NAME THAT YEAR

(1979)

• The U.S. returns the Canal Zone to Panama after 75 years, but not the canal.
• Pope John Paul II, on a week-long U.S. tour, becomes the first pontiff to visit the White House.
• Steve Martin hosts the first "Saturday Night Live" without John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd.
• The John F. Kennedy Library is dedicated in Boston.
• Cher appears on the cover of People magazine.

(1957)

• The U.S. conducts the first underground nuclear tests in the Nevada desert.
• President Eisenhower signs into law the first Civil Rights bill since Reconstruction.
• On TV, John Forsythe debuts in "Bachelor Father," and the Duke, John Wayne's pal, Ward Bond stars in "Wagon Train."
• Buddy Holly and the Crickets put their very first #1 million seller on the top of the charts with "That'll Be The Day."

(1983)

• The last hand-cranked telephones in the U.S. go out of service as 440 telephone customers in Bryant Pond, Maine, switch to direct-dial service.
• President Reagan names William P. Clark to succeed James G. Watt as Interior Secretary.
• The EPA issues a report warning of the "Greenhouse Effect."
• Japanese astronomers release photographic proof of two rings around the sun.
• "Total Eclipse Of The Heart" by Bonnie Tyler is certified gold.

(1965)

• For the first time ever, NBC-TV's "Today" show is all in color!
• In Hollywood, actress Dorothy Dandridge dies at only 41.
• Two NBC primetime hits debut, "The Dean Martin Show," and "Get Smart."
• The LA Dodgers' Sandy Koufax throws his fourth no-hitter, a perfect game against the Chicago Cubs.
• At the top of the charts, the Beatles were big, but Sonny & Cher were even bigger with "I Got You Babe."

(1986)

• Former President Jimmy Carter's presidential library and museum is dedicated in Atlanta.
• The Senate joins the House in voting to override President Reagan's veto of stiff economic sanctions against South Africa.
• President Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev open two days of talks concerning arms control and human rights in Reykjavik, Iceland.
• The plate-spinning record atop rods is set at 84 at once.
• Reba McEntire is named CMA Entertainer of the Year.

(1971)

• Near Buffalo, New York, prisoners riot, and seize control of the maximum-security Attica Prison. Eventually 34 prisoners and 11 employees would lose their lives.
• Dick Cavett breaks tradition on his talk show. Instead of several guests, that night, just two... John Lennon & Yoko Ono.
• Former Soviet Leader Nikita Khrushchev dies of a heart attack at age 77.
• The animated series "The Jackson Five" debuts on ABC-TV Saturday morning.
• After 1767 National Hockey League games, Gordie Howe calls it a career.
• Detroit's Undisputed Truth had a top 5 hit with "Smiling Faces."

(1988)

• Discovery completes its 4-day mission, the first American shuttle flight since the Challenger explosion.
• Republican Dan Quayle and Democrat Lloyd Bentsen clash in the only vice-presidential debate of the 1988 campaign.
• Vice President George Bush and Democrat Michael Dukakis meet in their second presidential debate.
• "Desire" by U2 enters the U.S. top 40 chart.

(1970)

• Elvis Presley resumes concert touring for the first time in nine years.
• In Atlantic City, New Jersey, Miss America is 21-year-old Miss Texas Phyliss Ann George.
• 28-year-old Jimi Hendrix dies of a drug overdose in his London Apartment.
• On TV, it's the first ever "Mary Tyler Moore Show" and the first "Monday Night Football" with the Browns over the Jets.
• The original "Duke of Earl," Gene Chandler went eight years between his only two million sellers, his first hit and his last, "Groovy Situation."

(1991)

• Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton enters the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.
• American hostage Jesse Turner is freed by his kidnappers in Lebanon after nearly five years of captivity.
• Former California Governor Jerry Brown announces his presidential candidacy.
• "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry dies at age 70.

(1956)

• Mickey Mantle homered for the 50th time, and the Yankees clinched their 22nd American League Pennant.
• Elvis Presley makes his first of many appearances on the cover of TV Guide, and the first of three Ed Sullivan Show appearances.
• The first transatlantic telephone cable goes into operation.
• "Wayward Wind" by Gogi Grant tops the U.S. top 40 chart.

(1959)

• The show business world loses two popular stars, movie's Errol Flynn, and music's Mario Lanza with a heart attack at only 38.
• At age 22, Bobby Darin becomes the youngest headliner to headline the Copa Showroom at Las Vegas's Sands Hotel.
• On TV, it's the premiere of Robert Stack as Elliott Ness in "The Untouchables," and Rod Serling's classic, "The Twilight Zone."
• The Coasters have a top ten hit with "Poison Ivy."

(1981)

• Buckingham Palace announces that Princess Diana is expecting her first child. (Prince William is born the following June.)
• First lady Nancy Reagan embarks on her anti-drug campaign.
• President Reagan met at the White House with Jordan's King Hussein, who endorsed a Saudi Arabian peace plan for the Middle East.
• Hall & Oates' "Private Eyes" album is certified gold.

(1955)

• Actor James Dean loses life in California car crash.
• Bill Haley and the Comets play Lubbock Texas, and hire local guy Buddy Holly to open. He'd do the same days later for Elvis.
• October television featured our first look at Mouseketeers like Annette Funicello on the "Mickey Mouse Club," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," and Bob Keesham as "Captain Kangaroo."
• Chuck Berry had his very first hit with "Maybelline."

(1998)

• U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich resigns.
• President Clinton agrees to pay Paula Jones $850,000, without an apology or admission of guilt.
• Wrestler Hulk Hogan says he's retiring from pro wrestling and will run for president in 2000.
• Natalie Imbruglia's album "Left Of The Middle" goes double platinum, while 'N Sync's self-titled CD goes triple platinum.
• The Spice Girls' album "Spice" is certified platinum for the seventh time.

(1969)

• Little did they know just how big it would become as Bank Of America dedicated their new world headquarters in San Francisco at 555 California Street. Across town in San Francisco, the Fillmore West opened.
• On television, the premiere of "Love American Style" and "The Brady Bunch."
• The Beatles' "Abbey Road" is released, the last album they'd record together.
• Lou Christie tops the chart with "I'm Gonna Make You Mine."

(1990)

• President Bush orders a new round of troop deployments in the Persian Gulf, adding up to 150,000 soldiers to the multinational force facing off against Iraq.
• After 11 years in office, Margaret Thatcher resigns as Prime Minister of Great Britain.
• Pop duo Milli Vanilli are stripped of their Grammy Award because other singers had lent their voice to the "Girl You Know Its True" album. It's the first time a Grammy had ever been taken back.
• "Disappear" by INXS enters the U.S. top 40 chart.

(1960)

• On CBS-TV the first "Andy Griffith Show," and the last "Howdy Doody Show," where Clarabelle the Clown finally talked. He said, "Goodbye Kids."
• The first nuclear sub, the USS Enterprise leaves Newport News, VA.
• San Francisco's White House Department store becomes the first to accept charge cards instead of cash, the former Bankamericard... now Visa.
• The first of four televised Presidential TV debates with Nixon and Kennedy.
• Soviet leader Khrushchev shows something new at the UN, shoe pounding at the podium!
• A Carole King song, sung by the Drifters, "Save The Last Dance For Me" tops the charts.

(1979)

• Former California Governor Ronald Reagan announces his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination in New York.
• President Carter told reporters that he hoped the "Iran Hostage Crisis" could be resolved peacefully.
• KC and The Sunshine Band host NBC-TV's "The Midnight Special" with guests Michael Jackson, Deniece Williams and Kool & the Gang.
• The Bee Gees appear on the cover of TV Guide magazine.
• "Heartache Tonight" by Eagles is #1 on the U.S. top 40 chart.

(1971)

• The Magic Kingdom is here, as Disney World opens in Orlando, Florida.
• 50's rock star, and singer of "Be Bop A Lula," Gene Vincent dies of medical problems at only 36.
• The Jackson Five appear on the cover of Life magazine.
• The first World Series night game, as Pirates beat the Orioles 4-3.
• At a Madison Square Garden Oldies Concert in New York, Rick Nelson is booed for playing new material. The incident inspires him to write and record "Garden Party."
• And some one-hit wonders from Canada, The Stampeders top the charts with "Sweet City Woman."

(1984)

• President Reagan is elected to a second term, winning 49 states over Democratic challenger Walter F. Mondale.
• Reverend Martin Luther King Sr., dies in Atlanta at age 84.
• Michael Jackson receives a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.
• "Run To You" by Bryan Adams enters the U.S. top 40 chart.