Week of November 2, 1989
President Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua ends a 19-
month-old cease fire against the U.S.-backed contra
rebels and says the Sandinista army will try to push
them back to bases in Honduras. He is asking rebel
leaders to meet in New York next week for talks on
ending the newly resurgent Nicaraguan war.
Democrat David Dinkins becomes New York City’s
first black mayor, defeating Republican Rudolph W.
Giuliani. Dinkins received 51% of the vote to
Giuliani’s 48%.
President Bush declares that Vice President Dan
Quayle would “absolutely” be his choice for a running mate in 1992.
On national television - East German leader Egon Krenz
appeals to disillusioned young people not to join the growing
exodus to the west and promises “far reaching reforms in the
troubled Communist nation. Last Wednesday, East Germany
lifted its month-old ban on travel to Czechoslovakia, the only
country East German’s can visit freely, and that began an
exodus of at least 12,000 persons.
Compaq introduces a new PC - one it’s touting as the world’s most powerful
desktop personal computer. The “Deskpro 486-25 uses Intel’s 486
microprocessor - and has three times the computing speed found in the latest
386 machines.
Los Angeles - Six years after the first arrest in the McMartin Pre-School
molestation case - the case finally goes to a jury. It’s the longest and costliest
criminal proceeding in history.
Also in Los Angeles - another major newspaper folds as the Harold Examiner
halts publishing for good after 118 years. That leaves
the city with two other papers - the Los Angeles Times
and Daily News.
More Los Angeles - Richard Ramirez - the “Night
Stalker” - who murdered or raped more than a dozen
people in a 1985 rampage, is sentenced to death in
the gas chamber. Wearing dark glasses, the killer
Week of November 2, 1989
uttered - “you don’t understand ... and you are not expected to, you are not
capable of it. I am beyond your experience. I am beyond doing evil. Legions of
the night, night breed. Repeat not the errors of the Night Stalker and show no
mercy. I will be avenged.”
Facing rivalry from a fax onslaught from small business and others, the Post
Office says it will begin placing fax machines in local offices. Fax users will pay
by credit card to send documents worldwide around the clock. The service will be
provided by a private company.
British automaker Jaguar agrees to a $2.5 billion buyout for Ford Motor Co. Auto
industry analysts say Jaguar needs fast cash to tool up for new models to
compete with top-range Japanese cars, which could make headway in the luxury
car market.
Passing - Singer/songwriter Barry Sadler (49) - best knew
for his huge it “Ballad of the Green Berets” in 1966. He had
been hospitalized in various facilities since he was critically
injured by gunfire last year while training Contra rebels in
Guatemala. He had suffered brain damage in the shooting.
In 1978, Sadler shot and killed the estranged boyfriend of a
woman he was seeing. He plead guilty to voluntary
manslaughter and was sentenced to up to five years in the
Tennessee State Penitentiary. Later, a judge reduced the
sentence to 30 days and two years’ probation.
Passing - Novelty recording artist Dickie
Goodman - began and perfected the art
of ‘break-in” hit records, where bits of
popular songs are assembled to tell a
story by an “interviewer.” From his son
Jon: “Dickie Goodman, born Richard D
Goodman April 19 1934 in Brooklyn NY,
died Nov 6 1989 of a self inflicted
gunshot. The Original Napster, Dickie
Goodman became famous for his 1956
#1 hit, THE FLYING SAUCER. Sued by
17 labels for copywrite violation, the case
was in Time magazine and went all the
way to NY Supreme Court where case
law was set for music sampling for the
first time. After hearing the record, the judge ruled that Dickie Goodman had
Week of November 2, 1989
created a new work and the sampling was fair use as long as he paid for it. THE
FLYING SAUCER used sound bites of popular songs to answer questions Dickie
Goodman asked while satirizing a news report of flying saucers. Dickie Goodman
continued the genre he created of Break-In records, charting 17 times over four
decades (he is listed by Billboard as the number
one comedy/novelty artist). He got a gold record for Mr. JAWS (#1) in 1975.
This record also used the reporter/sampling formula to parody the movie JAWS.
GUINNESS is currently researching the book, THE KING OF NOVELTY, which
may prove Dickie Goodman sampled more songs than any other artist in music
business history.”
Passing - Dorothy Fuldheim (96) - Cleveland
television broadcaster whose career spanded
more than 35 years. She was rarely, if ever, off
Cleveland television screens and was known by
everybody in the area. Later, she became a
lecturer and traveled extensively abroad.
Found dead - Jason McCallum (27) - adopted
son of actor David McCallum and actress Jill
Ireland in his Laurel Canyon home. His long
battle of drug addiction was the subject of a
book by Ireland published last year. Jill Ireland, who has been battling cancer for
months said - “I hate drugs. Jason had shown signs of being on the road to
recovery. The meant a lot to Jason, and he hoped it would keep other young
people from going through what he had gone through.”
Actor Todd Bridges (Diff’rent Strokes) is acquitted in Los Angeles Superior Court
of charges of attempted murder and attempted voluntary manslaughter in the
shooting of a convicted Texas drug dealer.
It’s confirmed - Actress Amanda Blake , who for many
years portrayed “Miss Kitty” on “Gunsmoke” died of AIDS
on August 16.
Sting makes his Broadway debut in the new production
of “3 Penny Opera” to mixed reviews. The New York
Times said the “Sting is a stiff onstage” but the New York
Post praised the rock ‘n roll star - “Sting has a natural
presence and makes a debonair bandit-villain.”
Week of November 2, 1989
MCA television announces Ron Reagan, son of former President and Nancy
Reagan will co-host a syndicated daytime talk show beginning next year. The
other co-host will be Cristina Ferrare. Reagan will continue as a special
correspondent for ABC-TV’s “Good Morning America.”
Jessica Hahn (30), the former church secretary whose
sexual encounter with TV evangelist Jim Bakker began
his downfall, is set to host a pay-TV special November
10th “Thunder and Mud.” The special will feature heavy-
metal rock and female mud wrestling.
In sports
- Peter Rozelle (63) bids farewell as NFL
commissioner: “I just want to say that after seven months
of waiting, I feel like a combination of Kareem Abdul-
Jabbar, Willie Shoemaker and Sarah Bernhardt. I’ve had
more farewell parties and farewell press conferences than I can remember.”
Sports - Lou Piniella is named manager of the Cincinnati
Reds. He’s a former manager of the Yankees... John
McNamara is named manager of the Cleveland Indians,
succeeding Doc Edwards... John Lucas gets another shot
with the Houston Rockets - his fourth time. The basketball
star has a history of drug problems
Bestsellers -
Clear and Present Danger - Tom Clancy
The Dark Half - Stephen King
Foucault’s Pendulum - Umberto Eco
The Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follett
Some Can Whistle - Larry McMurtry
Poodle Springs - Raymond Chandler
My Turn: Memoirs of Nancy Reagan - Nancy Reagan
Roseanne: My Life As A Woman - Roseanne Barr
All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten - Robert Fulghum
Among Schoolchildren - Tracy Kidder
It Was On Fire When I Lay Down on it - Robert Fulghum
Head First: The Biology Of Hope - Norman Cousins
Wealth Without Risk - Charles J. Givens
Week of November 2, 1989
TV Ratings -
The Cosby Show - 24.4
A Different World - 24.7
Cheers - 24.4
Roseanne - 23.8
The Golden Girls - 21.3
Dear John - 21.2
60 Minutes - 21.1
Murder, She Wrote - 20.2
L.A. Law - 20.1
Empty Nest - 20.1
Monday Night Football - 19.9
Barbara Walters Special - 19.0
Unsolved Mysteries - 19.0
In The Heat of the Night - 18.9
Growing Pains - 17.6
Movie - Crocodile Dundee - 17.6
The Wonder Years - 17.4
Matlock - 17.3
Who’s The Boss?? - 16.8
Settle The Score - 16.8
Head of the Class - 16.7
Movie - Taken Away - 16.3
Chicken Soup - 15.9
Hunter - 15.7
Full House - 15.7
Midnight Caller - 15.1
Night Court - 15.1
Doogie Howser, M.D. - 15.0
ABC cancels Jackie Mason’s sitcom
“Chicken Soup” which he starred with
Lynn Redgrave .
Saturday Night Television -
CBS - Paradise, Tour of Duty, Saturday
Night With Connie Chung
NBC - 227, Amen, The Golden Girls,
Empty Nest, Hunter
ABC - Mr. Belvedere, Living Dolls, Kojak
FOX - Cops, The Reporters, Beyond
Week of November 2, 1989
Tomorrow
HBO - Montreal International Comedy Festival - Rich
Hall, Jerry Seinfeld, Rick Decommun, Julie Brown,
Bobcat Goldthwait.
TNN - (Nashville Network) - Country Clips, Classic Rock
With Wolfman Jack, Grand Ole Opry, This Week In
Country Music, Wish You Were Here
The Golden Girls - Rose fears she’s not smart enough for
her new beau.
Later on - NBC broadcasts a best of “Saturday Night Live” with Steve Martin,
Leslie Nielsen, John Malkovich and Dolly Parton. Also the Fine Young Cannibals,
Edie Brickell & New Bohemians.
Pop music this week in 1989 -
When I See You Smile - English
Miss You Much - Janet Jackson
Listen To Your Heart - Roxette
Cover Girl - New Kids On The Block
Love Shack - B-52’s
Blame It On The Rain - Milli Vanilli
Sowing The Seeds Of Love - Tears for Fears
We Didn’t Start The Fire - Billy Joel
Dr Feelgood - Motley Crue
It’s No Crime - BabyFace
Me So Horny - 2 Live Crew
Rock Wit’cha - Bobby Brown
Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind) - New Kids On The
Block
Get On Your Feet - Gloria Estefan
Healing Hands - Elton John
The Best - Tina Turner
(It’s Just) The Way You Love Me - Paula Abdoul
Angelia - Richard Marx
Top Albums -
Girl, You Know It’s True - Milli Vanilli
Rhythm Nation 1814 - Janet Jackson
Steel Wheels - The Rolling Stones
Full Moon Fever - Tom Petty
Dr Feelgood - Motley Crue
Hangin’ Tough - New Kids On The Block
Week of November 2, 1989
Crossroads - Tracy Chapman
Pump - Aerosmith
Forever Your Girl - Paula Abdoul
Skid Row - Skid Row
Other Albums -
Storm Front - Billy Joel
Cosmic Thing - The B-52’s
Cry Like a Rainstrom - Linda Ronstadt featuring Aaron Neville
Freedom - Neil Young
Flying Cowboys - Rickie Lee
Jones
Hot in the Shade - Kiss
A Collection: Greatest Hits and
More - Barbra Streisand
The Sensual World - Kate Bush
Stone Cold Rhythm - Young M.C.
Brave and Crazy - Melissa
Etheridge
Keep on Movin - Soul II Soul
Heart of Stone - Cher
The End Of The Innocence - Don
Henley
Still Crusin’ - The Beach Boys
We Too Are One - Eurythmics
We Can’t Go Wrong - The Cover
Girls
Master of the Game - James ‘JT’ Taylor
Seminar - Sir Mix-A-Lot
Nothing Matters Without Love - Seduction
Built To Last - The Grateful Dead
Mother’s Milk - Red Hot Chilli Peppers
Top Country Single -
Ace In The Hole - George Straight
Week of November 2, 1989
At the movies -
Batman - Jack Nicholson, Michael Keaton, Kim Basinger, Billy Dee Williams,
Jack Palance
The Abyss - Ed Harris,
Mary Elizabeth
Mastrantonio
Look Who’s Talking - John
Travolta, Kirstie Alley
The Fabulous Baker Boys -
Jeff Bridges, Michelle Pieffer
Sex, Lies and Videotape -
James Spader, Andie
MacDowell
Parenthood - Steve Martin,
Tom Hanks, Rick Moranis
Immediate Family - Glenn Close, James Woods
Erik The Viking - Tim Robbins, John Cleese
Sea of Love - Al Pacino, Ellen Barkin
Second Sight - John Larroquet, Bronson Pinchot
When Harry Met Sally - Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan
Johnny Handsome - Mickey Rourke, Ellen Barkin
Worth Winning - Mark Harmon, Leslie Ann Warren
Crimes and Misdemeanors - Woody Allen, Mia Farrow