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March 31, 1972

March 31, 1972, was a Friday. It was 52 years, 7 months, and 5 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Aries.

Song charts

Popular songs

On March 31, 1972, the following songs were at the top of the music charts in the USA and the UK:

  • United States: "A Horse With No Name" by America
  • United Kingdom: "Without You" by Nilsson

The music charts on March 31, 1972

The following songs were dominating the Billboard Hot 100 chart:

  • A Horse With No Name - America
  • Heart Of Gold - Neil Young
  • The Lion Sleeps Tonight - Robert John
  • Puppy Love - Donny Osmond
  • Mother And Child Reunion - Paul Simon
Play the top singles from 1972
A Spotify playlist of songs from 1972. Take a trip back to the days of Elton John, Lou Reed, Al Green and Don McLean.
The Godfather

Top movie

The top movie on this day was "The Godfather".

Facts

This date occurred 19,212 days ago. Approximately 640 months have passed. It was the 91st day of 1972, in week 13. The decade was the seventies. People who were born on March 31, 1972, are now 52 years old and belong to the Generation X generation. 1972 was a leap year, which means that it had an extra day in February. 213 seasons of weather have come and gone since then.

Take me back to March 31, 1972

Let's go back to the seventies.

The date is March 31, 1972, and it's a Friday. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Aries. Many people have "that Friday feeling" and are looking forward to the weekend.

Spring has arrived, and the days are starting to get longer. In America, the song "A Horse With No Name" by America is at the top of the singles charts, while "Without You" by Nilsson is the number-one song in the UK. Richard Nixon is the President of the United States, and the movie The Godfather is at the top of the box office.

Edward Heath is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. On television, people are watching popular shows such as "Columbo", "All in the Family", "The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour", and "Upstairs, Downstairs". In fashion, the hippie look from the 1960s is still popular. Clothing items such as tie dye shirts, bell-bottoms, midi skirts, gauchos and Mexican blouses are being worn by women. Meanwhile, men are wearing dark satin shirts, ethnic-looking tunics, bell bottom jeans, tweed sports jackets and turtlenecks.

It's 1972, so radio stations are playing songs from artists such as Don McLean, Harry Nilsson, Hot Butter, Neil Young, The Moody Blues, Roberta Flack, Bill Withers and Johnny Nash. A crime film called "The Godfather" is being shown in movie theaters. If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as J. Edgar Hoover, Jackie Robinson, Janet Munro, and Harry S. Truman would all still be alive.

Kids and teenagers are watching TV shows such as "Lassie", "Skippy the Bush Kangaroo", "The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show", and "Help!... It's the Hair Bear Bunch!". Children are playing with toys such as Troll doll, Suzy Homemaker, G.I. Joe Adventure Team, and Weebles.

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on March 31, 1972, will have the star sign Aries.
  • Zodiac Element: Fire.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1972 was the year of the Rat (Yang Wood).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 8.
  • Native American Zodiac: March 31, 1972 falls under the Falcon.
  • Birthstone: A person during the month of March will have the birthstone Aquamarine.
  • Birth flower (March): The Daffodil and the Jonqui.
News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on March 31, 1972.

  • Music cassette tapes are becoming popular.

    Music cassette tapes are becoming popular

    Audio cassettes started becoming widespread from about 1972 onward. Although they lacked the sound quality of vinyl records, they were far more convenient and portable.
  • Color TV surpasses black-and-white.

    Color TV surpasses black-and-white

    Sales of color TV sets were beginning to surpass sales of the older black-and-white models. By this stage, almost all of the popular daytime networks were broadcasting in color.
  • The US is winding down its involvement in the Vietnam War.

    The US is winding down its involvement in the Vietnam War

    During 1972, the war in Vietnam was still ongoing. However, the US had greatly reduced their presence in the country. Between 1971 and 1972, the number of US troops in Vietnam fell from 156,800 to 24,200. Instead of keeping soldiers on the ground, the US shifted its focus to providing air support while negotiators in Paris tried to hammer out a peace agreement.
  • Who were the best NBA players in 1972?

    Who were the best NBA players in 1972?

    The best NBA players in 1972 were Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, John Havlicek, Spencer Haywood, Jerry West and Walt Frazier.
  • Best soccer players.

    Best soccer players

    In 1972, the best soccer players were Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Müller, Günter Netzer, Johan Cruyff, Piet Keizer, Kazimierz Deyna, Gordon Banks, Barry Hulshoff, Włodzimierz Lubański and Bobby Moore.
  • The Godfather.

    The Godfather

    "The Godfather" won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1972.
  • Roberta Flack - "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"

    Roberta Flack - "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"

    "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" by Roberta Flack would go on to win a Grammy for 1972's Song of the Year.
  • 1972 in movies.

    1972 in movies

    Movies released in 1972 included The Godfather, The Poseidon Adventure, "What's Up, Doc?", Behind the Green Door, Deliverance, Super Fly, Cabaret, The Getaway, Fritz the Cat, The Legend of Boggy Creek, Jeremiah Johnson, Blacula and Silent Running.
  • Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger.

    Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger

    US President Richard Nixon and his National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger were both named Time Person of the Year in 1972. Nixon and Kissinger had made history by traveling to China to "open up a dialogue."
  • 1972 in music.

    1972 in music

    The Billboard Charts in 1972 were dominated by Don McLean, Roberta Flack, Gilbert O'Sullivan, America, Joe Tex, Looking Glass and Al Green.
  • Have a nice day!

    Have a nice day!

    The smiley face and phrases such as "Have a nice day!" and "Have a happy day!" were being plastered onto t-shirts, mugs, and badges.
  • Bell-bottoms.

    Bell-bottoms

    Bell-bottoms (flares) were in fashion.
  • Wallpaper.

    Wallpaper

    Wallpaper was extremely common in people's homes throughout the 1970s and 1980s. It wasn't until the mid-late 1980s that "modernism" started to creep in.
  • Office workers are using typewriters.

    Office workers are using typewriters

    Although personal computers began to emerge during the 1970s, typewriters were still the norm for most office workers.
  • The Volkswagen Beetle.

    The Volkswagen Beetle

    The Volkswagen Beetle was one of the most common cars on the road. Sales of the vehicle increased following the release of the 1968 film The Love Bug (and its subsequent spin-offs).
  • The Hippie movement.

    The Hippie movement

    The hippie counterculture reached its peak during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The movement, which sprung up in opposition to the Vietnam War, was centered around peace, psychedelic music, sexual liberation, bright colors, and drugs such as LSD and marijuana.
  • Lava lamps are all the rage.

    Lava lamps are all the rage

    Sales of lava lamps increased in the late 1960s. It wasn't until the second half of the 1970s that they started to go out of fashion.
  • The afro hairstyle is at its peak in popularity.

    The afro hairstyle is at its peak in popularity

    The afro hairstyle took off during the 1960s and early 1970s. Public figures such as Angela Davis, Pam Grier, Jimi Hendrix, and the Jackson 5 were among those who sported the style.
  • The push-button telephone.

    The push-button telephone

    Push-button telephones were beginning to replace the older rotary-style landlines.

Personality traits

Check out our personality summary for people who were born on March 31, 1972.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

View Personality Summary

Events

What happened around this time?

News stories, pop culture trends, and other events that happened around March 31, 1972.

  • March 2, 1972: NASA's space probe "Pioneer 10" is launched.
  • March 7, 1972: The first episode of the police series "The Rookies" is aired on television.
  • March 10, 1972:
    • The sci-fi film "Silent Running" is released.
    • The film "What's Up, Doc?", starring Barbra Streisand and Ryan O'Neal, is released.
  • March 14, 1972: 112 people die after Sterling Airways Flight 296 crashes near Kalba, United Arab Emirates.
  • March 20, 1972: Donegall Street bombing: Seven people are killed after the Provisional IRA detonates a car bomb on Lower Donegall Street in Belfast.
  • March 24, 1972:
    • The British government introduces "Direct Rule" in Northern Ireland.
    • The mafia film "The Godfather" is released.
  • March 26, 1972: 19 climbers are killed in an avalanche on Mount Fuji in Japan.
  • March 30, 1972: North Vietnamese forces cross into the Demilitarized Zone of South Vietnam.
  • This date: March 31, 1972
  • April 7, 1972:
    • A Vietnam war veteran called Richard McCoy Jr. hijacks a United Airlines passenger jet for ransom.
    • Vietnam War: Communist forces capture the South Vietnamese town of Loc Ninh.
  • April 17, 1972: The first Boston Marathon that allows women to compete takes place.
  • April 21, 1972: Bill Withers releases the song "Lean on Me".

1970s fashion

Photographs of 1970s fashion and hairstyles.

1970s fashion

Television shows

Television shows in March 1972

In March 1972, TV audiences were watching the following series:

TV shows from March 1972.

The Rookies
The Rookies
Emergency!
Emergency!
Sanford and Son
Sanford and Son
Upstairs, Downstairs
Upstairs, Downstairs
Soul Train
Soul Train
McMillan & Wife
McMillan & Wife
The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
The Two Ronnies
The Two Ronnies
All in the Family
All in the Family
Alias Smith and Jones
Alias Smith and Jones
The Partridge Family
The Partridge Family
The Odd Couple
The Odd Couple

Cars in 1972

1972 saw the introduction of cars such as the Honda Civic, the Chevrolet LUV, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the BMW 5 Series, the Ford Thunderbird (sixth generation), and the Renault 5.

Cars in 1972.

Children TV shows

Cartoons and children's TV shows in March 1972

If you were a kid on March 31, 1972, then you were probably watching the following cartoons and TV shows:

The Electric Company
The Electric Company
Help!... It's the Hair Bear Bunch!
Help!... It's the Hair Bear Bunch!
Archie's TV Funnies
Archie's TV Funnies

The Funky Phantom
The Funky Phantom
The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show
The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show
All in the Family
All in the Family
Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Groovie Goolies
Groovie Goolies
Josie and the Pussycats
Josie and the Pussycats
The Clangers
The Clangers
Sesame Street
Sesame Street
Toys

Toys in 1972

If you were a child on this date, then you may have had some of the following toys:

Big Jim (action figure)
Big Jim (action figure)
Uno (card game)
Uno (card game)
The Rock Flowers dolls
The Rock Flowers dolls
Weebles
Weebles
VertiBird (toy helicopter)
VertiBird (toy helicopter)
G.I. Joe Adventure Team
G.I. Joe Adventure Team
Nerf Balls
Nerf Balls
Frisbee
Frisbee
Crissy (doll)
Crissy (doll)
Clackers
Clackers
Battleship (game)
Battleship (game)
Lite-Brite
Lite-Brite

Were you born on March 31, 1972?

If you were born on this date, then it is unlikely that you will remember anything from the year 1972.

This is because humans find it difficult to retrieve memories of their early childhood.

If you are looking for some childhood nostalgia, then you should check out March 31, 1978, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on March 31.

Rene Descartes

Rene Descartes

Philosopher Deceased
Born on March 31, 1596
He was not alive on this date.

Johann Sebastian Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach

Composer Deceased
Born on March 31, 1685
He was not alive on this date.

William Daniels

William Daniels

Actor
Born on March 31, 1927
He turned 45 on this day in 1972.

Christopher Walken

Christopher Walken

Actor
Born on March 31, 1943
He turned 29 on this day in 1972.

Rhea Perlman

Rhea Perlman

Actress
Born on March 31, 1948
She turned 24 on this day in 1972.

Ewan McGregor

Ewan McGregor

Actor
Born on March 31, 1971
He turned 1 on this day in 1972.

USA

US President

Richard Nixon was the President of the United States on March 31, 1972.

UK

UK Prime Minister

Edward Heath was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Ireland

Irish Taoiseach

Jack Lynch was the Taoiseach of Ireland.

Conception

Conception dates

Conception estimates for this date.

  • A baby that was born on March 31, 1972 was most likely conceived around July 9, 1971.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on March 31, 1972 is close to December 22, 1972.

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Stats for March 31, 1972

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about March 31, 1972:

  • 19,212 days have passed since this date.
  • 2,744 weeks have passed.
  • 1,659,920,400 seconds have passed since March 31, 1972.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,936,573,800 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 856,518,926,400 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 276,653,400 times.
  • You have taken approximately 142,753,154 steps. That's roughly 63,446 miles.
  • 19,919,045 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1972?

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