Invented in the ’70s
This table tennis-inspired video game was invented by Atari employees in 1972
Pong
The first Pong machine was installed in a bar right here in Sunnyvale, California! It was so popular that the machine broke down. The reason? The coin reservoir was overflowing with quarters and couldn’t take any more.
This Mario Puzo novel was on the bestseller list for 67 weeks and spawned a movie franchise.
The Godfather
The novel is estimated to have sold 20–30 million copies worldwide.
Charlotte Stewart played Laura Ingalls’ teacher on this TV show
Little House on the Prairie
For her portrayal of schoolteacher Eva Beadle, Stewart was nominated for a TV Land “Teacher of the Year” award
“_______ Takes Oath as 40th President, Promises an ‘Era of National Renewal,’” reads the New York Times front page on January 21, 1981.
Reagan
The inauguration ceremony was the first to be held on the western front of the Capitol
This television series stars Alan Alda, Wayne Rogers, and Loretta Swit at a mobile Army hospital
M*A*S*H
The series premiered on September 17, 1972, and ran for 11 years.
In 1970, this popcorn mogul unveiled his hybrid strain of gourmet popping corn.
Orville Redenbacher
His namesake popcorn was lighter and fluffier than anything else on the market. It took him nearly 20 years to develop.
The original title of this Richard Adams bestseller was Hazel and Fiver, after two of the book’s rabbit characters.
Watership Down
The novel began as a story Adams told to his children and became a bestseller in 1974.
Some of the Little Rascals had a crush on this schoolteacher.
Miss Crabtree
She was played by June Marlowe and was one of the show’s most popular characters despite appearing in only six shorts s
A headline from July 30, 1981: “Amid Splendor, Charles Weds _______.
Diana
Newspapers around the world reported on the royal wedding at St. Paul’s Cathedral.
This 1987 thriller stars Glenn Close and Michael Douglas
Fatal Attraction
The movie was released on September 18 and was one of the highest-grossing films of the year worldwide.
This simple and beloved toy that gets kicked around was invented in 1972 by friends Mike Marshall and John Stalberger
hacky sack
The hacky sack game is also called footbag.
The Silmarillion, a fantasy novel by this author, sat at No.1 for 13 weeks in 1977 followed by 10 weeks in 1978 for a total of 23 consecutive weeks
J.R.R. Tolkien
The novel expands upon the fantasy world of Middle Earth, where Tolkien set most of his stories
This show of the ’70s stars Gabe Kaplan as the titular teacher, trying to keep up with the antics of the “Sweathogs."
Welcome Back, Kotter
Farrah Fawcett was considered for the role of Mrs. Kotter until producers decided audiences wouldn’t buy her as Kaplan’s wife.
From January 29, 1986: “Space Shuttle __________ Explodes Shortly After Lift Of
Challenger
After the explosion, crew members’ families founded the Challenger Center for Space Science Education program
This actress known for Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In, 9 to 5, and Grace and Frankie was born on September 1, 1939.
Lily Tomlin
She originally majored in pre-med before starting stand-up comedy and choosing acting as a career.
Arthur Fry of the 3M company invented this re-stickable stationery item as a bookmark for his hymnal.
Post-it Note
The adhesive Fry used was invented by fellow 3M scientist Dr. Spencer Silver.
This word finishes the title of the 1963 John le Carré bestseller: The _____ Who Came in from the Cold
Spy
The novel inspired a 1965 film starring Richard Burton.
Helen Crump was Opie’s teacher (and later, dated his dad!) on this 1960s show.
The Andy Griffith Show
Writers intended her to appear for only one episode but were so impressed with Aneta Corsaut’s portrayal that they gave her a larger role.
On March 24, 1989, the Washington Post reported, “Millions of Gallons of _______ Spill into Alaskan Sound.
Oil
The Exxon-Valdez oil spill was the worst oil spill North America had seen to date.
David Hasselhoff stars as Michael Knight in this television series, along with K.I.T.T.
Knight Rider
The series premiered on September 26, 1982, and was rebooted in 2008.
This Hungarian teacher and puzzle lover invented his famous puzzle cube in 1974
Erno Rubik?
Since 2003, the World Cube Association has hosted contests to see who can solve a Rubik’s cube the fastest.
This novelist topped the NYT bestsellers list many times throughout the ’60s and ’70s, with hits such as Hawaii and Chesapeake.
James A. Michener
He was noted for his meticulously researched historical novels.
Theodore Cleaver had quite the crush on his second-grade teacher, Miss Canfield, in this beloved TV series.
Leave It to Beaver
Diane Brewster reprised her role in the 1983 TV movie Still the Beaver.
From the Seattle Times on May 19, 1980: “________ still spewing ash, but scientists believe worst is over.
St. Helens
The 1980 explosion sparked advances in our understanding of volcano science and improved scientists’ ability to predict volcanic eruptions
Released in the United States in August 1971, And Now for Something Completely Different is an anthology of comedic sketches from this British comedy group.
Monty Python
The group included Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin.