Dateline: Events/Headlines - Week of October 19,1984 In News, Pop Culture, Tech, Celebrity, Sports, Entertainment & Fascinating Facts
In The News
Doctors at Loma Linda University Medical Center in California transplant to heart of a baboon into a 14-day-old girl. The baby girl - identified only as “Baby Fae” is critical, but stable condition.
Campaigning in Philadelphia - Walter Mondale has harsh words about President Reagan, calling him “the most detached, the most remote, the most uninformed President in American history.”
Walter Mondale, speaking to crowds in Cleveland says he will win the presidential election, despite what the polls say. “The victory road begins here in Cleveland today. We are on our way. I can feel it. We’re going to win.”
Eleven heads of the Colombo organized crime family are indicted by a federal grand jury on charges ranging from bribery, extortion, loan-sharking and racketeering. Attorney General William Smith said; “It is one of the very few times in the history of law enforcement that the entire top echelon of a major organized crime family has been charged in a single federal indictment.”
Air Force two - carrying Vice President George Bush, dives 200 feet to avoid a collision near Seattle. The evasive action prevented a single-engine Mooney aircraft from hitting the jet broadside.
Braniff Airlines in a move to stay afloat - drops service to 10 major US cities and turns over most of its gates at Dallas-Ft Worth airport to American Airlines
Health/Medical news – October 19, 1984
The FDA approves the drug pentamidine. The drug is effective in treating pneumonia afflicting AIDS victims. Until now, it was available on an experimental basis.
Technology news – October 19, 1984
Kodak announces it will sell a line of floppy discs. It’s the first time the photo company is selling a data storage product. The company says it will sell disks in the 8-inch, 5 1/4 inch and 3 1/2 inch formats.
Sports news – October 19, 1984
John McNamara is named manager of the Boston Red Sox, replacing retired Ralph Houk. He managed the California Angels for the past two years.
Rick Sutcliffe of the Chicago Cubs is elected the National League’s 1984 Cy Young award winner.
The World Boxing Council (WBC) votes to strip (Marvelous) Marvin Hagler of his middleweight title. Hagler had been asked to stick to the council’s 12 round rule, which it had adopted after a January 1982 fight, after boxer Duk Koo Kim died after fighting a WBA sanctioned fight with Ray Mancini. Hagler’s most recent fight had been scheduled for 15 rounds, but only went 3 rounds after he knockout challenger Mustafa Hamsho at Madison’s Square Garden.
Steve Jones of Wales wins the Chicago Marathon and breaks a world record. Jones ran the 26.2-mile race in 2 hours, 8 minutes and 5 seconds.
Entertainment/Celebrity news – October 19, 1984
Actor Jon-Erik Hexum is declared brain dead after shooting himself in the head with a prop pistol six days ago. He’s the star of the new TV series “Cover Up.” His heart will be implanted in a dying man in San Francisco. His kidneys and corneas will also be removed for future transplant. Police say it wasn’t a case of Russian roulette, but that he handled the gun in a careless manor. The .44 magnum blew a quarter-sized piece of skull into his brain. The actor completed three episodes of the series - which will run on Saturday nights on CBS. Officials say the series will continue with another actor.
John F. Kennedy Jr. begins his new job in New York City’s Office of Business Development. “It’s going real good. I’ll do whatever they throw on my desk.”
Herve Villechaize, who played tattoo on Fantasy Island for six years, now appears on “Hee Haw.” Villechaize says he likes Nashville and that he doesn’t need a bodyguard like he did in Los Angeles.
Passing - actor Oskar Werner (61) best known for his starring role in “Ship Of Fools” - 1965.
Passing - “Hippie” writer Richard Brautigan (49) - found dead in his home. Sheriffs say there was evidence of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He had been dead a month. Best known for his offbeat novels “Trout Fishing,” “In Watermelon Sugar,” and “Revenge Of The Lawn.”
Best-selling books – October 19, 1984
“The Fourth Protocol” - Frederick Forsyth, “Love and War” - John James, “What They Don’t Teach You At Harvard Business School” - Mark H. McCormack, “The Bridge Across Forever” - Richard Bach, “Loving Each Other” - Leo Buscaglia.
Radio news – October 19, 1984
The summer ratings book is out…
Los Angeles – KIIS-FM (top-40) gets a 10.0 share. Rival KKHR is up to a 3.0. Talk KABC is up to a 7.9. Easy JOI – 4.4 and Easy KBIG – 4.1. Rock KLOS down to a 3.5 from a 3.9. Nostalgia KMPC at a 3.4 and AC KOST gets a 2.7. Rock KMET is at a #.1, All news KNX and KFWB are tied at a 2.9. A/C KFI is up to a 1.8 from a 1.4. KHTZ is at a 2.0.
In New York – WHTZ – 6.6 and rival WPLJ – 5.3. WRKS gets a 5.4. WOR – 4.7. WINS – 4.4 and Easy WRFM – 3.7. Urban WBLS at a 3.5. WBLS is the “Quiet Storm” at night. WKTU – 3.1. WNBC – 3.0 and Country WHN – 2.9. WNEW AM and WNEW-FM both at a 3.1. WLTW and WYNY are tied at a 2.8. WABC gets a 2.6. WAPP – 2.4 and WMCA – 1.5
Chicago – Top-4- WBBM FM – 5.0. WGN-AM – 11.4 share. Easy WLOO – 6.8.
Boston – Rock WBCN – 8.6. A/C WHDH – 8.4. Top-40 WXKS – 7.5. WBZ – 7.4. Top-40 WHTT – 6.6. Talk WRKO – 4.7
Mark Driscoll is the new operations manager for WAPP New York.
Oldies replaces top-40 as “The Mighty 690” goes XTRA Gold in S. California.
Steve Dahl and Garry Meir are back on the air at WLS-AM. They were on WLS-FM.
CKLW is switching to a nostalgia music format. Out is long-time music director Rosalie Trombley who served in that capacity since CKLW’s influential heyday in the ‘60’s. In the summer ratings book, CKLW dropped again, from a 1.2 to a .7.
Television news – October 19, 1984
Morton Dean - CBS anchor for 17 years - announces he is leaving the network by December 31. He’ll join New York based Independent Network News as an anchorman.
Monday night Television listings/programs/TV guide – October 19, 1984
CBS - Scarecrow and Mrs King/paid political ad - Reagan/Bush, Kate & Allie, Newhart, Cagney & Lacey ... NBC - TV Bloopers and Practical jokes, Movie ... ABC - Call To Glory, Monday Night Football.
NBC Movie - “Auora” (1984) Sophia Loren and Daniel J. Travanti star.
Kate & Allie - A decision whether to sell the house sends Allie reminiscing about the past.
Diane Sawyer files her first “60 Minutes” report this week
Music news – October 19, 1984
Bruce Springsteen begins 7 days of concerts at the Los Angeles sports arena.
Turner’s Cable Music Channel is set to debut Friday, October 26. The channel plans to compete against MTV by playing the hits and eliminating ‘fringe” and “offensive” videos that might alienate viewers in the 25-34 bracket. The channel will be live with DJ’s (not VJ’s) – so you’ll hear them, but won’t see them. They’ll take requests and announce news, sports and weather. Produced from Los Angeles, the DJ lineup is as follows – Francesca Capucci from K100, Raechel Donahue from KROQ, Linda McInnes from KLOS, Joe Reiling form KLOS, KMET and KNX, Susan Henderson O’Neil and 18-year-old Rob Taylor from KPRF in Indiana.
Pioneer becomes the first Japanese company to market an in-car Compact Disc player – just 10 days before Sony is set to do the same thing.
Peter Wolf of the J. Geils Band is a supporter of MTV: “Although they’re under fire in a way, I just remember back to the time when the only music on TV was Ed Sullivan and Don Kirshner’s shows. MTV has helped a lot of musicians and helps the excitement of rock ‘n’ roll.”
MTV has two new videotapes and you can get them nationwide at Radioshack:
“MTV Video To Go” and “MTV Live Video To Go” are priced at $29.95 and run for about 45 minutes each.
Top Music Albums – October 19, 1984
Born In The U.S.A. – Bruce Springsteen
Purple Rain – Prince and the Revolution
Sports – Huey Lewis And The News – Sports
Private Dancer – Tina Turner
The Woman In Red Soundtrack – Stevie Wonder
1100 Bel Air Place – Julio Iglesias
Madonna – Madonna
Can’t Slow Down – Lionel Richie
Eddie & The Cruisers – John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band
17 – Chicago
Break Out – Pointe Sisters
No Brakes – John Waite
Out of the Cellar – Ratt
Stay Hungry – Twisted Sister
Animalze – Kiss
Phantoms – The Fixx
Midnight Madness – Night Ranger
Signs of Life – Billy Squier
Power Slave – Iron Maiden
Ice Cream Castle – the Time
Tonight – David Bowie
Warrior – Scandal
Ghostbusters – Soundtrack
The Unforgettable Fire – U2
Bananarama – Bananarama
Top pop hit music singles(top-40) – October 19, 1984
Caribbean Queen (No More Love On The Run) – Billy Ocean
I Just Called To Say I Love You – Stevie Wonder
Lucky Star – Madonna
Purple Rain – Prince
Hard Habit To Break – Chicago
Let’s Go Crazy – Prince and the Revolution
On the Dark Side – John Cafferty & Beaver Brown Band
Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go – Wham
Some Guys Have All The Luck – Rod Stewart
Cover Me – Bruce Springsteen
Drive – The Cars
I’m So Excited – Pointer Sisters
Better Be Good To Me – Tina Turner
Desert Moon – Dennis DeYoung
Blue Jean – David Bowie
Strut – Sheena Easton
Out of Touch – Hall & Oates
Are We Ourselves? – The Fixx
Missing You – John Waite
Bop ‘Til You Drop – Rick Springfield
Penny Lover – Lionel Richie
Who Wears These Shoes – Elton John
What About Me? – Kenny Rogers With Kim Carnes and James Ingram
Top pop music hits in Britain – October 19, 1984
Freedom – Wham!
The War Song – Culture Club
I Just Called To Say I Love You – Stevie Wonder
No More Lonely Nights – Paul McCartney
Drive – Cars
Shout to the Top – Style Council
Together/In Electric Dream – Giorgia Moroder & Philip Oakley
I’m Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down – Paul Young
Pride – U2
Missing You – John Waite
Top Country Hit Music Singles – October 19, 1984
“If You’re Gonna Play In Texas” - Alabama, “City Of New Orleans” - Willie Nelson.
Top movies – October 19, 1984
The Razor’s Edge - Bill Murray, Theresa Russell, Catherine Hicks
Amadeus - F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce
The Little Drummer Girl - Diane Keaton
Crimes Of Passion - Kathleen Turner, Anthony Perkins
Diner - Steve Guttenberg, Daniel Stern, Mickey Rourke
Teachers - Nick Nolte, Jobeth Williams
County - Jessica Lange, Sam Shepard
All Of Me - Steve Martin, Lily Tomlin.