RHS Class of 1974 Reunion
What was going on in 1974?
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Seems like yesterday, right?

   Major News Headlines for 1974
  • National speed limit of 55mph is enacted
  • Richard Nixon resigns as President of the United States and Gerald Ford is sworn in as President.
  • The "streaking" fad hits U.S. campuses
  • Heir Patty Hearst is Kidnapped By Symbionese Liberation Army.
  • House votes 410-4 to Investigate The President
  • Solzhenitsyn Is deported From Russia
  • Grand Jury indicts Presidential Aids Halderman, Erlichman, and Colson
  • India Announces It Has A-bomb
  • Juan Peron dies and Wife Isabel Takes Over
  • President Gerald Ford gives Nixon absolute pardon.
  • President Ford grants limited amnesty to draft dodgers
  • Hank Aaron hits 715 home runs to break Babe Ruth's record
  • The Oakland Athletics win the World Series
  • Gillette introduces the disposable razor
  • The first U.S. self-adhesive postage stamp is introduced
  • Ed Sullivan, Jack Benny, Momma Cass and Chet Huntley die
  • Happy Days, Good Times and That's My Mama debut on U.S. TV
  • Godfather II, The Great Gatsby and Sugarland Express debut in theaters
  • The first pocket calculators become widespread
  • The first word processing machines are used
  • First black model on cover of a major fashion magazine
  • Heimlich maneuver developed
  • Girls allowed to play in Little League baseball
  • Boxer Muhammad Ali uses the "Rope a Dope" tactic to knock out George Foreman in 8th round.
  • OPEC oil embargo ends.
  • Nixon agrees to pay $432,000 in back taxes.
  • Nelson Rockefeller is appointed Vice President as Ford becomes President.
  • The "String" Bikini is in fashion.
  • Because of gasoline shortage, daylight savings time is observed all year to save fuel.
  • Lt. William Calley convicted of his part in My Lai massacre is paroled.

The Economy in 1974

  • President: Richard M. Nixon
  • Vice-President: Gerald R. Ford
  • Population: 213,853,928
  • Life Expectancy: 72.0 years
  • Dow-Jones High: 950  Low: 590
  • Federal Spending: $269.36 billion
  • Federal Debt: $483.9 billion
  • Inflation: 13.9%
  • Consumer Price Index: 49.3
  • Unemployment: 4.9%

Prices in 1974

  • Cost of a new home: $38,900.00
  • Cost of a new car: $4,440.00
  • Median Household Income: $11,197.00
  • Cost of a first-class stamp: $0.10
  • Cost of a gallon of regular gas: $0.53
  • Cost of a dozen eggs: $0.78
  • Cost of a gallon of milk: $1.57

Best Sellers

  • Centennial by James A. Michener
  • Watership Down by Richard Adams
  • Jaws by Peter Benchley
  • Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carre
  • Something Happened by Joseph Heller
  • The Dogs of War by Frederick Forsyth
  • The Pirate by Harold J. Robbins
  • The Seven-Per-Cent Solution by John H. Watson, M.D.
  • The Fan Club by Irving Wallace
  • The Total Woman by Marabel Morgan
  • All The Presidents Men by Carl Bernstein & Bob Woodward
  • Plain Speaking: An Oral History of Harry S. Truman by Merle Miller
  • More Joy: A Lovemaking Companion To the Joy of Sex by Alex Comfort
  • Alistair Cooke�s America by Alistair Cooke
  • Tales of Power by Carlos A. Castaneda
  • You Can Profit from a Monetary Crisis by Harry Browne
  • All Things Bright and Beautiful by James Herriot
  • The Bermuda Triangle by Charles Berlitz, with J. Manson Valentine
  • The Memory Book by Harry Lorayne & Jerry Lucas

1974 Sports Champions

  • Stanley Cup - Philadelphia Flyers defeats the Boston Bruins 4 games to 2, Conn Smythe (MVP) is Bernie Parent of the Flyers
  • NBA Champions - Boston Celtics defeat the Milwaukee Bucks, 4 games to 3, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar of the Milwaukee Bucks is the MVP
  • Kentucky Derby - Cannonade, 2:04, Angel Cordero (jockey), John M. Olin (owner), Woody Stephens, trainer
  • Super Bowl IX - Pittsburgh Steelers 16, Minnesota Vikings 6, Franco Harris of Pittsburgh is the MVP
  • College Football - Oklahoma
  • Heisman Trophy - Archie Griffin, Ohio St., RB
  • NBA Championship - Boston (in 7 games) vs. Milwaukee
  • NBA MVP Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee, Center, Scoring Average: 27 pts. per game
  • NCAA Champions - N.C. State 76 � Marquette 64 (N.C. State final record 31-1)
  • World Series - Oakland Athletics defeats the Los Angeles Dodgers, 4 games to 1, Rollie Fingers of Oakland is the MVP - Oakland A�s (in 5 games) vs. L.A. Dodgers
  • National League MVP - Steve Garvey, L.A. � 1B
  • National League Rookie of the Year - Blake McBride, St. Louis - CF
  • American League MVP - Jeff Burroughs, Texas � LF
  • American League Rookie of the Year - Mike Hargrove, Texas � 1B
  • Hank Aaron breaks Ruth's home-run record

Here's what some of us were listening to (I was still wearing the vinyl out of Abbey Road!).  Read it and weep...

Billboard Top 100 - 1974

01. The Way We Were » Barbra Streisand
02. Seasons In The Sun » Terry Jacks
03. Love's Theme » Love Unlimited Orchestra
04. Come And Get Your Love » Redbone
05. Dancing Machine » Jackson 5
06. The Loco-Motion » Grand Funk Railroad
07. TSOP » MFSB
08. The Streak » Ray Stevens
09. Bennie And The Jets » Elton John
10. One Hell Of A Woman » Mac Davis
11. Until You Come Back To Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do) » Aretha Franklin
12. Jungle Boogie » Kool & The Gang
13. Midnight At The Oasis » Maria Muldaur
14. You Make Me Feel Brand New » Stylistics
15. Show And Tell » Al Wilson
16. Spiders And Snakes » Jim Stafford
17. Rock On » David Essex
18. Sunshine On My Shoulder » John Denver
19. Sideshow » Blue Magic
20. Hooked On A Feeling » Blue Swede
21. Billy Don't Be A Hero » Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods
22. Band On The Run » Paul McCartney & Wings
23. The Most Beautiful Girl » Charlie Rich
24. Time In A Bottle » Jim Croce
25. Annie's Song » John Denver
26. Let Me Be There » Olivia Newton-John
27. Sundown » Gordon Lightfoot
28. (You're) Having My Baby » Paul Anka
29. Rock Me Gently » Andy Kim
30. Boogie Down » Eddie Kendricks
31. You're Sixteen » Ringo Starr
32. If You Love Me (Let Me Know) » Olivia Newton-John
33. Dark Lady » Cher
34. Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me » Gladys Knight & The Pips
35. Feel Like Makin' Love » Roberta Flack
36. Just Dont Want To Be Lonely » Main Ingredient
37. Nothing From Nothing » Billy Preston
38. Rock Your Baby » George McCrae
39. Top Of The World » Carpenters
40. The Joker » Steve Miller Band
41. I've Got To Use My Imagination » Gladys Knight & The Pips
42. The Show Must Go On » Three Dog Night
43. Rock The Boat » Hues Corporation
44. Smokin' In The Boys Room » Brownsville Station
45. Living For The City » Stevie Wonder
46. The Night Chicago Died » Paper Lace
47. Then Came You » Dionne Warwick & The Spinners
48. The Entertainer » Marvin Hamlisch
49. Waterloo » Abba
50. The Air That I Breathe » Hollies
51. Rikki Don't Lose That Number » Steely Dan
52. Mockingbird » Carly Simon
53. Help Me » Joni Mitchell
54. You Won't See Me » Anne Murray
55. Never, Never Gonna Give You Up » Barry White
56. Tell Me Something Good » Rufus
57. You And Me Against The World » Helen Reddy
58. Rock And Roll Heaven » Righteous Brothers
59. Hollywood Swinging » Kool & The Gang
60. Be Thankful For What You Got » William Devaughn
61. Hang On In There Baby » Johnny Bristol
62. Eres Tu (Touch The Wind) » Mocedades
63. Taking Care Of Business » Bachman-Turner Overdrive
64. Radar Love » Golden Earring
65. Please Come To Boston » Dave Loggins
66. Keep On Smilin' » Wet Willie
67. Lookin' For Love » Bobby Womack
68. Put Your Hands Together » O'Jays
69. On And On » Gladys Knight & The Pips
70. Oh Very Young » Cat Stevens
71. Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress) » Helen Reddy
72. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road » Elton John
73. I've Been Searchin' So Long » Chicago
74. Oh My My » Ringo Starr
75. For The Love Of Money » O'Jays
76. I Shot The Sherrif » Eric Clapton
77. Jet » Paul McCartney & Wings
78. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me » Elton John
79. Tubular Bells » Mike Oldfield
80. Love Song » Anne Murray
81. I'm Leaving It All Up To You » Donny & Marie Osmond
82. Hello, It's Me » Todd Rundgren
83. I Love » Tom T. Hall
84. Clap For The Wolfman » Guess Who
85. I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song » Jim Croce
86. The Lord's Prayer » Sister Janet Mead
87. Trying To Hold On To My Woman » Lamont Dozier
88. Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing » Stevie Wonder
89. A Very Special Love Song » Charlie Rich
90. My Girl Bill » Jim Stafford
91. My Mistake Was To Love You » Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye
92. Helen Wheels » Paul McCartney & Wings
93. Wildwood Weed » Jim Stafford
94. Beach Baby » First Class
95. Me And Baby Brother » War
96. Rockin' Roll Baby » Stylistics
97. I Honestly Love You » Olivia Newton-John
98. Call On Me » Chicago
99. Wild Thing » Fancy
100. Mighty Love, Pt. 1 » Spinners

Here are some movies you may have gone to see at the Embassy or Capitol Theatres in Port Chester...

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And, of course, my favorite...

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