Memory Lane: 1971

Walt DisneyThis could well be the year that marked the start of the digital age when the Microprocessor was invented.

We also saw the use of more and more of the transistor technology in use in things like hand held calculators which although are still very expensive over time will drop in price and increase in function to where we are today.

It is also the first year North Sea oil production begins in Norway.

The birth of Greenpeace signals a need to question how we manage the resources entrusted to us and a means of organized questioning of governments around the world.

 

In The News

Intel releases world’s first microprocessor

Aswan Dam is completed

Charles Manson and three of his followers receive the death penalty

National Public Radio (NPR) broadcasts for the first time

Walt Disney World Resort opens in Florida

Mount Etna erupts

Voting age lowered in the US and UK to 18

San Fernando Valley earthquake

 


Population/Economy

Population:

  • Wake County – 238,166
  • NC – 5,204,000
  • USA – 207,660,000

National Debt:

  • $398,129,744,455 (1971)
  • $18,152,809,942,589 (2015)

Value of a Dollar: $1 in 1971 is $5.89 in 2015

Cost Of Living 1971:

Yearly Inflation Rate USA 4.3%

  • 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
  • Datsun 1200 Sports Coupe $1,866.00
  • United States postage Stamp 8 cents
  • Ladies 2 piece knit suites $9.98
  • Cheeseburger at McDonald’s: $0.18
  • Ticket to Disneyland: Magic Kingdom admission & 7 adventure tickets – $4.75

Ounce of Gold Price:

  • The cost of an ounce of gold was $40.80
  • The inflation-adjusted price of an ounce of gold was $241.42


Going to the Movies

Cost of a movie ticket: $1.65

Inflation-adjusted price of a movie ticket: $9.67

The cost of a movie ticket in 2015: $7.92

Top 5 Movies:

  1.  Fiddler on the Roof 
  2. The French Connection 
  3. Diamonds Are Forever 
  4. Dirty Harry
  5. Billy Jack


41st Academy Awards

  • Best Picture: The French Connection 
  • Best Director: William Friedkin – The French Connection
  • Best Actor: Gene Hackman – The French Connection
  • Best Actress: Jane Fonda- Klute 
  • Best Supporting Actor: Ben Johnson- The Last Picture Show 
  • Best Supporting Actress: Cloris Leachman – The Last Picture Show 

Top 10 TV Shows

  1. All in the Family – CBS – 21,114,000
  2. The Flip Wilson Show – NBC – 17,512,200
  3. Marcus Welby, M.D. – ABC – 17,263,800
  4. Gunsmoke – CBS – 16,146,000
  5. ABC Movie of the Week – ABC – 15,897,600
  6. Sanford and Son – NBC – 15,649,200
  7. Mannix – CBS – 15,400,800
  8. Funny Face – CBS – 14,841,900
  9. Adam 12 – NBC – 14,841,900
  10. The Mary Tyler Moore Show – CBS – 14,717,700

Top 20 Pop Songs

  1. Three Dog Night – Joy To The World
  2. Rod Stewart – Maggie May / (Find A) Reason To Believe
  3. Carole King – It’s Too Late / I Feel The Earth Move
  4. Osmonds – One Bad Apple
  5. Bee Gees – How Can You Mend A Broken Heart
  6. Raiders – Indian Reservation
  7. Donny Osmond – Go Away Little Girl
  8. John Denver – Take Me Home, Country Roads
  9. Temptations – Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)
  10. Dawn – Knock Three Times
  11. Janis Joplin – Me and Bobby McGee
  12. Al Green – Tired Of Being Alone
  13. Honey Cone – Want Ads
  14. Undisputed Truth – Smiling Faces Sometimes
  15. Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose – Treat Her Like A Lady
  16. Rolling Stones – Brown Sugar
  17. James Taylor – You’ve Got A Friend
  18. Jean Knight – Mr. Big Stuff
  19. Lee Michaels – Do You Know What I Mean
  20. Joan Baez – The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down


Top 20 Country Songs

  1. Flesh And Blood – Johnny Cash
  2. Joshua – Dolly Parton
  3. Help Me Make It Through The Night – Sammi Smith
  4. I’d Rather Love You – Charley Pride
  5. After The Fire Is Gone – Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn
  6. Empty Arms – Sonny James
  7. How Much More Can She Stand – Conway Twitty
  8. I Won’t Mention It Again – Ray Price
  9. You’re My Man – Lynn Anderson
  10. When You’re Hot, You’re Hot – Jerry Reed
  11. Bright Lights, Big City – Sonny James
  12. I’m Just Me – Charlie Pride
  13. Good Lovin’ Tammy Wynette
  14. Easy Loving – Freddie Hart
  15. The Year That Clayton Delaney Died – Tom T. Hall
  16. How Can I Unlove You – Lynn Anderson
  17. Here Comes Honey Again – Sonny James
  18. Lead Me On – Conway Twitter & Loretta Lynn
  19. Daddy Frank – Merle Haggard
  20. Kiss An Angel Good Morning – Charley Pride


This Year in Sports

ACC Football Champ: North Carolina

ACC Basketball Champs: South Carolina (USC 52 – UNC 51)

World Series Winner: Pittsburgh Pirates over the Baltimore Orioles

Heavyweight Boxing Champ: Joe Frazier 

Super Bowl II: Baltimore Colts  (Baltimore Colts 16 – Dallas Cowboys 13)

NASCAR Season Winner: Richard Petty

Masters Winner: Charles Coody (9 under – won $25,000)

Wimbledon Winners:

  • Men’s Singles:  Australia John Newcombe defeated United States Stan Smith, 6–3, 5–7, 2–6, 6–4, 6–4
  • Women’s Singles: Australia Evonne Goolagong Cawley defeated Australia Margaret Court, 6–4, 6–1
  • Men’s Doubles: Australia Roy Emerson / Australia Rod Laver defeated United States Arthur Ashe / United States Dennis Ralston, 4–6, 9–7, 6–8, 6–4, 6–4
  • Women’s Doubles: United States Rosemary Casals / United States Billie Jean King defeated Australia Evonne Goolagong Cawley / Australia Margaret Court, 6–3, 6–2
  • Mixed Doubles: United States Billie Jean King / Australia Owen Davidson defeated Australia Margaret Court / United States Marty Riessen, 3–6, 6–2, 15–13