A Walk Down Memory Lane | 50 Fun Facts About 1975

The Sunshine House opened its doors in 1975, and our 50th anniversary has us feeling nostalgic. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and see what things were like 50 years ago. Check out 50 fun facts about the year 1975!

Contents by Category:

1-10: A Day in the Life in 1975
11-20: What Was Hot in Movies, Television, and Stage Performances
21-30: What Was Happening in Music
31-40: What They Ate in 1975
41-50: World of Sports in 1975

A Day in the Life in 1975:

The most popular names for newborn babies in 1975 were Jennifer and Michael.
The Ford F-150 truck was introduced in 1975.
The price of gas in 1975 was 53 cents per gallon.
The most popular toy in 1975 was Pet Rock.
The Kool-Aid man made his first appearance in commercials in 1975. He was an adaptation of the original Kool-Aid symbol, a pitcher with a face.
Popular slang words in the 70’s included:

- - Boogie (dance)
  - Copacetic (okay, no problem)
  - Dude (general term for a guy)
  - Far out (cool in a weird way)
  - Good vibes (positive energy)
  - Out of sight (cool, impressive)
  - Psych (to trick someone)
  - Right on (in agreement)
  - Space cadet (an airhead or goofy)
  - To the max (extreme)

Gerald Ford was President in 1975, and Nelson Rockefeller was the Vice President.
Disney Springs opened on March 22, 1975. It was known as The Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village when it first opened.
On May 7, 1975, President Ford announced an end to the Vietnam War.
On October 21, 1975, the Coast Guard Academy allowed the first women to enroll.

What Was Hot in Movies, Television, and Stage Performances:

Wheel of Fortune debuted on NBC on January 6, 1975.
The top grossing movie in North America in 1975 was Jaws, which grossed $260 million.
The price of a movie ticket was $2.03!
The first ever episode of Saturday Night Live premiered on October 11, 1975. Back then, it was called NBC’s Saturday Night.
In 1975, the following actors were born:

- - Angelina Jolie
  - Bradley Cooper
  - Dax Shepard
  - Drew Barrymore
  - Eva Longoria
  - Kate Winslet
  - Linda Cardellini
  - Russell Brand
  - Taika Waititi

In 1975, Robert De Niro won an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in The Godfather Part II. This film also won Academy Awards for Art Direction, Directing, Music (Original Dramatic Score), Best Picture, and Writing (Screenplay Adapted from Other Material).
Popular Broadway shows that opened in 1975 included:

- - A Chorus Line
  - Chicago
  - Death of a Salesman
  - The Glass Menagerie
  - Hamlet
  - The Rocky Horror Show
  - Shenandoah
  - The Wiz

The first black-owned television station in the U.S., WGPR, began broadcasting in Detroit on September 29, 1975.
Good Morning America debuted on ABC in 1975.
In 1975, the top-rated television show was All in the Family.

What Was Happening in Music:

The top hit from 1975 was Love Will Keep Us Together by Captain & Tennille.
Some of the top music artists in 1975 included:

- - Bee Gees
  - Bruce Springsteen
  - Captain & Tennille
  - David Bowie
  - Earth, Wind & Fire
  - Elton John
  - Kool & the Gang
  - Olivia Newton-John
  - Stevie Wonder
  - The Temptations

Earth, Wind & Fire won their first GRAMMY for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group, or Chorus for Shining Star. The award was handed out by Aretha Franklin and the Lockers.
Barry White’s, Can’t Get Enough of Your Love Baby, was released in June 1975.
Stevie Wonder signed a $13 million contract with Motown in 1975.
Elton John received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1975.
Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham joined Fleetwood Mac in 1975. This was the same year they released their album Fleetwood Mac, which launched their success.
Best of My Love by the Eagles reached number 1 on the charts in March 1975 after the band struggled to find their sound. This was their first chart-topping single.
Elton John’s Greatest Hits was the number one album at year-end in 1975 according to the ARC Weekly Top 40 and Billboard Hot 100.
Olivia Newton-John won Favorite Country Album at the American Music Awards for her album, Let Me Be There in 1975.

What They Ate in 1975:

The most popular fast-food chain at that time was Taco Bell.
Warheads candy came out in 1975.
In 1975, Wendy’s opened its 100th
In 1975, Pillsbury acquired Totino’s frozen pizza for $20 million.
Use of the Heimlich Maneuver was endorsed by the American Medical Association Commission starting in 1975.
Famous Amos Chocolate Chip Cookies were introduced in 1975.
The average price of milk cost $1.57 per gallon in 1975.
Biscuitville first opened in 1975 in Danville, VA.
The Melting Pot was founded in 1975 near Orlando in Maitland, FL.
Walt Disney released Mickey Mouse Cookbook in 1975 with easy kid recipes, kitchen safety information, and tips for measuring ingredients.

World of Sports in 1975:

MLB legends Ralph Kiner and William Johnson were both inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1975.
Pittsburg Steelers won the Super Bowl in 1975.
The Cincinnati Reds won the World Series Championship in 1975.
The first ICC Cricket World Cup was hosted in 1975. They were held in England with 8 participating countries.
Jack Nicklaus had his 5th Masters golf tournament win in 1975, along with his win at the PGA Championship. To this day, he holds the record for most Masters Tournament titles with six wins and is tied for the most PGA Championship victories with five wins, along with Walter Hagen.
The first nationally televised women’s college basketball game took place on January 26, 1975, between University of Maryland and Immaculata College of Pennsylvania.
In 1975, Caroline Svendsen became the first woman to receive her boxing license in the United States.
In 1975, Chris Evert became the first official Women’s Tennis Association number one player, holding that spot for three years. That same year, she also won her second French Open and the first of four straight US Open titles.
In 1975, Frank Robinson became the first Black man to manage an American or National League club from the start of a season.
Bill Rodgers won his first Boston Marathon in 1975. He won again for 3 consecutive years in 1978, 1979, and 1980. To this day, he holds the record as the only marathoner to hold simultaneous titles of three major marathons, Boston, New York, and Fukuoka.