Apr 30
Fall of Saigon
North Vietnamese forces captured Saigon. Iconic images of helicopters evacuating the US embassy. The Vietnam War was over — America's longest war ended in defeat.
War's end — acknowledge the human cost, Vietnamese and American
🇺🇸United States · 70s
The Fall and the Hustle
Saigon fell, disco rose, and America tried to dance through the pain.
What happened
4 milestones of 1975
Oct 11
Saturday Night Live Debuts
George Carlin hosted the first episode of SNL. Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, John Belushi — late-night comedy was reinvented.
Jun 20
Jaws Creates the Summer Blockbuster
Steven Spielberg's shark thriller became the first film to earn $100 million at the box office. Hollywood would never be the same.
Year-round
Watergate Aftermath — Ford Pardons Nixon
Gerald Ford's controversial pardon of Nixon (Sep 1974) still dominated politics. Trust in government hit record lows. The Church Committee investigated CIA abuses.
Political scandal — factual, acknowledge erosion of public trust
What was playing
70% local · 30% international
What was in cinemas
Jaws
Steven Spielberg — The first summer blockbuster. Don't go in the water.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Milos Forman — Jack Nicholson's tour de force. Swept all five major Oscars.
Rocky Horror Picture Show
Jim Sharman — Midnight movie cult classic that never stopped playing.
The Stepford Wives
Bryan Forbes — Box office hit in the US — TMDB 6.7
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Jim Sharman — Box office hit in the US — TMDB 7.4
What was on TV
Saturday Night Live
1975-present — Live from New York — comedy's most important show was born.
Welcome Back, Kotter
1975-1979 — Launched John Travolta. The Sweathogs became icons.
Wheel of Fortune
1975-present — America's game show institution began.
How much things cost
Currency: USD
Gallon of milk$1.57
Gallon of gas$0.57
New house (median)$39,300
Movie ticket$2.05
Inflation: 9.1%
Recession and high inflation. The oil crisis aftermath lingered. Unemployment hit 9%.
Then vs. Now
Inflation-adjusted values
Gallon of milkBLS
1975 (USD)
$1.57
→
Today's value ($)
--
Gallon of gasEIA
1975 (USD)
$0.57
→
Today's value ($)
--
New house (median)Census Bureau
1975 (USD)
$39,300
→
Today's value ($)
--
Movie ticketNATO
1975 (USD)
$2.05
→
Today's value ($)
--
Technology
Altair 8800
The first personal computer kit — Bill Gates and Paul Allen wrote software for it.
BetaMax
Sony introduced the first home video cassette recorder.
Pet rocks
Gary Dahl sold 1.5 million rocks at $4 each. Peak 70s absurdity.
Pop Culture
Fashion
Polyester leisure suitsPlatform shoes peakedWrap dressesFeathered hair
Slang
Boogie— To dance
Foxy— Attractive, sexy
Psych!— Just kidding, got you
Behavior
- Disco culture was taking over nightlife
- Jogging became a mainstream hobby
- Vietnam veterans returned to a country that didn't know how to welcome them
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