Facts and Events That Happened in This Year
After forty years as a fascist nation, Spain transitioned to a democratic government.
John Wayne Gacy was arrested.
United States announces that it will recognize communist China.
The first Women's Pro Basketball League (WBL) game took place, with the Chicago Hustle vs. the Milwaukee Does.
Dianne Feinstein became the first female mayor of San Francisco.
San Francisco leaders George Moscone and Harvey Milk are murdered.
Mass suicide at Jonestown.
The Caribbean island nation of Dominica gained its independence from the United Kingdom.
People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (South) adopts.
The original American horror film ''Halloween” premiered in Kansas City, Missouri, US.
Polish Cardinal Karol Józef Wojtyła became the first non-Italian pontiff since 1523 as Pope John Paul II.
A $1 coin was approved by the US Congress, featuring women's suffrage activist Susan B. Anthony.
The drama romance film 'Days of Heaven' by Terrence Malick was released.
Camp David Accords are signed.
An earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter Scale rocks the city of Tabas in Iran.
The "Dodgers" baseball team became the first major league to bring in 3 million fans for the season.
Janet Parker became the last person to die of smallpox in Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Georgi Markov is murdered.
The zombie horror movie 'Dawn of the Dead' premiered in Turin, Italy.
Sigmund Jähn becomes 1st German in space.
A fire at the Rex Cinema in Abadan, Iran, kills over 400 people.
Three Americans made the first successful Atlantic Ocean crossing by hot air balloon.
Queen Elizabeth II opened the 11th Commonwealth Games held in Edmonton, Canada.
The first baby was born after being conceived by in vitro fertilization (IVF).
The rainbow flag was flown for the first time at the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade.
United States Naval Observatory astronomer James Christy discovered Pluto's largest moon.
Garfield, the lazy cat makes his debut.
American serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer killed his first victim, Steven Mark Hicks.
Grease, starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, was released in the US.
The US Commerce Department decided that hurricane names would no longer be only female.
Margaret A Brewer became the first female general in the US Marine Corps.
Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler climb Mount Everest without oxygen supply.
The first-ever 'spam' email was sent out to every ARPANET address on the US west coast.
Naomi Uemura becomes of the first person to reach the North Pole alone.
Mohammed Daoud Khan, the President of Afghanistan, was assassinated in a coup.
Soviet air defense shoots down Korean Air Lines Flight 902.
Mir Akbar Khyber's assassination triggers a communist coup in Afghanistan.
Demonstrations broke out in Tbilisi, Georgia, after attempts by the USSR to repress the Georgian language.
Karl Wallenda of The Flying Wallendas died after falling off a tightrope between two hotels in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The Incredible Hulk TV series premiered on CBC starring Bill Bixby.
The first episode of the radio comedy The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is broadcast.
The Yuba County Five disappeared after attending a college basketball game.
The first Ironman Triathlon was held in Kona, Hawaii, USA.
China lifted the country's ban on literature by Aristotle, Shakespeare, and Dickens.
A B747 plane by Air India flying from Bombay, India to Dubai, UAE, crashed with no survivors.
