On this day

August 17, 1987

Revisit the music, news, notable people, and historical moments connected to this date.

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Headlines from August 17, 1987

Way of Life Fading Out In 3 Towns

By Constance L. Hays, Special To the New York Times

LEAD: Thanks to the Federal Government, Inga Quaintance, the Mayor of this village in the shadow of the United States Military Academy, has not had time to really celebrate her 25th wedding anniversary.

Metropolitan Desk1270 words
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Lewis's Jumping Is a Joy

By Michael Janofsky, Special To the New York Times

LEAD: For all his medals, honors and victories, Carl Lewis had never jumped for a world record distance nor won a gold medal in the Pan American Games.

Sports Desk960 words
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Texas Savings Units Are Focus of Inquiry By U.S. Into Fraud

By Thomas C. Hayes, Special To the New York Times

LEAD: More than 20 thrift institutions in north Texas suspected of participating in fraudulent transactions in recent years are the focus of one of the biggest Federal investigations of white-collar crime ever mounted, Government officials said today.

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Music on My Birthday

Billboard 200

The Top 50 albums for the chart week of August 12, 1987, covering August 17, 1987.

  1. 1
    Album cover for Whitney by Whitney Houston

    Whitney

    Whitney Houston

    Last week
    1
    Peak
    1
    Weeks
    8
  2. 2
    Album cover for Bad Animals by Heart

    Bad Animals

    Heart

    Last week
    2
    Peak
    2
    Weeks
    10
  3. 3
    Album cover for Whitesnake by Whitesnake

    Whitesnake

    Whitesnake

    Last week
    3
    Peak
    2
    Weeks
    18
  4. 4
    Album cover for Bigger And Deffer by LL Cool J

    Bigger And Deffer

    LL Cool J

    Last week
    5
    Peak
    4
    Weeks
    9
  5. 5
    Album cover for The Joshua Tree by U2

    The Joshua Tree

    U2

    Last week
    4
    Peak
    1
    Weeks
    20

Notable Deaths

1987Gary Chester, Italian drummer and educator (born 1924)[†]

Gary Chester was an American studio drummer, author, and teacher. Beginning in the 1960s, he played on hundreds of records for bands such as the Coasters, the Monkees and the Lovin' Spoonful.

Rudolf Hess

1987Rudolf Hess, German soldier and politician (born 1894)[†]

Rudolf Walter Richard Hess was a German politician, convicted war criminal and a leading member of the Nazi Party in Germany. Appointed Deputy Führer to Adolf Hitler in 1933, Hess held that position until 1941, when he flew solo to Scotland in an attempt to negotiate the United Kingdom's exit from the Second World War. He was taken prisoner and eventually convicted of crimes against peace. He was still serving his life sentence at the time of his suicide in 1987.

Shaike Ophir

1987Shaike Ophir, Israeli actor and screenwriter (born 1929)[†]

Shaike Ophir was an Israeli film and theater actor, comedian, playwright, screenwriter, director, and the country's first mime.

Historical Context for August 17, 1987

In 1987, the world population was approximately 5,049,746,397 people[†]