When This Dropped

May 15, 1990

President
G.H.W. Bush
Dow (EOY)
2,634
Gas/gal
$1.16
Big Mac
$2.20
Min Wage
$3.80

Gas cost $1.16 a gallon in the spring of 1990, and the Dow Jones stood at 2,634 — a new era of U.S.-Soviet relations was taking shape, with American and Soviet negotiators actively working toward agreements on arms reduction and the future of Afghanistan. On the cultural side, "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" was dominating the box office while "Cheers" was recognized as the top comedy on television. The Detroit Pistons claimed the NBA championship by defeating the Portland Trail Blazers, the same spring that a six-person international team completed the first dog sled crossing of Antarctica, finishing a journey that had taken them across the entire frozen continent.

On the cover

Magazine Covers — May 15, 1990

New York Times
Rolling Stone
Nat. Geographic

NY Times Headlines — Week of May 15, 1990

U.S. And Soviets Close To A Pact On 30% Cut In Nuclear Missiles; Agree On Chemical-Arms Curbs

Lone Israeli Slays 7 Palestinians; 7 More Arabs Die As Riots Erupt

Soviet Military'S Clout Has Grown, U.S. Says

World Events — May 1990

Time Person of the Year — 1990

Mikhail Gorbachev
Person of the Year
Mikhail Gorbachev

On the radio

Billboard Charts — May 15, 1990

Nothing Compares 2 U
Sinead O'Connor
Hot 100 #1
"Nothing Compares 2 U"
Sinead O'Connor
Miami Vice
Soundtrack
Billboard 200 #1
"Miami Vice"
Soundtrack

Grammy Awards

Back on the Block
Quincy Jones
Grammy Album of the Year
"Back on the Block"
Quincy Jones
From a Distance
Bette Midler
Grammy Song of the Year
"From a Distance"
Bette Midler
Another Day in Paradise
Phil Collins
Grammy Record of the Year
"Another Day in Paradise"
Phil Collins
Mariah Carey
Grammy Best New Artist
Mariah Carey

On the bookshelf

The Plains of Passage
Jean M. Auel
NYT Fiction #1
"The Plains of Passage"
Jean M. Auel
The Civil War
Ken Burns & Geoffrey C. Ward
NYT Non-Fiction #1
"The Civil War"
Ken Burns & Geoffrey C. Ward
The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love
Oscar Hijuelos
Pulitzer Prize Fiction
"The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love"
Oscar Hijuelos
Middle Passage
Charles Johnson
National Book Award Fiction
"Middle Passage"
Charles Johnson
The House of Morgan
Ron Chernow
National Book Award Nonfiction
"The House of Morgan"
Ron Chernow

On the television

Nielsen Top 10 — 1989–90 Season

Roseanne
Nielsen #1 TV Show
Roseanne
Nielsen
Top 10
TV Shows
Nielsen Ratings
Top 10 TV Shows
1989–90 Season

Emmy Winners — 1990

L.A. Law
Emmy Drama Series
L.A. Law
Cheers
Emmy Comedy Series
Cheers
James Earl Jones
Gabriel's Fire
Emmy Lead Actor
James Earl Jones
Gabriel's Fire
Dana Delany
China Beach
Emmy Lead Actress
Dana Delany
China Beach

At the movies

Box Office & Oscar Winners — May 15, 1990

Pretty Woman
Box Office #1
Pretty Woman
Driving Miss Daisy
Oscar Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
Kevin Costner
Dances with Wolves
Oscar Best Director
Kevin Costner
Dances with Wolves
Jeremy Irons
Reversal of Fortune
Oscar Best Actor
Jeremy Irons
Reversal of Fortune
Kathy Bates
Misery
Oscar Best Actress
Kathy Bates
Misery

Ebert 4-Star Films — May 15, 1990

After Dark, My Sweet
4-Star Review
After Dark, My Sweet
American Dream
4-Star Review
American Dream
Avalon
4-Star Review
Avalon
Awakenings
4-Star Review
Awakenings
Dances with Wolves
4-Star Review
Dances with Wolves

On the field

Sports Champions — May 15, 1990

Super Bowl
San Francisco 49ers
def. Denver Broncos
World Series
Cincinnati Reds
def. Oakland Athletics
NBA Champion
Detroit Pistons
def. Portland Trail Blazers
Stanley Cup
Edmonton Oilers
def. Boston Bruins

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