1971: Top Songs, Movies TV Shows, Sporting Events And More
The 1970’s were a whirlwind of change. From the hangover of the late 60’s to the lull and depression of the early part of the 70’s to the “ok, let’s loosen up and have some fun” attitude of the middle to latter part of the decade, it certainly was a decade of ups and downs that would lead to a never-ending party known as the 1980’s.
Check out everything that was from this decade, year by year. From the sporting events to world events, the top TV shows, songs, movies and more.
As you’re going back in time, think about some of the things in our lives today that you don’t see appearing here because…. they didn’t exist yet. Things like the top selling computers, tablets, laptops, microwaves, cable provider, wireless company, music video of the year etc.
Let us know some of the things that come to mind below.
For more great memories from any of the years that made up the decade, click a year below and we’ll transport you back in time to see everything you may remember or have forgotten… who loves ya baby!
TOP SONGS
1. “Joy To The World” – Three Dog Night
2. “It’s Too Late” – Carole King
3. “How Do You Mend A Broken Heart” – Bee Gees
4. “Indian Reservation” – The Raiders
5. “One Bad Apple” – The Osmonds
6. “Go Away Little Girl” – Donny Osmond
7. “Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)” – The Temptations
8. “Take Me Home, Country Roads” – John Denver
9. “Maggie May” – Rod Stewart
10. “Knock Three Times” – Dawn
GRAMMY WINNERS
Album of the Year: Tapestry, Carole King
Best New Artist: Carly Simon
Best Pop Duo or Group: Carpenters, Carpenters
Best Pop Female Vocal: Tapestry, Carole King
Best Pop Male Vocal: “You’ve Got a Friend,” James Taylor
Record of the Year: “It’s Too Late,” Carole King
Song of the Year: “You’ve Got a Friend”
TOP MOVIES
1. Fiddler on the Roof $80,500,000
2. The French Connection $51,700,000
3. Diamonds Are Forever $43,819,547
4. Dirty Harry $35,976,000
5. Billy Jack $32,500,000
6. Summer of ’42 $32,063,634
7. The Last Picture Show $29,133,000
8. Carnal Knowledge $28,623,000
9. A Clockwork Orange $26,589,355
10. Bedknobs and Broomsticks $17,871,174
ACADEMY AWARD WINNERS
Winners in CAPS
Best Picture:
“THE FRENCH CONNECTION”, “A Clockwork Orange”, “Fiddler on the Roof”, “The Last Picture Show”, “Nicholas and Alexandra”
Actor:
GENE HACKMAN in “The French Connection”, Peter Finch in “Sunday, Bloody Sunday”, Walter Matthau in “Kotch”, George C. Scott in “The Hospital”, Topol in “Fiddler on the Roof”
Actress:
JANE FONDA in “Klute”, Julie Christie in “McCabe and Mrs. Miller”, Glenda Jackson in “Sunday, Bloody Sunday”, Vanessa Redgrave in “Mary, Queen of Scots”, Janet Suzman in “Nicholas and Alexandra”
Supporting Actor:
BEN JOHNSON in “The Last Picture Show”, Jeff Bridges in “The Last Picture Show”, Leonard Frey in “Fiddler on the Roof”, Richard Jaeckel in “Sometimes a Great Notion”, Roy Scheider in “The French Connection”
Supporting Actress:
CLORIS LEACHMAN in “The Last Picture Show”, Ann-Margret in “Carnal Knowledge”, Ellen Burstyn in “The Last Picture Show”, Barbara Harris in “Who is Harry Kellerman, and Why is He Saying These Terrible Things About Me?”, Margaret Leighton in “The Go-Between”
Director:
WILLIAM FRIEDKIN for “The French Connection”, Peter Bogdanovich for “The Last Picture Show”, Norman Jewison for “Fiddler on the Roof”, Stanley Kubrick for”A Clockwork Orange”, John Schlesinger for “Sunday, Bloody Sunday”
TOP TV SHOWS
All in the Family / The Flip Wilson Show / Marcus Welby M.D. / Gunsmoke / ABC Movie of the Week
Sanford and Son / Mannix / Funny Face / Adam 12 / The Mary Tyler Moore Show / Here’s Lucy
Hawaii Five-O / Medical Center / The NBC Mystery Movie / Ironside / The Partridge Family
The F.B.I. / The New Dick Van Dyke Show / The Wonderful World of Disney / Bonanza
EMMY AWARD WINNERS:
Best Drama – Masterpiece Theatre: Elizabeth R (PBS)
Best Actor – Peter Falk, NBC Mystery Movie: Columbo
Best Actress – Glenda Jackson, Masterpiece Theatre: Elizabeth R
Supporting Actor – Jack Warden, Movie of the Week: Brian’s Song
Supporting Actress – Jenny Agutter, Hallmark Hall of Fame: The Snow Goose
Best Comedy – All in the Family
Best Actor – Carroll O’Connor, All in the Family
Best Actress – Jean Stapleton, All in the Family
Supporting Actor – Edward Asner, The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Supporting Actress – Valerie Harper, The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Best Variety – The Carol Burnett Show
SPORTS:
Kentucky Derby Winner: Canonero II – Trainer: G. Avila – Jockey: J. Arius
Football:
Superbowl VI: DALLAS 24 – Miami 3
Pro MVP: Alan Page, Minnesota, DT & Roger Staubach, Dallas, QB
College Football: #1 – Nebraska
Heisman Trophy: Pat Sullivan, Auburn, QB
Rose Bowl: Stanford 13 – Michigan 12
Orange Bowl: Nebraska 38 – Alabama 6
Cotton Bowl: Penn St. 30 – Texas 6
Sugar Bowl: Oklahoma 40 – Auburn 22
NBA Baskteball:
NBA Championship: Milwaukee Vs Baltimore (Bullets)
Milwaukee wins in 4
Milwaukee Coach: Larry Costello
Baltimore Coach: Gene Shue
MVP: Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabaar), Milwaukee, (C)
Avg. PPG – 31.7
NCAA National Champions:
UCLA – 29W – 1L
Coach: John Wooden
Baseball:
World Series: Pittsburgh Vs. Baltimore
Winner: Pittsburgh in 7
Pittsburgh Coach: Danny Murtaugh
Baltimore Coach: Earl Weaver
National League
MVP: Joe Torre – St. Louis (3B)
Rookie of the Year: Earl Williams – Atl. (C)
American League
MVP: Vida Blue – Oak. (P)
Rookie of the Year: Chris Chambliss – Cle. (1B)
TOP NEWS STORIES:
Apollo XIV Lands On Moon
Charles Manson and His Cult Members Sentenced To Death
Lieutenant William Calley Is Found Guilty In My Lai Massacre
Supreme Court Upholds Busing For Desegregation
Prisoners Riot At Attica 10 Hostages and 39 Convicts Die
Joe Frazier Beats Muhammad Ali in 15 Rounds, Each Receive 3.5 Million
Mount Etna Erupts After 43 Years
First legalized off track betting begins in New York
New York Times prints Pentagon Papers, Danial Ellsberg is arrested for disclosure
Nixon institutes price wage control
Nixon ends 21 year trade embargo with China
26th Amendment is passed lowering voting age to 18
“Intel” of California introduces the microprocessor, the “computer on a chip”
Mariner IX orbits Mars
Hot Pants are in
Military look becomes popular, patches and insignias on everything
Priest Daniel Berrrigan is charged with conspiracy to kidnap Henry Kissinger
Median age at first marriage is 23.2 for males and 20.8 for females
Stanly Kubrick’s “Clockwork Orange” opens at theaters
Dirty Harry starring Clint Eastwood is a movie hit
John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” is a top single record
“Santana” by Santana is a top selling album
The “Exorcist” (William Peter Blatty) is a best seller book
Alan Sheperad, Allen Rosa, and Edgar Mitchell explore the moons surface
Diana Ross begins a solo career
Barbers change over to “Hair stylists”
Cigarette advertising is banned from TV
Look Magazine closes down publication
President: Richard M. Nixon
Vice President: Spiro T. Agnew
Population: 207,660,677
Life expectancy: 71.1 years
Dow-Jones
High: 950
Low: 790
Federal spending: $210.17 billion
Federal debt: $408.2 billion
Inflation: 5.7%
Consumer Price Index: 40.5
Unemployment: 4.9%
Year End Close Dow Jones Industrial Average 890
Average Cost of new house $25,250.00
Average Income per year $10,600.00
Average Monthly Rent $150.00
Cost of a gallon of Gas 40 cents
United States postage Stamp 8 cents
Ladies 2 piece knit suites $9.98
Movie Ticket $1.50
Cost of a dozen eggs: $0.53
Cost of a gallon of Milk: $1.18
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