1973 was a unique and pivotal year with significant events, the beginning of economic malaise, technological innovation, unique style and fashion, trend setting media, great diversity in popular music and, of course, our graduation.
Events include Vietnam War ends, Watergate, the 1973-74 stock market crash, recession and the Oil Crisis.
Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade and significant environmental, social and employment legislation occurs in 1973.
Secretariat wins the Triple Crown, the Miami Dolphins become the first and still the only NFL team to complete a perfect season.
Supergroups Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, and The Who were making headlines with releases and major tours.
The Exorcist, American Graffiti, The Sting, Enter the Dragon, and Godzilla vs Megalon are released.
Marlon Brando refuses the Oscar for his performance in the Godfather.
Elvis Presley Aloha from Hawaii is a worldwide live television event, except in the US where it is taped and played on a later date.
Did you know...?
   ...the first Cell Phone call occurred, the first Personal Computer was developed, and the modern Internet was designed?
   ...the post WWII boom had finally slowed down and 1973 experienced a stock market decline and recession?
   ...that inflation and increasing unemployment would soon follow, lingering as stagflation into the 80's?
   ...the MRI, CAT Scan and Recombinant DNA were introduced in 1973?
   ...the bar code and bar code scanner were first used in 1973?
   ...Federal Express started business by distributing packages via air from Memphis in 1973? RE/MAX opens its doors in 1973.
   ...The Everly Brothers broke up in 1973 after 16 years? The Doors and Byrds also disband in 1973.
   ...significant groups just starting out: Aerosmith, AC/DC, Springsteen, Queen, ABBA, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Heart, Kiss.
   ...New Year's Rockin' Eve produced by Dick Clark debuts on 12/31/72, portions prerecorded from the Queen Mary?
   ...best seller books : "I'm OK, You're OK", "How to Be Your Own Best Friend", "Joy of Sex" and "Weight Watcher's Cookbook"?
   ...muscle cars were being phased out?
   ...air bags were commercially available? Air bags were actually an option in some Chevrolet vehicles.
   ...the first Designated Hitter came to bat in 1973?
   ...SPHS grad Alan Ashby made his major league debut on 7/3/73? SPHS grad Garry Maddox was in his 2nd year in MLB?
   ...that Sick Building Syndrome would first become a problem in 1973?
   ...that the Stockholm Syndrome would first appear in 1973? Say what?
   ...US dependency on foreign oil was about 35% in 1973? After promises by several presidents, by 2006 it had reached 60%.
                           
Some milestones that occurred in 1973:
   - Special Education is passed by Congress.
   - The Endangered Species Act is signed into law.
   - Screening of airline passengers begins in response to the spate of hijackings.
   - Skylab, the first US space station, is launched in 1973. The Apollo program was subsequently canceled.
   - The first huge Super Bowl ad was aired advertising Noxzema shaving cream featuring Joe Namath and Farrah Fawcett.
   - The first safe plastic soda bottle was patented. Previously, plastic bottles could not contain carbonated beverages.
   - The first Light Beer, Miller Lite, was introduced.
   - The Jet Ski, the Cuisinart and the Bic Lighter were all introduced.
   - Pirates of the Caribbean ride opens at Disneyland. (December 15)
   - Sales of Vodka beat out whiskey sales in the US for the first time.
Do you remember...?
   ...when gas was 39 cents a gallon, a first class stamp was 8 cents, a trip to the movies was $1.75, and whatever happened to double features?
   ...when television had only 7 channels, 2,4,5,7,9,11 and 13 along with a few fuzzy UHF channels?
   ...Bonanza, Mission Impossible, Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In? All were canceled in 1973.
   ...'variety shows' like Wide World of Sports, American Bandstand and The Ed Sullivan Show?
   ...8 Track Tapes, transistor radios, vinyl records? All phased out.
   ...the peace symbol, flower power, the yellow smiley face and bean bag chairs? All phased out.
   ...Bell-bottoms, hip huggers, platform shoes? All stayed in style a few years into the disco era.
   ...Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree? It was the #1 Billboard top 100 song of 1973.
   ...other top singles You're So Vain, Superstition, Crocodile Rock, Killing Me Softly, Let's Get It On?
   ...other singles Over the Hills and Far Away, Frankenstein, Right Place Wrong Time, Stuck in the Middle With You?
   ...the Battle of the Sexes, played between Bobbie Riggs and Billie Jean King? King would go on beat Riggs.
   ...OJ Simpson was AP Male Athlete of the Year and Pete Rose was NL MVP? Both would make news in later decades.
Memorable Lines from 1973
   "I am not a crook." President Richard Nixon
   "I am a Ford, not a Lincoln." Gerald Ford upon being sworn in as Vice President
   "It ain't over till it's over." Yogi Berra on the 1973 New York Mets run to the pennant after being 12 1/2 games back on July 4th.
   "It's a great day for a motor car race." Jackie Stewart
   "Boards don't hit back." Bruce Lee from Enter the Dragon
   "It's people! Soylent Green is made of people!" Charlton Heston from Soylent Green
   "I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse." Marlon Brando from the Godfather, 1972 movie
   "Joel, I'm calling you from a real cellular telephone. A portable handheld telephone." Martin Cooper calling Joel Engel.
   "If you don't look good, we don't look good." Vidal Sassoon advertisem*nt.
    "Don't squeeze the Charmin." Mr. Whipple, character from the Charmin TP commercials.
    "Book 'em Danno." Jack Lord playing Steve McGarrett on Hawaii Five-0.
                           
Fashion / Style
   1973 fashion was influenced by the hippie look with big hair and non-traditional clothing with colorfulpatterns.
   Bell Bottom pants, hip huggers, earth shoes, clogs, tie dye t-shirts and gypsy dresses were popular.
   Denim, knits were primary fabrics and crochet was present.
   Long hair, big hair, afros were in style.
   Women usually had a part in the middle with long straight hair or with loose curls.
   Men had long mutton chop sideburns also mustaches and beards.
   Bell bottoms were in along with jeans and corduroy pants. Plaids were in style.
   Button shirts and pullovers with colorful patterns including paisley were worn.
   T-shirts were also frequently worn by men and women, plain or tie-dyed. Leisure suits were commonplace.
   Women had a wider variety of clothing to choose from including bell bottoms, jeans and hip huggers.
   Midi dresses and skirts, long dresses and skirts at ankle length, plain or with colorful patterns, were fashionable.
   Miniskirts were popular.
   Peasant blouses with wide sleeves, knit tops and tank tops rounded out a wide variety of style.
   Platform shoes, Kork Ease, Earth shoes, Wallabies, Hush Puppies, clogs, sandals, boots, waffle stompers.
   Wide leather belts, macrame belts were popular. Pea coats, denim jackets, cloth jackets were in.
                           
Ecology
Earth Day
Bell bottoms
Big hair
Flower power
CB Radio
Martial Arts
Glitter
Glam rock
Wacky Packages
Platform shoes
Paisley shirts
Muscle cars
Mutton chop sideburns
Bandanas
Backgammon
Streaking
Fondue
String art
Pukka shell necklaces
Sea monkeys
Bean bag chairs
Leisure suits
Smiley face stickers
"Have a nice day"
Popular Technology in 1973 that you won't see too often in today's world: 
8 Track Player / Tape
Casette Player / Tape
Tape recorder
Polaroid camera / Film
Super 8 camera / Film
Typewriter
Carbon copies
Rotary Telephone
Pay phone / Phone Booth (sorry Superman)
Slide projector / Slides
Slide rule
Encyclopedia
Transistor Radio
Rooftop antennae
Television with CRT picture tube and knobs
Car - window crank
Muscle cars were popular going into the early 1970's, however a sea-change was occurring that ultimately removed these cars from the mainstream market. This change came about due to several factors: the Clean Air Act and emissions control, the OPEC oil embargo and rising gasoline prices, higher insurance, and safety factors where braking and handling engineering could not keep pace with more powerful engines. Muscle car ownership continues as a hobby for many.
Chevrolet Camaro / Chevelle
Dodge Challenger / Charger
Ford Mustang / Torino
Mercury Cougar / Cyclone
Oldsmobile 442
Plymouth Barracuda / Road Runner
Pontiac Firebird Trans-AM / GTO
Other automobiles manufactured in 1973
Cadillac
Chevrolet Corvette
Chevrolet El Camino
Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Chevrolet Vega
Datsun 240Z
Dodge Colt
Dodge Dart
Dodge Monaco
Ford Escort
Ford Galaxie
Ford Pinto
Jaguar XKE
Lincoln Continental
Mercury Marquis
Mercury Montego
Oldsmobile Cutlass
Oldsmobile Tornado
Plymouth Duster
Plymouth Fury
Plymouth Valiant
Pontiac Grand Am (first year)
Pontiac Grand Prix
Pontiac LeMans
Toyota Celica
Toyota Corolla
Toyota Land Cruiser
Volkswagen Beetle
Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
Volkswagen Passat (first year)
Volkswagen Thing
Porsche 911
What's happening
Maintain
Chill
It's casual
Cool
Bad
What it is
Out of sight
For sure
Right on
Far out
Bitchen
Boss
Be there or be square
Rad
Peace
Rip-off
Say what
Split
Threads
Psyched
Pardy Hardy
Tubular
Toke
Primo
Bogart
Tripping
Totally
Scarf
Dig it
You know
Unreal
Spaz
Que Pasa
Waz up
Hip
Stylin'
Awesome
Get down
To the max
If you catch my drift
Gimme 5
Backatcha
Keep on truckin'
Groovy
Let's book
Let's blow this taco stand
Later days
Catch you on the flip side
