What Happened on January 4, 1981

Day of the Week: Sunday

Historical Events

  • "Frankenstein" opens & closes on Broadway
  • "Peter Pan" closes at Lunt-Fontanne Theater NYC after 578 performances
  • "Red Right 88", trailing 14–12 Clevelands Browns attempt an end zone pass play (Red Right 88) and a game-winning field goal in the final minute, but pass intercepted by Raiders safety Mike Davis and Oakland wins
  • 69th Men's Australian Open: Brian Teacher beats Kim Warwick (7-5, 7-6, 6-3)

Sport awardTennis Open

69th Women's Australian Open: Hana Mandlikova beats Wendy Turnbull (6-0, 7-5)

Tennis Player and Four-Time Major Champion Hana Mandlikova
Tennis Player and Four-Time Major Champion
Hana Mandlikova
  • British police arrest Peter Sutcliffe, the "Yorkshire Ripper"