1975 Fun Facts, Trivia and History
Quick Facts from 1975
- World Changing Event: HBO put itself on the Pop Culture Map when it broadcast the “Thrilla in Manila” – the heavyweight boxing championship match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier live from the Philippines.
- The Top Song was Love Will Keep Us Together by The Captain and Tennille
- The Movies to Watch include Jaws and The Rocky Horror Picture Show
- The Most Famous Person in America was probably Muhammad Ali
- Notable books include The Eagle Has Landed by Jack Higgins and Shogun by James Clavell
- Price of a gallon of gas in 1975: 53 cents
Price of a movie ticket: $2.00 - One once of gold value: $139.29
- The Funny Guy was Richard Pryer
The Funny Lady was Carol Burnett - The Conversation: Did you see Jaws? It was the first summertime Hollywood Blockbuster film.
Top Ten Baby Names of 1975
Jennifer, Amy, Heather, Melissa, Angela, Michael, Jason, Chris, Topher, James, David
Fashion Icons and Sex Symbols
Adrienne Barbeau, Barbi Benton, Lynda Carter, Charo, Britt Ekland, Beverly Johnson, Pam Grier, Diana Ross, Cheryl Tiegs, Mary Woronov
Sex Symbols, Hollywood Hunks and Leading Men
Warren Beatty, Sean Connery
“The Quotes”
“Two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun.”
– McDonalds
“I’d rather be dead than sing Satisfaction when I’m 45.”
-Mick Jagger, at age 33
“We’re gonna need a bigger boat.”
– Roy Scheider, in ‘Jaws’
“We answer to a higher authority.”
– Hebrew National
“The ultimate driving machine”
– BMW
“Attica! Attica!”
– Al Pacino, in ‘Dog Day Afternoon’
“Don’t leave home without it.”
-American Express
Time Magazine’s Women of the Year
American Women, Represented by Susan Brownmiller, Kathleen Byerly, Alison Cheek, Jill Conway, Betty Ford, Ella Grasso, Carla Hills, Barbara Jordan, Billie Jean King, Carol Sutton, Susie Sharp, and Addie Wyatt
Miss America
Shirley Cothran (Denton, TX)
Miss USA
Summer Bartholomew (California)
The Scandals
Clayton Moore, who played the Lone Ranger on TV for 169 episodes and two feature films in the 1950s, was sued by the Wrather Corporation, who owned the Lone Ranger character by copyright. Although forever typecast, he proudly carried the character role and made appearances as The Ranger. After the suit, he wore wrap-around sunglasses instead of the mask.
Union Teamster Jimmy Hoffa disappeared.
1975 Pop Culture Facts & History
In 1975, Leonard Nimoy published his autobiography I Am Not Spock. In 1995, he published a second volume, I Am Spock.
The laser printer was invented.
Kool-Aid man began appearing in commercials for Kool-Aid, although the smiling pitcher was the face of Kool-Aid since 1954.
The Ford F-150 truck was introduced.
One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest won the big five Oscars – Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Writing.
Bruce Crapton played the lowest PGA score of 63.
The Herman Goelitz company introduced the gourmet jelly bean. The original flavors were Licorice, Lemon, Grape, Root Beer, Cream Soda, Green Apple, Tangerine, and Very Cherry. It was rebranded as ‘Jelly Belly’ in 2001.
Betamax (Beta) videotape was released.
Robert Williams, a Ford assembly line worker, is the first human in history to have been killed by a robot. A robotic arm hit him in 1979.
Cost of a Super Bowl ad in 1975: $107,000
The Habits
Caring for Pet Rocks, an invention credited to Gary Dahl but also claimed by PCM website founder Joe Hummel, who sold them as a preteen in the early 1970s. And avoiding the beaches, thanks to the film Jaws.
1st Appearances & 1975’s Most Popular Christmas Gifts, Toys and Presents
Mood rings, Pay Day, Pong (home version), Six Million Dollar Man action figures, Playmobil, Pet Rocks, Trac Ball
The Bomb (Television)
McLean Stevenson quit CBS’s TV Show M*A*S*H
Best Film Oscar Winner
The Godfather, part II (presented in 1975)
Broadway Shows
The Wiz (Musical) Opened on January 5, 1975 and closed on January 28, 1979
Shenandoah (Musical) Opened on January 7, 1975 and closed on August 7, 1977
Same Time, Next Year (Play) Opened on March 14, 1975 and closed on September 3, 1978
A Chorus Line (Musical) Opened on July 25, 1975 and closed on April 28, 1990
Popular and Best-selling Books From 1975
Centennial by James Michener
The Choirboys by Joseph Wambaugh
Curtain by Agatha Christie
Dhalgren by Samuel R. Delany
The Eagle Has Landed by Jack Higgins
The Great Railway Bazaar by Paul Theroux
The Great Train Robbery by Michael Crichton
The Greek Treasure by Irving Stone
Humboldt’s Gift by Saul Bellow
I Am Not Spock by Leonard Nimoy
J RÂ by William Gassis
Looking for Mr. Goodbar by Judith Rossner
The Moneychangers by Arthur Hailey
Oh, The Thinks You Can Think! by Dr. Seuss
Ragtime by E. L. Doctorow
Salem’s Lot by Stephen King
Shogun by James Clavell
Something Happened by Joseph Heller
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
1975 Most Popular TV Shows
1. All in the Family (CBS)
2. Rich Man, Poor Man (ABC)
3. Laverne & Shirley (ABC)
4. Maude (CBS)
5. The Bionic Woman (ABC)
6. Phyllis (CBS)
7. Sanford and Son (NBC)
8. Rhoda (CBS)
9. The Six Million Dollar Man (ABC)
10. Happy Days (ABC)
1975 Billboard Number One Songs
December 28, 1974 – January 3, 1975:
Angie Baby – Helen Reddy
January 4 – January 17:
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds – Elton John
January 18 – January 24:
Mandy – Barry Manilow
January 25 – January 31:
Please Mr. Postman – The Carpenters
February 1 – February 7:
Laughter In The Rain – Neil Sedaka
February 8 – February 14:
Fire – Ohio Players
February 15 – February 21:
You’re No Good – Linda Ronstadt
February 22 – February 28:
Pick Up The Pieces – AWB
March 1 – March 7:
Best Of My Love – The Eagles
March 8 – March 14:
Have You Never Been Mellow – Olivia Newton-John
March 15 – March 21:
Black Water – The Doobie Brothers
March 22 – March 28:
My Eyes Adored You – Frankie Valli
March 29 April 4:
Lady Marmalade – LaBelle
April 5 – April 11:
Lovin’ You – Minnie Riperton
April 12 – April 25:
Philadelphia Freedom – The Elton John Band
April 26 – May 2:
(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song – B. J. Thomas
May 3 – May 23:
He Don’t Love You (Like I Love You) – Tony Orlando and Dawn
May 24 – May 30:
Shining Star – Earth, Wind & Fire
May 31 – June 6:
Before The Next Teardrop Falls – Freddy Fender
June 7 – June 13:
Thank God I’m A Country Boy – John Denver
June 14 – June 20:
Sister Golden Hair – America
June 21 – July 18:
Love Will Keep Us Together – The Captain & Tennille
July 19 – July 25:
Listen To What The Man Said – Paul McCartney & Wings
July 26 – August 1:
The Hustle – Van McCoy/The Soul City Symphony
August 2 – August 8:
One Of These Nights – The Eagles
August 9 – August 22:
Jive Talkin’ – Bee Gees
August 23 – August 29:
Fallin’ In Love – Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds
August 30 – September 5:
Get Down Tonight – KC and the Sunshine Band
September 6 – September 19:
Rhinestone Cowboy – Glen Campbell
September 20 – September 26:
Fame – David Bowie
September 27 – October 10:
I’m Sorry – John Denver
October 11 – October 31:
Bad Blood – Neil Sedaka
November 1 – November 21:
Island Girl – Elton John
November 22 – November 28:
That’s The Way (I Like It) – KC and the Sunshine Band
November 29 – December 26:
Fly, Robin, Fly – Silver Convention
December 27, 1975 – January 2, 1976:
Let’s Do It Again – The Staple Singers
Sports
World Series Champions: Cincinnati Reds
Super Bowl IX Champions: Pittsburgh Steelers
NBA Champions: Golden State Warriors
Stanley Cup Champs: Philadelphia Flyers
U.S. Open Golf Lou Graham
U.S. Tennis: (Men/Ladies) Manuel Orantes/Christine Marie Evert
Wimbledon (Men/Women): Arthur Ashe/Billie Jean King
NCAA Football Champions: Oklahoma
NCAA Basketball Champions: UCLA
Kentucky Derby: Foolish Pleasure
More 1975 Facts & History Resources:
Most Popular Baby Names (BabyCenter.com)
Popular and Notable Books (popculture.us)
Broadway Shows that Opened in 1975X
1975 Calendar, courtesy of Time and Date.com
Fact Monster
Fall of Saigon
1970s, Infoplease.com World History
1975 in Movies (according to IMDB)
Retrowaste Vintage Culture
1970s Slang
Wikipedia 1975