1970 In Review

Cost of Living In 1970


Yearly Inflation Rate USA 5.84% 
Year End Close Dow Jones Industrial Average 838 
Average Cost of new house $23,450.00 
Average Income per year $9,400.00 
Average Monthly Rent $140.00 
Cost of a gallon of Gas 36 cents 
Shaefer Pen $9.95 
United States postage Stamp 6 cents 
Sports Illustrated 15 cents 
Mans Westclox Watch $18.00 
AMC Gremlin $1879 

A few More Examples 
1 Carat Diamond Ring $299 
Chrysler Newport $3861 
Apples 4Lbs 59 Cents 
Dog Food 12 Cans $1.00 
Head and Shoulder Shampoo 79 Cents 
Car 8 Track Stereo Tape Player $38.99 
Chair La-z-Boy Rocker Recliner $188.00 
Mens Leather Shoes $6.99 
Striped Ladies Flare Pants and Tunic $10.00 
Back To College Typewriter $28.88 
Barbie Doll $4.77 
25" Cinema Screen Color TV $739.95 
Lava lamp $19.95 
Set Of Tube Furniture $59.99 
6 Room Ranch Home Pennsylvania $12,900 
 

 

1970

1970 Music continues to make significant impact with the largest ever rock festival held on the Isle of Wight with 600,000 people attending, including some of the biggest name in music including Jimi Hendrix and The Who. This is also the year The Concord makes it's first supersonic flight. Another significant change is the age of voting is now lowered to 18 in the US. 
 
 

 

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

  • The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty goes into effect after ratification by 43 nations.
In March of 1970 the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty went into effect after it was ratified in the United Nations. The purpose of the treaty was to prevent the further spread and creation of nuclear weapons, to work towards complete disarmament, and for nations to cooperate with each other in the safe development and use of nuclear energy. Nearly two hundred countries have joined the treaty over the years, including the five nuclear states, and in 1995 the treaty was extended indefinitely by the United Nations. 
 

 

Beatles have disbanded

  • Paul McCartney announces that the Beatles have disbanded
1. John Lennon forms a band that becomes The Quarrymen in March of 1957 in Liverpool, England. Paul McCartney joins the band in July. 
2. George Harrison joins The Quarrymen in February 1958
3. The Quarrymen change their name to the Silver Beetles in 1960 and Pete Best is hired as their drummer in August of that year. They also change their name to The Beatles soon after. 
4. The Beatles make Brian Epstein their manager in January of 1962. 
5. They sign a recording contract with EMI's Parlophone records in June of 1962, George Martin is their producer. 
6. Ringo Starr joins the band as their drummer in August of 1962 after Best is fired. 
7. Their first single "Love Me Do" is released in October of 1962. 
8. The Beatles first appear on the Ed Sullivan Show in February of 1964 and "I Want To Hold Your Hand" becomes a number one hit in the United States. 
9. The group begins to change creatively with the release of Rubber Soul in 1965 and Revolver in 1966. 
10. They release the Sgt. Pepper album in June of 1967 and one month later their manager Epstein dies of an overdose. 
11. The band goes to India in 1968 and when they come back to the United Kingdom they record the White Album. 
12. They hold their final public performance in January of 1969 on the rooftop of Apple Records in London. Abbey Road is released later that year. 
13. The Beatles officially break up in April of 1970 when Paul McCartney publicly states that he is leaving the band. Let It Be is released as their final album a month later.
 

Apollo 13 mission to moon Accident

  • Apollo 13 mission to moon Accident.
1. The Apollo 13 mission launches as the third mission to the moon, carrying astronauts James Lovell, John Swigert and Fred Haise. The mission launched at 2:13 pm on April 11th, 1970. 
2. About three hours after the launch, the mission is set on its trajectory to the moon. There is a command module called the Odyssey and a lunar module called Aquarius. 
3, On April 13th at about 10:07 pm the second oxygen tank explodes. This causes issues with the other oxygen tanks. The crew contacts CapCom shortly after the incident with the famous line "Houston, we've had a problem." 
4. After about three hours, all of the oxygen stores are gone and there was a loss of water, electricity and the propulsion system. 
5. Houston and the crew begin to work on a plan for safe re-entry to Earth that includes closing off the command module and re-configuring the lunar module. 
6. The crew rations supplies and power in order to safely return to Earth. With careful calculations they are about to change the course of their trajectory and re-position the spacecraft towards Earth on April 14th. 
7. On April 17th, the crew of Apollo 13 has a successful splashdown in the Pacific Ocean near Samoa, with all of the crew surviving. 
 

 

Boeing 747

  • Boeing 747 makes its first commercial passenger trip to London.
More Information for the completion of the first Boeing 747 Flight. 
The world's first jumbo-jet, the Boeing 747, has its first commercial flight on January 22nd of 1970. The plane was operated by Pan-Am and the flight traveled from New York to London carrying 332 passengers and 18 crew members. The Boeing 747 revolutionized air travel and the commercial airline business as the jumbo jets could now carry up to 550 people during one flight. These planes reduced the amount of flights needed to transport the same amount of people on smaller planes, helping to control an ever growing volume of air traffic.
 

 

 

US Invades Cambodia

  • US Invades Cambodia
1. In February of 1969 President Nixon and his National Security Adviser, Henry Kissinger, discuss plans for bombing the North Vietnamese supply routes that went through Cambodia. 
2. In March of 1969, Nixon launches the secretive campaign called "Operation Menu" in which American B-52s carpet bombed the Eastern side of Cambodia. 
3. The bombing campaign lasted for over a year and took a great toll on the country as many civilian lives were lost. 
4. In April of 1970, Nixon orders a secret invasion of Cambodia by US and South Vietnamese troops. 
5. News of the invasion reaches the US and further fuels anti-war sentiments. People stage massive protests against the United States' involvement in Cambodia. 
6. Several students are shot and killed by the National Guard at anti-war protests at Kent State University and Jackson State University. Soon after, Nixon withdraws forces from Cambodia. 
7. The United States chooses to continue the bombing of the country, which lasts until 1973. 

 

Chicago Seven

  • Chicago Seven defendants found guilty of intent to incite a riot in 1968 ( later overturned by Court of Appeal )
1. In 1967, the Democratic Party choose to hold the 1968 National Convention in Chicago, Illinois. 
2. In 1968, Anti-war groups ask the city for permits to protest near the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. The city denies nearly all requests except one for a rally in Grant Park with an 11pm curfew. 
3. About 15,000 protesters attend the rally and attempt to march towards the convention but are confronted by police. Clashes between police and demonstrators last several days and over 500 people are arrested. 
4. A grand jury indicts eight people for inciting a riot in March of 1969. The case of Bobby Seale is dropped and the defendants become known as the Chicago Seven. The group consists of Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, David Dellinger, Tom Hayden, Rennie Davis, John Froines and Lee Weiner. 
5. The trial begins on September 24th, 1969. Over the course of the trial the United States National Guard is called in to control crowds of demonstrators that gathered around in support of the defendants. 
6. The trial was highly publicized and drew a lot of media attention due to the famous names that came to testify such as Norman Mailer, Allen Ginsberg, Reverend Jesse Jackson, and Timothy Leary. 
7. In February of 1970, all of the defendants are acquitted of conspiracy and five of them are convicted of inciting a riot. They were sentenced to five years in prison each and given $5,000 in fines each. 
8. In November of 1972, all of the convictions were overturned by an Appeals Court on the grounds of judicial bias and bias in jury selection. 
 
 

1970 Mens and Womens Fashion Clothes

Part of our Collection of Clothing From 1970
Part of our Collection of Fashion Accessories From 1970
Fashion Clothing Examples From 1970 including

Fashion Accessories Examples From 1970

 

Toys From The Year 1970

1970 Toys including  Barbie Dolls, Hot Wheels Track and Cars, Cheap Childrens Stereo Phono, Back To College Typewriter, Apollo Moon Rocket, Bontempi Console Organ, Chatty Cathy, Frosty Snow Cone Maker, Gigantor Robot, GI Joe Astronaut, NHL Table Hockey, Stereo 5 band Radio, Talking Viewmaster, Suzy Homemakers Super oven

Some of the toys included in the 1970 collage above Barbie Dolls, Hot Wheels Track and Cars, Cheap Childrens Stereo Phono, Back To College Typewriter, Apollo Moon Rocket, Bontempi Console Organ, Chatty Cathy, Frosty Snow Cone Maker, Gigantor Robot, GI Joe Astronaut, NHL Table Hockey, Stereo 5 band Radio, Talking Viewmaster, Suzy Homemakers Super oven
 
 

More News and Key Events From 1970


 
First Earth Day celebrated
  • First Earth Day celebrated
 

 
Environmental Protection Agency
  • The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA ) begins operation
 

 
US increases import duty taxes
  • US increases import duty taxes to protect American Jobs
 

 
Vietnam War Demonstrations
  • 100,000 people demonstrate in Washington DC against the Vietnam War
 

 
Worlds Population
  • The Worlds Population reaches 3.63 billion
 

 
US Population
  • The US Population reaches 205 million
  • The US has 85 people per sq mile
 

 
US lowers the voting age to 18
  • The US lowers the voting age to 18 from 21 when President Nixon Signs the bill into law on June 22nd
 

 
"No Fault" Divorce law
  • California becomes the first US State to adopt "No Fault" Divorce law.
 

 
Controlled Substance Act
  • Controlled Substance Act passed part of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970.
 

 
Dow Jones drops to 631
  • Dow Jones drops to 631
 

 
Kent State University
  • National Guards fire on and kill 4 protesters on May 4th at Kent State University
 

 
Brazil World Cup
  • Brazil wins their third world cup with Pele as the captain
 

 

Popular Culture 1970

  • The Isle of Wight Festival takes place. 600,000 people attend the largest rock festival of all time. Artists include Jimi Hendrix, The Who, The Doors, Chicago, Richie Havens, John Sebastian, Joan Baez, Ten Years After, Emerson, Lake and Palmer and Jethro Tull.
  • Jimi Hendrix dies of barbiturate overdose in London
  • Janis Joplin dies in a cheap motel from a heroin overdose
  • The first New York marathon is run in New York
  • Simon and Garfunkel release their final album together, Bridge Over Troubled Water. The Title Track won the Grammy for song of the year.
 

Popular Films

  • M*A*S*H,
  • Patton
  • Woodstock
  • Hello, Dolly!
  • Catch-22
  • On Her Majesty's Secret Service
Popular Music and songs 
The Beatles with -- "Let it Be" released on May 8th 
The Jackson 5 with -- "ABC and I want you back" 
Edwin Starr with -- "War" 

Check out our Music From The 1970's which includes popular bands and chart toppers from the Seventies


 

Born This Year 1970

Chavo Guerrero, Jr October 20th
Naomi Campbell May 22nd
Tina Fey May 18th
Kelly Ripa October 2nd
 

 

Technology

  • First Jumbo Jet goes into service
  • Concorde makes its first supersonic flight (700 mph/1127 km/h).
  • The Soviet Moon Rover becomes the first remote-controlled robot to travel on the moon's surface
  • The First Computer Chess Tournament takes Place
  • IBM announces the successors to the IBM System/360 family the IBM System/370 with improved multi processor support.
  • After many years of court battles damages awarded to Thalidomide victims

Inventions Invented by Inventors and Country (or attributed to First Use):

Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) England by George Gray
 

 
 

Major World Political Leaders

Australia -- Prime Minister -- John Gorton
Brazil -- President -- Emilio Medici
Canada -- Prime Minister -- Pierre Trudeau
China -- Chairman of the People's Republic of China -- Song Qingling
France -- President -- Georges Pompidou
Germany -- Chancellor -- Willy Brandt
India -- Prime Minister -- Indira Gandhi
Italy -- Prime Minister --Mariano Rumor -- Till 6 August 
Italy -- Prime Minister --Emilio Colombo -- From 6 August 
Japan -- Prime Minister -- Eisaku Sato
Mexico -- President --Gustavo Díaz Ordaz -- Till 30 November
Mexico -- President --Luis Echeverría -- From 30 November
Russia / Soviet Union -- First Secretary of the CPSU -- Leonid Brezhnev --
South Africa -- Prime Minister -- Balthazar Johannes Vorster
United States -- President -- Richard Nixon
United Kingdom -- Prime Minister -- Harold Wilson -- Till 19 June 
United Kingdom -- Prime Minister -- Edward Heath -- From 19 June