadcast live to the public. Millions of Americans tuned in to witness the high-stakes investigation unfold in real time as top officials from the Reagan administration were...
  13. On This Day: June 30, 1986 - US Supreme Court Upholds State Bans on Homosexual Acts

    On This Day: June 30, 1986 - US Supreme Court Upholds State Bans on Homosexual Acts

    On this day June 30, 1986, the United States Supreme Court issued a landmark decision in the case of Bowers v. Hardwick, ruling that states had the legal right to outlaw homosexual acts between consenting adults. The 5 to 4 decision upheld a Georgia law that criminalized private, consensual...
  14. On This Day: June 30, 1985 - American Hostages Freed After TWA Flight 847 Hijacking

    On This Day: June 30, 1985 - American Hostages Freed After TWA Flight 847 Hijacking

    On this day June 30, 1985, the 39 American hostages who had been held captive aboard TWA Flight 847 were freed in Beirut after 17 tense days. The plane had originally been scheduled to travel from Cairo, Egypt to San Diego, California, with stops along the way. During the flight, it was hijacked...
  15. On This Day: June 29 1987 - Van Gogh Painting Sells for 20.4 Million Dollars at Auction

    On This Day: June 29 1987 - Van Gogh Painting Sells for 20.4 Million Dollars at Auction

    On this day June 29 1987, Vincent van Gogh’s painting Le Pont de Trinquetaille was sold at auction in London for 20.4 million dollars. The sale set a new record for one of his works at the time and highlighted the 1980s surge in interest and investment in fine art. Painted in 1888 during his...
  16. On This Day: June 27 1988 - Gare de Lyon Rail Accident Kills 56 in Paris

    On This Day: June 27 1988 - Gare de Lyon Rail Accident Kills 56 in Paris

    On this day June 27 1988, a deadly train collision occurred at the Gare de Lyon railway station in Paris, France. A packed commuter train crashed into a stationary train, killing 56 people and injuring more than 60 others. It remains one of the worst rail disasters in French history. The...
  17. June 27 1980 - Itavia Flight 870 Crashed Killing All 81 People on Board

    June 27 1980 - Itavia Flight 870 Crashed Killing All 81 People on Board

    On this day June 27 1980, Itavia Flight 870 crashed into the Tyrrhenian Sea while en route from Bologna to Palermo, Italy. All 81 passengers and crew on board were killed. The incident, widely referred to as the Ustica Massacre, remains one of Italy's most controversial aviation disasters. Over...
  18. On This Day: June 27 1982 - Space Shuttle Columbia Launches STS 4 Mission

    On This Day: June 27 1982 - Space Shuttle Columbia Launches STS 4 Mission

    On this day June 27 1982, NASA launched the Space Shuttle Columbia on its fourth mission, officially designated STS 4. This marked the final test flight of the shuttle program before transitioning to full operational status. Astronauts Thomas Mattingly and Henry Hartsfield piloted the mission...
  19. On This Day: June 27 1988 - Motown Records Sold to MCA for 61 Million Dollars

    On This Day: June 27 1988 - Motown Records Sold to MCA for 61 Million Dollars

    On this day June 27 1988, Motown Records, the iconic label that launched the careers of artists like Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, and The Jackson 5, was sold to MCA Records for 61 million dollars. The sale marked the end of an era, as Motown transitioned from an independent Black...
  20. On This Day: June 21, 1989 - U.S. Supreme Court Rules Flag Burning Is Protected Speech

    On This Day: June 21, 1989 - U.S. Supreme Court Rules Flag Burning Is Protected Speech

    On this day June 21, 1989, the United States Supreme Court ruled in the landmark case Texas v. Johnson that burning the American flag is a form of political protest protected under the First Amendment. The decision came after Gregory Lee Johnson was convicted for burning a flag during a protest...
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