Today in 1984: Michael Jackson rocks (and weirds out) Montreal

In the mid '80s, Michael Jackson was the biggest pop star on the planet. So when he showed up to Montreal as part of his Victory Tour 31 years ago, around 60,000 fans made sure to catch the act. 

On this day in 1984, CBC's The Journal covered Jackson's appearance in a report that could easily be summed up with, "Who the heck is this guy?" Even at the height of his stardom, Jackson was mystifying.

"The world of Michael Jackson is a Twilight Zone of fantasy, secrecy and paranoia," says reporter Josh Freed, who then delves into Jackson's Peter Pan syndrome, his supposed chastity, his exotic animal collection and his general isolation from the outside world.

Jackson's fans, meanwhile, were split on their opinions of the performance. "It was fantastic," some fans said, while another likened the show to "a bunch of amateurs auditioning in a nightclub."

Still, the "mega-concert" was a memorable – if slightly bizarre – occasion for Montreal.