Petra Schneider set a world record by swimming 1,500 meters freestyle in just 15:43:31.
Stevie Wonder released 'That Girl,' which went on to win Billboard Song of the Year.
The animated fantasy TV show 'The Smurfs' premiered on NBC.
The IBM Personal Computer was released.
MTV launched, broadcasting its first music video at 12:01 am.
Nintendo released the Donkey Kong arcade game in Japan.
The Solar Challenger became the first solar-powered airplane to cross the English Channel.
The world's first stealth-oriented aircraft, the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk, took its first flight.
Tom Snyder interviewed notorious killer Charles Manson on NBC's Tomorrow Coast to Coast show.
The first Indiana Jones movie, 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' by Steven Spielberg, was released.
Wilfred Benítez became the youngest 3-division world champion in history at age 22 after knocking out Maurice Hope in 12 rounds.
Bob Marley received a state funeral in Jamaica.
Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical 'Cats,' based on poetry by T. S. Eliot, first premiered in the West End, London.
The world's first portable computer was announced at the West Coast Computer Faire.
Ebony and Ivory was recorded by Stevie Wonder & Paul McCartney.
The iconic DeLorean sports car began production in Northern Ireland.
Apple made its initial public offering on the US stock market.
Led Zeppelin announced their break-up, this was two months after the death of drummer John Bonham.
Heavy metal artist Ozzy Osbourne released his first solo album, 'Blizzard of Ozz.'
The David Letterman Show aired its first episode on NBC-TV.
Paul McCartney's single 'Waterfalls' was released.
CNN made its debut as the first 24-hour news channel.
At the 33rd Cannes Film Festival, 'All That Jazz' and 'Kagemusha' were jointly awarded the Palme d'Or award.
Namco installed the first Pac-Man arcade machine in Shibuya, Tokyo.
A console version of Space Invaders was released for the Atari 2600.
The first official rock festival took place in the Soviet Union.
The world's longest traffic jam from Lyon to Paris, France, extended a lengthy 104 miles (167 km).
Frank Sinatra performed to 175,000 people who paid to see him in Rio de Janeiro.
The British-American band, The Pretenders, released their debut album called 'Pretenders.'
Pink Floyd released their eleventh studio album titled The Wall.
Elton John collapsed on stage when performing at the Hollywood Universal Amphitheater.
Heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali retired for the third time.
Alien, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Sigourney Weaver, was released.
Elton John and his entourage flew into Moscow, making him the first western pop star to tour the USSR.
The rockumentary film featuring The Who titled 'Kids Are All Right' premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.
The world record for the longest table tennis doubles marathon was broken with a time of 101 hours.
US Supreme Court ruled 8-1 that police can't stop cars just to check the driver and their registration.
Philips demonstrated the compact disc publicly for the first time.
The natural history series 'Life on Earth,' presented by David Attenborough, aired on BBC One in the UK for the first time.
The first Women's Pro Basketball League (WBL) game took place, with the Chicago Hustle vs. the Milwaukee Does.
The original American horror film ''Halloween” premiered in Kansas City, Missouri, US.
The drama romance film 'Days of Heaven' by Terrence Malick was released.
The ''Dodgers” baseball team became the first major league to bring in 3 million fans for the season.
The zombie horror movie 'Dawn of the Dead' premiered in Turin, Italy.
Queen Elizabeth II opened the 11th Commonwealth Games held in Edmonton, Canada.
Grease, starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, was released in the US.
The first-ever 'spam' email was sent out to every ARPANET address on the US west coast.
The Incredible Hulk TV series premiered on CBC starring Bill Bixby.
The Yuba County Five disappeared after attending a college basketball game.
The first Ironman Triathlon was held in Kona, Hawaii, USA.
