Week of April 20, 1985
Weekly radio address - President Reagan makes an impassioned last-minute
bid to salvage his request for $14 million in aid to the Nicaraguan rebels. He
accused his Democratic opponents in Congress of advocating a “shameful
surrender” to the Marxist-led regime in Nicaragua.
The United Nations formally rejects a new peace offer from Nicaraguan President
Daniel Ortega, describing it as a call for the surrender of opposition forces and a
last minute ploy to influence the upcoming vote in Congress.
Secretary of Defense
Caspar Weinberger
says that the
Soviets are “lying” and the White House said Moscow
must respond to the death of Maj. Arthur Nicholson Jr.
“in a responsible and reciprocal fashion” or face “adverse
consequences.”
American and Soviet World War II veterans embrace,
shake hands and slap each other on the backs, vowing
“never to wage war again” in a reunion marking the
historic linkup of their armies at the Elbe River 40 years
ago, that sliced Nazi Germany in half.
Reagan setback - Even though the Senate approved - The House effectively kills
all current legislative efforts to provide $14 million in aid of any type to rebels
fighting the leftist Nicaraguan government.
President Reagan
goes on television and appeals for
bipartisan support for his controversial deficit-reduction
package, saying it is “our best assurance of avoiding painful
hardship down the road.”
A copy of the Magna Carta, the 13
th
-Century document on
which much English and American law is based, will go on
display at the National Archives for a year beginning May 2.
Some 80 senators urge President Reagan to reconsider his planned visit to the
Bitburg cemetery in West Germany, where 49 members of Adolf Hitler’s Ss are
buried. Reagan has planned to lay a wreath at the cemetery May 5 during a state
visit to West Germany, but what he intended as a gesture of reconciliation 40
years after Germany’s defeat in WWII has become a political nightmare.
Week of April 20, 1985
Leaders of the Soviet Block sign an agreement extending for two decades, the
Warsaw Pact, the 30-year alliance that binds the Eastern European nations to
the Soviet Union.
East coast drought -
Mayor Ed Koch
declares a drought
emergency in New York City, triggering mandatory water
conservation measures for residents.
Nancy Reagan, convening a “first ladies summit” amid
White House pomp, asks her 17 guests to share their
experiences and search for a common solution to keep
drugs from “maiming” children around the world. Some
attending included Mila Mulroney of Canada, Rosa Helena
Alvarez de Betancur of Columbia, Joan Fitzgerald of
Ireland, Anne-Marie Willoch of Norway and Anna Maria Crazi of Italy.
Big Coca-Cola news - Coca-Cola - the world’s top-selling soft drink for almost a
century is changing it recipe to make it “smoother and sweeter.” The movie is an
effort to hold onto Coke’s share of the cola market Pepsi-Cola has been gaining
in the regular cola market. Coca-Cola says the new formula was discovered by
Chemists when they were doing research four years ago on diet Coca-Cola. The
new Coke will have three calories more. Some 200,000 consumers had been
tested and the results were overwhelmingly in favor of the new Coke test, said a
Coke representative.
Princess Diana
, displaying the strong will for which
she is known, upset Italian officials by insisting on
seeing top-secret NATO equipment aboard an Italian
navy frigate. Here on Charles were on the second day
of a tour of Italy.
The board of CBS Inc. unanimously rejects Ted
Turner’s hostile multibillion-dollar bid for the company,
calling it “grossly inadequate” for the shareholders of
the nation’s leading television network.
United Airlines says it plans to buy Pan American World Airways pacific division
for $750 million - about one-quarter of Pan Am’s system. It’ll give Chicago-based
United a leg into routes in the Far East that it has long sought.
Week of April 20, 1985
Passing - District Judge
Sarah T. Hughes
who became famous when she swore
in Lyndon B. Johnson aboard Air Force One as President after the assassination
of John F. Kennedy She was 88.
Technology -
Sony expanding - Sony electronics looks to Compact disc players, an expanded
line of Walkman personal stereos, dual cassette decks and audio racks to
complement color television and the early introduction of 8mm VCR’s as major
income producers over the next few years.
Radio news - Great era for album rock stations!
Album rocker WNEW-FM hits the 4’s for the first time, getting a 4.1 in the ratings.
In L.A. - all the album rock stations are up - KLOS - 3.7 to a 4.2; KMET from a
3.2 to a 4.1 and KRQ from a 2.5 to a 2.9. WMMR-Philly - 5.9 to a 7.6. WYSP 2.9
to a 3.2.
Comic
Soupy Sales
will be joining WNBC radio middays, in
between Don Imus and Howard Stern.
Radio programmer Rick Sklar has a new service to radio
stations called “Power Hits” to be distributed by Dallas-based
Century 21 Programming. “I’m a believer in live, local
personalities to get ratings, but I’m also a believer in national
hits,” says Sklar.
“I have always tried to observe the public and
reflect what they like. I watch people’s behavior. I don’t want to
Week of April 20, 1985
publicize any specifics beyond that, but what I’m doing always seems to work. I
have tremendous faith in the public.”
Stations will receive prerecorded cartridge libraries and proposed rotation
patterns customized for each market Stations also have the option of retaining
Sklar for individualized consulting.
Sklar says as far as oldies, he won’t go back that far. “There was a lack of good
music from the lat ‘70’s through the early ‘80’s. You didn’t have the big hits and
you really can’t reach back behind that gulf because the music recorded before
that sounds dated. The recording techniques have changed so radically that
you’ve to go rely on more recent material.”
Music news
- British pop stars, who raised about $10 million for Africa’s starving
with “Do They Know It’s Christmas,” have sponsored a shipping service to take
relief supplies to famine victims in Ethiopia and Sudan. A ship renamed Band Aid
1 will sail from Britain for Port Sudan and Assab on the Red Sea this week.
Local but big Cajun hit - “My Toot Toot” by
Rockin’ Sidney on the tiny Maison De Soul
label out of Ville Platte, LA. The label says
some 60,000 singles have been sold. Cover
versions are hitting the market too - one by
Jean Knight and another by Denise Lasalle.
Steve Ray Vaughn performs the National
Anthem at the Houston Astros home opener.
More Radio News
- Westwood One
conducts a three-hour “Radio For Africa” all-
star benefit broadcast to help alleviate
African famine. Anchors Scott Shannon, Dick Clark, Mary Turner and Casey
Kasem (and others - see ad) interviewed a plethora of music people and urged
listeners to send letters of support to the USA for Africa Foundation.
Entertainment news -
Passing - Character actor Richard Haydn.
Television news -
A pilot for a new
Cindy Williams
series called “Joanna” airs this week.
Will it make it? Her character “Joanna” runs a loading dock. Catch it on
ABC.
Week of April 20, 1985
After being in the ratings cellar, NBC-TV is now #2, thanks in part t the hit - the
“Cosby’ show. Out of the past 10 years, NBC has been about last, but this past
TV season, NBC is a solid #2. Brandon Tartikoff, president of NBC’s
entertainment division for the past five years his happy, but isn’t making any
forecasts for next season. ABC’s “Dynasty” edged out CBS’ “Dallas” as the top
show for the past TV season.
Saturday night television
CBS -
Charles In Charge
, E.R. Airwolf,
Cover Up
NBC - Diff’rent Strokes, Gimme a Break,
Hunter, NBC White paper, SNL
T.J. Hooker, The Love Boat, Finder of
Lost Lives
MTV - MTV Presents The Tubes, The
Cars Live 1984-1985, Videos
HBO - Not Necessarily the News,
Movies
USA - Night Flight
Charles in Charge - Douglas falls in love.
The Love Boat - Gopher and Isaac believe Judy’s new love has a shady past.
Saturday Night Live (repeat) - Kathleen Turner hosts with musical guest John
Waite.
Top Hits In Britain -
Easy Lover - Philip Bailey and Phil
Collins
Everybody Wants To Rule The World -
Tears For Fears
We Are The World - USA For Africa
Move Closer - Phyllis Nelson
Welcome to The Pleasure Dome -
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
Clouds Across The Moon - Reh Band
One More Night - Phil Collins
Pie Jesu - Sarah Brightman & Paul Miles
Kingston
Could It Me I’m Fallin In Love - David
Grahm and Jaki Grahm
The Heat Is On - Glenn Frey
Week of April 20, 1985
Spend the Night - Cool Notes
Hot Rock Album Cuts -
That Was Yesterday - Foreigner
Don’t Come Around Here No More - Tom Petty and
the Heartbreakers
Don’t You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds
Forever Man - Eric Clapton
I’m On Fire - Bruce Springsteen
Lonely At The Top - Mick Jagger
Rock & Roll Girls - John Fogerty
Talk To ME - Fiona
Trapped - Bruce Springsteen
Everybody Wants To Rule The World - Tears For
Fears
Along Comes A Woman - Chicago
That Was Yesterday - Foreigner
Top Albums -
Centerfield - John Fogerty
No Jacket Required - Phil Collins
Born in the U.S.A. - Bruce Springsteen
Make it Big - Wham!
We Are The World - USA For Africa
Diamond Life - Sade
Like A Virgin - Madonna
Private Dancer - Tina Turner
Agent Provocateur - Foreigner
She’s The Boss - Mike Jagger
Vision Quest Soundtrack
Beverly Hills Cop Soundtrack
Building The Perfect Beast - Don Henley
New Edition - New Edition
Southern Accents - Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers
Hot Hits -
Nightshift
- Commodores
We Are The World - USA For Africa
I’m On Fire - Bruce Springsteen
Crazy For You - Madonna
Obsession - Animotion
Rhythm of the Night - DeBarge
Week of April 20, 1985
One Night In Bangkok - Murray Head
Missing You - Diana Ross
One More Night - Phil Collins
Don’t You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds
All She Wants To Do Is Dance - Don Henley
Lover Girl - Teena Marie
Along Comes A Woman - Chicago
Some Like It Hot - Power Station
Somebody - Bryan Adams
Smooth Operator - Sade
Everything She Wants - Wham!
Material Girl - Madonna
That Was Yesterday - Foreigner
Top Country -
There’s No Way - Alabama
Time Don’t Run Out On Me - Anne
Murray
The Cowboy Rides Away - George Strait
Girls Night Out - The Judds
Warning Sign - Eddie Rabbitt
Radio Heart - Charly McClain
Fallin’ Love - Sylvia
Step That Step - Sawyer Brown
In A New York Minute - Ronnie McDowell
Somebody Should Leave - Reba McEntire
Don’t Call It Love - Dolly Parton
At the movies -
Just One of the Guys
Lost In America
Mask
LadyHawke
Moving Violations
Girls Just Want To Have Fun
Fandango
Amadeus
Witness
Creature
Police Academy 2
Stick
Fraternity Vacation
Beverly Hills Cop
