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Just as we’ve landed the next instalment from Converse in their 70’s series, we’e gone back to 1970’s to explore what the world was like whilst the silhouette was becoming an icon.

From technology to sport, music to politics, we’ve compiled a brief list of some of our favourite milestones from the year.

Technology

Volkswagen launch the Golf (1974)

The first-generation Golf was presented as a long term replacement for the Beetle. It’s now the world’s second best-selling model with more than 29 million built by 2012.

Apple launch the Apple Computer I (1976)

Apple’s very first product was designed and hand-built by Steve Wozniak and demonstrated at the Homebrew Computer Club in Palo Alto, California. His friend Steve Jobs came up with the idea of selling the computer and approximately 200 units were produced and sold for $666.66 each.

 Space Invaders is released (1978)

This arcade game was developed by Tomohiro Nishikado and manufactured and sold by Taito in Japan. It’s one of the earliest shooting games and drew inspiration from Breakout, The War of the Worlds and Star Wars.

Sports

Ajax win three European Cups in a row (1971 – 73)

Ajax earned the right to keep the European Cup and wear the multiple-winners badge with three consecutive wins at the start of the decade. Star player Johan Cruijff was also named European Footballer of the Year in the 70-71 season.

Mark Spitz wins seven gold medals (1972)

Spitz set new world records in all seven events he competed in at the Munich Summer Olympics, a record that still stands today.

Bjorn Borg wins five consecutive Wimbledon Title’s (1976 – 1980)

Swede Bjorn Borg only had a brief career (retiring at 26) but dominated tennis in the late 1970’s, winning 11 Grand Slam single titles including five in a row at Wimbledon.

Television

Happy Days (1974 – 1984)

This hit American sitcom presented an idealised vision of life the mid 1950’s to mid 1960’s United States. with suave ladies’ man Arthur ‘The Fonz’ Fonzarelli (played by Henry Winkler) as the lead character.

Fawlty Towers (1975 – 1979)

In a list drawn up by the British Film Institute, voted by industry professionals, Fawlty Towers was named the best British television series of all time.

Grange Hill (1978 – 2008)

Set around the lives of pupils at a fictional comprehensive school, Grange Hill went onto be one of the longest running programmes on British Television to date.

News

Last Man to walk on the moon (1972)

As the Commander of Apollo 17, Andrew Cernan was the 11th and last man to walk on the moon.

King Elvis is dead (1977)

To the shock of his fans worldwide, it’s suspected that Elvis Presley’s death was from an overdose of prescription drugs that caused a heart attack.

Margaret Thatcher is elected as Prime Minister (1979)

After the wave of union strikes in 1978 with a Labour Government in charge, Britain turned to the Conservatives and voted in its first ever women prime minister.

Awards

The Godfather wins Best Picture at the Academy Awards (1972)

The Godfather told the epic story of the patriarchal, aging figurehead of a Mafia dynasty who also served as ‘godfather’ to the New York Sicilian immigrants in the late 1940’s.

Jackie Stewart wins Sports Personality of the Year (1973)

The Scot was awarded the title after winning his third Formula One Championship in his last season in the sport.

Hotel California by the Eagles wins Record of the Year at the Grammy Awards (1978)

The song has been given several interpretations by fans and critics, but the Eagles have described it as their “interpretation of the high life in Los Angeles”

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