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

February 1977 - American Bandstand, Enterprise Shuttle

Don't Be Torn, Just Enjoy February 1977! 

A number one hit on the Cash Box Top 100 list in February 1977 was 'Torn Between Two Lovers' by Mary MacGregor.  MacGregor later admitted that she hated this song because she had little sympathy for the narrator, a woman who confesses to her husband that she is having an affair, but pleads with him to stay with her and accept the situation.

Cost of Living in 1977
Average yearly household income $16,100
Minimum wage (per hour) $2.30
Average cost of a new home $54,350
Postage stamp $0.13
Gas (1 gallon) $0.62
Gold (1 oz.) $161.10
Movie ticket $2.23

February 2 - Tales of the Unexpected tv series premieres on NBC.

February 4 - Eleven CTA commuters are killed when an elevated train derails from the Loop in central Chicago.

February 4 – Brett Halliday (Davis Dresser), mystery writer, dies. (b. 1904)

February 4 - American Bandstand celebrates its 25th anniversary on ABC with a special hosted by Dick Clark.

February 9 - Fun with Dick and Jane and Twilight's Last Gleaming movies premiere.

February 12 – Henry Jordan, American football player and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, dies. (b. 1935)

February 18 – The space shuttle Enterprise test vehicle goes on its maiden "flight" while sitting on top of a Boeing 747, at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

February 18 - Hunter tv series premieres on CBS.

February 19 - At the 19th Annual Grammy Awards, Helen Hayes becomes the second person, and first woman, to become an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony winner).  Record of the Year was This Masquerade by George Benson.  Album of the Year was Songs in the Key of Life by Stevie Wonder.  Song of the Year was I Write the Songs by Barry Manilow.  Best New Artist was Starland Vocal Band.

February 21 – John Hubley, American animator, dies. (b. 1914)

February 25 - Slap Shot and Tentacles movies premiere.

1977 Porsche 911:

Playboy playmate of the month, Star Stowe, and Playgirl man for February, Richard Lee Baney.  Richard was a Major League Baseball player for the Seattle Pilots, then the Cincinnati Reds.

Charlie's Angels Beauty Hair Care Set (released 1977):

Incredible Hulk comic for February:

Nielsen's top 10 network television programs for the week ending Feb. 13: 1 How The West Was Won Part 2; 2 Happy Days; 3 Laverne and Shirley; 4 Charlie's Angels; 5 (tie) M-A- S-H and Six Million Dollar Man; 7 People's Choice Awards; 8 The Last Dinosaur (ABC Friday Movie); 9 One Day at a Time; 10 Welcome Back, Kotter.

Albums released in February (album / artist):
In Your Mind / Bryan Ferry
Rumours / Fleetwood Mac
Love at the Greek / Neil Diamond
Stay in Love / Minnie Riperton
White Snake / David Coverdale
New Harvest – First Gathering / Dolly Parton
Songs from the Wood / Jethro Tull
Sleepwalker / The Kinks
Harbor / America
Glorious / Gloria Gaynor
(I'm) Stranded / The Saints
Peter Gabriel / Peter Gabriel

After Dark magazine for February:

 Rolling Stone for February:

Vogue magazine for February:

Peanuts comic strip from February 1977:

For detailed news/info on what happened each day in February 1977, check out this really good site: ultimate70s.com