Memory Lane: 1975

JawsU.S. sees a start back down with US inflation going down to 9.2%, both UK and US governments use interest rates as a way of trying to control inflation with the US Federal Reserve at 7.25% and The Bank of England at 11.25%.

One of the true success stories of modern times when Bill Gates and Paul Allen create the company Microsoft.

The first of the new hobby computers are starting to appear including Altair 8800.

The battle for video recorder standards of VHS and Betamax starts.

This is also the year the Vietnam War finally ends.

 

In The News

First disposable razor

Ex-Teamster boss Jimmy Hoffa disappears

Microcomputer Altair 8800 is released

Sony introduces Betamax videotapes and Matsushita / JVC introduce VHS

The Suez Canal reopens

Dutch Elm disease decimates Elm Trees in UK

Britain’s inflation rate jumps to 25%


Population/Economy

Population:

  • Wake County: 267,377
  • NC: 5,547,000
  • USA: 216,000,000

National Debt:

  •   $533,189,000,000 (1975)
  • $18,152,809,942,589 (2015)

Value of a Dollar: $1 in 1975 is $4.52 in 2015

Cost Of Living 1975:

  • Yearly inflation rate: 9.2%
  • Year End Close Dow Jones Industrial Average: 858
  • Interest Rates Year End Federal Reserve: 7.25%
  • Average cost of new house: $39,300
  • Average income per year: $14,100
  • Average monthly rent: $200
  • Average cost of a new car: $4,250
  • Cost of a gallon of gas: $0.44
  • Foster Grant Sun Glasses: $5
  • Chevrolet Caprice: $4,819
  • Ford Mustang II: $4,105
  • Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale: $5,626
  • Pontiac Ventura Coupe: $3,829
  • Cheeseburger at McDonald’s: McDonalds celebrated its 20th birthday April 20, 1975 by selling hamburgers at original price: 15 cents.
  • Ticket to Disneyland: General Admission and 12 ticket Adventure Book: $7.50-$8.25

Ounce of Gold Price:

  • The cost of an ounce of gold was $161.02
  • The inflation-adjusted price of an ounce of gold was $718.84


Going to the Movies

Cost of a movie ticket: $2.05

Inflation-adjusted price of a movie ticket: $9.15

The cost of a movie ticket in 2015: $7.92

Top 5 Movies:

  1. Jaws 
  2. The Rocky Horror Picture Show 
  3. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest 
  4. Dog Day Afternoon
  5. Shampoo 

 

47th Academy Awards

  • Best Picture: One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest
  • Best Director: Milos Forman – One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest
  • Best Actor: Jack Nicholson – One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest
  • Best Actress: Louise Fletcher – One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest
  • Best Supporting Actor: George Burns – The Sunshine Boys
  • Best Supporting Actress: Lee Grant – Shampoo


Top 10 TV Shows

  1. All in the Family – CBS – 20,949,600
  2. Rich Man, Poor Man – ABC – 19,488,000
  3. Laverne & Shirley – ABC – 19,140,000
  4. Maude – CBS – 17,400,000
  5. The Bionic Woman – ABC – 17,330,400
  6. Phyllis – CBS – 17,052,000
  7. Sanford and Son – NBC – 16,982,400
  8. Rhoda – CBS – 16,982,400
  9. The Six Million Dollar Man – ABC – 16,912,800
  10. ABC Monday Night Movie – ABC – 16,843,200

Top 20 Pop Songs

  1. Captain and Tennille – Love Will Keep Us Together
  2. Glen Campbell – Rhinestone Cowboy
  3. Elton John – Philadelphia Freedom
  4. Freddy Fender – Before The Next Teardrop Falls
  5. Frankie Valli – My Eyes Adored You
  6. Earth, Wind and Fire – Shining Star
  7. David Bowie – Fame
  8. Neil Sedaka – Laughter In The Rain
  9. Eagles – One Of These Nights
  10. John Denver – Thank God I’m A Country Boy
  11. Bee Gees – Jive Talkin’
  12. Eagles – Best Of My Love
  13. Minnie Riperton – Lovin’ You
  14. Carl Douglas – Kung Fu Fighting
  15. Doobie Brothers – Black Water
  16. Sweet – Ballroom Blitz
  17. B.J. Thomas – (Hey Wont You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song
  18. Tony Orlando and Dawn – He Don’t Love You (Like I Love You)
  19. Janis Ian – At Seventeen
  20. Average White Band – Pick Up The Pieces


Top 20 Country Songs

  1. The Door – George Jones
  2. Ruby, Baby – Billy “Crash” Craddock
  3. Kentucky Gambler – Merle Haggard
  4. (I’d Be) A Legend In My Time – Ronnie Milsap
  5. City Lights – Mickey Gilley
  6. Then Who Am I – Charley Pride
  7. Devil In The Bottle – T.G. Sheppard
  8. I Care – Tom T. Hall
  9. It’s Time To Pay The Fiddler – Cal Smith
  10. Linda On My Mind – Conway Twitty
  11. Before The Next Teardrop Falls – Freddy Fender
  12. The Bargain Store – Dolly Parton
  13. I Just Can’t Get Her Out OF My Mind – Johnny Rodriguez
  14. Always Wanting You – Merle Haggard
  15. Blanket On The Ground – Billy Jo Spears
  16. Rolling On Big Mama – Joe Stampley
  17. She’s Actin’ Single – Gary Stewart
  18. (Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song – B. J. Thomas
  19. I’m Not Lisa – Jessi Colter
  20. Thank God I’m A Country Boy


This Year in Sports

ACC Football Champ: Maryland

ACC Basketball Champs: North Carolina (UNC 70 – NC State 66)

World Series Winner: Cincinnati Reds over the Boston Red Sox

Heavyweight Boxing Champ: Muhammad Ali

Super Bowl IV: Pittsburgh Steelers (Steelers 16 – Minnesota Vikings 6)

NASCAR Season Winner: Richard Petty

Masters Winner: Jack Nicklaus (12 under – won $40,000)

Wimbledon Winners:

  • Men’s Singles: United States Billie Jean King defeated Australia Evonne Goolagong Cawley, 6–0, 6–1
  • Women’s Singles: United States Billie Jean King defeated Australia Evonne Goolagong Cawley, 6–0, 6–1
  • Men’s Doubles: United States Vitas Gerulaitis / United States Sandy Mayer defeated Rhodesia Colin Dowdeswell / Australia Allan Stone, 7–5, 8–6, 6–4
  • Women’s Doubles: United States Ann Kiyomura / Japan Kazuko Sawamatsu defeated France Françoise Dürr / Netherlands Betty Stöve, 7–5, 1–6, 7–5
  • Mixed Doubles: Australia Margaret Court / United States Marty Riessen defeated Netherlands Betty Stöve / Australia Allan Stone, 6–4, 7–5