Week of March 8, 1985

A bomb explodes on a crowded Beirut street killing at least 62.

President Konstantin U. Chernenko of Russia, only 13

months in the Kremlin hierarchy, dies at 73. He’s the third

Soviet leader to pass in less than 2 ½ years. His predecessor,

Yuri V. Andropov, held office for only 15 months before dying in

February, 1984.

Mikhail S. Gorbachev takes over the Soviet Union’s

leadership. He is considered highly intelligent and

during a several trips abroad, charmed his hosts

with a polished manner. He is 54.

The Soviet Union buries Konstantin Chernenko in

a hero’s grave on Red Square in an elaborate

state funeral and new leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev

quickly began meeting with world leaders who

attended the ceremony, including Vice President

George Bush.

The United States secretly evacuates an undisclosed number of American

officials from war-torn Lebanon, reports the White House.

Medical - Dr. William Pierce at Hershey (Pa) Medical Center receives federal

approval to use an artificial heart that he and others developed as a means to

keep patients alive until a donor heat can be obtained Meantime in Louisville,

artificial heart recipient William Schroeder will not be able to go home for a son’s

wedding this weekend as he had hoped, because of medical crisis.”

President Reagan will be eating more fiber and doing without rare steaks and

orange juice for a while to help doctors do further tests on his medical condition

after discovering blood in his stool and a new, non-cancerous lesion in his lower

intestine.

The nation’s unemployment rate drops to 7.3% from 7.4% in January.

CBS Chairman Thom Wyman says he does not consider Ted Turner a serious

bidder to take over CBS or any other television network.

Week of March 8, 1985

A man who changed his name to Coke-Is-It because his old one was frequently

mispronounced has reached an agreement with Coca-Cola Co., which holds the

trademark. Fred Koch of Vermont changed his name legally to Coke-Is-It saying

he was tired of hearing people pronounce his name as “Kotch” or Cook.”

Former President Richard M. Nixon is dropping his Secret service protection,

opting instead for private security agents in what he says is an effort to save the

government about $3 million a year.

Coleco reports that revenue jumped 36.9% for the quarter on its hot-selling

Cabbage patch kids line of dolls and accessories, but the company overhaul lost

money in 1984 and has abandoned its failed Adam home computer.

Sports -

The New Orleans Saints is purchased for $64 million from John Mecom Jr., who

purchased the team for $8 million in 1967. Buyer is a group of businessmen

headed by Tom Benson.

Pitcher Dave Stieb signs baseball’s longest playing contract, keeping him with

the Toronto Blue Jays through 1995 and making him one of the highest-paid

players on the game. The 11-year contract will payout $16.6 million in salary.

Entertainment news -

Passing - Character actor Edward Andrews . He was

70.

Television news -

“Dynasty” will have a spin-off. Look for the Colby’s next

TV season. John James who plays Jeff Colby will star in

the new show.

Disney says its Pay-TV “Disney Channel” with 1.8 million

subscribers has broken even. Subscribers pay between $7 and $15 a month to

receive the channel.

National resurgence of professional wrestling is underway and

out front is a quirky show called “Wrestling TNT” on the USA

Cable network. It’s a Baltimore-based wrestling talk show

hosted by WWF promoter Vince McMahon and Lord Alfred

Hayes. You never know who’s going to be on the program -

Paul (The Butcher Vachon, George (The Animal) Steele, Capt.

Lou Albano , Jimmy (Superfly) Snuka, Iron Shiek, Andre the

Week of March 8, 1985

Giant, Mad Dog Vachon, Big John stud, Sgt. Slaughter or the Samoan Tonga

Kid. They’ve all been on the program.

Did you catch the MTV broadcast of the

Madison Square garden rematch between

Hulk Hogan and Rowdy Roddy Piper? It

ended when Mr. T. came out of the crowd to

defend Cyndi Lauper (what was she doing

in the ring?) Hilarious.

Next time - It’s Rowdy Roddy and Paul (Mr.

Wonderful) Orndorf facing Hulk Hogan.

Catch it March 31 on pay-TV.

More wrestling - Recently, 20/20 reporter

John Stossel, while interviewing Dr. D., got

decked by him. He got up, only to be decked

again by Dr. D. The reporter has pain in his

ears and is considering legal action. Dr D.

was fined $3,000 by the WWF and

suspended for three months.

Friday night television -

CBS - Magic of David Copperfield, Dallas, Falcon Crest

NBC - Code Name: Foxfire, Miami Vice, Johnny Carson

ABC - Benson, Webster, Street Hawk, matt Houston, Nightline, ABC Rocks

PBS - Washington Week, Wall St. Week

USA - Night Flight

ABC Rocks - Video show. This week - videos from Pat Metheny, the

Commodores and David Bowie.