1986 Events

Chunnel announced (tunnel connecting Britain & France under the English Channel)

The first federal Martin Luther King Day, honoring Martin Luther King Jr.

Voyager 2 space probe makes first encounter with Uranus Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrates 73 seconds after launch, killing its

crew of six astronauts and the schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe.

Halley's Comet reaches its perihelion, the closest point to the Earth, during its second visit to the solar system in the 20th century.

The Soviet Union launches the Mir space station

Gallon of Gas $0.93

Stamp $0.24

Movie Ticket $2.75

Average Rent $385 / mo

New House $89,463

New Car $9,281

Average Income $22,339

Harvard Tuition $10,590

1986 Cost of Living

1986 Events A bomb explodes on a TWA flight from Rome to Athens - 4 dead

In the terroristic La Belle discotheque bombing the West-Berlin discotheque, a known hangout for U.S. soldiers, was bombed, killing 3 and injuring 230 people. Libya is held responsible. U.S. responds to the bombing with air raids

of Libya. In Ukraine, one of the reactors at the Chernobyl nuclear plant explodes

creating the world's worst nuclear disaster. 31 are killed directly by the

incident, many thousands more were exposed to significant amounts of radioactive material, vast territories in Ukraine and Belarus rendered uninhabitable.

Hands Across America - 6 million people hold hands from California to New York

The European Community adopts the European flag.

The Legend of Zelda is release for the Nintendo Entertainment System. Desmond Tutu elected Anglican archbishop of Capetown, becomes the first

black to lead the Anglican Church in South Africa.

The centennial of the Statue of Liberty's dedication is celebrated in New York Harbor.

Iran-Contra Affair: National Security Council member Oliver North and his

secretary Fawn Hall start to shred documents implicating them in the sale of weapons to Iran and channeling the proceeds to help fund the Contra rebels in Nicaragua.

Opening of the Musée d'Orsay (formerly the Gare d'Orsay) in Paris. Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger marries television journalist Maria Shriver. Turner Broadcasting begins to colorize black and white movie classics.

100 participate in Nude Olympics race in 38 degrees F (3 degrees C), Indiana Howard Stern radio show returns to New York City morning radio (WXRK

92.3 FM)

Wrestlemania II at 3 locations, Hulk Hogan beats King Kong Bundy Clint Eastwood elected mayor of Carmel, California Georgia sodomy law upheld by Supreme Court (5-4)

Antonin Scalia appointed to Supreme Court William Rehnquist, sworn in as Chief Justice of Supreme Court President Carter's presidential library dedicated in Atlanta

Reagan and Gorbachev open talks at a summit in Iceland White teenagers beat blacks in Howard Beach, New York South Africa censors press

1986 Famous Births Amanda Bynes, actress

Amanda Weir, American Olympic swimmer Charlotte Church, singer Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, child stars

Lindsay Lohan, actress

1986 Famous Deaths Ben Dover, actor

(no, not a joke)

Benny Goodman, bandleader Cary Grant, actor Desi Arnaz, 69, actor, musician

Donna Reed, actress. Georgia O'Keeffe, artist James Cagney, actor

Len Bias, top draft pick of the Boston Celtics, cocaine-induced seizure

Phil Lynott, bassist of Thin Lizzy

Ray Milland, actor Scatman Crothers, singer, dancer & actor Ted Knight, actor

L. Ron Hubbard, founder of Scientology

1986 New books The Bourne Supremacy - Robert Ludlum The Bridge - Iain Banks

The Fisher King - Anthony Powell Ghost - Piers Anthony Hollywood Husbands - Jackie Collins

I'll Take Manhattan - Judith Krantz It - Stephen King The Prince of Tides - Pat Conroy

1986 Films

1986 Academy Awards

Best Picture Platoon

Best Director Oliver Stone - Platoon

Best Actor Paul Newman - The Color of Money

Best Actress Marlee Matlin - Children of a Lesser God

Best Supporting Actor Michael Caine - Hannah and Her Sisters

Best Supporting Actress Dianne Wiest - Hannah and Her Sisters

1986 Top Grossing Films Starring

Top Gun Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis & Val Kilmer

Crocodile Dundee Paul Hogan & Linda Kozlowski

Platoon Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger & Willem

Dafoe

Karate Kid, Part II, The Ralph Macchio & Pat Morita

Star Trek IV: The Voyage

Home William Shatner & Leonard Nimoy

Back to School Rodney Dangerfield & Sally Kellerman

Aliens Sigourney Weaver & Michael Biehn

Golden Child, The Eddie Murphy

Ruthless People Danny DeVito, Bette Midler & Judge

Reinhold

Ferris Bueller's Day Off Matthew Broderick & Alan Ruck

Hoosiers Gene Hackman & Dennis Hopper

Other Memorable 1986 Films Starring

52 Pick-Up Roy Scheider & Ann-Margret

About Last Night... Rob Lowe, Demi Moore & James Belushi

American Anthem Janet Jones & Mitchell Gaylord

American Tail, An voice of Dom Deloise

April Fool's Day Deborah Foreman & Thomas F. Wilson ("Biff")

Armed and Dangerous John Candy, Eugene Levy & Meg Ryan

At Close Range Sean Penn & Christopher Walken

Band of the Hand Stephen Lang & Laurence Fishburne

Best of Times, The Robin Williams & Kurt Russell

Big Trouble Peter Falk, Alan Arkin & Beverly D'Angelo

Big Trouble in Little China Kurt Russell & Kim Cattrall

Black Moon Rising Tommy Lee Jones & Linda Hamilton

Blue Velvet Isabella Rossellini & Dennis Hopper

Brighton Beach Memoirs Richard Bright & Jonathan Silverman

Care Bears Movie II

Children of a Lesser God William Hurt & Marlee Matlin

Clan of the Cave Bear, The Daryl Hannah

Club Paradise Robin Williams & Peter O'Toole

Cobra Sylvester Stallone & Brigitte Nielsen

Color of Money, The Paul Newman & Tom Cruise

Crimes of the Heart Diane Keaton, Jessica Lange & Sissy

Spacek

Delta Force, The Chuck Norris & Lee Marvin

Down and Out in Beverly Hills Nick Nolte, Bette Midler & Richard Dreyfuss

Every Time We Say Goodbye Tom Hanks

Extremities Farrah Fawcett

F/X Bryan Brown & Brian Dennehy

Fine Mess, A Ted Danson & Howie Mandel

Fly, The Jeff Goldblum & Geena Davis

Friday the 13th Pt4: Jason

Lives

Great Mouse Detective, The voice of Vincent Price

Gung Ho Michael Keaton & "Long Duck Dong"

Hamburger: The Motion Picture

Dick Butkus

Hannah and Her Sisters Barbara Hershey, Mia Farrow & Dianne Wiest

Hardbodies 2

Haunted Honeymoon Gilda Radner & Gene Wilder

Heartbreak Ridge Clint Eastwood & Mario Van Peebles

Heartburn Meryl Streep & Jack Nicholson

Highlander Christopher Lambert & Sean Connery

Hitcher, The C. Thomas Howell & Rutger Hauer

House William Katt ("Greatest American Hero")

Howard the Duck Lea Thompson & Tim Robbins

Invaders from Mars Karen Black & Hunter Carson

Iron Eagle Louis Gossett Jr. & Jason Gedrick

Jumpin' Jack Flash Whoopi Goldberg

Just Between Friends Mary Tyler Moore & Ted Danson

Labyrinth David Bowie & Jennifer Connelly

Legal Eagles Robert Redford, Debra Winger & Daryl Hannah

Let's Get Harry Gary Busey & Glenn Frey

Little Shop of Horrors Rick Moranis & Ellen Greene

Lucas Corey Haim & Charlie Sheen

Manhattan Project, The John Lithgow

Maximum Overdrive Emilio Estevez

Mission, The Robert De Niro & Jeremy Irons

Mona Lisa Bob Hoskins & Michael Caine

Money Pit, The Tom Hanks & Shelley Long

Morning After, The Jane Fonda & Jeff Bridges

Mosquito Coast, The Harrison Ford & River Phoenix

My Chauffeur Deborah Foreman & Howard Hesseman

My Little Pony: The Movie

Name Of The Rose, The Sean Connery & Christian Slater

Nine 1/2 Weeks Mickey Rourke & Kim Basinger

No Mercy Richard Gere & Kim Basinger

No Retreat, No Surrender Jean-Claude Van Damme

Nobody's Fool Rosanna Arquette & Eric Roberts

Nothing in Common Tom Hanks & Jackie Gleason

Odd Jobs Paul Reiser & Robert Townsend

One Crazy Summer John Cusack & Demi Moore

Out of Bounds Anthony Michael Hall & Jenny Wright

Peggy Sue Got Married Kathleen Turner & Nicolas Cage

Police Academy 3: Back in Training

Steve Guttenberg

Poltergeist II: The Other Side JoBeth Williams, Craig T. Nelson & Heather O'Rourke

Pretty in Pink Molly Ringwald & Jon Cryer

Psycho III Anthony Perkins

Quicksilver Kevin Bacon & Jami Gertz

Raw Deal Arnold Schwarzenegger

River's Edge Crispin Glover, Keanu Reeves & Ione Skye

Running Scared Gregory Hines, Billy Crystal & Jimmy Smits

Salvador James Woods & James Belushi

Seize The Day Robin Williams

Shanghai Surprise Sean Penn & Madonna

She's Gotta Have It Spike Lee

Short Circuit Ally Sheedy & Steve Guttenberg

Sid and Nancy Gary Oldman

Sizzle Beach, U.S.A. Kevin Costner

Solarbabies Jami Gertz & Jason Patric

Something Wild Jeff Daniels & Melanie Griffith

Soul Man C. Thomas Howell & Rae Dawn Chong

Spacecamp Kate Capshaw, Lea Thompson & Kelly

Preston

Spies Like Us Chevy Chase & Dan Aykroyd

Stand by Me River Phoenix & Corey Feldman

Streets of Gold Adrian Pasdar & Wesley Snipes

Sweet Liberty Alan Alda, Michael Caine & Michelle Pfeiffer

Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2,

The Dennis Hopper

That's Life! Jack Lemmon & Julie Andrews

Three Amigos! Chevy Chase, Steve Martin & Martin Short

Touch and Go Michael Keaton & Maria Conchita Alonso

Tough Guys Burt Lancaster & Kirk Douglas

Transformers: The Movie, The

Troll Michael Moriarty & Shelley Hack

True Stories David Byrne & John Goodman

Twisted Lois Smith & Christian Slater

Wise Guys Danny DeVito & Joe Piscopo

Wraith, The Charlie Sheen & Randy Quaid

Youngblood Rob Lowe & Patrick Swayze

1986 Television

TV Events NASA's Space Shuttle Challenger spacecraft explodes, live on television. Culture Club lead singer Boy George appears on an episode of The A-Team. Frank Zappa appears on an episode of the popular television series Miami

Vice. Zappa portrays a crime boss named "Mr. Frankie".

John Stewart begins his comedy career doing stand-up in New York City After four seasons, NBC cancels Remington Steele. This announcement

results in series star Pierce Brosnan being named the newest actor to play James Bond. Due to the resulting media frenzy, as well as the corresponding upswing in Steele's ratings, NBC reverses its decision and announces Steele

will return midway through the 1986-87 season. This results in the Bond film producers withdrawing their offer to Brosnan, and offering the role to Timothy Dalton, though Brosnan would reacquire the 007 role in 1995.

NBC unveils its new Peacock logo. Bobby Ewing is revealed to be alive and showering in his wife Pam's

bathroom in the season finale of Dallas, in which it was shown that the entire

1985-86 season was a dream. Cher calls David Letterman an "asshole" on the air during a taping of Late

Night with David Letterman.

The Fox Broadcasting Company becomes the 4th commercial broadcast television network in the US.

1986 cast of Saturday Night Live:

Al Franken (1975–1980) & (1985–1995) Don Novello (Father Guido Sarducci) (1978–1980) & (1985–1986)

Joan Cusack (1985–1986) Robert Downey Jr. (1985–1986) Anthony Michael Hall (1985–1986)

Randy Quaid (1985–1986) Terry Sweeney (1985–1986) Danitra Vance (1985–1986)

Dan Vitale (1985–1986) Damon Wayans (1985–1986) Nora Dunn (1985–1990)

Jon Lovitz (1985–1990) A. Whitney Brown (1985–1991) Dennis Miller (1985–1991)

Jan Hooks (1986–1991) Victoria Jackson (1986–1992) Dana Carvey (1986–1993)

Phil Hartman (1986–1994) Kevin Nealon (1986–1995)

On The Facts of Life, Charlotte Rae leaves the role of Mrs. Garrett and is

replaced by Cloris Leachman, who played Mrs. Garrett's sister. Geraldo Rivera opens Al Capone's vault on TV and finds nothing Flintstones 25th Anniversary Celebration airs on CBS-tv

John Tesh's 1st appearance on Entertainment Tonight NBC's Ahmad Rashad marriage proposal is accepted by Phylicia Ayers-Allen

during halftime of Det Lions-New York Jets football game

1986 TV Series

Series Premiers in 1986 Series Finales in 1986

A.M. Chicago changes its name to

The Oprah Winfrey Show and premieres on national television

Benson

ALF Diff'rent Strokes

Amen Knight Rider

Designing Women Press Your Luck

Double Dare Schoolhouse Rock!

L.A. Law The Fall Guy

Matlock The Love Boat

Pee-wee's Playhouse Too Close for Comfort

Perfect Strangers Trapper John, M.D.

Sledge Hammer!

Other TV Shows You Watched in 1986

227 Magnum, P.I.

9 to 5 Mama's Family

At the Movies Mary

A-Team, The Miami Vice

Blacke's Magic Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer

Cagney & Lacey Moonlighting

Charles in Charge Mr. Belvedere

Cheers Murder, She Wrote

Colby's, The My Little Pony and Friends

Cosby Show, The My Sister Sam

Crook & Chase New Love, American Style

Dallas Newhart

Dance Fever Night Court

Divorce Court People's Court

Dynasty Pound Puppies

Facts Of Life, The Redd Foxx Show, The

Falcon Crest Remington Steele

Fame Ripley's Believe It or Not

Family Ties Scarecrow and Mrs. King

Fraggle Rock Silver Spoons

Gimme a Break Simon & Simon

GLOW: Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling Small Wonder

Golden Girls, The Smurfs

Growing Pains Solid Gold

Head of the Class St. Elsewhere

Highway to Heaven Star Search

Hill Street Blues Tales from the Darkside

Hogan Family, The TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes

Hotel USA Up All Night

Hunter Valerie

It's Garry Shandling's Show. We Got it Made

Jack and Mike Webster

Kate & Allie What's Happening Now!

Knots Landing Who's the Boss?

Life with Lucy You Again?

MacGyver

Also, who could forget “Kids Beat”, the one-minute news broadcast for kids that aired twice-a-day on TBS. It was hosted by two kids who were stunningly happy

and energetic and always signed off with the bouncy and nearly shouted phrase, “I’m Audra Leeeee. See you NEXT time on KIDS BEAT!!!”

Memorable Commercials from 1986

7-Up - Geoffrey Holder wearing all white: "Never had it. Never will."

Apple Jacks – “Apple Jacks, Apple Jacks, Cinnamon toasty, That’s what it packs!”

Arrid Extra Dry - "Get a little closer. Now don't be shy!"

Band Aids - "I am stuck on Band Aids cause Band Aids stuck on me!" Bartles and Jaymes - "Thank you for your support"

Big Red gum - "Just kiss a little longer...longer with Big Red!" Bounty paper towels - with Rosie and the "quicker picker upper" BUD Light - "Gimme a Light….No, a BUD Lite"

Budweiser - Spuds Mackenzie Burger King - Find Herb contest - we would win something if we found him at

a Burger King.

Calgon – “Calgon, take me away! Calgon – “We need more Calgoooon!...Ancient Chinese secret, eh?!" Calvin Klein - with Brooke Shields saying "Do you wanna know what comes

between me and my Calvins.....NOTHING." Chips Ahoy - people trying to bite a Chips Ahoy cookie without biting a chip Crest toothpaste - Cavity Creeps “We – make – HolesInTeeth!”

Diet Pepsi - Michael J. Fox running through rain, over car hoods, and through traffic to get a Diet Pepsi for his girlfriend

Dominos Pizza – Avoid the Noid

Dow Bathroom Cleaner's - Scrubbing bubbles: “We work hard so you don’t have toooooo….”

Dr. Pepper – Guy from American Werewolf in London dancing & singing "I'm

a pepper, you're a pepper, she's a pepper, he's a pepper, wouldn't you like to be a pepper too?"

Dunkin' Donuts – “Time To Make The Donuts"

EF Hutton - When EF Hutton speaks, people listen” Eggo Waffles - Leggo of my Eggo Federal Express - with speed talker, John Moschitta Jr.

Friskies Buffet – “No cat ever walked away!” Fritos - "Luncha buncha luncha buncha, Fritos go with lunch!" Frosted Flakes – Tony the Tiger “They’re Grrrrreat!”

GLAD Storage Bags - "Hefty, Hefty, Hefty – wimpy, wimpy, wimpy" Hershey Chocolate Syrup - Messy Marvin ads Honeycombs cereal - Honeycomb Hideout ads

Impulse body spray for women - When a man you have never met before gives you flowers, that's Impulse.

Isuzu - Joe Isuzu, car salesman played by David Leisure, sells Isuzus with

lies and says with a smile "Trust me" Kibbles and Bits – “Kibbles and bits, kibbles and bits, kibbles and bits and

bits and bits!”

Kit-Kat – “Gimme a break! Gimme a break! Break me off a piece of that Kit-Kat bar!! “

Kool-Aid - Kool-Aid Man busts through walls with Kool-Aid when kids call out

"Hey, Kool-Aid!" Ernest P. Worrell - "Hey Vern!"…”Knowwat I mean Vern?” Little Ceasar's Pizza – “PIZZA PIZZA!”

M&M's - Easter commercial with high-pitched kid saying "Thank you Easter Bunny…Bwok, Bwok!"

McDonald's – “Double double cheese cheese burger burger, please” McDonald's - Big Mac: "Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese…

pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun." McDonald's – Moon playing a piano to the song "Mac Tonight" McDonalds - McDLT: "Where the hot stays hot, and the cool stays cool"

Med*Alert beepers - "I've fallen... and I cannnn't get up!" Meineke - "I'm not gonna pay a lot for this muffler." Meow Mix - with cats singing: "Meow meow meow meow..."

Milk Industry – “Milk. It does the body good.” Miller Lite – Rodney Dangerfield & others in First Bowling Tournament 9Lives - Morris the Cat

Motts Applesauce cups - "Tony, I got the Motts" MTV – “I want my MTV!” Nair – “Nair for short shorts“

Nyquil - "Barbara..you up? BARBARA...YOU UP?” She finally wakes up and says in a frustrating manner, "I'm up now!"

Palmolive ads – Madge: “You’re soaking in it!

Pantene - Kelly LeBrock tells us "Don't hate me because I'm beautiful" Pepsi - with Michael Jackson and his brothers, promoting their "V" tour Pepsi - Pepsi Challenge

Peter Pan peanut butter - picky people pick Peter Pan peanut butter, it's the peanut butter picky people pick.

Peter Paul Alomnd Joy and Mounds - "Sometimes you feel like a nut.

Sometimes you don't. Almond Joy's got nut, Mounds don't...." Post California Raisins - claymation singing raisins Pringles – “I've got the fever for the flavor of the Pringles CRUNCH!!”

Purina Chuckwagon - with the little chuckwagon zipping across the kitchen past the dog

Reese's Pieces - with E.T.

Reeses Peanut Butter Cups - You got peanut butter on my chocolate! "No, you got chocolate in my peanut butter!"

Seagrams Golden Wine Coolers - with Bruce Willis singing “Seeeeeagrams'

wine coolers.” Shasta – “I wanna pop-pop-pop... I wanna... Shasta! “ Sizzilean - "Move over bacon, now there’s something leaner!" - "Why sizzle

fat when you can SizziLEAN!" Skippy peanut butter - with Annette Funicello Smith Barney - John Houseman saying "Smith Barney. They make money

the old fashioned way. They eaaaaaarn it." Starkist – “Sorry, Charlie, Starkist wants tunas that taste good, not tunas with

good taste!”

Stroh’s - Alex the Dog Sunkist - "Good Vibrations" commercials Sure deodorant - Raise your hand! Raise your hand if your sure!

Sweet Pickles – “Da-a-a-ad, when ya gonna eat that PICKLE?” Tab – A young Elle MacPherson walks slowly & hypnotically over a beach

dune in a tiny red bikini toward a man sitting on a towel with his wife – his eyes are helplessly glued to the passing woman and after she strolls by the

annoyed wife douses him with a bucket of water. Oh, you remember this one.

Toys 'R Us - I don't wann grow up, I'm a 'Toys R Us' kid...

Trix - "Will the rabbit get some Trix?" Kids voted against it. V8 - people hit themselves in the head and say "I could have had a V8!" Vicks Formula 44 - starring Peter Bergman from All My Children, in which he

told the viewing audience "I'm not a doctor, but I play one on TV." This phrase, first used in the early 1970s by Robert Young of Marcus Welby, M.D.

fame, was subsequently parodied in many pop culture references.

Vlassic pickles - the stork that delivers pickles Wendy's – “Where's the Beef?” Wendy's - Russian Fashion Show with the same large, rough-looking

Russian woman keeps coming out on the runway with the same grey outfit on, and various props.

1986 top arcade games

Asteroids Breakout

Centipede Defender Dig Dug

Donkey Kong Elevator Action

Frogger Galaga Mario Brothers

Missile Command Ms. Pacman Pac-Man

Pengo

Pipedream

Punchout Qbert Tempest

Tetris Tron