Year 1971 Fun Facts, Trivia, and History

What Happened During the Year 1971?

What are some fun facts, trivia, and history events from the year 1971? What were the top news stories in the U.S. and around the world, and what major events took place in the business and financial sectors? How much did a gallon of gas cost, and what happened in science, technology, sports, and in the entertainment industry?

Back in 1971, what were the biggest food and fashion trends, and what were the most popular baby names and Christmas gifts? Likewise, who won the Nobel Peace Prize, and how much did a first-class stamp or a gallon of milk cost? What about famous birthdays and deaths that year, and what were the best-selling books?

From world leaders to pioneers to innovators, who were the most influential people in 1971? What was the median household income, the average life expectancy, and how much did a new house or car cost? Finally, what was 1971 best known for, and was it a good or bad year overall? Let's find out.

Here is a summary of the top news stories and history events that happened in 1971:

1. Effective January 1, the Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act “made it illegal for tobacco companies to advertise cigarettes on television and radio.”
2. President Nixon announced that the United States would no longer “convert dollars to gold at a fixed value, effectively ending the Bretton Woods system. He also imposed a 90-day freeze on wages, prices and rents.”
3. The Twenty-Sixth Amendment—which lowered the voting age from 21 to 18—was signed into law by President Nixon. The amendment reads: "The right of citizens of the United States, who are 18 years of age or older, to vote, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on the account of age. and The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation."
4. The New York Times began publishing excerpts from the Pentagon Papers, which was “the name given to a top-secret Department of Defense study of U.S. political and military involvement in Vietnam from 1945 to 1967.”
5. The total number of American troops in Vietnam dropped to 196,700, the lowest amount since January 1966. On the other hand, the number of British troops stationed in Northern Ireland increased to 11,000.
6. The Supreme Court “unanimously upheld the constitutionality of busing as a means to ‘dismantle the dual school system,’ of the South."
7. Amtrak service began with 184 trains a day and 323 stations. History.Amtrak.com tells us that “the first train operated by the new company was a Clocker that departed from New York City for Philadelphia shortly after midnight.”
8. Rolls Royce, the British car maker, filed for bankruptcy, and the NASDAQ stock exchange began operating “as the world's first electronic stock market.”
9. Southwest Airlines—the most successful low-cost carrier in history—began its first flights between Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio.
10. The Eisenhower dollar—"a one-dollar coin issued by the United States Mint from 1971 to 1978"—was put into circulation.
11. The temperature plunged to -80°F at Prospect Creek Camp, Alaska, setting a U.S. record. Then, a series of tornadoes ravaged Mississippi and Louisiana, killing 117.
12. Charles Manson, along with three of his female followers, were convicted of the Tate-LaBianca murders.
13. Here are some sports facts from 1971: The Pittsburgh Pirates won their 4th World Series, the Baltimore Colts were the Super Bowl champs, and the Montreal Canadiens clinched the Stanley Cup.
14. Satchel Paige became the first African-American MLB player to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
15. The first Starbucks opened at the historic Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington. The coffeehouse chain was founded by Jerry Baldwin, Gordon Bowker, and Zev Siegl, who later sold the company to Howard Schultz. Today, Starbucks has 32,938 retail locations worldwide.
16. The South Tower of the World Trade Center “topped out at 1,362 feet, making it the second tallest building in the world.”
17. Chat rooms debuted on ARPANET, the precursor of the Internet.
18. The final issue of Look magazine was published.
19. In 1971, a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder cost 53 cents, tuition at Harvard was $2,600, and ice skates were $11.98 a pair. A movie ticket cost $1.50, a Ford Mustang Grande was $3,395, and the average price of a television was $188.05.
20. At the 43rd Academy Awards, the war film Patton won seven Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Sound, and Best Art Direction.
21. The final broadcast of The Ed Sullivan Show was aired on CBS.
22. Consumer products introduced in 1971 include Action Jackson toys, Buc Wheats cereal, Cup Noodles, Hamburger Helper, Herbal Essence hair care products, the Intel microprocessor, Pebbles cereal, the Quarter Pounder, Rive Gauche perfume, Spree candy, and the Wonka bar.
23. In 1971, Amanda Holden, Corey Haim, Denise Richards, Justin Trudeau, Lance Armstrong, Mark Wahlberg, and Ricky Martin were all born.
24. American companies and brands founded in 1971 include Bed, Bath & Beyond, Cardinal Health, Cuisinart, FedEx, Jiffy Lube, NASDAQ, the Shane Company, Starbucks, and Sunglass Hut.
25. At the 44th Scripps National Bee, the winner was Jonathan Knisely of Mullica Hill, New Jersey, who correctly spelled the word “shalloon.”

This article teaches you fun facts, trivia, and history events from the year 1971. Find out about popular TV shows and movies, best-selling books, food and fashion trends, sports facts, pop music artists and songs, famous birthdays, economic and tech news, as well as unusual news events to get the right mix of questions and answers for your 1970s-themed trivia quiz.

Table of Contents

Here is a sneak preview of what this article is about:

1. Grocery Prices in the Year 1971
2. History Facts and Events From the USA and World
3. Sports Facts and Trivia
4. 1970s Slang Words and Expressions
5. Miscellaneous Fun Facts, Trivia, and Pop Culture Trends
6. Entertainment News
7. Nobel Prize Winners
8. Best-Selling Fiction and Non-Fiction Books
9. Most Popular Television Shows From 1971-72
10. Most Popular Movies
11. Horror Films From the Year 1971
12. Biggest Pop Music Artists
13. Top 40 Songs for the Year
14. Food and Beverage Trivia
15. Famous Birthdays
16. Notable Weddings
17. Famous People Who Died
18. U.S. Automobile Production Figures for the Year
19. America’s Largest Corporations
20. American Companies and Brands Established During 1971

1. Grocery Prices in the Year 1971

These 1971 grocery prices have been made available courtesy of the Morris County Public Library and ThePeopleHistory.com.

1. Apples (McIntosh): Three pounds for 39 cents
2. Applesauce (Mott’s): 19 cents for a 15-ounce jar
3. Bacon: 49 cents for a one-pound package
4. Bananas: 12 cents a pound
5. Beef (shoulder steak): $1.19 a pound
6. Beef liver: 49 cents a pound
7. Bisquick: 54 cents for a 40-ounce box
8. Bread (white): Three 20-ounce loaves for 89 cents
9. Butter (Pantry Pride): 68 cents for a one-pound package
10. Candy canes: 57 cents a dozen
11. Cantaloupes: Three for 89 cents
12. Celery: 38 cents a stalk
13. Cereal (Kellogg’s corn flakes): 27 cents for a 12-ounce box
14. Cheese (Borden’s, American): 89 cents for a one-pound package
15. Cheese (Laughing Cow brand): 49 cents for a four-ounce package
16. Coffee (Maxwell House, instant): $1.49 for a 10-ounce jar
17. Cranberries: 29 cents a pound
18. Eggs: 25 cents a dozen
19. Fish (tuna, Bumble Bee): 53 cents for a seven-ounce can
20. Flour (Pillsbury): 39 cents for a five-pound bag
21. Grape jelly (Welch’s): 38 cents for a 20-ounce jar
22. Ham (smoked): 45 cents a pound
23. Ketchup (Heinz): 25 cents for a 14-ounce bottle
24. Macaroni dinner (Kraft): 19 cents for a 7.5-ounce package
25. Margarine (Fleischmann’s): 51 cents for a one-pound package
26. Mayonnaise (Hellman’s): 65 cents for a quart jar
27. Milk: 98 cents a gallon
28. Onions (yellow): Three pounds for 20 cents
29. Oranges (Florida): 10 for 59 cents
30. Potatoes (Idaho): Five pounds for 59 cents

2. History Facts and Events From the USA and World

1. Richard Nixon (R-California) was the President of the United States, and Spiro Agnew (R-Maryland) was the Vice-President.
2. Warren E. Burger (Minnesota) was the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.
3. The 92nd Congress (1971-73) was in session, and there were 255 Democrats and 180 Republicans. History.House.gov tells us that “The mixed 1970 election produced a smaller Senate Democratic majority and a larger majority for House Democrats. Oklahoma’s Carl Albert succeeded the retiring John McCormack of Massachusetts as Speaker.”
4. On January 1, the Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act “made it illegal for tobacco companies to advertise cigarettes on television and radio.”
5. On January 4, Philadelphia’s Veterans Stadium was dedicated. In addition to hosting professional baseball and football games, “the stadium hosted other amateur and professional sports, large entertainment events, and other civic affairs.” In March 2004, Veterans Stadium “was demolished by implosion after being replaced by the adjacent Citizens Bank Park and Lincoln Financial Field.”
6. On January 7, the temperature plunged to -40°F in Hawley Lake, Arizona, setting a state record.
7. On January 15, the Aswan Dam opened in Egypt.
8. On January 31, Apollo 14, carrying astronauts Alan Shepard, Stuart Roosa, and Edgar Mitchell, “lifted off on the third successful lunar landing mission.”
9. On January 23, the temperature plunged to -80°F at Prospect Creek Camp, Alaska, setting a U.S. record.
10. On January 25, Charles Manson, along with three of his female followers, were convicted of the Tate-LaBianca murders.
11. On February 4, Rolls Royce, the British car maker, filed for bankruptcy. According to the New York Times, “The company put the blame for its collapse on the huge losses incurred in developing the engine for the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation's new Tristar airbus. Rolls said it could not proceed with the engine under the present fixed‐price contract.”
12. On February 4, the Nasdaq stock exchange began operating “as the world's first electronic stock market.” Capital.com tells us that “Nasdaq is the largest U.S. electronic stock market, listing more companies and, on average, trading more shares per day than any other U.S. market. It is home to companies that are leaders across all areas of business, including technology, retail, communications, financial services, transportation, media, and biotechnology.”
13. On February 9, Apollo 14 returned to Earth after the third manned Moon landing.
14. On February 9, Satchel Paige became the first African-American MLB player to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
15. On February 12, James Cash Penney—the founder of the department store chain JCPenney—passed away at the age of 95.
16. On February 21, a series of tornadoes ravaged Mississippi and Louisiana, killing 117.
17. On March 15, chat rooms debuted on ARPANET, the precursor to the Internet.
18. On March 21, Vermont’s seasonal snowfall totaled 132.2."
19. On March 31, the first Starbucks opened at the historic Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington. The coffeehouse chain was founded by Jerry Baldwin, Gordon Bowker, and Zev Siegl, who later sold the company to Howard Schultz. Today, Starbucks has 32,938 retail locations worldwide.
20. On April 5, Mt. Etna erupted in Sicily.
21. On April 14, the Supreme Court “unanimously upheld the constitutionality of busing as a means to ‘dismantle the dual school system,’ of the South. But the Court made it clear that today's decision did not apply to Northern-style segregation, based on neighborhood patterns.”
22. On April 14, President Nixon ended the ban on trade with the People’s Republic of China.
23. On April 24, 500,000 people in Washington, DC and 125,000 more in San Francisco marched in protest of the Vietnam War.
24. On May 1, Amtrak began service with 184 trains a day and 323 stations. “The first train operated by the new company was a Clocker that departed from New York City for Philadelphia shortly after midnight.”
25. On May 3, National Public Radio (NPR) began broadcasting.
26. On May 3, a Harris Poll claimed that 60% of Americans were against the Vietnam War.
27. On May 5, race riots occurred in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn.
28. On May 29, Al Unser won the Indianapolis 500.
29. On May 30, MLB legend Willie Mays hit his 638th home run.
30. On June 13, the New York Times began publishing excerpts from the Pentagon Papers, which was “the name given to a top-secret Department of Defense study of U.S. political and military involvement in Vietnam from 1945 to 1967.”
31. On June 18, Southwest Airlines—the most successful low-cost carrier in history—began its first flights between Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio.
32. On July 1, the Twenty-Sixth Amendment, which lowered the voting age from 21 to 18, was ratified. History.com points out that “The long debate over lowering the voting age began during World War II and intensified during the Vietnam War, when young men denied the right to vote were being conscripted to fight for their country.”
33. On July 19, the South Tower of the World Trade Center “topped out at 1,362 feet, making it the second tallest building in the world.”
34. On July 26, Apollo 15, carrying astronauts David Scott, Alfred Worden, and James Irwin, was launched.
35. On July 31, Apollo 15 astronauts David Scott and James Irwin rode in a lunar rover—”a space exploration vehicle designed to move across the surface of the Moon”—a day after landing on the Moon.
36. In August, U.S. unemployment peaked at 6.1%.
37. On August 7, Apollo 15 returned to Earth.
38. On August 11, construction began on the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans.
39. On August 15, President Richard Nixon announced that “the United States will no longer convert dollars to gold at a fixed value, effectively ending the Bretton Woods system. He also imposed a 90-day freeze on wages, prices and rents.”
40. On September 8, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts was dedicated in Washington, DC.
41. On October 1, Walt Disney World opened in Orlando, Florida.
42. On October 14, racial unrest took place in Memphis, Tennessee.
43. On October 17, the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Baltimore Orioles, 4 games to 3, to win their fourth World Series title.
44. On October 29, the total number of American troops in Vietnam dropped to 196,700, the lowest amount since January 1966.
45. On November 1, the Eisenhower dollar was put into circulation.
46. On November 15, Intel released the world’s first microprocessor, the Intel 4004.
47. On December 1, the Chicago Cubs released MLB legend and future Hall of Famer Ernie Banks, thus ending his 19-year career.
48. On December 18, the U.S. dollar was devalued “for the first time since President Roosevelt's devaluation at the bottom of the Depression.”
49. On December 20, Gloria Steinem’s magazine, Ms, hit the newsstands for the first time.
50. On December 21, the United Nations Security Council chose Kurt Waldheim as the 4th Secretary-General.

3. Sports Facts and Trivia

Generally suitable for all age groups, sports questions are a welcome addition to any trivia quiz.

1. Kentucky Derby: Canonero II
2. NBA Champions: Milwaukee Bucks
3. NCAA Basketball: UCLA
4. NCAA Football Champs: Nebraska
5. Orange Bowl: Nebraska over LSU
6. Rose Bowl: Stanford over Ohio State
7. Stanley Cup Champs: Montreal Canadiens
8. Sugar Bowl: Tennessee over Air Force
9. Super Bowl: Baltimore Colts
10. U.S. Open Golf: Jack Nicklaus
11. U.S. Open Tennis (men/women): Stan Smith/Billie Jean King
12. Wimbledon (men/women): John Newcombe/Evonne Goolagong
13. World Series Champions: Pittsburgh Pirates

4. 1970s Slang Words and Expressions

Here are some of the most popular slang words and expressions from the 1970s:

1. Bad: Great
2. Boogie: Dance
3. Bummer: Too bad
4. Chill: Relax
5. Dork: Nerd
6. Dream on: A response to someone who is being unrealistic in their thinking
7. Dude: A generic term for a guy
8. Fab: Short for fabulous
9. Far out: Very cool
10. Freak out: To become frightened
11. Funky: Cool
12. Gig: A temporary job
13. Go bananas: Go crazy
14. Going around: Dating
15. Groovy: Cool
16. Keep on truckin’: Don’t stop now
17. Nifty: Cool
18. Out of sight: Cool
19. Right on: Yes, I agree
20. Rip off: Something that is poor quality
21. The skinny: The whole truth and nothing but the truth
22. Space cadet: An airhead or goofy person
23. Take a chill pill: Calm down
24. To the max: Take something to the extreme
25. Trippin': Acting crazy

5. Miscellaneous Fun Facts, Trivia, and Pop Culture Trends

1. In 1971, the most popular baby names for boys were Michael, James, David, John, and Robert. Today, the most popular names include Liam, Noah, Oliver, Elijah, and William.
2. In 1971, the most popular baby names for girls were Jennifer, Michelle, Lisa, Kimberly, and Amy. Today, the most popular names include Olivia, Emma, Amelia, Ava, and Sophia.
3. The average life expectancy at birth in the U.S. was 71.11 years.
4. Fashion icons in 1971 were Ann-Margret, Candice Bergen, Carol Burnett, Dyan Cannon, Diahann Carroll, Goldie Hawn, Sophia Loren, Mary Tyler Moore, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, and Raquel Welch.
5. Phyllis George (Texas) was crowned Miss America.
6. Michelle McDonald (Pennsylvania) became Miss USA.
7. The cost of a Super Bowl ad was $72,000.
8. Consumer products introduced in 1971 included Action Jackson toys, Buc Wheats cereal, Cup Noodles, Hamburger Helper, Herbal Essence hair care products, the Intel microprocessor, Pebbles cereal, the Quarter Pounder, Rive Gauche perfume, Spree candy, and the Wonka bar.
9. The first McDonald’s in Japan opened in Tokyo.
10. Japan’s first Dunkin’ Donuts opened as well.
11. McDonald's introduced the Quarter Pounder, which cost 53 cents.
12. Coca-Cola introduced the plastic bottle.
13. Governor Nelson Rockefeller of New York legalized the year-round sale of oysters. Up until that time, their sale had been illegal from May to August.
14. Movie ticket: $1.50
15. Postage stamp: Eight cents
16. Dodge Charger: $3,579
17. Tuition at Harvard University: $2,600
18. Violent crime per 1,000 people: 41.6
19. Property crime per 1,000 people: 37.7
20. Unemployment: 6.0%
21. Inflation rate: 4.38%
22. Average income per year: $10,600
23. Average cost of a new house: $25,250
24. Average monthly rent: $150
25. Average cost of a new car: $3,560

6. Entertainment News

1. On January 12, the sitcom, All in the Family, premiered on CBS.
2. On January 15, George Harrison released his single, My Sweet Lord, in London.
3. On January 19, the musical, No, No Nanette, opened at the 46th Street Theater in NYC for 861 performances.
4. On January 31, My Sweet Lord, by George Harrison, hit #1 on the UK’s pop charts.
5. On February 5, at the 28th Golden Globe Awards, Love Story won a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Drama, and M*A*S*H* won a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Comedy or Musical.
6. On February 25, the avant-garde theatrical revue, Oh! Calcutta!, moved to the Belasco Theater in NYC for 1,316 performances.
7. On February 28, WDRB-TV (IND) began broadcasting in Louisville, Kentucky.
8. On March 16, KDCD-TV (IND) suspended broadcasting in Midland, Texas.
9. On March 21, WCPB-TV (PBS) began broadcasting in Salisbury, Maryland.
10. On March 26, the crime series, Cannon, premiered on CBS for five seasons.
11. On March 28, at the 25th Tony Awards, Sleuth won a Tony for Best Play, and Company won a Tony for Best Musical. Likewise, Brian Bedford (The School for Wives) won a Tony for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play, and Maureen Stapleton (The Gingerbread Lady) won a Tony for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play.
12. On March 29, WSVN-TV (now WSBN-TV) (PBS) began broadcasting in Norton, Virginia.
13. On April 2, Dark Shadows, a Gothic soap opera, aired its last episode on ABC.
14. On April 4, Stephen Sondheim's musical, Follies, opened at the Winter Garden Theater in NYC for 524 performances.
15. On April 5, WNJT-TV (PBS) began broadcasting in Trenton, New Jersey.
16. On April 11, WBFF-TV (IND) began broadcasting in Baltimore, Maryland.
17. On April 15, at the 43rd Academy Awards, which honored the best films of 1970, Patton won an Oscar for Best Picture, and Franklin J. Schaffner (Patton) won an Oscar for Best Director. Likewise, George C. Scott (Patton) won an Oscar for Best Actor, and Glenda Jackson (Women in Love) won an Oscar for Best Actress. Finally, Love Story won an Oscar for Best Original Score, and Patton won an Oscar for Best Sound.
18. On May 3, National Public Radio (NPR) began broadcasting. ReadWriteThink.org tells us that “In 1971, National Public Radio (NPR) began the first commercial-free, live radio broadcasts. Financed by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and listener contributions, NPR offers news, music, and other programs free to the public through more than 860 public radio stations. More than 26 million listeners tune in to over 130 hours of original NPR programming each week, including programs produced by local stations and other radio networks.”
19. On May 9, at the 23rd Primetime Emmy Awards, All in the Family (CBS) won an Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series, and The Bold Ones: The Senator (NBC) won an Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series. Jack Klugman (The Odd Couple) won an Emmy for Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series, and Jean Stapleton (All in the Family) won an Emmy for Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series.
20. On June 6, the final broadcast of The Ed Sullivan Show aired on CBS.
21. On June 24, McCabe and Mrs. Miller, a western film starring Warren Beatty and Julie Christie, was released.
22. On June 26, the 1965 musical, Man of La Mancha, closed at the ANTA Washington Square Theater in NYC after 2,329 performances.
23. On July 24, WUHQ-TV (ABC) began broadcasting in Battle Creek, Michigan.
24. On August 5, WNPE-TV (PBS) began broadcasting in Watertown, New York.
25. On August 23, WGTU-TV (ABC) began broadcasting in Traverse City, Michigan.
26. On September 10, KVUE-TV (ABC) began broadcasting in Austin, Texas.
27. On September 13, WIIQ-TV (PBS) began broadcasting in Demopolis, Alabama.
28. On September 15, the police drama, Colombo, starring Peter Falk, debuted on NBC.
29. On September 26, WGBY-TV (PBS) began broadcasting in Springfield, Massachusetts.
30. On September 29, the police drama, McMillan & Wife, premiered on NBC for 40 episodes.
31. On October 7, The French Connection, a film directed by William Friedkin and starring Gene Hackman, Roy Scheider, and Fernando Rey, was released in the U.S.
32. On October 19, the last issue of Look magazine was published.
33. On November 11, Neil Simon’s play, Prisoner of Second Avenue, premiered in NYC.
34. On November 28, The musical, Me Nobody Knows, closed at the Helen Hayes Theater in NYC after 587 performances.
35. On December 5, KCBJ-TV (now KMIZ-TV) (ABC) began broadcasting in Columbia, Missouri.

7. Nobel Prize Winners

Beth Rowen tells us that winning a Nobel Prize is a life-changing honor. Whether the laureate is an internationally known figure (such as Mother Teresa) or a scientist from obscurity (like Richard R. Ernst), the award brings worldwide recognition that highlights one's life work and provides the funds to continue the mission.

This Nobel Prize information from 1971 has been made available courtesy of NobelPrize.com.

• Chemistry: Gerhard Herzberg
• Economic Sciences: Simon Kuznets
• Literature: Pablo Neruda
• Peace: Willy Brandt
• Physics: Dennis Gabor
• Physiology or medicine: Earl Sutherland

8. Best-Selling Fiction and Non-Fiction Books

This book trivia from 1971 has been made available courtesy of PublishersWeekly.com.

Fiction:

1. Wheels by Arthur Hailey

2. The Exorcist by William P. Blatty

3. The Passions of the Mind by Irving Stone

4. The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth

5. The Betsy by Harold Robbins

6. Message from Malaga by Helen MacInnes

7. The Winds of War by Herman Wouk