February 1978 - Roman Polanski, Ted Bundy

Stayin' Alive in February 1978!

A number one hit on the Cash Box Top 100 list in February 1978 was 'Stayin' Alive' by the Bee Gees.

Cost of Living in 1978
Median yearly income (all families) $17,640
Minimum wage (per hour) $2.65
Average cost of a new home $62,667
Postage stamp $0.15
Gas (1 gallon) $0.67
Gold (1 oz.) $193.40
Movie ticket $2.34

February 1 – Hollywood film director Roman Polanski flees to France to avoid sentencing after pleading guilty to unlawful sex with a minor.

February 2 - The Boys in Company C movie premieres.

February 5 - ABC celebrates its silver anniversary with a retrospective special.  Celebrities appearing include Julie Andrews, Robert Blake, James Brown, The Captain & Tenille, The Carpenters, Characters from Sid & Marty Krofft, Charo, Dick Clark, Chuck Connors, Howard Cosell, John Denver, Barbara Eden, Lola Falana, John Forsythe, Jodie Foster, Annette Funicello, Billie Hayes, Kate Jackson, Gabe Kaplan, Kaptain Kool and the Kongs, Cheryl Ladd, Hal Lindon, Fred MacMurray, Barry Manilow, Penny Marshall, Kristy McNichol, Nick Nolte, Vincent Price, Robert Stack, Jaclyn Smith, Peter Straus, Marlo Thomas, John Travolta, Leslie Uggams, Brenda Vaccaro, Ben Vereen,  Abe Vigoda, John Wayne, Lawrence Welk, Adam West, Billy Dee Williams, Robert Young and Henry Winkler.

February 5–7 – The Northeastern United States blizzard of 1978 hits the New England region and the New York metropolitan area, killing about 100 and causing over $520 million in damage.

February 8 – United States Senate proceedings are broadcast on radio for the first time.

February 10 - The Other Side of the Mountain Part 2 movie premieres.

February 12 - How the West Was Won debuts on CBS.

February 15 – Serial killer Ted Bundy is captured in Pensacola, Florida.

February 15 - Coming Home movie premieres.

February 16 - The Hillside Strangler, a serial killer prowling Los Angeles, claims a 10th and final victim.

February 16 - The first computer bulletin board system (CBBS) is created in Chicago.

February 16 – Edward Lindberg, Olympic track athlete, dies. (born 1886)

February 18 – Maggie McNamara, actress, dies. (born 1928)

February 19 - Project U.F.O. tv series debuts on NBC.

February 22 - C. Paul Jennewein, sculptor, dies. (born 1890 in Germany)

February 23 - The 20th Annual Grammy Awards are held.  Record of the Year is Hotel California by The Eagles.  Album of the Year is Rumours by Fleetwood Mac.  Songs of the Year are Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born) by Barbra Streisand and You Light Up My Life by Debby Boone.  Best New Artist is Debby Boone.

Archie comic for February:

1978 Chevrolet Caprice:

Puppet Love Theatre toy (released 1978):

Playboy playmate of the month, Janis Schmitt, and Playgirl man for February, Scott Dutton:

Albums released in February (album / artist):
Earth / Jefferson Starship
It Begins Again / Dusty Springfield
Stained Class / Judas Priest
Van Halen / Van Halen
The Kick Inside / Kate Bush
Macho Man / Village People

Nielsen top 20 shows for the week ending February 19th:  1 Laverne and Shirley; 2 Happy Days; 3 Three’s Company; 4 Charlie’s Angels; 5 Eight is Enough; 6 Little House on the Prairie; 7 Grammy Awards Show; 8 ABC Sunday Movie-Live and Let Die; 9 How the West was Won; 10 NBC Movie-The Awakening Land Part 3; 11 All in the Family; 12 Alice; 13 Starsky and Hutch; 14 NBC Movie-The Awakening Land Part 2; 15 Fantasy Island; 16 60 Minutes; 17 M-A-S-H; 18 A Connecticut Rabbit in King Arthur’s Court; 19 Soap; 20 Project UFO.

Ladies Home Journal for February:

Travel and Leisure magazine for February:

After Dark magazine for February:

Peanuts comic strip from February 1978:

For detailed news/info on what happened each day in February 1978, check out this really good site:  ultimate70s.com