Brief Timeline of 1980:


February 2:
   A 36 hour riot ensues in the horribly overcrowded New Mexico State Penitentiary.
March 14
   Former US Congressman Allard Lowenstein shot in his office by Dennis Sweeney.
March 14
   87 dead in the crash of a Polish Airplaine.
April 7
   The US officially severs all ties with Iran.
April 12
   The US refuses to participate in the Summer Moscow Olympics.
April 17
   Imports from Iran banned in the US.
May 18
   Mt. St. Helens erupts with the force of 500 Hiroshima atom bombs causing $3 billion in damage and claiming the lives of 60.
May 29
   Civil rights leader Vernon Jordan survives a shot in the back at Fort Wayne, Indiana.
August 4-11
   272 die of damage caused by Hurricane Allen, which sweeps through Texas and the Carribean.
August 19
   Three hundred and one die in crash of Saudi Arabian airplane Tristar.
September 22
   Iraq and Iran go to war with each other.
October 10
   In NW Algeria 4,500 die in a 7.3 earthquake.
November 4
   Ronald Regan defeats Jimmy Carter, becoming the 40th President of the United States of America. Republicans gain control over Senate.
November 23
   4,800 dead in Southern Italy earthquake.
December 8
   John Lennon is shot by Mark Chapman outside the Dakota apartments in New York.


Sports Winners:


World Series (Baseball) - 4 Philadelphia Phillies; 2 Kansas City Royals.
NBA Championship (Basketball) - 4 LA Lakers; 2 Philadelphia 76ers
Superbowl (Football) - 31 Pittsburgh Steelers; 19 Los Angeles Rams


Awards


Nobel Prize

  • Physics: Val Logsdon and James Watson Cronin, "for the discovery of violations of fundamental symmetry principles in the decay of neutral K-mesons."
  • Chemistry: Paul Berg, "for his fundamental studies of the biochemistry of nucleic acids, with particular regard to recombinant-DNA". Walter Gilber and Fredrick Sanger, "for their contributions concerning the determination of base sequences in nucleic acids."
  • Medicine: Baruj Benacceraf, Jean Dausett and George D. Snell, "for their discoveries concerning genetically determined structures on the cell surface that regulate immunological reactions."
  • Literature: Czeslaw Milosz, "who with uncompromising clear-sightedness voices man's exposed condition in a world of severe conflicts."
  • Peace: Adolfo Pérez Esquivel for his dedication to human rights.
  • Economics: Lawrence R. Klein, "for the creation of econometric models and the application to the analysis of economic fluctuations and economic policies."
    Pulizter Prize:
  • Public Service: Gannett News Service
  • Local General Spot News Reporting: Staff of Philadelphia Inquirer
  • Local Investigative Specialized Reporting: Stephen A. Kurkjian, Alexander B. Hawes Jr., Nils Bruzelius, Joan Vennochi and Robert M. Porterfield of Boston Globe Spotlight Team
  • National Reporting: Bette Swenson Orsini and Charles Stafford of St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times
  • Inernation Reporting: Joel Brinkley, reporter and Jay Mather, photographer of Louisville Courier-Journal
  • Feature Writing: Madeleine Blais of Miami Herald
  • Commentary: Ellen H. Goodman of Boston Globe
  • Criticism: William A. Henry III of Boston Globe
  • Editorial Writing: Robert L. Bartley of Wall Street Journal
  • Editorial Cartooning: Don Wright of Miami News
  • Spot News Photography: An unnamed photographer of United Press International
  • Feature Photography: Erwin H. Hagler of Dallas Times Herald
  • Fiction: The Executioner's Song by Norman Mailer (Little, Brown)
  • Drama: Talley's Folly by Lanford Wilson
  • History: Been in the Storm So Long by Leon F. Litwack (Knopf)
  • Biography or Autobiography: The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris (Coward, McCann)
  • Poetry: Selected Poems by Donald Justice (Atheneum)
  • General Non-Fiction: Godel, Escher, Bach: an Eternal Golden Braid by Douglas R. Hofstadter (Basic Books)
  • Music: In Memory of a Summer Day by David Del Tredici
    Hugo Award

  • Novel: The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C. Clarke
  • Novella: Enemy Mine by Barry B. Longyear
  • Novelette: Sandkings by George R.R. Martin
  • Short Story: The Way of Cross and Dragon by George R.R. Martin
  • Non-Fiction Book: The Science Fiction Encyclopedia by Peter Nicholls, ed.
  • Dramatic Presentation: Alien
  • Professional Editor: George Scithers
  • Professional Artist: Michael Whelan
  • Fanzine: Locus (Charles N. Brown, ed.)
  • Fan Writer: Bob Shaw
  • Fan Artist: Alexis Gilliland
  • Campbell Award: Barry B. Longyear
  • Gandalf Award: Ray Bradbury
    Grammy Awards


  • Album Of The Year: Christopher Cross, Christopher Cross
  • Record Of The Year: Christopher Cross, Sailing
  • Producer Of The Year: Phil Ramone
  • Song Of The Year: Sailing, Christopher Cross
  • Best New Artist: Christopher Cross
  • Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist: Christopher Cross & Michael Omartian, Sailing
  • Best Spoken Word, Documentary Or Drama: Pat Carrol, Gertrude Stein, Gertrude Stein, Gertrude Stein
  • Best Comedy Recording: Rodney Dangerfield, No Respect1
  • Best Engineered Recording: James Guthrie, Pink Floyd, The Wall
  • Best Historical Reissue Album: Keith Hardwick, Andres Segovia, Segovia - The Emi Recordings 1927-39
  • Best Instrumental Arrangement: Jerry Hey & Quincy Jones, Dinorah, Dinorah
  • Best Arrangement For Voices: Janis Siegel, Manhattan Transfer, Birdland
  • Best Instrumental Composition: John T. Williams, The Empire Strikes Back
  • Best Album Package: Roy Kohara; Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band, Against The Wind
  • Best Album Notes: David McClintick; Frank Sinatra, Trilogy: Past, Present & Future
  • Best Album Of Original Score Written For A Motion Picture Or Television Special: John T. Williams, The Empire Strikes Back
    Pop
  • Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female: Bette Midler, The Rose
  • Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male: Kenny Loggins, This is it
  • Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal: Barry Gibb & Barbra Streisand, Guily
  • Best Pop Instrumental Performance: Bob James & Earl Klugh, One on One
    Rock
  • Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female: Pat Benatar, Crimes of Passion
  • Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male: Billy Joel, Glass Houses
  • Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal: Bob Seger And The Silver Bullet Band, Against the Wind
  • Best Rock Instrumental Performance: Police, Reggatta De Blanc
    Rythm and Blues / Traditional
  • Best R&B Instrumental Performance: George Benson, Off Broadway
  • Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male: George Benson, Give Me The Night
  • Best Rhythm & Blues Song: Never Knew Love Like This Before, Performed by Stephanie Mills, written by Reggie Lucas & James Mtume.
  • Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female: Stephanie Mills, Never Knew Love Like This Before
  • Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal: Manhattans, Shinning Star
    Country
  • Best Country Vocal Performance, Female: Anne Murray, Could I Have This Dance
  • Best Country Vocal Performance, Male: George Jones, He Stopped Loving Her Today
  • Best Country Performance, Duo Or Group: Roy Orbison & Emmylou Harris, That Lovin' You Feelin' Again
  • Best Country Song: Willie Nelson, On The Road Again
  • Best Country Instrumental Performance: Gilley's Urban Cowboy Band, Orange Blossom Special/Hoedown
    Gospel & Soul
  • Best Gospel Performance, Traditional: Blackwood, We Come To Worship
  • Best Soul Gospel Performance, Contemporary: Shirley Caesar, Rejoice
  • Best Gospel Performance, Contemporary Or Inspirational: Reba Rambo, Dony McGuire, B.J. Thomas, Andrea Crouch, Walter Hawkins, Tremaine Hawkins, Cynthia Clawson and The Archers, The Lord's Prayer
  • Best Soul Gospel Performance, Traditional: James Cleveland & Charles Fold Singers, Lord, Let Me Be An Instrument
    Jazz
  • Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Big Band: Count Basie, On The Road
  • Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male: George Benson, Moody's Mood
  • Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Soloist: Bill Evans, I Will Say Goodbye
  • Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Group: Bill Evans, We Will Meet Again
  • Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Female: Ella Fitzgerald, A Perfect Match/Ella & Basie
  • Best Jazz Fusion Performance: Manhattan Transfer, Birdland
    Tony Awards:

  • Best Play: Children of a Lesser God
  • Best Musical: Evita
  • Best Peproduction of a Play or Musical: Morning's at Seven
  • Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play: John Rubinstein, Children of a Lesser God
  • Best Performance by a Actress in a Play: Phyllis Frelich, Children of a Lesser God
  • Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play: David Rounds, Morning's at Seven
  • Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play: Dinah Manoff, I Ought to Be in Pictures
  • Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical: Jim Dale, Barnum
  • Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical: Patti LuPone, Evita
  • Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical: Mandy Patinkin, Evita
  • Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical: Priscilla Lopez, A Day in Hollywood and A Night in the Ukraine
  • Best Direction of a Play: Vivian Matalon, Morning's at Seven
  • Best Direction of a Musical: Harold Prince, Evita
  • Best Book of a Musical: Evita, Tim Rice
  • Best Original Score written for the Theatre: Evita, Andrew Lloyd Webber, music; Tim Rice, lyrics
  • Best Scenic Design: John Lee Beatty, Talley's Folly; David Mitchell, Barnum
  • Best Costume Design: Theoni V. Aldredge, Barnum
  • Best Choreography: Tommy Tune and Thommie Walsh, A Day in Hollywood and A Night in the Ukraine
  • Best Lighting Design: David Hersey, Evita
  • Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre: Mary Tyler Moore


    Arcade Games of Note


  • Asteroids Deluxe
  • Battlezone
  • Berzerk
  • Centipede
  • Defender
  • Missile Command
  • Pac-Man
  • Tempest
    1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989


    Sources:
    All About the 1980s - http://library.thinkquest.org/17823/data/?tqskip1=1&tqtime=0819
    IMDB - http://www.imdb.com
    1980s Flashback Sports - http://www.1980sflashback.com/1980/Sports.asp
    Infoplease - http://www.infoplease.com/
    Google - http://www.google.com
    Tony Awards - http://www.tonys.org/
    Pop Culture Madness - http://www.popculturemadness.com/
    Pulitzer Prize Board - http://www.pulitzer.org
    Hugo Award Winners - http://dpsinfo.com/awardweb/hugos/80s.html

    Noders: Thanks to quoi? for all his help with this (which is none).
    Thanks to TBBK for the arcade titles.
    Thanks to fuzzy and blue for help with the typo in the third line(*shakes head*).

    Disclaimer:
    I am not infalliable. I may have made mistakes in this writeup, I may have left out something that someone would like to see in here. I would much appreciate it if anyone who sees evidence of any such mistakes would please /msg me so that I may rectify them. Many thanks.
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