JANUARY 1, 1978

SUNDAY
$1,000 INVESTED IN COKE STOCK (KO) IN 1978
WOULD HAVE MADE YOU $235,665 IN THE 2025 DATASET
Min_Wage_Hourly: $2.80
Median_Home_Price: $42,480.00
Gas_Price_Avg: $1.05
Bread_Price_Avg: $0.45
Movie_Ticket_Avg: $2.53
First_Class_Stamp: $0.13
Milk_Price_Avg: $1.97
Top Movies From 1978
1 Grease
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Grease
2 Superman
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Superman
3 National Lampoon's Animal House
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National Lampoon's Animal House
4 Every Which Way But Loose
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Every Which Way But Loose
5 Heaven Can Wait
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Heaven Can Wait
6 Hooper
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Hooper
7 Jaws 2
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Jaws 2
8 Revenge of the Pink Panther
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Revenge of the Pink Panther
9 The Deer Hunter
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The Deer Hunter
10 Halloween
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Halloween
Forbidden Erotica
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Forbidden Erotica
The Foreigner
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The Foreigner
High Anxiety
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High Anxiety
The Gauntlet
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The Gauntlet
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
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Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Saturday Night Fever
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Saturday Night Fever
Killer of Sheep
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Killer of Sheep
January 1, 1978 Trivia
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Television On January 1, 1978
Columbo poster
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Columbo
Sesame Street poster
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Sesame Street
Saturday Night Live poster
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Saturday Night Live
Dallas poster
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Dallas
M*A*S*H poster
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M*A*S*H
The Love Boat poster
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The Love Boat
Barnaby Jones poster
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Barnaby Jones
Charlie's Angels poster
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Charlie's Angels
The Story of January 1, 1978

On January 1, 1978, car dealers across the United States prepared for an anticipated increase in vehicle repairs as manufacturers faced mounting complaints regarding the reliability of their automobiles.

Inventions & Breakthroughs of January 1978

Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.

1 Global Positioning System Satellites
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Global Positioning System Satellites
2 Word Processing Software (WordStar)
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Word Processing Software (WordStar)
3 Digital Telephone Answering Machine
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Digital Telephone Answering Machine
4 Medical Imaging PACS Concept
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Medical Imaging PACS Concept
5 Electronic Spreadsheet (VisiCalc)
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Electronic Spreadsheet (VisiCalc)
6 Computer Animation Software
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Computer Animation Software
7 Automated Warehouse Robotics
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Automated Warehouse Robotics
8 Digital Signal Processor Chip
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Digital Signal Processor Chip
9 Video Game Console (Atari 2600)
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Video Game Console (Atari 2600)
10 Space Probe Voyager Instruments
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Space Probe Voyager Instruments

The Sounds of

Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year

HEADLINES ON January 1, 1978

Full News Archive

  • Headline: Car Dealers Face Recall Challenges. Impact: The car repair crisis led to the rise of the DIY mechanic culture, which eventually culminated in the internet's obsession with car restoration shows. Thanks, faulty brakes!. Fact: Did you know that car recalls are like modern-day 'choose your own adventure' books, except one of the choices might lead to a fiery ending?.
  • Headline: Carter's Remarks Lost in Translation. Impact: This translation mishap sparked a secret society of linguists who now hold clandestine meetings to ensure that no one ever misunderstands a political speech ever again. Spoiler: they haven't succeeded.. Fact: Did you know that mistranslations can spark international incidents? Just ask the guy who misquoted 'dinner' as 'war' in an ancient Roman banquet!.
  • Headline: Controversy Surrounds L.I. Carrier Service. Impact: The dispute over the limousine service led to a series of lawsuits that spawned a new reality TV show: 'Lawyers in Limousines,' which, unfortunately, never made it past the pilot episode.. Fact: Did you know that every time a taxi meter ticks, an angel gets its wings? Just kidding, that's not how it works..
  • Headline: DANCE VIEW. Impact: The Kirov Ballet's prominence led to a global ballet craze, resulting in an explosion of tutu-wearing toddlers attempting pirouettes in living rooms worldwide. Many parents remain traumatized.. Fact: Did you know that ballet was originally a court dance? So, if you ever feel out of place while doing the cha-cha, just remember: royalty had it worse!.
  • Headline: New Furnace Recaptures ‘Waste’ Energy. Impact: This waste energy furnace sparked the green energy movement, ultimately leading to a future where people argue over the best composting methods at dinner parties. Spoiler: it's always the one with the worms.. Fact: Did you know that burning garbage for energy is a great way to turn your trash into electricity? Too bad it doesn't work on your neighbor's loud music!.
  • Headline: ITINERARY IS SHIFTED. Impact: The meeting between Carter and the Shah set the stage for a rollercoaster ride of U.S.-Iran relations that would become a classic case study in how to turn friends into frenemies.. Fact: Did you know that diplomatic meetings often come with snacks? Too bad the snacks can't solve the world's problems, but they can make them slightly more palatable..
  • Headline: POINT OF VIEW. Impact: Frank A Weil's article on trade protectionism led to a global game of economic chicken, where nations now bluff their way through tariffs and trade deals like a high-stakes poker game.. Fact: Did you know that protectionism can be as popular as a rainy day at a picnic? Everyone loves it until it's time for dessert, aka the economy!.

Wall Street Time Machine

The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1978, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #1
WMT
Walmart
Price in 1978
$0.01
2025 dataset value
$7,945,492

Walmart - If you invested $1,000 in 1978, it would be worth $7,945,492 today (7945.5x return)

Rank #2
INTC
Intel
Price in 1978
$0.18
2025 dataset value
$199,890

Intel - If you invested $1,000 in 1978, it would be worth $199,890 today (199.9x return)

Rank #3
JNJ
Johnson & Johnson
Price in 1978
$0.49
2025 dataset value
$423,037

Johnson & Johnson - If you invested $1,000 in 1978, it would be worth $423,037 today (423.0x return)

🦸 Top 5 Comics
X-Men #111
X-Men #111
$75
Action Comics #484
Action Comics #484
$15
Daredevil #158
Daredevil #158
$75
Superman #233
Superman #233
$250
Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #27
Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #27
$30
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Star Wars Action Figures
Star Wars Action Figures
$300.00
Simon
Simon
$500.00
Lego Space Sets
Lego Space Sets
$350.00
Speak & Spell
Speak & Spell
$150.00
Hot Wheels
Hot Wheels
$30.00
🎮 Top 5 Video Games
Space Invaders
Space Invaders
$13,800
Adventureland
Adventureland
Unknown
Avalanche
Avalanche
$60.00
Astro Battle
Astro Battle
$200.00
Sky Diver
Sky Diver
$12.34
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
Wayne Gretzky Rookie Card
Wayne Gretzky Rookie Card
$4,000,000
Kenner Star Wars Series 1
Kenner Star Wars Series 1
$70.00
Topps Baseball 1978 Eddie Murray Rookie Card
Topps Baseball 1978 Eddie Murray Rookie Card
$3,000
Futera Muhammad Ali 1978
Futera Muhammad Ali 1978
$1,500
Topps Football 1978 Tony Dorsett Rookie Card
Topps Football 1978 Tony Dorsett Rookie Card
$20,000