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August 17, 1973

August 17, 1973, was a Friday. It was 51 years, 4 months, and 6 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Leo.

Song charts

Top songs

These songs were on top of the music charts in the United States and the United Kingdom on August 17, 1973:

  • United States: "Touch Me In The Morning" by Diana Ross
  • United Kingdom: "I'm The Leader Of The Gang" by Gary Glitter

The Billboard Hot 100 on August 17, 1973

These songs were dominating the music charts:

  • The Morning After - Maureen McGovern
  • Live And Let Die - Wings
  • Brother Louie - Stories
  • Touch Me In The Morning - Diana Ross
  • Bad, Bad Leroy Brown - Jim Croce
Play the top singles from 1973
A Spotify playlist of songs from the year 1973. Take a trip back to the days of Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, Deep Purple, the Doobie Brothers and Elton John.
Coffy

Top movie

The movie "Coffy" was at the top of the box office on this day.

Facts

This date occurred 18,756 days ago. Approximately 625 months have passed. It was the 229th day of 1973, in week 33. The decade was the seventies. People who were born on August 17, 1973, are now 51 years old and belong to the Generation X generation. We have gone through approximately 208 seasons of weather since this date.

Take me back to August 17, 1973

Let's take a walk down memory lane.

The date is August 17, 1973, and it's a Friday. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Leo. Many people have "that Friday feeling" and are looking forward to the weekend.

The summer of 1973 is in full swing. The weather is warm, and the evenings are brighter than usual. Most schools and colleges are now finished until August or September. In America, the song "Touch Me In The Morning" by Diana Ross is at the top of the singles charts, while "I'm The Leader Of The Gang" by Gary Glitter is the number-one song in the UK. Richard Nixon is the President of the United States, and the movie Coffy 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 "Here's Lucy", "The Brady Bunch", "The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour", and "Emergency!". 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 1973, so radio stations are playing songs from artists such as The Rolling Stones, Tony Orlando & Dawn, Sweet, Elton John, Roberta Flack, Carly Simon, Marvin Gaye and Jim Croce. A comedy film called "American Graffiti" is currently being shown in movie theaters. If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as J. R. R. Tolkien, Gram Parsons, and Oskar Schindler would all still be alive.

People are playing video games such as "Pong" and "Space Race". Children and teenagers are watching television shows such as "The Brady Bunch", "Sesame Street", "Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids", and "Schoolhouse Rock!". Children are playing with toys such as Troll doll, the Easy-Bake Oven, Uno (card game), and Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle.

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on August 17, 1973, will have the star sign Leo.
  • Zodiac Element: Fire.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1973 was the year of the Ox (Yin Wood).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 9.
  • Native American Zodiac: August 17, 1973 falls under the Salmon.
  • Birthstone: A person during the month of August will have the birthstone Peridot.
  • Birth flower (August): The Gladiolus and the Poppy.
News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on August 17, 1973.

  • The kung fu craze.

    The kung fu craze

    Following the success of the Hong Kong martial arts film "Five Fingers of Death" in March of 1973, multiple kung fu movies went on to reach the top of the US box office that year.
  • 1973-74 stock market crash.

    1973-74 stock market crash

    Between January 1973 and December 1974, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost over 45% of its value. The UK stock market fared even worse, with the FT 30 dropping by over 70%.
  • Hitchhiking is declining.

    Hitchhiking is declining

    Although hitchhiking is still pretty common, it is beginning to decline due to people's falling trust in strangers, lower air travel prices, an increase in highways, and more affordable cars.
  • The US military is withdrawing from the Vietnam War.

    The US military is withdrawing from the Vietnam War

    During 1973, the war in Vietnam was still ongoing. However, by this stage, the US was steadily withdrawing its military from the country. Between 1972 and 1973, the number of US troops in Vietnam fell from 24,200 to 50. Although a peace agreement was signed at the start of 1973, it was quickly broken by both sides.
  • Who were the best NBA players in 1973?

    Who were the best NBA players in 1973?

    The best NBA players in 1973 were Dave Cowens, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, John Havlicek, Spencer Haywood, Nate Archibald and Jerry West.
  • Best soccer players.

    Best soccer players

    In 1973, the best soccer players were Johan Cruyff, Dino Zoff, Gerd Müller, Franz Beckenbauer, Billy Bremner, Kazimierz Deyna, Eusébio, Gianni Rivera, Gunter Netzer and Ralf Edström.
  • The Sting.

    The Sting

    "The Sting" won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1973.
  • Roberta Flack - "Killing Me Softly with His Song"

    Roberta Flack - "Killing Me Softly with His Song"

    "Killing Me Softly with His Song" by Roberta Flack won a Grammy for 1973's Song of the Year.
  • 1973 in movies.

    1973 in movies

    Movies released in 1973 included The Sting, The Exorcist, American Graffiti, Papillon, The Way We Were, Charlotte's Web, Magnum Force, Last Tango in Paris, Live and Let Die, Robin Hood, Paper Moon, The Wicker Man, The Legend of Hell House and Badlands.
  • John Sirica.

    John Sirica

    John Sirica was named Time Person of the Year in 1973. Sirica was the judge who ordered US President Richard Nixon to hand over the Watergate-related recordings.
  • 1973 in music.

    1973 in music

    The Billboard Charts in 1973 were dominated by Marvin Gaye, Carly Simon, Dawn & Tony Orlando, Eddie Kendricks, Elton John, Roberta Flack, Paul McCartney and Wings, Clint Holmes, Billy Preston, Cher, Jim Croce and Diana Ross.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Personality traits

Check out our personality summary for people who were born on August 17, 1973.

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 August 17, 1973.

  • July 20, 1973: Martial artist Bruce Lee dies at the age of 32.
  • July 21, 1973: Israeli Mossad agents mistakenly kill a waiter in Lillehammer, Norway.
  • July 25, 1973: Former Canadian Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent passes away at the age of 91.
  • July 29, 1973: Formula One racing driver Roger Williamson dies in an accident.
  • July 31, 1973: 87 people die after Delta Air Lines Flight 723 crashes during landing at Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts.
  • August 2, 1973: 51 people are killed on the Isle of Man when a fire breaks out at an amusement centre.
  • August 6, 1973:
    • Singer Stevie Wonder is seriously injured in a car accident while on tour in North Carolina.
    • The Washington Post reports that US Vice President Spiro Agnew is being investigated for criminal conspiracy, bribery, extortion, and tax fraud.
    • English actor James Beck (Private Walker in Dad's Army) dies from heart failure, renal failure, and pancreatitis at the age of 44.
  • August 8, 1973: US Vice President Spiro Agnew publicly proclaims his innocence in response to recent news that he is being investigated for bribery and tax fraud.
  • August 11, 1973: The coming-of-age film "American Graffiti" is released in movie theaters.
  • August 13, 1973: 85 people lose their lives after Aviaco Flight 118 crashes in the village of Montrove, Spain.
  • August 15, 1973: The United States' bombing of Cambodia comes to an end.
  • This date: August 17, 1973
  • August 25, 1973: 11-year-old Joanne Ratcliffe and 4-year-old Kirste Gordon go missing at an Australian rules football match in Adelaide, Australia.
  • August 28, 1973: Soul singer Marvin Gaye releases his landmark album "Let's Get It On".
  • September 2, 1973: Author J.R.R. Tolkien passes away.
  • September 11, 1973: Civilian rule ends in Chile after a group of military officers led by General Augusto Pinochet carry out a coup.

1970s fashion

Photographs of 1970s fashion and hairstyles.

1970s fashion

Television shows

TV series on August 17, 1973

People in August 1973 were watching the following TV series:

TV shows from August 1973.

The Six Million Dollar Man
The Six Million Dollar Man
Barnaby Jones
Barnaby Jones
Last of the Summer Wine
Last of the Summer Wine
M*A*S*H
M*A*S*H
The Bob Newhart Show
The Bob Newhart Show
Ghost Story
Ghost Story
The Waltons
The Waltons
Maude
Maude
The Rookies
The Rookies
Emergency!
Emergency!
Sanford and Son
Sanford and Son
Upstairs, Downstairs
Upstairs, Downstairs

Cars in 1973

1974 saw the introduction of cars such as the Ford Mustang (second generation), the Mitsubishi Lancer, the Toyota Starlet, the Chevrolet Chevelle Laguna, the Buick Regal, and the Volkswagen Passat.

Cars in 1973.

Children TV shows

Cartoons and children's TV shows in August 1973

Children and teenagers were watching the following cartoons and TV series:

Schoolhouse Rock!
Schoolhouse Rock!
Lassie's Rescue Rangers
Lassie's Rescue Rangers
The Adventures of Black Beauty
The Adventures of Black Beauty

Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids
The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan
The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan
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
All in the Family
All in the Family
Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Sesame Street
Sesame Street
Toys

Toys in 1973

Children were playing with the following toys and games:

Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle
Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle
Baby Alive (doll)
Baby Alive (doll)
Shrinky Dinks
Shrinky Dinks
Magnavox Odyssey
Magnavox Odyssey
Kenner SSP Racers
Kenner SSP Racers
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
Video games

Video games

Popular video games that people were playing in August 1973.

Space Race 1973
Space Race
Pong 1972
Pong

Were you born on August 17, 1973?

If you were born on this date, then it is unlikely that you will remember anything from the year 1973.

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 August 17, 1979, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on August 17.

Robert De Niro

Robert De Niro

Actor
Born on August 17, 1943
He turned 30 on this day in 1973.

David Koresh

David Koresh

Cult leader Deceased
Born on August 17, 1959
He turned 14 on this day in 1973.

Sean Penn

Sean Penn

Actor
Born on August 17, 1960
He turned 13 on this day in 1973.

Scott Halberstadt

Scott Halberstadt

Actor
Born on August 17, 1976
He was born exactly 3 years after this date.

Thierry Henry

Thierry Henry

French soccer player
Born on August 17, 1977
He was born exactly 4 years after this date.

James Tindale

James Tindale

Geordie Shore
Born on August 17, 1990
He was born exactly 17 years after this date.

Austin Butler

Austin Butler

Actor
Born on August 17, 1991
He was born exactly 18 years after this date.

Paige

Paige

Wrestler
Born on August 17, 1992
She was born exactly 19 years after this date.

Lil Pump

Lil Pump

Rapper
Born on August 17, 2000
He was born exactly 27 years after this date.

The Kid Laroi

The Kid Laroi

Australian singer
Born on August 17, 2003
He was born exactly 30 years after this date.

USA

US President

Richard Nixon was the President of the United States on August 17, 1973.

UK

UK Prime Minister

Edward Heath was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Ireland

Irish Taoiseach

Liam Cosgrave was the Taoiseach of Ireland.

Conception

Conception dates

Conception estimates for this date.

  • A baby that was born on August 17, 1973 was most likely conceived around November 24, 1972.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on August 17, 1973 is close to May 10, 1974.

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Stats for August 17, 1973

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about August 17, 1973:

  • 18,756 days have passed since this date.
  • 2,679 weeks have passed.
  • 1,620,522,000 seconds have passed since August 17, 1973.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,890,609,000 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 836,189,352,000 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 270,087,000 times.
  • You have taken approximately 139,364,892 steps. That's roughly 61,940 miles.
  • 19,446,264 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1973?

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