Jun 17
O.J. Simpson's White Bronco Chase
95 million Americans watched O.J. Simpson's slow-speed chase down the LA freeway in a white Ford Bronco. It was the most watched event in television history at that point. The trial of the century followed.
🇺🇸United States · 90s
The Bronco Chase
O.J. Simpson's white Bronco, the Northridge quake, and Friends debuts.
What happened
5 milestones of 1994
Jan 17
Northridge Earthquake
A 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck the San Fernando Valley at 4:31 AM. 57 died, 9,000 injured. Freeways collapsed. $20 billion in damage — the costliest earthquake in US history at the time.
Nov 8
Republican Revolution — Newt Gingrich's Contract with America
Republicans won control of both houses of Congress for the first time in 40 years. Newt Gingrich's 'Contract with America' fueled the wave. The Clinton era became one of divided government.
Jan 1
NAFTA Takes Effect
The North American Free Trade Agreement created the world's largest free trade zone between the US, Canada, and Mexico. Critics said it would cost American jobs. Supporters said it would grow the economy. Both were right.
Aug 12
Major League Baseball Strike
The players went on strike, canceling the rest of the season and the World Series for the first time since 1904. Baseball fans were furious. The sport's popularity never fully recovered.
What was playing
70% local · 30% international
What was in cinemas
Forrest Gump
Robert Zemeckis — 'Life is like a box of chocolates.' Tom Hanks ran through history. Won Best Picture.
The Lion King
Roger Allers & Rob Minkoff — 'Hakuna Matata.' Disney's most emotionally devastating and commercially successful animated film.
Pulp Fiction
Quentin Tarantino — Travolta's comeback, $5 milkshakes, and 'Ezekiel 25:17.' Tarantino rewrote cinema's rulebook.
The Shawshank Redemption
Frank Darabont — Flopped at the box office. Now consistently ranked the greatest film ever made.
Speed
Jan de Bont — Keanu Reeves on a bus that can't slow down. The perfect 90s action movie.
What was on TV
Friends
1994-2004 — Six friends in New York. The most popular sitcom of the decade.
ER
1994-2009 — George Clooney in the emergency room. The most watched drama premiere ever.
The O.J. Simpson Trial
1994-1995 — Not a show — but it played like one. America was glued to the trial.
Seinfeld
1989-1998 — Peak Seinfeld. 'The Contest,' 'The Marine Biologist' — comedy gold.
My So-Called Life
1994-1995 — Claire Danes as Angela Chase. One season of teenage truth.
How much things cost
Currency: USD
Gallon of milk$2.88
Gallon of gas$1.11
New house (median)$130,000
New car (average)$15,400
Loaf of bread$0.75
Movie ticket$4.08
Inflation: 2.6%
The economy was growing. Low inflation, falling unemployment. The Clinton boom was building.
Then vs. Now
Inflation-adjusted values
Gallon of milkBLS
1994 (USD)
$2.88
→
Today's value ($)
--
Gallon of gasEIA
1994 (USD)
$1.11
→
Today's value ($)
--
New house (median)Census Bureau
1994 (USD)
$130,000
→
Today's value ($)
--
New car (average)BLS
1994 (USD)
$15,400
→
Today's value ($)
--
Loaf of breadBLS
1994 (USD)
$0.75
→
Today's value ($)
--
Movie ticketNATO
1994 (USD)
$4.08
→
Today's value ($)
--
Technology
Amazon founded
Jeff Bezos started Amazon as an online bookstore in his garage.
Netscape Navigator
The first popular web browser launched, making the internet accessible to ordinary people.
PlayStation announced
Sony announced the PlayStation in the US. Gaming was about to level up.
Yahoo! founded
Jerry Yang and David Filo created Yahoo!, the first popular web directory.
Channel Tunnel opens
The 'Chunnel' connected England and France by rail under the English Channel.
Pop Culture
Fashion
Flannel shirts tied around the waistChoker necklacesBaggy jeans and Timberland boots
Slang
All that and a bag of chips— Really impressive
Fly— Cool, attractive
Da bomb— The best, excellent
Behavior
- The O.J. trial became a national obsession that exposed racial divisions
- Friends defined how young adults wanted to live (and drink coffee)
- The internet was something people were starting to hear about
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