January 1979 - China, UNICEF Concert, Brenda Ann Spencer

Don't Freak Out...It's January 1979!

A number one hit on the Cash Box Top 100 list in January 1979 was 'Le Freak' by Chic.

Federal Government
President: Jimmy Carter (D-Georgia)
Vice President: Walter Mondale (D-Minnesota)
Chief Justice: Warren E. Burger (Minnesota)
Speaker of the House of Representatives: Tip O'Neill (D-Massachusetts)
Senate Majority Leader: Robert Byrd (D-West Virginia)
Congress: 95th (until January 3), 96th (starting January 3)

January 1 – The United States and the People's Republic of China establish full diplomatic relations.

January 1 - Take Down movie premieres.

January 3 – Conrad Hilton, hotelier, dies. (b. 1887)

January 4 – The State of Ohio agrees to pay $675,000 to families of those who were killed or injured from the Kent State shootings.

January 5 - Billy Bletcher, actor, dies. (b. 1894)

January 8 - All Star Secrets and Password Plus game shows debut on NBC.

January 9 – The Music for UNICEF concert is held at the United Nations General Assembly to raise money for UNICEF and promote the Year of the Child. It is broadcast the following day in the United States and around the world. Hosted by The Bee Gees, other performers included Donna Summer, ABBA, Rod Stewart and Earth, Wind and Fire.

January 11 – Jack Soo, actor, dies. (b. 1917)

January 16 – Ted Cassidy, actor, dies. (b. 1932)

January 18 - Delta House tv series debuts on ABC.

January 19 – Former U.S. Attorney General John N. Mitchell is released on parole after 19 months at a federal prison in Alabama for multiple crimes he committed in the Watergate affair.

January 19 - President Jimmy Carter announces that he is awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously to cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead.

January 20 - Salvage 1 tv series debuts on ABC.

January 21 - Brothers and Sisters tv series debuts on NBC.

January 21 – Super Bowl XIII: The Pittsburgh Steelers defeat the Dallas Cowboys 35–31 at the Miami Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida.  Here's a good highlights video from YouTube:

Super Bowl XIII Highlights

January 26 – Nelson Rockefeller, 41st Vice President of the United States, dies. (b. 1908)

January 26 - Hello, Larry, Sweepstakes and Turnabout debut on NBC.  The Dukes of Hazzard debuts on CBS.

January 26 - Richard Pryor: Live in Concert movie premieres.

January 28 - CBS News Sunday Morning debuts.

January 29 – Brenda Ann Spencer opens fire at a school in San Diego, California, killing two faculty members and wounding eight students.

Star Wars action figure released in 1979:

1979 Cadillac Seville:

X-Men comic for January:

Playboy playmate of the month, Candy Loving, and Playgirl man for January, Jesse Cutler:

Albums released in January (album / artist):
Feets, Don't Fail Me Now / Herbie Hancock
Look Sharp! / Joe Jackson
Lovedrive / Scorpions
Sleep Dirt / Frank Zappa
We Are Family / Sister Sledge
Take Me Home / Cher
Bustin' Out of L Seven / Rick James
Valley of the Dolls / Generation X

Top 15 Nielsen shows for the week ending January 14th: 1 Mork and Mindy ABC; 2 Laverne and Shirley ABC; 3 Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders ABC; 4 Three's Company ABC; 5 Happy Days ABC; 6 60 Minutes CBS; 7 What's Happening ABC; 8 M•A•S•H CBS; 9 Alice CBS; 10 All in the Family CBS; 11 Little House on the Prairie NBC; 12 Barney Miller ABC; 13 Charlie Brown CBS; 14 Taxi ABC; 15 CHiPs NBC.

Christopher Street magazine for January:

Cracked magazine for January:

Good Housekeeping for January:

Garfield comic strip from January 1979:

For detailed news/info on what happened each day in January 1979, check out this really good site:  ultimate70s.com