1986 Cost of Living
Gallon of Gas
$0.93
Stam p
$0.24
Movie Ticket
$2.75
Average Rent
New House
New Car
$385 / m o
$89,463
$9,281
Average Incom e
$22,339
Harvard Tuition
$10,590
1986 Events
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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
1986 Events
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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
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Amanda Bynes, actress
Amanda Weir, American Olympic swimmer
Charlotte Church, singer
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, child stars
Lindsay Lohan, actress
1986 Famous Deaths
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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
Top Gun
Crocodile Dundee
Platoon
Karate Kid, Part II, The
Star Trek IV: The Voyage
Home
Back to School
Aliens
Golden Child, The
Ruthless People
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Hoosiers
Starring
Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis & Val Kilmer
Paul Hogan & Linda Kozlowski
Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger & Willem
Dafoe
Ralph Macchio & Pat Morita
William Shatner & Leonard Nimoy
Rodney Dangerfield & Sally Kellerman
Sigourney Weaver & Michael Biehn
Eddie Murphy
Danny DeVito, Bette Midler & Judge
Reinhold
Matthew Broderick & Alan Ruck
Gene Hackman & Dennis Hopper
Other Memorable 1986 Films
52 Pick-Up
About Last Night...
American Anthem
American Tail, An
April Fool's Day
Armed and Dangerous
At Close Range
Band of the Hand
Best of Times, The
Big Trouble
Big Trouble in Little China
Black Moon Rising
Blue Velvet
Brighton Beach Memoirs
Care Bears Movie II
Children of a Lesser God
Clan of the Cave Bear, The
Club Paradise
Cobra
Color of Money, The
Starring
Roy Scheider & Ann-Margret
Rob Lowe, Demi Moore & James Belushi
Janet Jones & Mitchell Gaylord
voice of Dom Deloise
Deborah Foreman & Thomas F. Wilson
("Biff")
John Candy, Eugene Levy & Meg Ryan
Sean Penn & Christopher Walken
Stephen Lang & Laurence Fishburne
Robin Williams & Kurt Russell
Peter Falk, Alan Arkin & Beverly D'Angelo
Kurt Russell & Kim Cattrall
Tommy Lee Jones & Linda Hamilton
Isabella Rossellini & Dennis Hopper
Richard Bright & Jonathan Silverman
William Hurt & Marlee Matlin
Daryl Hannah
Robin Williams & Peter O'Toole
Sylvester Stallone & Brigitte Nielsen
Paul Newman & Tom Cruise
Diane Keaton, Jessica Lange & Sissy
Crimes of the Heart
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
Dick Butkus
Picture
Barbara Hershey, Mia Farrow & Dianne
Hannah and Her Sisters
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
Howard the Duck
Invaders from Mars
Iron Eagle
Jumpin' Jack Flash
Just Between Friends
Labyrinth
Legal Eagles
Let's Get Harry
Little Shop of Horrors
Lucas
Manhattan Project, The
Maximum Overdrive
Mission, The
Mona Lisa
Money Pit, The
Morning After, The
Mosquito Coast, The
My Chauffeur
My Little Pony: The Movie
Name Of The Rose, The
Nine 1/2 Weeks
No Mercy
No Retreat, No Surrender
Nobody's Fool
Nothing in Common
Odd Jobs
One Crazy Summer
Out of Bounds
Peggy Sue Got Married
Police Academy 3: Back in
Training
Poltergeist II: The Other Side
Pretty in Pink
Psycho III
Quicksilver
Raw Deal
River's Edge
Running Scared
Salvador
Seize The Day
Shanghai Surprise
She's Gotta Have It
William Katt ("Greatest American Hero")
Lea Thompson & Tim Robbins
Karen Black & Hunter Carson
Louis Gossett Jr. & Jason Gedrick
Whoopi Goldberg
Mary Tyler Moore & Ted Danson
David Bowie & Jennifer Connelly
Robert Redford, Debra Winger & Daryl
Hannah
Gary Busey & Glenn Frey
Rick Moranis & Ellen Greene
Corey Haim & Charlie Sheen
John Lithgow
Emilio Estevez
Robert De Niro & Jeremy Irons
Bob Hoskins & Michael Caine
Tom Hanks & Shelley Long
Jane Fonda & Jeff Bridges
Harrison Ford & River Phoenix
Deborah Foreman & Howard Hesseman
Sean Connery & Christian Slater
Mickey Rourke & Kim Basinger
Richard Gere & Kim Basinger
Jean-Claude Van Damme
Rosanna Arquette & Eric Roberts
Tom Hanks & Jackie Gleason
Paul Reiser & Robert Townsend
John Cusack & Demi Moore
Anthony Michael Hall & Jenny Wright
Kathleen Turner & Nicolas Cage
Steve Guttenberg
JoBeth Williams, Craig T. Nelson & Heather
O'Rourke
Molly Ringwald & Jon Cryer
Anthony Perkins
Kevin Bacon & Jami Gertz
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Crispin Glover, Keanu Reeves & Ione Skye
Gregory Hines, Billy Crystal & Jimmy Smits
James Woods & James Belushi
Robin Williams
Sean Penn & Madonna
Spike Lee
Short Circuit
Sid and Nancy
Sizzle Beach, U.S.A.
Solarbabies
Something Wild
Soul Man
Spacecamp
Spies Like Us
Stand by Me
Streets of Gold
Sweet Liberty
Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2,
The
That's Life!
Three Amigos!
Touch and Go
Tough Guys
Transformers: The Movie,
The
Troll
True Stories
Twisted
Wise Guys
Wraith, The
Youngblood
Ally Sheedy & Steve Guttenberg
Gary Oldman
Kevin Costner
Jami Gertz & Jason Patric
Jeff Daniels & Melanie Griffith
C. Thomas Howell & Rae Dawn Chong
Kate Capshaw, Lea Thompson & Kelly
Preston
Chevy Chase & Dan Aykroyd
River Phoenix & Corey Feldman
Adrian Pasdar & Wesley Snipes
Alan Alda, Michael Caine & Michelle Pfeiffer
Dennis Hopper
Jack Lemmon & Julie Andrews
Chevy Chase, Steve Martin & Martin Short
Michael Keaton & Maria Conchita Alonso
Burt Lancaster & Kirk Douglas
Michael Moriarty & Shelley Hack
David Byrne & John Goodman
Lois Smith & Christian Slater
Danny DeVito & Joe Piscopo
Charlie Sheen & Randy Quaid
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".
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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
A.M. Chicago changes its name to
The Oprah Winfrey Show and
premieres on national television
ALF
Amen
Designing Women
Double Dare
L.A. Law
Matlock
Pee-wee's Playhouse
Perfect Strangers
Sledge Hammer!
Series Finales in 1986
Benson
Diff'rent Strokes
Knight Rider
Press Your Luck
Schoolhouse Rock!
The Fall Guy
The Love Boat
Too Close for Comfort
Trapper John, M.D.
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
Dynasty
Facts Of Life, The
Falcon Crest
Fame
Family Ties
Fraggle Rock
Gimme a Break
GLOW: Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling
Golden Girls, The
Growing Pains
Head of the Class
Highway to Heaven
Hill Street Blues
Hogan Family, The
Hotel
Hunter
It's Garry Shandling's Show.
Jack and Mike
Kate & Allie
Knots Landing
Life with Lucy
MacGyver
People's Court
Pound Puppies
Redd Foxx Show, The
Remington Steele
Ripley's Believe It or Not
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
Silver Spoons
Simon & Simon
Small Wonder
Smurfs
Solid Gold
St. Elsewhere
Star Search
Tales from the Darkside
TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes
USA Up All Night
Valerie
We Got it Made
Webster
What's Happening Now!
Who's the Boss?
You Again?
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
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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!"
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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 KitKat 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!"
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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.
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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
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Asteroids
Breakout
Centipede
Defender
Dig Dug
Donkey Kong
Elevator Action
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Frogger
Galaga
Mario Brothers
Missile Command
Ms. Pacman
Pac-Man
Pengo
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Pipedream
Punchout
Qbert
Tempest
Tetris
Tron