1973 History, Trivia and Fun Facts

1973 History, Trivia and Fun Facts

Quick Facts from 1973:

• Science in Space: Anita and Arabella, two female cross spiders, went into orbit in 1973 for the Skylab 3 space station as part of an experiment to see if spiders could spin webs in near-weightlessness. They can.
• The Top Song was Killing Me Softly With His Song by Roberta Flack
• Influential Songs include: Walk on the Wild Side by Lou Reed, Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door by Bob Dylan, Cover of “Rolling Stone” by Dr Hook & The Medicine Show and Sing by The Carpenters
• The Movies to Watch include The Sting, Charlotte’s Web, Paper Moon, Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, Godspell, Enter the Dragon, The Exorcist, High Plains Drifter, Jesus Christ Superstar, Soylent Green, The Way We Were, The Sting and American Graffiti
• The Most Famous Person in America was probably Elvis Presley
• Notable books include: Fear of Flying by Erica Jong and The Princess Bride by William Goldman
• $200,000 ($1,100,000 in today’s dollars) was stolen from Led Zeppelin’s tour’s safety-deposit box between the band’s second and third concerts in New York. The crime remains unsolved.
• Garlic knots were invented in 1973 in Ozone Park, Queens. Several pizzerias began making them within days of each other.
• Jimmy Carter reported a UFO sighting, calling it the “darndest thing I’ve ever seen.”
• Price of metal ice cube tray in 1973: 91 cents
  Raleigh Triumph bicycle: $97.95
• The Funny Guys were: Robert Klein and Albert Brooks
  The Funny Late Night Host: Johnny Carson
  The Funny Duo were: Cheech and Chong
  The Funny Lady was: Carol Burnett
• The Music Question: Who was Carly Simon singing about in You’re So Vain?
• The Crazy Conspiracy: Did physically fit 32-year-old action star Bruce Lee really die of natural causes?

“The Quotes:”
“My brain? But that’s my second favorite organ!”
– Woody Allen, in ‘Sleeper’

“Have it your way”
– Burger King

“People have got to know whether or not their President is a crook. Well, I’m not a crook. I’ve earned everything I’ve got.”
– President Richard Nixon

“It’s people! Soylent Green is made of people!”
– Charlton Heston, in ‘Soylent Green’

“The uncola”
– 7 Up

Pop Culture News:
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was invented.

Air Bags were first used by the public in the Oldsmobile Toronado.

Cost of a Superbowl ad in 1973: $88,000

1973 Billboard Number One Songs
December 16, 1972 – January 5, 1973:
Me and Mrs. Jones – Billy Paul

January 6 – January 26:
You’re So Vain – Carly Simon

January 27 – February 2:
Superstition – Stevie Wonder

February 3 – February 23:
Crocodile Rock – Elton John

February 24 – March 23:
Killing Me Softly With His Song – Roberta Flack

March 24 – April 6:
Love Train – O’Jays

April 7 – April 20:
The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia – Vicki Lawrence

April 21 – May 18:
Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree – Dawn Featuring Tony Orlando

May 19 – May 25:
You Are The Sunshine Of My Life – Stevie Wonder

May 26 – June 1:
Frankenstein – The Edgar Winter Group

June 2 – June 29:
My Love – Paul McCartney & Wings

June 30 – July 6:
Give Me Love – (Give Me Peace On Earth) – George Harrison

July 7 – July 20:
Will It Go Round In Circles – Billy Preston

July 21 – August 3:
Bad, Bad Leroy Brown – Jim Croce

August 4 – August 17:
The Morning After – Maureen McGovern

August 18- August 25:
Touch Me in the Morning – Diana Ross

August 25 – September 8:
Brother Louie – Stories

September 8 – September 14:
Let’s Get It On – Marvin Gaye

September 15 – September 28:
Delta Dawn – Helen Reddy

September 29 – October 5:
We’re An American Band – Grand Funk

October 6 – October 19:
Half-Breed – Cher

October 20 – October 26:
Angie – The Rolling Stones

October 27 – November 9:
Midnight Train To Georgia – Gladys Knight & The Pips

November 10 – November 23:
Keep On Truckin’ – (Part 1) Eddie Kendricks

November 24 – November 30:
Photograph – Ringo Starr

December 1 – December 14:
Top Of The World – The Carpenters

December 15 – December 28:
The Most Beautiful Girl – Charlie Rich

December 29, 1972 – January 11, 1974:
Time In A Bottle – Jim Croce