Gettin’ Your Kicks in 1976: A Flashback of the Bicentennial Year Esther Grubbe April English 7 Mrs. light

Introduction 1976 Robert Eugene Grubbe Richardson High School Richardson, Texas Purple and gold Eagle

National News January 30, 1976 – George Bush became 11 th director of the CIA July 4 – held an anniversary party celebrating America’s 200 years of independence Jimmy Carter was elected into office Apple Computer Company created First laser printed created Two dollar bill re-introduced Leaded regular gas - $0.59 Unleaded regular gas - $0.61

International News Winter Olympics were held in Innsbruck, Austria Earthquake killed 655,000 people in Tabyshan, China Tidal wave killed 5,000 people in the Philippines Hurricane Belle hit the U.S. east coast

Movies Top three movies  Taxi Driver  Assault on Precinct 13  Rocky Academy award winners:  best leading actor, Peter Finch  best actor in supporting role, Jason Robards  best leading actress, Faye Dunaway  best actress in supporting role, Beatrice Straight

Music Top three hits  “Silly Love Songs,” (Paul McCartney and Wings)  “Don’t Go Breakin’ My Heart,” (Elton John and Kiki Dee)  “Disco Lady,” (Johnnie Taylor). Top artists  Four Seasons  Wild Cherry

Trends Medium/long hair Bell bottom pants Feathered hair, afros Tie dyed shirts, platform shoes Brands – Jordache, Sasson, Brittainica Cars – Charger, muscle cars, customized vans “Groovy,” “radical,” “the fuzz,” “ballin’ out.”

Sports - Tennis U.S. Open – Jimmy Connors, Chrissy Evert Australian Open – Mark Edmondson, Evonne Goolagong Cawley French Open – Adriano Panatta, Sue Barker Wimbledon Championships – Bjorn Borg, Chrissy Evert Italy won over Chile, four to one

Sports – Football Super Bowl X – Pittsburgh Steelers beat Dallas Cowboys NCAA Football National Champions – Pittsburgh Panthers Seattle Seahawks were founded

Sports - Baseball Sparky Lyle breaks Hoyt Wilhelm’s record of 154 career saves Cincinnati Reds (Big Red Machine) beat New York Giants, four games to zero “Big Red Machine” won second straight championship after beating the Yankees Rick Monday rescued an American Flag from protestors

Compare/Contrast 1976 Gas prices: leaded regular - $0.59, unleaded regular - $0.61 Clothing: feathered hair, bell-bottomed jeans, tie- dyed shirts Cars: Chargers, muscle cars, customized vans 2008 Gas prices: unleaded regular - $3.28, diesel - $4.02 Clothing: straighter hair, skinny-jeans; baby-doll shirts (still in style) Cars: large SUV’s, imports, cross-overs

Conclusion Each generation has a desire to create its own identity  Entertainment  Music  Language  Clothing Previous generations help define the next  Events  Entertainment  Trends