-
Ronald Reagan Inaugurated
Ronald Reagan was inaugurated as the 40th President of the United States. During his term, the economy saw a large reduction in inflation. Reagan initiated significant deregulation during his terms in office. He also decreased domestic discretionary spending, decreased taxes, and increased military spending, which is attributed as one of the major causes of the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. -
"CATS" Premier
The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical "CATS" premiered at the New London Theatre. Based on T. S. Elliot's "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats," "CATS" was one of the longest running shows in West End and Broadway history, running for 21 consecutive years in London and 18 consecutive years on Broadway. -
MTV Launch
"MTV" went on the air for the first time on August 1, 1981. The original format of the channel was to air music video, which were introduced by a Video Jock (VJ).
In 1992, "MTV" launched "Real World," which was it's first reality based series, and lead to the launch of many popular reality based series on the channel. -
"Top Girls" Premier
The play "Top Girls," a play by Carol Churchill," premiered at the Royal Theatre in London. The play was written during the time that Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister of Great Britain. The play was acclaimed for giving a feminist perspective in the previous drama mode, which leaned towards male dominated viewpoints. -
"Thriller" album Released
Michael Jackson's "Thriller" Album cemented his status s the world's biggest pop star. With songs, including "Beat It,", "Billie Jean," and "Thriller," the "Guiness Book of World Records" estimates that the album sold 66 million copies. -
"Glengarry Glen Ross," Premiered
"Glengarry Glen Ross," a play by David Memet premiered at the Cottsloe Theatre of the London National Theatre. The play won a Pulitzer Prize in 1984. The play centered on how unethical four Chicago real estate agents would be in order to sell to unsuspecting prospective buyers. The play was based on Memet's experience working in a similar office. -
"Live Aid" Concert
The "Live Aid" concert, the brainchild of Bob Geldof, took place at Wembley Stadium in London and continued at other stadiums around the world. The concert was a sixteen hour event, linked by satellite and was seen by over one billion people in 110 countries. The concert raised $125 million for famine relief in Ethiopia. The movement that started the concert idea was the release of the successful charity single " Do They Know It's Christmas? " in December 1984. -
Michael Bennett died of AIDS
Michael Bennett died of lymphoma, a form of cancer, as a result of AIDS. Bennett, one of the influential choreographers of his generation. He created "A Chorus Line," which was the longest running Broadway show at the time of his death. -
"Six Degrees of Separation" Premier
"Six Degrees of Separation," written by John Guare, premiered Off-Broadway at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater, Lincoln Center. The play explored the premise that everyone in the world is connected to everyone else by a chain that contains no more than six acquaintances and was inspired by David Hampton, a con who managed to convince a number of people that he was the son of Sidney Poitier. The play was nominated for a Tony Award and won numerous other awards. -
Persian Gulf War begins
The Persian Gulf War (aka the Gulf War) was an international conflict caused by Iraq's invasion of Kuwait on August 2, 1990. Iraq started the war to acquire Kuwait's vast oil reserves and to relieve Iraq's debt to Kuwait. The United States put together a coalition of nations to retrieve the territory that Iraq had stolen from Kuwait. The was the first post Cold War international conflict. -
"World Wide Web" Goes Public
When the "Worldwide Web" went live, there was no announcement to the worldwide press. The launch was announced by developer Tim Berners-Lee on the alt.hypertext newsgroup. At the time, most people in the world didn't know what the internet was. The Web was based on the philosophy that much academic freedom should be available to anyone. -
Dissolution of the Soviet Union
On December 25, 1991, Mikhail Gorbachev resigned as president of the Soviet Union and the Soviet flag was lowered for the last time. This left Boris Yeltsin as president of the newly independent Russian state. -
Bill Clinton Inaugurated
Bill Clinton was inaugurated as the 42nd President of the United States.
A major Clinton accomplishments was Clintonomics, which helped create the conditions for the longest economic expansion in the biggest economic expansion in United States history. Clinton oversaw the reduction of the annual US budget from a $290 Billion deficit in 1993 to a $236 Billion surplus in 2000. -
"Angels in America" Premier
"Angels in America," a two part play by Tony Kushner, opened on Broadway at the Walter Kerr Theatre. The play was a complex examination of AIDS and homosexuality in the 1980's. The play won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play. -
End of Apartheid in South Africa
The end of Apartheid began when South African Prime Minister F. W. de Klerk lifted the ban on the African National Congress (ANC) in February 1990. Nelson Mandela walked out of prison after 27 years on February 11, 1990. In April 1994, Nelson Mandela was elected as the first black president. -
First Smartphone Released
IBM launched the first "Smartphone," the Simon Personal Communicator (SPC) for purchase. The first commercially available device that could be properly referred to as a "smartphone" began as a prototype called "Angler" developed by Canova in 1992. -
FDA Approved the First Protease Inhibitor Drug
Saquinavir, developed by Hoffmann-LaRoche under the trade name Invirase, is the first protease inhibitor to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a first-line therapy for treatment of HIV infection and AIDS. -
"Auto-Tune" release date
Andy Hildebrand, a Ph.D. research engineer launched "Auto-Tune after researching methods of controlling pitch digitally. The first song to use "Auto-Tune" was "Believe," sung by Cher. -
First MP3 Player Released
SaeHan introduced the MPMan Music Player, which was the first mass-produced portable solid state digital audio player. -
Euro Currency Came Into Existence
The European Economic Community initially introduced the Euro in non physical forms (traveler's checks, banking) and for government debt in all EU nations on January 1,1999, but the notes and coins for the old currencies, however, continued to be used as legal tender until new notes and coins were introduced on January 1, 2002. -
Timeline 1981 - 2000 References Page 4
“Angels in America” Premier
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angels_in_America
Apartheid Ends in South Africa
https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/pcw/98678.htm
First Smart Phone Released
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smartphone
FDA Approved the Use of First Protease Inhibitor Drug
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11363011/
Auto-Tune Released Date
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto-Tune
First MP3 Player Released
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPMan -
Timeline1981 - 2000 References Page 5
Euro Currency Came Into Existence
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_euro -
Timeline 1981 - 2000 References Page 1
Ronald Reagan Inaugurated
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan
“CATS” Premier
https://www.catsthemusical.com/about-the-show/
MTV Launch
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mtv-launches
“Top Girls” Premier
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Girls
“Thriller” Album Released
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/30/michael-jacksons-thriller-anniversary-still-all-time-best-seller.html -
Timeline 1981 - 2000 References Page 2
“Glengarry Glen Ross” Premier
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glengarry_Glen_Ross
“Live Aid” Concert
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/live-aid-concert
Michael Bennett Dies of AIDS
https://www.nytimes.com/1987/07/03/obituaries/michael-bennett-theater-innovator-dies-at-44.html
“Six Degrees of Separation” Premier
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Degrees_of_Separation_%28play%29
Persian Gulf War Begins
https://www.britannica.com/event/Persian-Gulf-War -
Timeline 1981 - 2000 References Page 3
“World Wide Web” Goes Public
https://thenextweb.com/news/20-years-ago-today-the-world-wide-web-opened-to-the-public#:~:text=On%206%20August%201991%2C%20exactly%20twenty%20years%20ago%2C,fundamentally%20change%20the%20world%20as%20we%20knew%20it.
Dissolution of the Soviet Union
https://history.state.gov/milestones/1989-1992/collapse-soviet-union
Bill Clinton Inaugurated https://clintonwhitehouse5.archives.gov/WH/Accomplishments/eightyears-01.html