1975 History Events: What Happened in 1975

1975, in the midst of the Disco Decade, was a year that provided the world a slew of new breakthroughs in popular culture that have lasted a long time. The long-running American game show Wheel of Fortune debuted on NBC in January. Monty Python and the Holy Grail was published in April of this year, and it has since become one of the most lasting comedies of all time. Jaws, a breakthrough film, was released in June. In October, Saturday Night Live made its debut, marking yet another milestone for comedy. George Carlin, one of the greatest comedians of the twentieth century, hosted the debut episode. This was also the year that Queen released “Bohemian Rhapsody,” one of their most famous songs, as a single.

This year, the first-ever “monster truck,” dubbed “Bigfoot,” was developed in the realm of motorsports. On October 1, the “Thrilla in Manila” takes place, in which Muhammad Ali defeats Joe Frazier in one of the most renowned boxing contests of all time.

Margaret Thatcher became the leader of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom in February 1975. She was the first woman to lead any political party in the United Kingdom at the time. 1975 was also the year in which the Vietnam War ended. Saigon fell to the Northern forces after years of fierce combat. The city was evacuated by American troops and a large number of people from South Vietnam. The war in Vietnam came to an end with the fall of Saigon and the unconditional surrender of the South.

NASA launched the Viking I probe to Mars in the realm of space exploration. It safely landed in 1976 and remained operational on the surface for almost 2,000 days, a record that was not broken until the Opportunity rover landed in 2004. Bill Gates and Paul Allen launched Microsoft in April 1975, in a move that would revolutionise the world.

Continue reading to discover more about the events of 1975.

Event
(February 03, 1975) Umm Kulthm, an Egyptian singer who was one of the most well-known Arab singers and prominent figures of the twentieth century, died in Cairo.
Advertisements (March 25, 1975) King Fayal of Saudi Arabia was shot and killed by his nephew.
(April 04, 1975) Microsoft was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, and it grew to become the world's largest personal computer software corporation.
(April 19, 1975) Aryabhata, India's first unmanned Earth satellite, was launched by a Russian-made rocket from the Soviet Union.
(May 16, 1975) The first woman to reach the peak of Mount Everest was Tabei Junko of Japan, who was accompanied by Ang Tsering of Nepal.
Advertisements (June 04, 1975) Angelina Jolie, an American actress famous for her sex appeal and edginess, as well as her humanitarian activities, was born.
(June 07, 1975) The first videocassette recorder format, Betamax, is introduced by Sony.
(June 20, 1975) Jaws, a thriller directed by Steven Spielberg, was premiered in theatres and became a major hit, basically establishing the summer blockbuster genre.
(June 25, 1975) Mozambique becomes independent of Portugal.
Advertisements (July 12, 1975) Portugal granted independence to the island nation of Sao Tome and Principe.
(August 20, 1975) Viking 1, a robotic US spacecraft designed to investigate the surface of Mars, was launched on this day in 1975 and landed nearly a year later on Chryse Planitia, a flat lowland region in the planet's northern hemisphere.
(September 16, 1975) The people of Papua New Guinea obtained independence from Australia. photo source: wikimedia.org
(September 29, 1975) WGPR becomes the first black-owned and operated television station in the United States. photo source: wikimedia.org
(October 05, 1975) Kate Winslet, an English actress noted for portraying strong, independent women, was born. photo source: wikimedia.org
Advertisements (November 10, 1975) The American freighter Edmund Fitzgerald sank in a storm on Lake Superior, killing all 29 people on board; its enigmatic fate inspired a Gordon Lightfoot song, making it the Great Lakes' most renowned shipwreck. photo source: wikimedia.org
(December 30, 1975) Tiger Woods, an American golfer, was born. He was the first player to win the game's four major tournaments in a row (the Masters, the US Open, the British Open, and the PGA Championship). photo source: wikimedia.org