1989 Trivia, Fun Facts and History

1989 Trivia, Fun Facts and  History

Quick Facts from 1989:

• World Changing Events: The Berlin Wall between East and West Germany fell, representing the beginning of the end of the Soviet Union on November 9th.
  China’s Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 included the death of hundreds, possibly thousands of pro-democracy students by the Chinese government.
• The Top Song was Another Day In Paradise by Phil Collins
• The Movies to Watch include Driving Miss Daisy, Field of Dreams, The Little Mermaid, Parenthood, Steel Magnolias and When Harry Met Sally
• The Most Famous Fictional Person in America was probably Batman
• Notable books include: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey and The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett and V for Vendetta by Alan Moore and David Lloyd
• Price of Pepsi 12 pack/12 oz cans in 1989: $2.99
  Sony Walkman: $79.00
• The Funny Late Night Host: Johnny Carson
  The Funny Lady: Roseanne Barr
• The Man-Made Disaster: Oil tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground in Prince William Sound, Alaska spilling 750,000 barrels of crude oil.

A Look At 1989’s Top News Stories

1. The Tiananmen Square massacre in Beijing on June 4, 1989, which saw the Chinese government use military force to crush pro-democracy protests, was one of the year’s biggest news events.
2. The fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, marked the end of the Cold War and the beginning of a new era of European history.
3. The Loma Prieta earthquake in California on October 17, 1989, which killed 63 people and caused widespread damage, was one of the biggest natural disasters of the year.
4. The Romanian Revolution of 1989, which saw the overthrow of dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu, was one of the most significant events of the year in Eastern Europe.
5. The Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia, which saw the peaceful overthrow of the communist government and the establishment of a democratic government, was another major event in Eastern Europe.
6. The United States’ invasion of Panama on December 20, 1989, was a military action authorized by US President George H.W. Bush, in which U.S. troops were used to overthrow the government of Manuel Noriega.
7. The Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska on March 24, 1989, one of the worst oil spills in American history, caused significant environmental damage.
8. The collapse of the Soviet-backed government in Afghanistan marked the end of the Soviet-Afghan War and the beginning of a period of civil war and instability in the country. The withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan on February 15, 1989, marked the end of the Soviet-Afghan War and the beginning of a new era in the country’s history. It also marked the end of the Cold War, which was marked by the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Eastern Europe, the collapse of communist governments, and the reunification of Germany.

“It keeps going, and going, and going…”
– Energizer Batteries

“This is your brain. This is your brain on drugs. Any questions?”
– Partnership for a Drug-Free America

“Fahrvergnügen”
– Volkswagen

“Cotton. The fabric of our lives”
– Cotton Incorporated

“I’m Batman”
– Michael Keaton, in Batman

“Eat My Shorts”
– Bart Simpson, The Simpsons

“I’ll have what she’s having.”
– Estelle Reiner, in When Harry Met Sally…

“Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.”
– Robin Williams, in Dead Poets Society

The Exxon Valdez oil spill in which the tanker hit Prince William Sound’s Bligh Reef and spilled an estimated 11 to 30 million gallons of oil on March 24. The captain, Joseph Hazelwood, was drinking at the time.

The Exxon Valdez vessel, which caused the worst oil spill (at that time) in U.S. history in 1989, continued to operate under various names before eventually being dismantled in India in 2012, 23 years after the disaster in Alaska

Joy Adamson, the author of Born Free, was murdered in 1980 by a former employee and is buried next to Elsa the Lioness in Meru National Park in Kenya. Her husband was murdered by poachers in 1989.

Boris Yeltsin Visited An American Supermarket

It’s hard to believe that just 29 years ago, the collapse of communism was spurred by Yeltsin’s visit to an American grocery store. The shelves were stocked with so much food that he was left in disbelief. While communist Russia was experiencing shortages and long lines for basic goods, America had an abundance of everything.

This event perfectly exemplifies the saying, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” The images of Yeltsin in the grocery store were shared across the Soviet Union and caused an outcry. People couldn’t believe they were living in poverty when others had so much. This was one of the factors that led to the collapse of communism.

It’s amazing to think about how a trip to the grocery store can change the course of history. Yeltsin’s visit was a wake-up call for the Soviet Union and led to more freedom and democracy for its people. 

Yeltsin didn’t leave empty-handed, as he was given a small bag of goodies to enjoy on the rest of his trip. About a year after the Russian leader left office, a Yeltsin biographer later wrote that he was despondent on the plane ride to Yeltsin’s next destination, Miami. He couldn’t stop thinking about the plentiful food at the grocery store and what his countrymen had to subsist on in Russia. Yeltsin’s visit to America changed his perspective and led him to realize that communism wasn’t working for the people. It was this realization that eventually led to the collapse of communism in Russia.

Emperor Hirohito (April 29, 1901 – January 7, 1989) ), the Emperor of WWII Japan, was the only “axis power” leader to not have died during the war; he died in 1989.

In 1989, Queen Elizabeth II was the wealthiest person living in the UK. In 2015, she fell out of the top 300.

3% of Americans had passports in 1989.

The word with the most meanings in English is the verb ‘set’, with 430 meanings listed in the Second Edition of the Oxford English Dictionary, published in 1989. The word commands the longest entry in the dictionary at 60,000 words (326,000 characters).

Lexus was introduced in the US market in 1989.

The Energizer Bunny was introduced to an unsuspecting public, replacing gymnast Mary Lou Retton as the energetic spokesperson.

Jules Verne’s shelved 1863 novel Paris in the Twentieth Century predicted gas-powered cars, fax machines, electric street lighting, maglev trains, the record industry, the internet. His publisher deemed it pessimistic and lackluster. It was discovered in 1989 and finally published in 1994.

Charging Bull, the famous statue on Wall Street, was installed secretly and illegally outside the New York Stock Exchange in 1989 following the 1987 stock market crash. NYPD seized and impounded the sculpture but re-installed two blocks south of the Exchange after a public outcry.

The most generations alive in a single family has been seven. Augusta Bunge, aged 109 years, followed by her daughter, aged 89, her granddaughter, 70, her gr.-granddaughter, 52, her gr.-gr. granddaughter, 33, her gr.-gr.-gr. granddaughter, 15, and her gr.-gr.-gr.-gr. grandson born in 1989.

Buddy, the golden retriever that played the original Air Bud, is the same dog that played Comet on Full House. In 1989, his owner originally found him as a stray in the Sierra Nevada. He took Buddy in and trained him to play basketball, baseball, football, soccer, and hockey.

In 1989 only 50% of the US had 911 service.

On September 15, 1989, NASA published a comprehensive report on house plants that are best for cleaning indoor air pollution.

All arcade games imported into North America from 1989 to 2000 had the following FBI slogan included into their attract mode: “Winners Don’t Use Drugs”.

The first Reebok Pump shoes were released on November 24, 1989.

Cost of a Superbowl ad in 1989: $675,000

1989 Billboard Number One Songs:
December 24, 1988- January 13, 1989:
Every Rose Has Its Thorn – Poison

January 14 – January 20:
My Prerogative – Bobby Brown

January 21 – February 3:
Two Hearts – Phil Collins

February 4 – February 10:
When I’m With You – Sheriff

February 11 – March 3:
Straight Up – Paula Abdul

March 4 – March 24:
Lost In Your Eyes – Debbie Gibson

March 25 – March 31:
The Living Years – Mike & The Mechanics

April 1 – April 7:
Eternal Flame – The Bangles

April 8 – April 14:
The Look – Roxette

April 15 – April 21:
She Drives Me Crazy – Fine Young Cannibals

April 22 – May 12:
Like a Prayer – Madonna

May 13 – May 19:
I’ll Be There for You – Bon Jovi

May 20 – June 2:
Forever Your Girl – Paula Abdul

June 3 – June 9:
Rock On – Michael Damian

June 10 – June 16:
Wind Beneath My Wings – Bette Midler

June 17- June 23:
I’ll Be Loving You (Forever) – New Kids On The Block

June 24 – June 30:
Satisfied – Richard Marx

July 1 – July 7:
Baby Don’t Forget My Number – Milli Vanilli

July 8 – July 14:
Good Thing – Fine Young Cannibals

July 15 – July 21:
If You Don’t Know Me By Now – Simply Red

July 22 – August 4:
Toy Soldiers – Martika

August 5 – August 11:
Batdance – Prince

August 12 – September 1:
Right Here Waiting – Richard Marx

September 2 – September 8:
Cold-Hearted – Paula Abdul

September 9 – September 15:
Hangin’ Tough – New Kids On The Block

September 16 – September 22:
Don’t Wanna Lose You – Gloria Estefan

September 23 – October 6:
Girl, I’m Gonna Miss You – Milli Vanilli

October 7 – November 3:
Miss You Much – Janet Jackson

November 4 – November 10:
Listen to Your Heart – Roxette

November 11 – November 24:
When I See You Smile – Bad English

November 25 – December 9:
Blame It On The Rain – Milli Vanilli

December 9 – December 22:
We Didn’t Start The Fire – Billy Joel

December 23, 1989 – January 13, 1990:
Another Day In Paradise – Phil Collins