March 1976 - Patty Hearst, Kiss, Family

Dig it, Man, it's March 1976!

A number one hit on the Cash Box Top 100 list in March 1976 was 'Dream Weaver' by Gary Wright.

March 1 – Bradford Bishop allegedly murders five of his family members in Bethesda, Maryland. The crime goes undiscovered for 10 days and the suspect is never caught. In 2014, he is placed on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.

March 9 - Family tv show premieres on ABC.

March 9–11 – Two coal mine explosions claim 26 lives at the Blue Diamond Coal Co. Scotia Mine in Letcher County, Kentucky.

March 11 - Gable and Lombard, Robin and Marian movies are released.

March 12 - I Will, I Will... for Now movie released.

March 14 - Buzby Berkley (director/choreographer) dies.

March 16 - Harold Wilson announced his resignation as Prime Minister of Great Britain.  He had been Labour leader for 13 years and Prime Minister for nearly 8 years.

March 18 - The Man Who Fell to Earth movie released.  Filmed mostly in New Mexico, it starred David Bowie, who's stated he was using cocaine at the time.

March 20 – Patty Hearst is found guilty of armed robbery of a bank.

March 22 – Filming begins on George Lucas' Star Wars science fiction film. In one of the most lucrative business decisions in film history, Lucas declines his directing fee of $500,000 in exchange for complete ownership of merchandising and sequel rights.

March 26 - Ride a Wild Pony and Sky Riders movies released.

March 29 - At the 48th Academy Awards, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest wins best picture.  Jack Nicholson and Louise Fletcher win best actor and actress for their work in that movie.  George Burns wins best supporting actor for The Sunshine Boys.  Lee Grant wins best supporting actress for Shampoo.

March 31 – The New Jersey Supreme Court rules that persistent vegetative state patient in the Karen Ann Quinlan case can be disconnected from her ventilator. She remains comatose and dies in 1985.

March 31 - W.C. Fields and Me movie released.

Albums released in March (album / artist):
A Love Trilogy / Donna Summer
Nobody's Fools / Slade
Wings of Love / The Temptations
Destroyer / Kiss
I Want You / Marvin Gaye
Takin' It to the Streets / The Doobie Brothers
The Sun Sessions / Elvis Presley (recorded 1954–55)
Sad Wings of Destiny / Judas Priest
Wings at the Speed of Sound / Wings
Amigos / Santana
Jailbreak / Thin Lizzy
Moonmadness / Camel
Presence / Led Zeppelin

Nielsen top 10 for the week of March 14: 1 Rich Man, Poor Man 2 Welcome Back, Kotter 3 The Wizard of Oz 4 All In The Family 5 Happy Days 6 ABC Sunday Movie (High Plains Drifter) 7 (tie) M-A-S-H and Laverne and Shirley 9 (tie) Barney Miller and Police Woman

National Geographic for March:

McCall's for March:

People magazine for March 29th:

Playboy playmate of the month, Ann Pennington and Playgirl man for March, Marc Rodriguez:

1976 Volkswagen Beetle:

Incredible Hulk comic for March:

Sonny and Cher dolls (released in 1976):

Peanuts comic strip from March 1976:

For detailed news/info on what happened each day in March 1976, check out this really good site:  ultimate70s.com

October 1978 - Pier 39, Pope John Paul II

Hey, Hot Child, It's October 1978!

A number one hit on the Cash Box Top 100 list in October 1978 was 'Hot Child in the City' by Nick Gilder.

October 1 Centennial mini-series debuts on NBC.

October 2 - 'Mommie Dearest' is published.  Written by her adopted daughter, Christina Crawford, this scandalous bestseller is about the life of Joan Crawford.

October 4 – Pier 39 opens on Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, as a tourist attraction.

October 5 - The Boys from Brazil and Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? movies premiere.

October 6 - The Big Fix and Midnight Express movies premiere.

October 8 – Bertha Cody, Native American archaeologist, dies. (born 1907)

October 12 – Nancy Spungen, groupie and girlfriend of Sid Vicious, dies. (born 1958)

October 14 – President Jimmy Carter signs a bill into law which allows homebrewing of beer in the United States.

October 17 – The New York Yankees clinch their 22nd World Series championship, defeating the Dodgers 7–2 in Los Angeles and winning the Series 4 games to 2.

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October 19 – Gig Young, actor, dies. (born 1913)

October 20 - Attack of the Killer Tomatoes movie premieres.  The giant tomatoes were actually made out of foam!

October 22 - Pope John Paul II is sworn in as pope.  The new pope surprised his aides on his first day when he entered a crowd of reporters and answered questions.

October 24 - The Wiz movie premieres.

October 25 - Halloween movie premieres.

October 27 – President Jimmy Carter signs the Humphrey–Hawkins Full Employment Act, adjusting the government's economic goals to include full employment, growth in production, price stability, and balance of trade and budget.

October 31 - Norma Brown wins $28,800 playing the Money Cards on Card Sharks, the first and only time a contestant has won the maximum amount.

1978 Ford LTD Landau:

A new product introduced in 1978 was Midori Liqueur.

Ms. Marvel comic for October:

Toy organ (released in 1978):

Playboy playmate of the month, Marcy Hanson, and Playgirl man for October, Lenny Thompson:

Albums released in October (album / artist):
Comes a Time / Neil Young
Hot Streets / Chicago
M.I.U. Album / The Beach Boys
Dire Straits / Dire Straits
Dog and Butterfly / Heart
Killing Machine / Judas Priest
Chaka / Chaka Khan
52nd Street / Billy Joel
Christmas Portrait / The Carpenters Christmas
If You Want Blood You've Got It / AC/DC
Toto / Toto
A Single Man / Elton John
Pleasure Train / Teri Desario
Hemispheres / Rush
Thoroughfare Gap / Stephen Stills

Nielsen top shows for the week ending October 22: World Series Game 6; Little House on the Prairie; Charlie's Angels; CBS Sunday Movie "Like Mom, Like Me"; All in the Family; Mork and Mindy; Alice; Three's Company; 60 Minutes; Laverne and Shirley.

Life magazine for October:

National Geographic magazine for October:

Newsweek for October 30th:

Jim Davis Garfield comic strip from October 1978:

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

September 1977 - Voyager, Panama Canal, Ted Turner

Don't Stop Thinking About...September 1977!

A number one hit on the Cash Box Top 100 list in September 1977 was 'Don't Stop' by Fleetwood Mac.

September 1 – Ethel Waters, singer and actress, dies. (b. 1896)

September 4 – The Golden Dragon Massacre, a gang related shooting killing 5, took place in San Francisco, California at the Gold Dragon Restaurant.  The five perpetrators, members of the Joe Boys, a Chinese youth gang, were attempting to kill leaders of the Wah Ching, a rival Chinatown gang. The attack also left 11 injured, none of whom were gang members. Seven perpetrators were later convicted and sentenced in connection with the murders. 

September 5 – Voyager program: Voyager 1 is launched after a brief delay.

September 5 - The Fitzpatricks debuts on CBS.

September 7 – Treaties between Panama and the United States on the status of the Panama Canal are signed. The U.S. agrees to transfer control of the canal to Panama at the end of the 20th century.

September 8 – Zero Mostel, actor, dies. (b. 1915)

September 10 - Several TV series debut:
 - Baggy Pants and the Nitwits on NBC
 - CB Bears, I Am the Greatest: The Adventures of Muhammad Ali, The New Archie and Sabrina Hour, The Red Hand Gang, Search and Rescue, Space Sentinels, Thunder and Scooby's All-Star Laff-A-Lympics on ABC
 - The Skatebirds and Space Academy on CBS

September 11 - The Haunting of Julia movie premieres.

September 11 - The 29th Primetime Emmy Awards were held.  Mary Tyler Moore Show (CBS) won best comedy series.  Upstairs, Downstairs (PBS) won best drama series.  Carroll O'Connor (All in the Family) won best comedy actor, Bea Arthur (Maude) won best comedy actress, James Garner (Rockford Files) won best drama actor and Lindsay Wagner (Bionic Woman) won best drama actress.

September 12 - The Betty White Show, Young Dan'l Boone and Lucan tv shows debut on ABC.

September 13 - Soap, The Richard Pryor Show and Mulligan's Stew tv shows debut on NBC.

September 14 - Inside the NFL debuts on HBO.

September 15 - Carter Country debuts on ABC.  CHiPs debuts on NBC.

September 16 – Maria Callas, Greek soprano, dies. (b. 1923)

September 16 - Sanford Arms and Logan's Run debut on CBS.

September 17 - Operation Petticoat debuts on ABC.

September 18 – Courageous, skippered by Ted Turner, sweeps Australia in the 24th America's Cup.

September 19 - Under pressure from the Carter administration, President Anastasio Somoza Debayle lifts the state of siege in Nicaragua.

September 19 - The San Pedro Beach Bums debuts on ABC.  The Amazing Spider-Man debuts on CBS.

September 20 - Lou Grant debuts on CBS.

September 21 – A nuclear non-proliferation pact is signed by 15 countries, including the United States and the Soviet Union.

September 21 - The Oregon Trail debuts on NBC.

September 22 - Man from Atlantis debuts on NBC.

September 24 - The Love Boat debuts on ABC.

September 26 – Ernie Lombardi American baseball player and member of the MLB Hall of Fame, dies. (b. 1908)

September 30 - A Little Night Music movie premieres.

Great YouTube video of intros to the new shows of fall 1977:
New Shows of Fall 1977

Batman Mego playset (released 1977):

1977 Chrysler Cordoba Coupe:

Fantastic Four comic for September:

Montgomery Ward Fall and Winter 1977 catalog:

Chairman, manager and hostesses for the Tennessee State Fair, September 1:

Playboy playmate of the month (and later playmate of the year), Debra Jo Fondren and Playgirl man for September, John Alexander:

The Nielsen top 20 shows for the week ending September 18th: 1 Charlie's Angels; 2 Happy Days; 3 Three’s Company; 4 Soap; 5 Welcome Back, Kotter; 6 Young Joe The Forgotten Kennedy (ABC movie); 7 Betty White Show; 8 Best of All in the Family; 9 Barney Miller; 10 Eight is Enough; 11 Carter Country; 12 Maude; 13 60 Minutes; 14 Sex and the Married Woman (NBC Tuesday movie); 15 Rooster Cogburn (NBC Saturday movie); 16 Billy, Portrait of a Street Kid (NBC Monday movie); 17 Judge Roy Bean (CBS Sunday movie); 18 The Redd Foxx Show; 19 Little House on the Prairie; 20 Rafferty.  

Albums released in September (album / artist):

A Farewell to Kings / Rush

Bad Reputation / Thin Lizzy

Dance Band on the Titanic / Harry Chapin

Chicago XI / Chicago

Foreign Affairs / Tom Waits

Baby It's Me / Diana Ross

Rough Mix / Pete Townshend and Ronnie Lane

Talking Heads: 77 / Talking Heads

Aja / Steely Dan

Little Criminals / Randy Newman

Love You Live / The Rolling Stones

The Stranger / Billy Joel

Ringo the 4th / Ringo Starr

Susan Perkins from Ohio is crowned Miss America:

Esquire magazine for September:

National Geographic magazine for September:

Sports Illustrated for September:

Peanuts comic strip from September 1977:

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

July 1979 - Susan B. Anthony, Skylab

Ringing in July 1979!

A number one hit on the Cash Box Top 100 list in July 1979 was 'Ring My Bell' by Anita Ward.

July 2 – The Susan B. Anthony dollar is introduced in the U.S.

July 3 – President Jimmy Carter signs the first directive for secret aid to the opponents of the pro-Soviet regime in Kabul.

July 4 – Theodora Kroeber, writer and anthropologist, dies. (b. 1897)

July 6 – Van McCoy, musician noted for his 1975 hit The Hustle, dies. (b. 1940)

July 8 – Los Angeles passes its gay and lesbian civil rights bill.

July 8 - Robert Burns Woodward, chemist, Nobel Prize laureate, dies. (b. 1917)

July 10 – Arthur Fiedler, conductor (Boston Pops), dies. (b. 1894)

July 11 – NASA's first orbiting space station Skylab begins its return to Earth, after being in orbit for 6 years and 2 months.

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July 12 – A Disco Demolition Night publicity stunt goes awry at Comiskey Park, forcing the Chicago White Sox to forfeit their game against the Detroit Tigers.

July 12 – Minnie Riperton, rhythm and blues singer (Lovin' You), dies. (b. 1947)

July 13 – Corinne Griffith, actress and author, dies. (b. 1894)

July 13 - Breaking Away, Dracula, The Frisco Kid and The Wanderers movies premiere.

July 17 – Nicaraguan dictator General Anastasio Somoza Debayle resigns and flees to Miami, Florida.

July 19 – The Sandinista National Liberation Front concludes a successful revolutionary campaign against the U.S. backed Somoza dictatorship and assumes power in Nicaragua.

July 27 - The Amityville Horror and The Villain movies premiere.

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July 28 – George Seaton, screenwriter and director, dies. (b. 1911)

July 31 - Detective School tv series debuts on ABC.  Starring James Gregory, Randolph Mantooth, LaWanda Page and Melinda Naud, this show lasted 13 episodes.

Black Barbie (released 1979):

Super Friends comic for July:

1979 Volkswagen bus:

Playboy playmate of the month, Dorothy Mays, and Playgirl man for July, Eric Hooper:

Albums released in July (album / artist):
The B-52's / The B-52's
Low Budget / The Kinks
Nine Lives / REO Speedwagon
Highway to Hell / AC/DC
John Cougar / John Cougar
Risqué / Chic

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Nielsen top shows for the week ending July 15th: 1 M •A•S •H CBS; 2 WKRP In Cincinnati CBS; 3 Three's Company ABC; 4 Taxi ABC; 5 Lou Grant CBS; 6 The Jeffersons CBS; 7 Laverne and Shirley ABC; 8 60 Minutes CBS; 9 Alice CBS; 10 Dukes of Hazzard CBS; 11 Dallas CBS; 12 Eight Is Enough ABC; 13 Charlie's Angels ABC; 14 One Day at a Time CBS; 15 Barney Miller ABC.

Jet magazine for July:

Joe Weider's Muscle magazine for July:

National Geographic for July:

'Sophie's Choice' by William Styron is at the top of the New York Times Best Seller list.

Garfield comic strip from July 1979:

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