25 Years Ago

It's October 1980. Boxer Muhammad Ali loses his bid for his 4th heavyweight championship to Larry Holmes.

 Princess Caroline of Monaco divorces Philippe Junot. 

 Rep. John Jennette (D-SC) is found guilty in the Abscam bribery trial.

 Bombs explode in Los Angeles, New York City, and London. An anti-Turkish group claims responsibility.

 Ronald Reagan announces that if elected President, he will appoint a woman to the Supreme Court.

 Mt. Saint Helens erupts again.

 The Pearl Brewing Company introduces a beer called "J.R. Ewing's Private Stock," which comes in ‘six-shooter six-packs, and is "imported from Texas."

 The Philadelphia Phillies beat the Kansas City Royals to wind the 1980 World Series, four games to two. 

 Iranian diplomatic sources say that the 52 American hostages will not be released before the US Presidential election because the Ayatollah Khomeini does not want their release to benefit either candidate.

 President Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan debate one week before the election. Reagan denies he would overreact militarily as President, saying "I don't ever want to see another generation of Americans bleed their lives away" in a foreign country.  During the debate, Reagan takes Carter to task for misstating and misunderstanding him, chiding him with "There you go again."

 Howard Hughes' Spruce Goose, the largest airplane ever built, is pulled by tugboat across Long Beach, California, harbor where it will rest next to the Queen Mary. The plane, which has a 320-foot wing span, had been stored in a hanger since its first and only flight in 1947.

 Pollster George Gallup says the Presidential election is too close to call., and that voters have little enthusiasm for any candidate. Pollster Lou Harris gives the edge to Ronald Reagan and says the election will be won and lost in the South.

 The Tioga County Democratic Campaign Headquarters opens on Lake Street in Owego.

 The Binghamton Whalers play their first home game of the season, beating the Maine Mariners 4-2.

 The first snow of the season falls in the Southern Tier on October 13.

 The Tri-Cities Opera opens its 32nd season with Madame Butterfly performed at the Forum. Tickets are $14, $11, and $8.

 Vice President Walter Mondale visits Binghamton.

 IBM reopens the Homestead on Watson Boulevard after its renovation for use as classrooms and offices. 

 Regular, unleaded gas is $1.22 a gallon at self-service stations and  $1.27 at full-service stations. Unleaded gas is $1.25 self-service, $1.29 full-service.

 Movies playing in local theaters include Terror Train; Oh, God! Book II; Coast to Coast; In God We Trust; Somewhere in Time; My Bodyguard; Stardust Memories; Song of the South; Private Benjamin; Hopscotch; It's My Turn; and The Awakening.

 NBC airs the six-hour miniseries Beulah Land. Set on a Georgia plantation in the 1800s, it stars Lesley Ann Warren, Meredith Baxter Birney, and Dorian Harewood.

 Best sellers include Firestarter by Stephen King, The Key to Rebecca by Ken Follett, The Covenant by James Michener, The Sky's the Limit by Wayne Dyer, and Merv by Merv Griffen.

 Top tunes include Another One Bites the Dust by Queen, All Out of Love by Air Supply, Upside Down by Diana Ross, Give Me the Night by George Benson, Drivin' My Life Away by Eddie Rabbit, Woman in Love by Barbra Streisand, He's So Shy by Pointer Sisters, Real Love by Doobie Brothers.

 A 16-ounce bag of miniature Hershey's candy bars cost $1.57, a one-pound bag of candy corn costs 69¢, and a 12-ounce bag of fun size Reggie! candy bars costs $1.49. 

 Happy Halloween!