Jul 4
Bicentennial Celebration
America turned 200 with tall ships in New York Harbor, fireworks across the nation, and a moment of unity after Watergate and Vietnam. The country celebrated being alive.
🇺🇸United States · 70s
The Bicentennial
America turns 200, Rocky fights, and Apple starts in a garage.
What happened
5 milestones of 1976
Nov 2
Jimmy Carter Elected President
A Georgia peanut farmer who promised 'I'll never lie to you' defeated Gerald Ford. Post-Watergate America chose an outsider. Carter won with 50.1% of the vote.
Jul 20
Viking 1 Lands on Mars
NASA's Viking 1 became the first spacecraft to successfully land on Mars and transmit photos. America saw the Red Planet's surface for the first time. Seven years after the Moon, Mars.
Apr 1
Apple Computer Founded
Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ron Wayne founded Apple Computer in the Jobs family garage. The Apple I sold for $666.66. The personal computer revolution started here.
Jul-Aug
Legionnaires' Disease Outbreak
A mysterious pneumonia killed 29 people at an American Legion convention in Philadelphia. The CDC identified a new bacterium — Legionella. Modern disease detection had a new challenge.
epidemic
What was playing
70% local · 30% international
What was in cinemas
Rocky
John G. Avildsen — Stallone wrote and starred. The ultimate underdog story. Won Best Picture.
All the President's Men
Alan J. Pakula — Redford and Hoffman as Woodward and Bernstein. Journalism as heroism.
Taxi Driver
Martin Scorsese — 'You talkin' to me?' DeNiro's Travis Bickle was the dark side of America.
Network
Sidney Lumet — 'I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!' Prophetic.
Carrie
Brian De Palma — Sissy Spacek at the prom. Stephen King's first film adaptation. That ending.
What was on TV
Charlie's Angels
1976-1981 — Three female detectives, one speakerphone. Farrah Fawcett became an icon.
The Bionic Woman
1976-1978 — Lindsay Wagner got her own show. Female action hero.
Laverne & Shirley
1976-1983 — Happy Days spinoff became the #1 show. Blue-collar women in Milwaukee.
Family Feud
1976-present — Richard Dawson kissed every female contestant. 'Survey says!'
All in the Family
1971-1979 — Archie Bunker was still must-see TV.
How much things cost
Currency: USD
Gallon of milk$1.42
Gallon of gas$0.59
New house (median)$44,200
New car (average)$4,600
Loaf of bread$0.30
Movie ticket$2.13
Inflation: 5.8%
The economy recovered from recession but inflation remained stubbornly high.
Then vs. Now
Inflation-adjusted values
Gallon of milkBLS
1976 (USD)
$1.42
→
Today's value ($)
--
Gallon of gasEIA
1976 (USD)
$0.59
→
Today's value ($)
--
New house (median)Census Bureau
1976 (USD)
$44,200
→
Today's value ($)
--
New car (average)BLS
1976 (USD)
$4,600
→
Today's value ($)
--
Loaf of breadBLS
1976 (USD)
$0.30
→
Today's value ($)
--
Movie ticketNATO
1976 (USD)
$2.13
→
Today's value ($)
--
Technology
Apple I computer
Jobs and Wozniak sold hand-built Apple I boards. The personal computer era began.
Viking on Mars
NASA landed on Mars and searched for life. None found — but we looked.
VHS introduced
JVC released the VHS format in Japan. The home video revolution was coming.
Cray-1 supercomputer
The Cray-1 was the world's fastest computer. Shaped like a love seat.
Laser printer
IBM introduced the first commercial laser printer.
Pop Culture
Fashion
Farrah Fawcett feathered hairPlatform shoes everywhereBicentennial red, white, and blue everything
Slang
Dy-no-mite!— Awesome (from Good Times)
Mellow— Relaxed, calm
Foxy— Attractive
Behavior
- Bicentennial patriotism — flags, fireworks, and tall ships
- CB radio mania — 'Breaker, breaker' became everyday language
- Punk rock emerged at CBGB in New York
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