Week of July 30, 1991
START pact (Strategic Arms Reduction
Treaty) - President Bush and Soviet President
Mikhail S. Gorbachev sign the historic treaty,
which cuts their nations’ nuclear arsenals.
Bush says with the new treaty, the two
countries “reverse a half-century of steadily
growing strategic arsenals.” “More than that,
we take a significant step forward in dispelling
a half-century of mistrust.” In a brief speech
before signing START - President Gorbachev
said, “This is the beginning.” “Let us get down to work again.”
Greek passenger liner Oceanos sinks in storm-lashed seas 1 1/2 miles off the
coast of South Africa. All but 15 of the 580 passengers and crewmembers are
accounted for.
Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister Hans van den Broke - head of a European
Community peace mission, withdraws in frustration from the Yugoslav crisis,
announcing that mediation efforts had failed. He predicts the disintegrating
country is “facing tragedy and catastrophe.” “We have succeeded ... At this very
moment, there is nothing more we can do here.”
Iraq admits that its military scientists had experimented with germ warfare, but
insists that the program was stopped last fall for fear of U.S. bombing. President
Saddam Hussein’s regime had previously denied accusations that it had or was
developing biological weapons. The Iraqis said they had withheld the information
until now “because it would have been misconstrued by the world at large.” The
United Nations quickly confirmed the report.
A bus carrying Girl Scouts plunges down an embankment near Palm Springs,
CA, killing four of the girls and three adults.
After 19 months - Senator Alfonse D’Amato of New York
is cleared by the Senate Ethics Committee of allegations
that he abused his office. D’Amato said the committee
found that his brother, Armand, a lobbyist for the Unisys
Corp (a large computer concern), had persuaded D’Amato
aides to write letters to the Pentagon on the company’s
behalf. The panel did say the senator “was negligent in
failing to establish appropriate standards for the operation
of his office” in connection with his brother’s actions.
Week of July 30, 1991
D’Amato denied that he had known about the letters and that his brother has
been told to stay away from the office and that his chief of staff and legislative
director are now “aware of the embarrassment this has caused.”
Consumer electronics manufacturer Denon introduces the first compact disc
recorder for the home. The unit sells for $19,000 but Denon expects its prices to
drop sharply within the next year and that units could sell for $5,000 in two years.
Recordable discs for the system sell for $40 each. Denon expects sales to be in
“the tens” of units this year, increasing to “the hundreds” of units in 1992. The
product is being introduced at Dow Stereo in San Diego (D.O.W. - Dow Now!).
Sony announced in May that it expects to introduce a re-recordable $300 to $600
compact disc system in late 1992 called the Mini Disc that will be highly portable.
The Denon discs are not re-recordable.
Passing - football innovator Paul Brown (82).
Founded the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland
Browns. Known as the man who made football
into a science, he led the Cincinnati Bengals as
couch or general manager since 1967. He spent
25 years as a pro football coach, starting in
1946 with the Cleveland Browns, who were
named for him by the team’s first owner, Mickey
McBride. He led the Browns to four
championships in the All-America Football
Conference - a rival to the NFL. Paul Brown
directly influenced several top coaches who
worked with him through the years - Don Shula, Bill Walsh and Chuck Noll who
combined, have won 11 of the 25 Super Bowls. Fifty of his players have coached
NFL Teams.
Singer/Producer Rick James (43) is arrested
with his girlfriend Tanya Anne Hijazi for allegedly
imprisoning and torturing a 24-year-old woman
with a hot cocaine pipe over three days at his
Hollywood Hills home. Both were arrested on
suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, false
imprisonment, force oral copulation, making
terrorist threats and furnishing narcotics. James
began his career in the mid-60’s when he and
unknown musician Neil Young formed a rock
band called the Mynah Birds in Toronto. James’
biggest hit to date is “Superfreak” from 1981. M.C.
used the song in his 1990 hit “ U Can’t Touch
Week of July 30, 1991
This” with Rick James being listed as co-writer. In addition to several top-selling
albums, James also produced records for the likes of the Mary Jane Girls, Tinna
Marie and actor Eddie Murphy.
The Beatles are in court to sue Apple Computer Inc in a
trademark infringement. At issue - Apple Corps (The Beatles)
contends that Apple Computer broke a decade-old agreement
by selling computers and other equipment used to produce
music. A 1981 pact between both companies was suppose to
have divvied up rights to the Apple name and the similar logos
each uses worldwide. Under the agreement, Apple Computer
would use its name and logo only in the computer business and the Beatle
company would stick to entertainment. At the time of the agreement in 1981, no
one foresaw how computers would one day play a part in producing music. Apple
Corps - whose four shareholders are
George Harrison, Paul McCartney,
Ringo Starr and Yoko Lennon, is
seeking to block the computer company
from using the Apple name on products
with music applications. They are also
seeking tens of millions in damages. In
1987, Apple Computer wrote to Apple
Corps, saying it wanted to negotiate a
new, less restrictive agreement, but the
talks broke down. In January 1988 Apple
Computer announced that it was
launching the Musical Instrument Digital
Interface (MIDI) - an interface between
computers and musical instruments.
Apple Corps says it wrote, asking them
to stop.
Michael Jordan - the National Basketball Assn’s MVP will guest host the 17th
season premiere of “Saturday Night Live” in
September. Speaking of SNL - former cast member
Garrett Morris will have a recurring role on a new Fox
comedy called “Roc.”
In Sarasota, FL - Pee Wee Herman ( Paul
Reubens ), who was arrested last week in an adult
movie theater for charges of indecent exposure,
denies the charges. The tabloids are having a field
day with it. “A Current Affair” aired a live story the
Week of July 30, 1991
same night from Sarasota with Reubens’ sixth grade teacher. Disney-MGM
Studios in Florida pulls a two-minute video on the backstage tour in which
Peewee explains how voice tracks are worked into a film. “We just suspended it
out of the sensitivity for the guests as a result of the publicity surrounding Pee-
wee Herman this weekend” said a Disney spokesman. Both Reubens and CBS
agree to discontinue the Saturday morning series “Pee-wee’s Playhouse.”
MTV Networks says it will split into three separately
programmed cable channels beginning in mid-1993. The
move comes as the world of 150 cable-TV channels is
expected from local cable providers. Introduction of fiber
optics and video compression are expected to boost
channel capacity within the next few years. Tom Preston,
president of MTV Networks says, “Television is
fragmenting just like radio. This is a move on our part to
specialize and then sell a larger combined audience to our
advertisers.” So far, MTV doesn’t say what format the channels will be. Those
plans could be delayed if local cable service doesn’t expand and some say it
won’t soon.
New at the mart - NyQuil in Liquicaps! “The new shape of NyQuil relief.”
CBS and cable’s USA Network will join forces to air a new series next fall. CBS
will air “Silk Stockings” as a late-night Wednesday show and USA will show the
program in prime time Sundays. Produced by Stephen J. Cannell - the one-hour
series revolves around two detectives (male/female) who specialize in crimes of
passion.
No sidekick for Jay Leno - he says he’ll do it solo when he takes over for Johnny
Carson in May. So it looks like Ed McMahon won’t be replaced. (Of course,
things would change).
Thursday Night Television -
CBS - Top Cops, The Trials Of Rosie
O’Neil, Stephen King’s Golden Years
NBC - The Cosby Show, A Different
World, Cheers, Wings, L.A. Law
ABC - Gabriel’s Fire, Father Dowling
Mysteries, PrimeTime Live
Fox - The Simpsons, True Colors,
Beverly Hills 90210
PBS - Great Journeys, Mystery!, Golden
Age Of Television
Week of July 30, 1991
The Simpsons - Lisa teaches Homer the evils of pirating cable.
Beverly Hills 90210 - Valuables disappear after Brandon lets his friends into the
beach club.
Pop music this week in 1991 -
(Everything I Do) I Do For You - Bryan Adams
Unbelievable - EMF
Rush, Rush - Paula Abdul
P.A.S.S.I.O.N. - Rhythm Syndicate
Right Here, Right Now - Jesus Jones
Summertime - D.J. Jazz Jeff & The Fresh Prince
Temptation - Corina
I’ll Be There - The Escape Club
Every Heartbeat - Amy Grant
Lily Was Here - David A. Stewart & Candy Dulfer
Rush, Rush-Paula Abdul
Piece Of My Heart- Tara Kemp
Place In This World - Michael W. Smith
Fading Like A Flower - Foxette
I Wanna Sex You Up - Color Me Badd
The Dream Is Still Alive - Wilson Phillips
Wind of Change - Scorpions
I Can’t Wait Another Minute - Hi Five
Here I Am (Come and Take Me) - UB 40
Love and Understanding - Cher
Top albums -
For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge - Van
Halen
Spellbound - Paul Abdul
Luck of the Draw - Bonnie Raitt
Out of Time - R.E.M.
Unforgettable With Love - Natalie Cole
Slave to the Grind - Skid Row
Cooleyhighharmony - Boyz II Men
Time, Love & Tenderness - Michael Bolton
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves - soundtrack
Gonna Make You Sweat - C + C Music Factory
No Fences - Garth Brooks
EFIL4ZAGGIN - N.W.A.
Week of July 30, 1991
More albums -
It’s All About To Change - Travis Tritt
Attack of the Killer B’s - Anthrax
Seal - Seal
C.M.B - Color Me Badd
Cooley High Harmony - Boyz II Men
Rhythm Syndicate - Rhythm Syndicate
Rumor and Sigh - Richard Thompson
Homebase - DJ Jazzy Jeff And The
Fresh Prince
Greatest Hits - Eurythmics
Don’t Knock The Jukebox - Alan Jackson
High Five - High Five
The White Room - The KLF
Unusual Heat - Foreigner
What You See Is What You Sweat -
Aretha Franklin
Something In Red - Lorrie Morgan
So Intense - Lisa Fischer
No Rules - Kik Tracee
Long Over-Due - James Brown
Hard At Play - Huey Lewis And The
News
Into The Great Wide Open - Tom Petty
and the Heartbreakers
Robin Hood - soundtrack
Go West Young Man - Michael W. Smith
Crazy World - Scorpions
The LA’s - The LA’s
The Ruler’s Back - Slick Rick
Hey Stoopid - Alice Cooper
The Globe - Big Audio Dynamite
Labour Of Love - UB 40
3rd Bass - Derelicts of Dialect
Music From - Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey
At the movies -
Regarding Henry - Harrison Ford, Annette Benning
Point Break - Keanu Reeves, Patrick Swayze
Terminator 2 - Arnold Schwarzenegger
The Naked Gun 2 - Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley
City Slickers - Billy Crystal, Daniel Stern
Week of July 30, 1991
Robin Hood - Prince of Thieves - Kevin Costner
Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey - Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter
The Doctor - William Hurt, Christine Lahti, Mandy Patinkin, Elizabeth Perkins
Boys In The Hood - Cuba Gooding Jr., Ice
Cube
Life Stinks - Mel Brooks, Lesley Ann
Warren, Jeffrey Tambor, Stuart Pankin
Doc Hollywood - Michael J. Fox, Julie
Warner, Woody Harrelson, David Ogden
Stiers, Bridget Fonda
Return To The Blue Lagoon - Milla
Jovovich, Brian Krause
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