1980

Facts and Events That Happened in This Year

Dec 26

A security patrol near RAF Woodbridge in Suffolk, UK, saw what they believed to be a UFO.

Dec 14

At 2 PM EST, there was a 10 minute moment of silence in memory of John Lennon.

Dec 12

Apple made its initial public offering on the US stock market.

Dec 8

John Lennon had his last professional photoshoot.

Dec 4

Led Zeppelin announced their break-up, this was two months after the death of drummer John Bonham.

Nov 23

The National Black Independent Political Party (NBIPP) was formed in the US.

Nov 21

MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, situated on Las Vegas Strip, caught fire, killing 85 people.

Nov 19

Television broadcasting company CBS banned a Calvin Klein Jeans advertisement.

Sep 20

The first Whole Foods store opened in Austin, Texas, US.

Sep 20

Heavy metal artist Ozzy Osbourne released his first solo album, 'Blizzard of Ozz.'

Sep 5

Gotthard Road Tunnel opened in St Gotthard, Switzerland, making it the longest tunnel in the world at the time.

Aug 2

A bomb exploded at the railway station in Bologna, Italy.

Jul 30

Vanuatu gained its independence from the Anglo-French Condominium.

Jul 16

Republican Party in Detroit nominated Ronald Reagan for US president.

Jul 15

President Jimmy Carter's brother Billy registered as a foreign agent in Libya.

Jun 13

Paul McCartney's single 'Waterfalls' was released.

Jun 1

CNN made its debut as the first 24-hour news channel.

May 23

At the 33rd Cannes Film Festival, 'All That Jazz' and 'Kagemusha' were jointly awarded the Palme d'Or award.

May 22

Namco installed the first Pac-Man arcade machine in Shibuya, Tokyo.

May 20

Quebec held a referendum on whether to begin negotiations with Canada to become independent.

May 9

Five bank robbers armed themselves and attempted a heist in Norco, California.

May 8

Smallpox eradication was certified.

Mar 13

Prolific killer John Wayne Gacy was given the death sentence for the murder of 33 young men and boys.

Mar 12

The infamous killer clown, John Wayne Gacy, was convicted for the murder of 33 men and boys.

Mar 10

A console version of Space Invaders was released for the Atari 2600.

Mar 8

The first official rock festival took place in the Soviet Union.

Mar 3

The USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear-powered submarine, was decommissioned in California.

Feb 17

Polish mountaineers Krzysztof Wielicki and Leszek Cichy became the first to ascend Mt. Everest in winter.

Feb 16

The world's longest traffic jam from Lyon to Paris, France, extended a lengthy 104 miles (167 km).

Feb 6

The world's most infamous clown, John Wayne Gacy, went on trial after he murdered 33 young men in Cook County, Illinois.

Jan 26

Frank Sinatra performed to 175,000 people who paid to see him in Rio de Janeiro.

Jan 20

In a letter and on television, President Jimmy Carter announced that the Olympics should not take place in Moscow, Russia.

Jan 11

The British-American band, The Pretenders, released their debut album called 'Pretenders.'