It's August 1983. The U.S. House of Representative approves making Martin Luther King's birthday a national holiday.

 Actress Carolyn Jones, 53, best  known for her role as Morticia Addams on TV's The Addams Family, dies of cancer in California.

 An underground fire in downtown Manhattan causes a power failure, closing hundreds of offices and businesses. 

 Lyricist Ira Gershwin, 86, dies in Beverly Hills.

 A fire burns six acres at Paramount Studios in California, destroying a New York street scene, and damaging the sound stage where Star Trek III: The Search for Spock is being filmed. William "Captain Kirk" Shatner helps put out the fire.

 In Binghamton,  Spiedie Fest ‘83 is held in Otsiningo Park.

 The Man of La Mancha is performed at the Cider Mill Playhouse. Tickets are $9, $8, and $7.50.

 Diana Ross appears at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.

 The Parlor City Shoe Co. in Binghamton is holding a going out of business sale.

 Tickets for the 137th New York State Fair cost $3.50 at the gate, $2.00 advance. Performers at the fair include Air Supply, James Taylor, Liberace, The Beach Boys, Don McLean, Del Shannon, The 5th Dimension, and Jerry Vale.

 Fairgoers from the Southern Tier have the opportunity to take a round-trip train ride from Binghamton to the fair. Tickets are $25 and include the train ride, shuttle bus to the fairgrounds, and fair admission.

 The Binghamton NBC affiliate refuses to air a 12-hour series of The Godfather movies because they are too violent and glorify organized crime.

 At Binghamton's Security Mutual building, the arched panels in the lobby are filled with paintings depicting life in Broome County.

 Movies playing in local theaters include Cujo, Jaws 3D, Krull, War Games, The Star Chamber, Return of the Jedi, Risky Business with Tom Cruise, The Curse of the Pink Panther, Easy Money,  Mr. Mom and Flashdance.

 Top tunes include Every Breath You Take by Police, She Works Hard for the Money by Donna Summer, and Sweet Dreams by Eurythemics.

 Best selling books include Hollywood Wives by Jackie Collins, The Seduction 
of Peter S. by Lawrence Sanders, and Christine by Stephen King.

 And new vending machines take empty cans and dispense nickels. The machine can hold up to 1,800 cans  and an equal number of nickels.