Historical Events
The Smurfs TV Debut
"The Smurfs" animated cartoon series by Hanna-Barbera first broadcasts in North America
- 1981 Springbok tour of New Zealand: "All hell breaks loose" as anti-tour supporters fight police and planes flour-bomb the deciding third match won by the All Blacks 25-22 [1]
- Elizabeth Ward (Arkansas), 20, crowned 54th Miss America 1982
Sports History
Red Sox rookie Bob Ojeda no-hits Yanks for 8 innings before Rick Cerone & Dave Winfield lead off 9th with back-to-back doubles
US Open Women's Tennis
US Open Women's Tennis: Tracy Austin wins her second US title; beats Martina Navratilova 1-6, 7-6, 7-6
Famous Birthdays
Jennifer Hudson (42 years old)
American Academy Award-winning actress (Dreamgirls; Respect) and Grammy Award-winning singer ("And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going"), television talk show host, and Tony Award-winning producer (A Strange Loop), born in Chicago, Illinois
- Jered Guzman, American pairs skater (with partner Natalie Vlandis), born in Garden Grove, California
Famous Deaths
- Eugenio Montale, Italian poet and translator (Xenia-Nobel 1975), dies at 84
Died in 1981 1981 Highlights
About September 12, 1981
Day of the Week: Saturday
How Long Ago? 42 years, 7 months and 16 days
Leap Year: No
Generation: Millennial
Chinese Zodiac: Rooster
Star Sign: Virgo
Music Charts
#1 Song: Endless Love - Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
#1 Song: Tainted Love - Soft Cell
