BestOfDate

August 31, 1973

August 31, 1973, was a Friday. It was 51 years, 2 months, and 22 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Virgo.

Song charts

Popular songs

On August 31, 1973, the following songs were at the top of the music charts in the USA and the UK:

  • United States: "Brother Louie" by Stories
  • United Kingdom: "Young Love" by Donny Osmond

The music charts on August 31, 1973

The following songs were dominating the Billboard Hot 100 chart:

  • Brother Louie - Stories
  • Live And Let Die - Wings
  • Touch Me In The Morning - Diana Ross
  • Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye
  • The Morning After - Maureen McGovern
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.
Enter the Dragon

Top movie

The top movie on this day was "Enter the Dragon".

Facts

This date occurred 18,711 days ago. Approximately 624 months have passed. It was the 243rd day of 1973, in week 35. The decade was the seventies. People who were born on August 31, 1973, are now 51 years old and belong to the Generation X generation. 208 seasons of weather have come and gone since then.

Take me back to August 31, 1973

Let's go back to the seventies.

The date is August 31, 1973, and it's a Friday. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Virgo. Many people have "that Friday feeling" and are looking forward to the weekend.

The summer of 1973 is coming to an end and fall is just around the corner. In the United States, it is the Friday before Labor Day weekend. Many Americans are planning barbecues and other gatherings. In America, the song "Brother Louie" by Stories is at the top of the singles charts, while "Young Love" by Donny Osmond is the number-one song in the UK.

Richard Nixon is the President of the United States, and the movie Enter the Dragon 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 "Hee Haw", "McCloud", "The Flip Wilson Show", and "The Six Million Dollar Man".

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 "Captain Kangaroo", "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood", "Lassie's Rescue Rangers", and "Schoolhouse Rock!".

Children are playing with toys such as the Easy-Bake Oven, Frisbee, G.I. Joe Adventure Team, and Shrinky Dinks.

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on August 31, 1973, will have the star sign Virgo.
  • Zodiac Element: Earth.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1973 was the year of the Ox (Yin Wood).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 5.
  • Native American Zodiac: August 31, 1973 falls under the Bear.
  • 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 31, 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 31, 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 31, 1973.

  • 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.
  • 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".
  • This date: August 31, 1973
  • 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.
  • September 19, 1973: Singer Gram Parsons dies of a drugs overdose.
  • September 20, 1973:
    • American singer Jim Croce is killed in a plane crash.
    • Battle of the Sexes: 90 million people tune in to watch female tennis player Billie Jean King defeating Bobby Riggs at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas.
  • September 22, 1973: Golf: The United States wins the 1973 Ryder Cup at Muirfield in East Lothian, Scotland.
  • September 28, 1973: The ITT building in New York is bombed by a left-wing militant organization due to the company's involvement in the 1973 Pinochet coup in Chile.

1970s fashion

Photographs of 1970s fashion and hairstyles.

1970s fashion

Television shows

Television shows in August 1973

In August 1973, TV audiences were watching the following 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

If you were a kid on August 31, 1973, then you were probably watching the following cartoons and TV shows:

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

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

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 31, 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 31, 1979, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

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

Richard Gere

Richard Gere

Actor
Born on August 31, 1949
He turned 24 on this day in 1973.

Chris Tucker

Chris Tucker

Actor
Born on August 31, 1971
He turned 2 on this day in 1973.

Jeff Hardy

Jeff Hardy

Wrestler
Born on August 31, 1977
He was born exactly 4 years after this date.

Chloe Ferry

Chloe Ferry

TV personality
Born on August 31, 1995
She was born exactly 22 years after this date.

USA

US President

Richard Nixon was the President of the United States on August 31, 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 31, 1973 was most likely conceived around December 8, 1972.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on August 31, 1973 is close to May 24, 1974.

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Stats for August 31, 1973

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about August 31, 1973:

  • 18,711 days have passed since this date.
  • 2,673 weeks have passed.
  • 1,616,634,000 seconds have passed since August 31, 1973.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,886,073,000 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 834,183,144,000 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 269,439,000 times.
  • You have taken approximately 139,030,524 steps. That's roughly 61,791 miles.
  • 19,399,608 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1973?

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