Page 195 - 1980 WW
P. 195
Seventies
/ / / / / /
1978: In a jungle set
tlement in Guyana, 914
members of the People’s
Temple, a so-called
religious cult, kill them
selves or are killed.
California Congressman
Leo Ryan is murdered,
a l o n g wi th t hr e e
newsmen, while visiting
the settlement before the
slaughter began. Double
Eagle 11 makes the first
trans-Atlantic balloon 1979; Pope John Paul II visits America and Poland, his native
crossing. The world’s first
land. Mayor Rizzo cannot run for a third term in Philadelphia
test tube baby is born in
and has to leave office. The Ayatollah Khomeini deposes the
England. John Travolta Shah of Iran, and dissident students take fifty American Em
and SATURDAY NIGHT bassy employees hostage on November 4th in Tehran,
FEVER sweep the coun demanding the return of the Shah and the wealth they say he
try. Songs, such as amassed while in power. Blacks and women hostages were
S A T U R D A Y N I GHT released shortly after the take-over, but the remaining people
FEVER and STAYIN’ are still being held captive at the time of this writing, one hun
ALIVE, along with THREE dred twenty-three days after the seizure. SALT II is proposed,
TIMES A LADY, DUST IN but the voting on it has been delayed because of the Soviet in
THE WIND, MISS YOU, vasion of Afghanistan. Gas prices reach an all-time high,
HOT-BLOODED, MacAR- causing protesters to take over gas stations at 5 Points in
THUR PARK, YOU Levittown, to illustrate their frustration over the high prices
NEEDED ME, and HOT and the scarcity of gas during spot shortages. Truckers strike
CHILD are popular. On for lower diesel fuel prices. Peace treaty is signed between
the soul charts, ONE Egypt and Israel. U.S. and China establish limited diplomatic
NATION, FLASHLIGHT, relations. New Wave Rock hits the stands, driving Disco to a
BOOGIE OOGIE, LE tragic decline. Senator Edward Kennedy throws his hat into
F R E A K , and THE the Presidential ring. Bing Crosby dies, and the world grieves
GROOVE LINE took the his loss. A comedian named Robin Williams “ lands” on Earth
charts by storm. from Mars, and Steve Martin makes his first record. ANIMAL
HOUSE, a movie about college life, hits the screens, leaving
people everywhere with the idea of giving toga parties. The
song recorded by Debbie Boone, YOU LIGHT UP MY LIFE, is
named “Song of the Decade.” The movie, SUPERMAN, is
released, and now we’re waiting for SUPERMAN II. Country
music singer Kenny Rodgers leaves his mark on the music
world. Bo Derek is a perfect “ 10.” AMITYVILLE HORROR
makes movie-goers afraid to turn off the lights. Casino gam
bling hits it big in Atlantic City. Sky Lab falls in Australia.
Three Mile Island, a nuclear-generating plant in Middletown,
Pa., almost has a meltdown. Chrysler has financial problems
and asks the government for help in the form of loans and
gets it. On the rock charts, HEART OF GLASS, RENEGADE,
TRAGEDY, GAMBLER, DO YOU THINK I’M SEXY?, HOT
STUFF, BAD GIRLS, IN THE NAVY, and MY SHARRONA
make it big. On the soul charts, IN A BUSH, INSTANT
REPLAY, REUNITED, 1 GOT MY MIND MADE UP, WRAP
PER’S DELIGHT, I LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE, DISCO NIGHTS,
and SHAME leave their mark on the music world.
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