BestOfDate

December 16, 1974

December 16, 1974, was a Monday. It was 49 years, 11 months, and 5 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Sagittarius.

Song charts

Top songs

These songs were on top of the music charts in the United States and the United Kingdom on December 16, 1974:

  • United States: "Cat's In The Cradle" by Harry Chapin
  • United Kingdom: "Lonely This Christmas" by Mud

The Billboard Hot 100 on December 16, 1974

These songs were dominating the music charts:

  • Kung Fu Fighting - Carl Douglas
  • When Will I See You Again - The Three Degrees
  • I Can Help - Billy Swan
  • Cat's In The Cradle - Harry Chapin
  • Angie Baby - Helen Reddy
Play the top songs from 1974
A Spotify playlist of songs from the year 1974. Take a trip back to the days of Dolly Parton, Barry White, ABBA, Eric Clapton and Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Death Wish

Top movie

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

Facts

This date was 18,238 days ago. Approximately 608 months have passed. It was the 350th day of 1974, in week 51. The decade was the seventies. The end of 1974 was just 15 days away. People born on this day are currently 49 years old and belong to the Generation X generation. We have gone through approximately 203 seasons of weather since this date.

Take me back to December 16, 1974

Let's take a walk down memory lane.

It is Monday, December 16, 1974. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Sagittarius. The weekend has just passed, so some people are feeling a bit down. Others are tired after partying too much.

The Christmas season of 1974 is in full swing. People are putting up their decorations and festive songs are playing on the radio. In America, the song "Cat's In The Cradle" by Harry Chapin is at the top of the singles charts, while "Lonely This Christmas" by Mud is the number-one song in the UK. Gerald Ford is the President of the United States, and the movie Death Wish is at the top of the box office.

Harold Wilson is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Because it's 1974, the music charts are being dominated by the likes of Carl Douglas, ABBA, Mud, the Steve Miller Band, George McCrae and Terry Jacks. In fashion, the hippie look from the 1960s and early 1970s has disappeared. The disco look is beginning to take off. Women are wearing t-shirts, khaki pants, mood rings, kimonos and flare jumpsuits. Meanwhile, men are wearing velvet sports coats, slogan t-shirts, flannel, frilly shirts, jeans and khaki chinos.

"The Towering Inferno" is currently being played in movie theaters. If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as Eamon de Valera would be still alive. On TV, people are watching popular shows such as "Hee Haw", "McCloud", "Barnaby Jones", and "Police Woman".

Meanwhile, gamers are playing titles such as "Pong", "Space Race", "Gotcha", and "Tank". Children and teenagers are watching television shows such as "Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines", "The Adventures of Black Beauty", "Happy Days", and "Bagpuss". Popular toys at the moment include Lite-Brite, Clackers, Big Jim (action figure), and Connect Four.

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on December 16, 1974, will have the star sign Sagittarius.
  • Zodiac Element: Fire.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1974 was the year of the Tiger (Yang Fire).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 4.
  • Native American Zodiac: December 16, 1974 falls under the Owl.
  • Birthstone: A person during the month of December will have the birthstones Tanzanite, Zircon and Turquoise.
  • Birth flower (December): The Narcissus and the Holly.
News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on December 16, 1974.

  • Christmas 1974.

    Christmas 1974

    The Christmas period of 1974 was in full swing by this stage. The decorations were up, festive music was playing on the radio, people were feeling stressed, retail stores were filled with shoppers, and everyone was making plans for the big day.
  • Who were the best NBA players in 1974?

    Who were the best NBA players in 1974?

    The best NBA players in 1974 were Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, John Havlicek, Rick Barry, Walt Frazier and Gail Goodrich.
  • 1974 in movies.

    1974 in movies

    Movies released in 1974 included Blazing Saddles, The Towering Inferno, The Trial of Billy Jack, Young Frankenstein, Earthquake, The Godfather Part II, Airport 1975, The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams, The Longest Yard, Foxy Brown, Murder on the Orient Express and Benji.
  • Best soccer players.

    Best soccer players

    In 1974, the best soccer players were Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer, Kazimierz Deyna, Paul Breitner, Johan Neeskens, Grzegorz Lato, Gerd Müller, Robert Gadocha, Billy Bremner and Ralf Edström.
  • Roller skates.

    Roller skates

    The popularity of roller skates exploded during the second half of the 1970s.
  • The Godfather Part II.

    The Godfather Part II

    "The Godfather Part II" won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1974.
  • Disco music.

    Disco music

    Disco music became mainstream during the latter half of the 1970s. Nightclub-goers often wore extravagant outfits. Furthermore, dances such as the "Hustle", the "Bump" and the "Penguin" also became popular.
  • King Faisal.

    King Faisal

    The King of Saudi Arabia, King Faisal, was named Time Person of the Year in 1974 due to his role in the 1973–74 oil crisis.
  • Barbra Streisand - "The Way We Were"

    Barbra Streisand - "The Way We Were"

    "The Way We Were" by Barbra Streisand won a Grammy for 1974's Song of the Year.
  • The Vietnam War is in its final stages.

    The Vietnam War is in its final stages

    The war in Vietnam was still ongoing. However, the US military had withdrawn. Meanwhile, North Vietnamese forces continued to win battles and make inroads into the south.
  • 1974 in music.

    1974 in music

    The Billboard Charts in 1974 were dominated by Barbra Streisand, Elton John, The Jackson 5, The Steve Miller Band, Terry Jacks, Ray Stevens, The Stylistics, Dionne Warwick and The Spinners.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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).
  • 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.

Personality traits

Check out our personality summary for people who were born on December 16, 1974.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

View Personality Summary

Events

What happened around this time?

Notable events that happened close to December 16, 1974.

  • November 16, 1974: A radio message containing information about humanity and our planet is sent into space.
  • November 20, 1974: UK politics: Labour MP John Stonehouse attempts to fake his own death in Miami, Florida.
  • November 21, 1974: 21 people are killed when two pubs in Birmingham are bombed by the Provisional IRA.
  • November 23, 1974: Massacre of the Sixty: 60 former government officials are executed by the new provisional government in Ethiopia.
  • December 1, 1974: 92 people are killed when TWA Flight 514 crashes near Dulles International Airport in Virginia.
  • December 4, 1974: Laurie Lynn Partridge (17) goes missing in Spokane, Washington.
  • December 7, 1974: The first ever episode of "The Late Late Toy Show" is aired in Ireland.
  • December 12, 1974: Democrat Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter announces that he will be running for the 1976 United States presidential election.
  • December 13, 1974: North Vietnam forces launch the Spring Offensive.
  • This date: December 16, 1974
  • December 19, 1974: Nelson Rockefeller is sworn in as the new Vice President of the United States.
  • December 20, 1974: The Godfather Part II is released.
  • December 23, 1974: Mary Rachel Trlica (17), Lisa Renee Wilson (14), and Julie Ann Moseley (9) go missing while Christmas shopping at the Seminary South Shopping Center in Fort Worth, Texas.
  • December 24, 1974: Cyclone Tracy hits Darwin, Australia.
  • December 27, 1974: 21-year-old Joanne Elaine Coughlin goes missing from Youngstown, Ohio.
  • January 1, 1975: John N. Mitchell, H. R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman are found guilty of the Watergate cover-up.
  • January 6, 1975:
    • Soccer: Brian Clough becomes the new manager of Nottingham Forest.
    • The first episode of Wheel of Fortune is aired.
  • January 12, 1975:
    • Super Bowl IX: The Pittsburgh Steelers defeat the Minnesota Vikings at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans.
    • Ted Bundy abducts Caryn Eileen Campbell from a hotel in Snowmass, Colorado.
  • January 14, 1975: 17-year-old Lesley Whittle is kidnapped in Shropshire, England.

1970s fashion

Photographs of 1970s fashion and hairstyles.

1970s fashion

Television shows

TV series on December 16, 1974

TV audiences were watching the following shows on December 16, 1974:

TV shows from December 1974.

Police Woman
Police Woman
The Rockford Files
The Rockford Files
Kolchak: The Night Stalker
Kolchak: The Night Stalker
Harry O
Harry O
Little House on the Prairie
Little House on the Prairie
Good Times
Good Times
Happy Days
Happy Days
Kojak
Kojak
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

Cars in 1974

1974 saw the introduction of cars such as the Volkswagen Golf, the Dodge Ramcharger, the Audi 50, the Volvo 200 Series, the Renault 7, and the Ford Elite.

Cars in 1974.

Children TV shows

Kids TV shows on December 16, 1974

Cartoons and TV shows that children and teenagers were watching on this day in 1974:

Land of the Lost
Land of the Lost
Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch
Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch
Valley of the Dinosaurs
Valley of the Dinosaurs

Hong Kong Phooey
Hong Kong Phooey
The New Adventures of Gilligan
The New Adventures of Gilligan
Bagpuss
Bagpuss
Happy Days
Happy Days
The Addams Family
The Addams Family
Super Friends
Super Friends
Bailey's Comets
Bailey's Comets
Inch High, Private Eye
Inch High, Private Eye
Toys

Popular toys and games in 1974

Toys and games that were popular in 1974:

Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Connect Four
Connect Four
Magna Doodle
Magna Doodle
Risk board game
Risk board game
Shrinky Dinks
Shrinky Dinks
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)
Video games

Video games

Popular video games that people were playing in December 1974.

Tank 1974
Tank
Gotcha 1973
Gotcha
Space Race 1973
Space Race
Pong 1972
Pong

Were you born on December 16, 1974?

If you were born on this date, then it is unlikely that you will remember anything from the year 1974.

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 December 16, 1980, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on December 16.

Xander Berkeley

Xander Berkeley

Actor
Born on December 16, 1955
He turned 19 on this day in 1974.

Bill Hicks

Bill Hicks

Stand-up comedian Deceased
Born on December 16, 1961
He turned 13 on this day in 1974.

Michael McCary

Michael McCary

Boyz II Men
Born on December 16, 1971
He turned 3 on this day in 1974.

Brodie Lee

Brodie Lee

Wrestler Deceased
Born on December 16, 1979
He was born exactly 5 years after this date.

Mats Hummels

Mats Hummels

German soccer player
Born on December 16, 1988
He was born exactly 14 years after this date.

Kai Cenat

Kai Cenat

Streamer
Born on December 16, 2001
He was born exactly 27 years after this date.

USA

US President

Gerald Ford was the President of the United States on December 16, 1974.

UK

UK Prime Minister

Harold Wilson 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 December 16, 1974 was most likely conceived around March 25, 1974.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on December 16, 1974 is close to September 8, 1975.

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Stats for December 16, 1974

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about December 16, 1974:

  • 18,238 days have passed since this date.
  • 2,605 weeks have passed.
  • 1,575,763,200 seconds have passed since December 16, 1974.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,838,390,400 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 813,093,811,200 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 262,627,200 times.
  • You have taken approximately 135,515,635 steps. That's roughly 60,229 miles.
  • 18,909,158 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1974?

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