1975 History, Trivia and Fun Facts |
Quick Facts from 1975:
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Top Ten Baby Names of 1975: Jennifer, Amy, Heather, Melissa, Angela, Michael, Jason, Chris, Topher, James, David |
The Hotties and Fashion Icons: 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:” “I’d rather be dead than sing Satisfaction when I’m 45” “We’re gonna need a beggir boat” “We answer to a higher authority” “The ultimate driving machine” “Attica! Attica!” “Don’t leave home without it.” |
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: Union Teamster Jimmy Hoffa disappeared. |
Pop Culture News:
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. Lowest PGA score of 63 played by Bruce Crapton. 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 the ‘Jelly Belly’ in 2001. Betamax (Beta) video tape was released. Robert Williams, a Ford assembly line worker, is the first human in history to have been killed by a robot. He was hit by a robotic arm in 1979. Cost of a Superbowl 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 Show – The Wiz (Musical) Opened on January 5, 1975 and Closed: January 28, 1979 Broadway Show – Shenandoah (Musical) Opened on January 7, 1975 and Closed: August 7, 1977 Broadway Show – Same Time, Next Year (Play) Opened on March 14, 1975 and Closed: September 3, 1978 Broadway Show – A Chorus Line (Musical) Opened on July 25, 1975 and Closed: April 28, 1990 |
Popular and Best-selling Books From 1975: Centennial by James Michner 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 R 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: January 4 – January 17: January 18 – January 24: January 25 – January 31: February 1 – February 7: February 8 – February 14: February 15 – February 21: February 22 – February 28: March 1 – March 7: March 8 – March 14: March 15 – March 21: March 22 – March 28: March 29 April 4: April 5 – April 11: April 12 – April 25: April 26 – May 2: May 3 – May 23: May 24 – May 30: May 31 – June 6: June 7 – June 13: June 14 – June 20: June 21 – July 18: July 19 – July 25: July 26 – August 1: August 2 – August 8: August 9 – August 22: August 23 – August 29: August 30 – September 5: September 6 – September 19: September 20 – September 26: September 27 – October 10: October 11 – October 31: November 1 – November 21: November 22 – November 28: November 29 – December 26: December 27, 1975 – January 2, 1976: |
Sports: World Series Champions: Cincinnati Reds Superbowl 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 |