40 Years Ago, May 1978

• “With a Little Luck” by Wings held the number one spot for two weeks according to Billboard Magazine while the number one movie was “The End” starring Burt Reynolds.
• The first unsolicited bulk email spam is sent.
• The first legal gambling casino opens in Atlantic City.
• The US Commerce Department says hurricanes will no longer be just female names, while the first use of the term ‘glass ceiling’ is used to describe invisible career barriers for women.

30 Years Ago, May 1988

• The movie “Crocodile Dundee” is a box office hit and “Anything for You” by Gloria Estefan holds the top spot on the radio charts for two weeks.
• The art world is busy with Jackson Pollock’s “Search” selling for $4.8 million while a week later Edgar Degas’ “Danseresje of 14” sells for $10.12 million.

20 Years Ago, May 1998

• President Clinton is embroiled in several legal battles.
• Movies “Deep Impact” and “Godzilla” are popular while music listeners make “Too Close” by Next the number one song. The last episode of Seinfeld airs on NBC.
• Automaker Mercedes-Benz buys the Chrysler Corporation for $40 billion forming the largest industrial merger to date.
• Frank Sinatra dies at the age of 82 and Barry Goldwater dies at age 89.

10 Years Ago, May 2008

• Vladimir Putin is appointed Russian Prime Minister by Dmitry Medvedev, President of the Russian Federation.
• Country music legend Eddy Arnold (90), actor and comedian Dick Martin (86) of Laugh-In fame, actor/director/producer/screenwriter Sydney Pollack (73) and actor/comedian Harvey Korman (81) pass away.
• The big box office draw is “Iron Man” followed soon after by “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”. Music listeners make “Bleeding Love” by Leona Lewis the number one song.