1977 Facts, Fun Trivia and History

1977 Facts, Fun Trivia and History

Quick Facts from 1977

  • The Top Song was You Light Up My Life by Debby Boone.
  • The Movies to Watch include Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and Smokey and the Bandit.
  • The Most Famous Person in America was probably Steve Martin.
  • Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set (card game) was released
  • Notable books include: The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough and Oliver’s Story by Erich Segal
  • Price of a Vacation at Walt Disney World, 8 days/7 nights, including airfare from Phila in 1977: $233 to $377 per person
  • US Life Expectancy: Males: 69.5 years, Females: 77.2 years
  • The Funny Guy was Steve Martin
    The Funny Lady was Carol Burnett
  • The Star Wars Question: Who was Luke’s father?
  • Sneek Peek: Palpatine, The first mention of the Emperor’s name and backstory was actually in the 1976 novelization of the original Star Wars screenplay. The movie came out six months later.

Top Ten Baby Names of 1977

Jennifer, Melissa, Amy, Jessica, Heather, Michael, Jason, Chris, Topher, David, James

Fashion Icons and Sex Symbols

Barbara Bach, Adrienne Barbeau, Valerie Bertinelli, Jacqueline Bisset, Lynda Carter, Charo, Farrah Fawcett, Carrie Fisher, Kate Jackson, Lena Kansbod, Cheryl Ladd, Dolly Parton, Bernadette Peters, Diana Ross, Jane Seymour, Jacquelyn Smith, Suzanne Somers, Donna Summer, Lindsay Wagner, Mary Woronov

Leading Men and Hollywood Heartthrobs

Harrison Ford, Burt Reynolds, Sean Connery, Richard Roundtree

“The Quotes”

“May the Force be with you.”
– All of the Jedis in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

“We are two wild and crazy guys.”
-Steve Martin and Dan Aykroyd on Saturday Night Live

“I love New York.”
– NY State Dept. of Economic Development ad

“Well, Excuuuuse Me!”
– Steve Martin

“La-dee-da, la-dee-da.”
– Diane Keaton, in ‘Annie Hall’

Time Magazine’s Man of the Year

Anwar Sadat

Miss America

Dorothy Benham (Edina, MN)

Miss USA

Kimberly Tomes (Texas)

The Scandals

The Big Ear radio telescope heard what many may consider a radio transmission from outer space from an intelligent extraterrestrial source.

Han Solo shot (Greedo) first in Star Wars. Deal with it.

The Saturday Night Fever soundtrack did not get any Academy Award nominations.

The ‘Son of Sam’ serial killer, David Berkowitz, was captured. Sam was his neighbor’s dog, who told him to do the killing.

Airplane Celebrity Death: Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines

Celebrity Suicide Death: Freddie Prinze (gunshot)

US Politics

January 20, 1977 (Thursday): Inauguration of Jimmy Carter

1977 Pop Culture Facts & History

Slim-Fast began selling in 1977 and, after initial hesitation by the FDA, was approved and came on strong in 1979 as a weight-loss product.

Argentina flew a pregnant woman to their military base in Antarctica so she could have first baby ever to be born on the continent. In doing so, the Argentine government believed this would give them an ‘undisputable’ claim on the land, but the claim is not recognized internationally.

Maureen Weston, while in a rocking chair marathon, didn’t sleep for 18 days and 17 hours. Don’t try this at home or even with friends.

The Chia Pet® is the registered trademark belonging to Joseph Enterprises, Inc., the manufacturer and originator of the Chia Pet. The name was first used on September 8, but the idea of growing plants around clay and other materials has been around forever.

The e.p.t. pregnancy test was available over the counter. Previously, there was an ancient Egyptian test that was right about 2 out of 3 times, involving peeing on barley and wheat, that could even tell the sex of the children.

Cost of a Superbowl ad in 1977: $125,000

The Habit

Everything Star Wars, Disco dancing, watching Roots on ABC

1st Appearances & 1977’s Most Popular Christmas Gifts, Toys and Presents

Atari 2600 Console, Star Wars Toys, Chai Pets, Slime, Skateboards

Best Film Oscar Winner

Rocky (presented in 1977)

Popular and Best-selling Books From 1977

A Book of Common Prayer by Joan Didion
A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick
Beggarman, Thief by Irwin Shaw
Daniel Martin by John Fowles
Delta of Venus by Anaïs Nin
Dreams Die First by Harold Robbins
Falconer by John Cheever
The Honourable Schoolboy by John le Carre
How to Save Your Own Life by Erica Jong
Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach
Oliver’s Story by Erich Segal
The Shining by Stephen King
The Silmarillion by J. R. R. Tolkien and Christopher Tolkien
Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough
Trinity by Leon Uris

Broadway Shows

Mummenschanz (Poetic Art) Opened on March 30, 1977 and closed on April 20, 1980
Annie (Musical) Opened on April 21, 1977 and closed on January 2, 1983
Gemini (Play) Opened on May 21, 1977 and closed on September 6, 1981
Beatlemania (Musical) Opened on May 31, 1977 and closed on October 17, 1979

The Bomb (Television)

Larry Linville quit CBS’s popular TV Show M*A*S*H

1977 Most Popular TV Shows

1. Laverne & Shirley (ABC)
2. Happy Days (ABC)
3. Three’s Company (ABC)
4. 60 Minutes (CBS)
5. Charlie’s Angels (ABC)
6. All in the Family (CBS)
7. Little House on the Prairie (NBC)
8. Alice (CBS)
9. M*A*S*H (CBS)
10. One Day at a Time (CBS)

1977 Billboard Number One Songs

November 13 – January 7, 1977:
Tonight’s The Night (Gonna Be Alright) – Rod Stewart

January 8January 14:
You Don’t Have To Be A Star (To Be In My Show) – Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr.

January 15January 21:
You Make Me Feel Like Dancing – Leo Sayer

January 22January 28:
I Wish – Stevie Wonder

January 29February 4:
Car Wash – Rose Royce

February 5February 18:
Torn Between Two Lovers – Mary MacGregor

February 19February 25:
Blinded By The Light – Manfred Mann’s Earth Band

February 26March 4:
New Kid In Town – The Eagles

March 5March 25:
Love Theme From A Star Is Born – (“Evergreen) Barbra Streisand

March 26 April 8:
Rich Girl – Daryl Hall & John Oates

April 9April 15:
Dancing Queen – ABBA

April 16April 22:
Don’t Give Up On Us – David Soul

April 23April 29:
Don’t Leave Me This Way – Thelma Houston

April 30 – May 6:
Southern Nights – Glen Campbell

May 7May 13:
Hotel California – The Eagles

May 14May 20:
When I Need You – Leo Sayer

May 21- June 11:
Sir Duke – Stevie Wonder

June 11 – June 17:
I’m Your Boogie Man – KC and the Sunshine Band

June 18June 24:
Dreams – Fleetwood Mac

June 25 – July 1:
Got To Give It Up (Pt. I) – Marvin Gaye

July 2- July 8:
Gonna Fly Now – Bill Conti

July 9July 15:
Undercover Angel – Alan O’Day

July 16July 22:
Da Doo Ron Ron – Shaun Cassidy

July 23July 29:
Looks Like We Made It – Barry Manilow

July 30August 19:
I Just Want To Be Your Everything – Andy Gibb

August 20 – September 30:
Best Of My Love – The Emotions

October 1October 14:
Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band – Meco

October 15December 23:
You Light Up My Life – Debby Boone

December 24, 1977 – January 13, 1978:
How Deep Is Your Love – Bee Gees

Sports

World Series Champions:     New York Yankees
Superbowl XI Champions:     Oakland Raiders
NBA Champions:     Portland Trail Blazers
Stanley Cup Champs:     Montreal Canadiens
U.S. Open Golf     Hubert Green
U.S. Tennis: (Men/Ladies)     Guillermo Vilas/Christine Marie Evert
Wimbledon (Men/Women):     Bjorn Borg/Virginia Wade
NCAA Football Champions:     Notre Dame
NCAA Basketball Champions:     Marquette
Kentucky Derby:     Seattle Stew (Triple Crown Winner: Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes)

More 1977 Facts & History Resources:

Most Popular Baby Names (BabyCenter.com)
Popular and Notable Books (popculture.us)
Broadway Shows that Opened in 1977X
1977 Calendar, courtesy of Time and Date.com
Fact Monster
1970s, Infoplease.com World History
1977 in Movies (according to IMDB)
President JImmy Carter
Retrowaste Vintage Culture
1970s Slang
The 77 Most ’70s Things About 1977
Weird Facts About 1977
Wikipedia 1977