1973: 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. “Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree” – Dawn featuring Tony Orlando
2. “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” – Jim Croce
3. “Crocodile Rock” – Elton John
4. “My Love” – Paul McCartney & Wings
5. “Let’s Get It On” – Marvin Gaye
6. “Touch Me In The Morning” – Diana Ross
7. “Delta Dawn” – Helen Reddy
8. “Playground In My Mind” – Clint Holmes
9. “Killing Me Softly With His Song” – Roberta Flack
10. “Me And Mrs. Jones” – Billy Paul
GRAMMY WINNERS
Album of the Year: Innervisions, Stevie Wonder
Best New Artist: Bette Midler
Best Pop Duo or Group: “Neither One of Us”, Gladys Knight and the Pips
Best Pop Female Vocal: “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” Roberta Flack
Best Pop Male Vocal: “You Are the Sunshine of My Life,” Stevie Wonder
Record of the Year: “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” Roberta Flack
Song of the Year: “Killing Me Softly With His Song”
TOP MOVIES
1. The Exorcist $89,000,000
2. The Sting $78,212,000
3. American Graffiti $55,128,000
4. Enter the Dragon $25,000,000
5. Papillon $22,500,000
6. The Way We Were $22,457,000
7. Magnum Force $20,100,000
8. Robin Hood $18,000,000
9. Last Tango in Paris $16,711,000
10. Paper Moon $16,559,000
11. Live and Let Die $15,925,000
OTHER RELEASES
Badlands / Westworld / Bang the Drum Slowly / High Plains Drifter / Jesus Christ Superstar / Mean Streets / Save the Tiger
Serpico / Sleeper / The Last Detail / The Paper Chase
ACADEMY AWARD WINNERS
Best Actor: Jack Lemmon: Save the Tiger
Best Actress: Glenda Jackson: A Touch of Class
Best Director: George Roy Hill: The Sting
Best Picture: Tony Bill and Michael Phillips and Julia Phillips: The Sting
Best Supporting Actor: John Houseman: The Paper Chase
Best Supporting Actress: Tatum O’Neal: Paper Moon
TV SHOWS
All in the Family / The Waltons / Sanford and Son / M*A*S*H / Hawaii Five-O / Maude / Kojak
The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour / The Mary Tyler Moore Show / Cannon / The Six Million Dollar Man
The Bob Newhart Show / The Wonderful World of Disney / The NBC Sunday Mystery Movie
Gunsmoke / Happy Days / Good Times / Barnaby Jones / NFL Monday Night Football / The CBS Friday Night Movie
EMMY AWARD WINNERS:
Best Drama – Masterpiece Theatre: Upstairs, Downstairs
Best Actor – Telly Savalas, Kojak
Best Actress – Michael Learned, The Waltons
Best Comedy – M*A*S*H
Best Actor – Alan Alda, M*A*S*H
Best Actress – Mary Tyler Moore, The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Supporting Actor – Rob Reiner, All in the Family
Supporting Actress – Cloris Leachman, The Mary Tyler Moore Show: “The Lars Affair”
Best Variety – The Carol Burnett Show
SPORTS:
Kentucky Derby Winner: Secretariat – Trainer: R. Turcotte – Jockey: L. Laurin
Football:
Superbowl VIII: Miami 24 – MINNESOTA 7
Pro MVP: O.J. Simpson, Buffalo, RB
College Football: #1 Notre Dame
Heisman Trophy: John Cappelletti, Penn St., RB
Rose Bowl: Ohio St. 42, USC 21
Orange Bowl: Penn St. 16, LSU 9
Cotton Bowl: Nebraska 19, Texas 3
Sugar Bowl: Notre Dame 24, Alabama 23
Baskteball:
NBA Championship: New York Vs. L.A. Lakers
Winner: New York in in 5
L.A. Coach: Bill Sharman
New York Coach: Red Holzman
MVP: Dave Cowens, Boston, C – Average Points Per Game: 20.5
NCAA National Champions: UCLA – 30W 0L (Undefeated) / Coach: John Wooden
World Series
Oakland A’s Vs. New York Mets
Oakland in 7
Oakland Coach: Dick Williams
New York Coach: Yogi Berra
National League
MVP: Pete Rose, Cin (OF)
Rookie of the Year: Gary Matthews, SF (OF)
American League
MVP: Reggie Jackson, Oak (OF)
Rookie of the Year: Al Bumbry, Bal (OF)
TOP NEWS STORIES:
US Suspends All Activity Over Vietnam
First Vietnam POW’s Released At Clark Field- Philippines
Elvis Presley’s Aloha From Hawaii television special is seen around the world by more than 1 billion viewers
Letter From John McCord To Judge Sirica Implicates Re-election Committee
Senate Committee Begins Watergate Hearings
Presidential Counsel John Dean Implicates President
Endangered Species Act is passed
The Bahamas gains independence from Great Britain
Archiabald Cox Is appointed Special Watergate Prosecutor
Judge Sirica Orders Tapes Released – Nixon Refuses
OPEC Emposes Oil Embargo
US and Cuba sign antihijack pact
Militant Indians seize hostages at Wounded Knee S.D.
Last US combat troops leave Vietnam
Syria and Egypt attack Israel on Yom Kuppur
Alaskan pipeline is authorized
Lyndon B. Johnson dies
Actress Betty Grabel dies
Oregon is the first state to decriminalize marijuana
Elvis gives Priscilla $750,000 in divorce settlement
Airmail goes to 10 cents/ oz., post cards 5 cents
Supreme Court rules all first-term abortion laws unconstitutional with Roe Vs. Wade decision
Nixon’s secret taping devices revealed
Kojak with Telly Savalas premiers
The Six Million Dollar man with Lee Majors attracts big TV audiences
Big Bird on Sesame street helps teach preschoolers
NASA launched Mariner 10 to probe Mercury
The Concorde airplane is cutting time across the time pond by leaps and bounds, not without problems
Elton John’s Yellow Brick Road is a top album
Skylab, the world’s first space station is launched
The Sears Tower in Chicago is completed and ready for business
Stevie Wonder’s “You Are The Sunshine Of My Life” is a hit
Fads; Backgammon, CB radios, martial arts
Congress prohibits “black outs” for sold out games
Billie Jean King beats Bobby Riggs in the Astrodome in $1,000,000 match
84 Congressman sponsor 22 bills calling for impeachment
Screening passengers to prevent hijacking begins at airports
The most single records sold are country and western
Pet Rocks are in
The World Trade Center towers become the tallest buildings in the world
The Great Gatsby and Mark Spitz look are popular men fashion
President: Richard M. Nixon
Vice President: Spiro T. Agnew
Population: 211,908,788
Life expectancy: 71.4 years
Dow-Jones
High: 1051
Low: 788
Federal spending: $245.71 billion
Federal debt: $466.3 billion
Inflation: 7.6%
Consumer Price Index: 44.4
Unemployment: 5.6%
Cost of a new home: $35,500.00
Cost of a new car: $3,500.00
Median Household Income: $10,512.00
Cost of a first-class stamp: $0.08
Cost of a gallon of regular gas: $0.39
Cost of a dozen eggs: $0.78
Cost of a gallon of Milk: $1.31