Jun 7
Queen's Silver Jubilee
Queen Elizabeth II celebrated 25 years on the throne. Street parties across Britain. The Sex Pistols released 'God Save the Queen' the same week. Two Britains, one celebration.
🇬🇧United Kingdom · 70s
God Save the Queen
Silver Jubilee, punk rock, and Star Wars arrives.
What happened
4 milestones of 1977
May 27
Sex Pistols' 'God Save the Queen' Banned
The Sex Pistols released 'God Save the Queen' during Jubilee week. BBC banned it. It still reached #2 (or #1 — the charts were allegedly fixed). Punk's most defiant moment.
Dec 27
Star Wars Opens in London
Star Wars finally arrived in the UK (7 months after the US). Queues around the block. Britain went Star Wars mad.
Apr 2
Red Rum Wins Third Grand National
Red Rum won the Grand National for a third time — the only horse ever to do it. The nation cheered. Red Rum became Britain's most famous racehorse.
What was playing
70% local · 30% international
What was in cinemas
Star Wars
George Lucas — Arrived in UK cinemas at Christmas. Changed everything.
A Bridge Too Far
Richard Attenborough — All-star WWII epic. British war cinema.
The Spy Who Loved Me
Lewis Gilbert — Roger Moore's best Bond. Lotus submarine car.
Jabberwocky
Terry Gilliam — Major UK release — TMDB 6.0
Providence
Alain Resnais — Major UK release — TMDB 6.8
What was on TV
I, Claudius
1976 — BBC historical drama. Derek Jacobi. Television at its finest.
Abigail's Party
Nov 1977 — Mike Leigh's suburban nightmare. Alison Steadman. Painfully perfect.
Jubilee coverage
Jun 1977 — BBC and ITV covered the street parties, processions, and celebrations.
How much things cost
Currency: GBP
Pint of milk11p
Pint of bitter26p
Average house£13,650
Loaf of bread19p
Inflation: 15.8%
Inflation still punishing. IMF bailout the previous year. Britain was 'the sick man of Europe.'
Then vs. Now
Inflation-adjusted values
Pint of milkONS
1977 (GBP)
11p
→
Today's value (£)
--
Pint of bitterBBPA
1977 (GBP)
26p
→
Today's value (£)
--
Average houseONS
1977 (GBP)
£13,650
→
Today's value (£)
--
Loaf of breadONS
1977 (GBP)
19p
→
Today's value (£)
--
Technology
Space Invaders
The arcade game was about to arrive from Japan and consume every 10p coin in the country.
Teletext
Ceefax (BBC) and Oracle (ITV) brought text information to TV screens.
VHS arriving
Home video recorders beginning to appear in British shops.
Pop Culture
Fashion
Punk — safety pins, ripped clothes, mohawksBondage trousers (Vivienne Westwood)Platform shoes (disco)Jubilee memorabilia
Slang
Bollocks— Rubbish, nonsense (also album title)
Gob— Mouth (or to spit — at punk gigs)
Aggro— Aggression, trouble
Behavior
- Punk and Jubilee — two visions of Britain competed
- Safety pins as fashion statement — DIY culture
- Racism and the National Front provoked Rock Against Racism
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