1985 Fun Facts, Trivia and History
Quick Facts from 1985:
- World Changing Event: Mikhail Gorbachev became the Soviet Premier, beginning the era of “Glasnost” – openness and transparency.
- Microsoft Windows 1.0 was released.
- The Top Song was Say You, Say Me by Lionel Richie
- The Movies to Watch include Back to the Future, The Color Purple, Cocoon, Witness, The Breakfast Club, Desperately Seeking Susan and Prizzi’s Honor
- The Most Famous Person in America was probably Phil Collins
- Notable books include: A Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood and The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice and The Ciderhouse Rules by John Irving
- “Don’t Mess with Texas” began as an anti-littering campaign in 1985.
- Price of a Swatch Watch: $29.99
Price of a postage stamp in 1985: 22 cents
Swiss Miss Cocoa: 99 cents/9 pack - 1 once of gold value: $327.00
- The Funny Guy was: Steven Wright
The Funny Late Night Host: Johnny Carson
The Funny Later Night Host: David Letterman - Pop Culture Censorship: The Chinese government banned Back to the Future because of its use of time travel and it was “disrespectful portrayal of history.”
Top Ten Baby Names of 1985:
Jessica, Ashley, Jennifer, Amanda, Sarah, Michael, Chris, Topher, Matthew, Joshua, Daniel
The Hotties and Fashion Icons:
Catherine Bach, Kim Basinger, Jennifer Beals, Joan Collins, Lydia Cornell, E.G. Daily, Elvira, Morgan Fairchild, Melanie Griffith, Daryl Hannah, Kathy Ireland, Heather Langenkamp, Kelly LeBrock, Heather Locklear, Madonna, Kelli Maroney, Dolly Parton, Tatjana Patitz, Paulina Porizkova, Victoria Principal, Linnea Quigley, Tanya Roberts, Jewel Shepard, Helen Slater, Suzanne Somers, Brinke Stevens, Heather Thomas
Hollywood Hunks, Sex Symbols and Leading Men:
Harrison Ford, Mick Jagger, John Travolta, Robert Redford
“The Quotes:”
“Courage”
– Dan Rather,a new ending for his daily news broadcast.
“Thank you for your support”
– Bartles & Jaymes
“You Look Mah Va Lous”
-Billy Crystal as Fernando Lams
Time Magazine’s Man of the Year:
Deng Xiaoping
Miss America:
Sharlene Wells (Salt Lake City, UT)
Miss USA:
Laura Martinez-Herring (Texas)
The Scandal:
Airplane Celebrity Death: Ricky Nelson
“Project Kansas” secretly tested a new formula for Coca-Cola that became “New Coke.” Old coke was gone, and New Coke sold poorly for three months. ABC’s Peter Jennings interrupted General Hospital to announce the return of “Coke Classic.” New Coke was actually available until 1992.
American Jonathon Pollard was captured spying on the U.S. for the State of Israel.
1942-1985 quick fact: Dentists used uranium in dental porcelains, because it helped give a natural color.
US Politics:
January 21, 1985 (Monday) Second inauguration of Ronald Reagan
Pop Culture News:
The plastic thingy that saves hot pizza from the top of the box was invented by Carmela Vitale (patent #4,498,586) It’s called a ” package saver.” Some people call it a “pressure guard.”
Tommy Hilfiger started selling his own menswear cloths line.
The Titanic was found, 370 miles from Newfoundland.
The largest diamond in the world weighed 755.5 carats before it was cut down to 545.67 carats and it was found in South Africa in 1985.
Cost of a Superbowl ad in 1985: $525,000
Oops!
Roberto P. Hernandez was jailed for a robbery he did not commit in. The authorities confused him with another man because the two had the same name, birthday, weight, height, brown hair and eyes, and tattoos on their left arms. Only their Social Security Numbers differed, and that was only by 1 digit. #oops
The Habit:
Wondering whether David (Bruce Willis) and Maddie (Cybill Shepard) would get together on TV’s Moonlighting. They did, in season 3.
Watching one of the most innovative music videos of all time – Take on Me by A-ha!
1st appearances & 1985’s Most Popular Christmas gifts, toys and presents:
Wearing Swatch Watches. Playing with Super Mario Brothers, She-Ra Princess of Power action figures, Care Bears, Teddy Ruxpin , My Buddy dolls, Pound Puppies, Wheel of Fortune Game
David Letterman’s First Top Ten List Appeared…
Top 10 Words that Almost Rhyme With “Peas”
10. Heats
9. Rice
8. Moss
7. ties
6. Needs
5. Lens
4. Ice
3. Nurse
2. Leaks
1. Meats
Popular and Notable Books From 1985:
A Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Baby’s First Words by Lars Wik
Chapterhouse: Dune by Frank Herbert
The Ciderhouse Rules by John Irving
The Class by Erich Segal
Contact by Carl Sagan
Family Album by Danielle Steel
Hold The Dream by Barbara Taylor Bradford
If Tomorrow Comes by Sidney Sheldon
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond
Jubal Sackett by Louis L’Amour
Lake Wobegon Days by Garrison Keillor
Love in the Time of Cholora by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Lucky by Jackie Collins
The Mammoth Hunters by Jean M. Auel
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
Secrets by Danielle Steel
Self-Help by Lorrie Moore
The Sicilian by Mario Puzo
Skeleton Crew by Stephen King
The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub
Texas by James A. Michener
The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice
White Noise by Don DeLillo
East End Show – Me and My Girl (Musical) Opened on February 12, 1985 and Closed: January 16, 1993 (revival of the 1937 musical)
Broadway Show – Big River (Musical) Opened on April 25, 1985 and Closed: September 20, 1987
East End Show – Les Miserables (Musical) Opened on October 8, 1985
Best Film Oscar Winner:
Amadeus (presented in 1985)
The Big Movies: (according to boxofficemojo)
1. Back To The Future
2. Rambo: First Blood Part II
3. Rocky IV
4. The Color Purple
5. Out Of Africa
6. Cocoon
7. The Jewel of the Nile
8. Witness
9. The Goonies
10. Spies Like Us
1985 Most Popular TV shows:
1. The Cosby Show (NBC)
2. Family Ties (NBC)
3. Murder, She Wrote (CBS)
4. 60 Minutes (CBS)
5. Cheers (NBC)
6. Dallas (CBS)
7. Dynasty (ABC)
8. The Golden Girls (NBC)
9. Miami Vice (NBC)
10. Who’s the Boss? (ABC)
1985 Billboard Number One Songs:
December 22, 1984 – February 1, 1985:
Like a Virgin- Madonna
February 2 – February 15:
I Want to Know What Love Is – Foreigner
February 16 – March 8:
Careless Whisper – Wham! featuring George Michael
March 9 – March 29:
Can’t Fight This Feeling – REO Speedwagon
March 30 – April 12:
One More Night – Phil Collins
April 13 – May 10:
We Are The World – USA For Africa
May 11 – May 17:
Crazy for You – Madonna
May 18 – May 24:
Don’t You (Forget About Me) – Simple Minds
May 25 – June 7:
Everything She Wants – Wham!
June 8 – June 21:
Everybody Wants To Rule The World – Tears For Fears
June 22 – July 5:
Heaven – Bryan Adams
July 6 – July 12:
Sussudio – Phil Collins
July 13 – July 26:
A View to a Kill – Duran Duran
July 27 – August 2:
Everytime You Go Away – Paul Young
August 3 – August 23:
Shout – Tears For Fears
August 24 – September 6:
The Power of Love- Huey Lewis & The News
September 7 – September 20:
St. Elmo’s Fire (Man In Motion) – John Parr
September 21 – October 11:
Money For Nothing – Dire Straits
October 12 – October 18:
Oh Sheila – Ready For the World
October 19 – October 25:
Take On Me – A-ha
October 26 – November 1:
Saving All My Love For You – Whitney Houston
November 2 – November 8:
Part Time Lover – Stevie Wonder
November 9 – November 15:
Miami Vice Theme – Jan Hammer
November 16 – November 29:
We Built This City – Starship
November 30 – December 6:
Separate Lives – Phil Collins & Marilyn Martin
December 7 – December 20:
Broken Wings- Mr. Mister
December 21, 1985 – January 17, 1986:
Say You, Say Me – Lionel Richie
Sports:
World Series Champions: Kansas City Royals
Superbowl XIX Champions: San Francisco 49ers
NBA Champions: Los Angeles Lakers
Stanley Cup Champs: Edmonton Oilers
U.S. Open Golf Andy North
U.S. Tennis: (Men/Ladies) Ivan Lendl/Hana Mandlikova
Wimbledon (Men/Women): Boris Becker/Martina Navratilova
NCAA Football Champions: Oklahoma
NCAA Basketball Champions: Villanova
Kentucky Derby: Spend A Buck
