MCN was founded in the summer of 1980. Here’s what was happening that year.
January
U.S. government provides $1.5 billion loan to bail out Chrysler Corp.
Pittsburgh Steelers defeat the Los Angeles Rams, 31-19, to win their fourth Super Bowl in six seasons.
Paul McCartney is arrested at Tokyo International Airport for possession of marijuana.
The Rubik’s Cube makes its international debut at the British Toy and Hobby Fair.
February
The soap opera, Love of Life, broadcast its last episode after a run of more than 28 years.
FBI personnel target members of the U.S. Congress in a sting operation known as ABSCAM.
The U.S. Olympic hockey team defeats the Soviet Union, 4-3 in the Miracle on Ice.
March
Closed captioning was first shown on a television program in the United States.
The Voyager 1 probe confirms the existence of Janus, a moon of Saturn.
President Jimmy Carter deregulates the banking industry.
The season finale of the Dallas television program raises a question that captivated people throughout the summer: Who shot J.R.?
April
Viking 2 lander ceases operating after having sent data from Mars for almost 3 1/2 years.
The United States severs diplomatic relations with Iran and imposes economic sanctions, following the taking of American hostages on Nov. 4, 1979.
There was a mass exodus of Cubans to the United States known as the Mariel boatlift begins.
Post-It notes are officially introduced to U.S. stores.
Terry Fox, who had a prosthetic leg, begins his Marathon of Hope. He planned to run across Canada to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society.
U.S. Olympic Committee endorses a boycott of the Moscow Olympic Games in response to the Soviet Union invasion of Afghanistan.
May
Mount St. Helens erupts.
The first crossing of North America by balloon was successfully completed by Maxie and Kristian Anderson.
Pac-Man, the best-selling arcade game of all time, is released.
“Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back” premieres.
Rookie Magic Johnson scores 42 points to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 123-107 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers and clinch the NBA title.
For the first time, women graduate as officers from the three major United States service academies.
June
The Cable News Network (CNN) launches.
Roberto Durán upsets previously unbeaten Sugar Ray Leonard in a boxing match.
Musical comedy film “The Blues Brothers” with Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi premieres.
July
The Columbus Dispatch became the first newspaper to provide an electronic edition for computer users.
Björn Borg defeats John McEnroe to win Men’s Singles, and Evonne Goolagong Cawley defeats Chris Evert Lloyd to win Ladies’ Singles at Wimbledon.
Led Zeppelin performed “Stairway to Heaven” for the last time during its closing concert of the Tour Over Europe 1980.
Pope John Paul II visits Brazil.
Draft registration begins in the United States for the first time since 1975.
August
The final model of the Ford Pinto comes off of the assembly line.
The Gdańsk Agreement was signed at the Gdańsk Shipyard in Poland, opening the way to start the first independent trade union in the communist bloc.
September
The Iran-Iraq war begins after Saddam Hussein orders his forces to invade Western Iran.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is founded by Candy Lightner of Fair Oaks, Calif.
The United States and China reached an agreement to begin regular commercial airline flights between the two nations for the first time since 1949.
A free concert by Elton John at New York’s Central Park attracts 400,000 fans.
The New York Cosmos defeated the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, 3-0, to win the North American Soccer League championship.
The United States retains the America’s Cup, winning for the 25th consecutive time since the international yachting challenge started in 1851.
October
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of the Opera” premieres on London’s West End.
The Philadelphia Phillies defeat the Kansas City Royals, 4-1, to win the World Series.
November
Former Governor Ronald Reagan of California defeats incumbent President Jimmy Carter to become the 40th President-Elect of the United States.
Millions of viewers learn “Who shot J.R.?”
December
John Lennon is shot and killed by Mark David Chapman in front of The Dakota apartment building in New York City.
U.S. Congress creates the “Superfund” for cleanup of toxic pollution sites.
The World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League merge.
