August 1981 calendar
Learn the most interesting events and historical facts that happened in August 1981.
The US president was Ronald Reagan (Republican), the UK Prime Minister was Margaret Thatcher (Conservative), Pope St John Paul II was leading the Catholic Church.
But much more happened on August 1981: find out below
Historical Events
Which were the important events of August 1981?
Events
- 01 Aug 1981 MTV premieres at 12:01 AM
- 02 Aug 1981 Australia set 151 to win, all out 121, Botham 5-11 in 14 overs
- 03 Aug 1981 13,000 Air Traffic Controllers (PATCO) begin their strike
- 04 Aug 1981 Columbia mated with SRBs and external tank for STS-2 mission
- 05 Aug 1981 Federal government began firing striking air traffic controllers
- 06 Aug 1981 Crowned Miss National Teen-Ager
- 07 Aug 1981 The Washington Star ceases all operations after 128 years of publication.
- 09 Aug 1981 52nd All Star Baseball Game: NL wins 5-4 at Municipal Stadium, Cleveland
- 10 Aug 1981 Coca-Cola Bottling Co agrees to pump $34 million into black business
- 12 Aug 1981 IBM introduces PC and PC-DOS version 1.0
- 13 Aug 1981 Last broadcast of Waltons on CBS-TV
- 14 Aug 1981 Phils Mike Schmidt hits his 300th career HR off New York Met Mike Scott
- 15 Aug 1981 Botham scores a century in 86 balls vs. Australia at Old Trafford
- 16 Aug 1981 Jan Stephenson wins LPGA Mary Kay Golf Classic
- 18 Aug 1981 My Fair Lady opens at Uris Theater NYC for 119 performances
- 19 Aug 1981 2 US Navy F-14 jet fighters shoot down 2 Soviet-built Libyan SU-22
- 24 Aug 1981 American Charles Chapman is 1st black to swim English Channel
- 25 Aug 1981 Jeff Schwartz sets solo record for trampoline bouncing (266:09).
- 26 Aug 1981 Space Shuttle vehicle moves to Launch Complex 39A for STS-2 mission
- 27 Aug 1981 Divers begin to recover a safe found aboard Andrea Doria
- 28 Aug 1981 Sebastian Coe of the UK sets 1-mi record of 3:47.33
- 29 Aug 1981 28th Walker Cup: US wins 15-9
- 30 Aug 1981 Joanne Carner wins Columbia Savings LPGA Golf Classic
- 31 Aug 1981 Royals manager Jim Frey is fired and replaced by Dick Howser
- 12 Aug 1981 The IBM Personal Computer is released.
Famous Birthday
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Famous Deaths
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Music charts
Which were the top hits in August 1981?
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Top #5 songs in the USA
- Rick Springfield - Jessie's Girl
- Diana Ross - Endless Love
- Air Supply - The One That You Love
- Joey Scarbury - Theme From The Greatest American Hero (Believe It Or Not)
- Pointer Sisters - Slow Hand
Top #5 songs in the UK
- The Specials - Ghost Town
- Shakin' Stevens - Green Door
- Starsound - Stars On 45 (Volume 2)
- Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - Hooked On Classics
- Bad Manners - Can Can
Movies
Which were the most popular Movies released in that month?
Books
Which were the most popular books released in August 1981?
Wealth And Poverty
By: George Gilder
The New York Times bestseller Wealth and Poverty, by George F. Gilder, is hailed "the guide to capitalism" and is one of the most recognizable economic books ever written.
Tar Baby
By: Toni Morrison
Tar Baby, Toni Morrison's reimagining of love is ravishingly beautiful and emotionally explosive. Jadine is a black fashion model who has a white patron and white boyfriend.
How To Make Love To A Man
By: Alexandra Penney
QUESTION ANY MAN. If you can convince him, he will likely tell you that he wants to be loved as much as being a wife.
The Hite Report On Male Sexuality
By: Shere Hite
"A riveting document! "NEWSWEEKOOver 7,000 men from thirteen to ninety seven years old talk about: How they see women as wives, lovers and friends; Why a majority of men love marriage, but not
Prisoner Without A Name, Cell Without A Number
By: Jacobo Timerman
The Americas, Ilan Stanvans, Series Editor EUR Los Angeles Times Book Prize Winner EUR. Selected by the New York Times as "Books of the Century".