History & Politics | Music | Television | Movies | Sports
1996 was filled with "Virtual Insanity." We pitted man against machine as Gary Kasparov played chess with IBM’s Deep Blue supercomputer. We became engrossed with the trial of Erik and Lyle Menendez who were ultimately convicted of murdering their parents. And, we solved the 20 year mystery of the Unabomber with arrest of Theodore Kaczynski.
At the theaters we screamed and chased tornados. ("Cow. ‘Nother cow. Actually I think that was the same one.") We spotted some trains and went on impossible missions. We kicked some alien butt and traveled to Fargo, North Dakota. And, we gained a new motto … "Show me the MONEY!!!"
1996 also saw the emergence of "Girl Power!" as the Spice Girls became an international sensation, launching an invasion of British music not witnessed since
the Beatles. And speaking of the Fab Four, the lads were back on the charts with "Free as a Bird," released as part of their Anthology I compilation album.
If this year taught us anything, it was to "Don’t Look Back in Anger," but instead "Change the World" because we’re all "Beautiful People."
• 100 people are killed when a blizzard slams into the eastern coast of the United States. • France makes it known that they will cease testing nuclear weapons. The country had been one of the few nuclear powers to ignore the test ban treat signed by many other nations in years past. • Gary Kasparov and IBM supercomputer Deep Blue face off for a series of chess matches that pit man against machine. Deep Blue became the first computer to win a chess game against a reigning world champion under regular time controls. However, Kasparov went on take the match, winning 4-2. During a rematch in 1997, an upgraded Deep Blue defeated Kasparov and won the six-game match. • 16 children and a teacher are murdered by a single gunman at an elementary school in Dunblane, Scotland. • Wealthy and privileged murderers Erik and Lyle Menendez are convicted of killing their parents, ending an American media fascination with the crime and trial. • The Unabomber mystery is finally solved after Theodore Kaczynski, a former university professor, is arrested by the FBI. This ends a series of letter bomb attacks that occurred over an almost 20 year period. • 35 are killed and 19 injured when a 28 year old man opens fire in a crowded tourist area with a machine gun in Port Arthur, Tasmania. The act would lead to stricter gun control regulations being imposed by the Australian government. • Bill Clinton is elected to a second term as president of the United States, defeating candidate Bob Dole. • Close to 1,000 people are drowned in Lake Victoria, Tanzania when an overloaded ferry capsizes. • A storm surge caused by a cyclone off the coast of India kills 2,000 people when entire villages are sucked into the ocean. • Prince Charles and Princess Diana complete their divorce, ending a scandal-soaked era in British royalty but opening a new chapter in the press’ vilification of the Princess. |
IBM’s Deep Blue becomes the first machine to beat a reigning world chess champion, Gary Kasparov, at a single game of chess. Erik & Lyle Menedez are convicted of murdering their parents. Theodore Kaczynski is named as the infamous Unabomber and arrested by the FBI. |
![]() |
3rd Rock From The Sun |
![]() |
Nash Bridges |
![]() |
7th Heaven |
![]() |
Blue’s Clues |
![]() |
Sabrina, The Teenage Witch |
![]() |
Spin City |
![]() |
Moesha |
![]() |
Millennium |
![]() |
Twister |
![]() |
Independence Day |
![]() |
Mission Impossible |
![]() |
101 Dalmatians |
![]() |
The Birdcage |
![]() |
The Rock |
![]() |
The Nutty Professor |
![]() |
Jerry Maguire |
![]() |
A Time To Kill |
![]() |
Ransom |
![]() |
The Cable Guy |
![]() |
Evita |
![]() |
Fargo |
![]() |
Kingpin |
![]() |
The People vs. Larry Flynt |
![]() |
Scream |
![]() |
Sling Blade |
![]() |
Trainspotting |
• Terry Labonte wins the NASCAR Winston Cup Championship. • The Chicago Bulls top off a 72 win season by beating the Seattle SuperSonics in the NBA’s championship series, winning 4 games to 2. • Grindstone wins the Kentucky Derby. • The Colorado Avalanche, recently moved from Quebec City to Denver handily defeat the Florida Panthers in a Stanley Cup final sweep. • Steffi Graf has another incredible year on the tennis courts, repeating as the winner at Wimbledon, the French Open and the US Open, while Richard Krajicek takes the men’s Wimbledon title. • The Summer Olympics are held in Atlanta Georgia. The United States wins 44 gold medals and comes out on top with 101 medals in total by the end of the festivities. • Damon Hill wins the Formula 1 championship. • The New York Yankees defeat the Atlanta Braves to steal back the World Series championship in baseball. • The Indy Racing League splits off from CART, creating two competing open-wheel championships in the United States. Buddy Lazier wins the Indy 500. • Oscar de la Hoya continues to attract accolades as a Welterweight boxer, winning the WBC title in that category for 1996. • Tiger Woods is selected as PGA Rookie of the Year. • The Dallas Cowboys continue their illustrious decade, beating the Pittsburgh Steelers to win Super Bowl XXX. |
The XXVI Summer Olympics are held in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Oscar de la Hoya continues his streak of success by winning the WBC welterweight title. |