BestOfDate

August 31, 1974 Labor Day weekend

August 31, 1974, was a Saturday. It was 50 years, 2 months, and 22 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Virgo.

Song charts

Popular songs

On August 31, 1974, the following songs were at the top of the music charts in the USA and the UK:

  • United States: "You're Having My Baby" by Paul Anka
  • United Kingdom: "Love Me For A Reason" by Osmonds

The music charts on August 31, 1974

The following songs were dominating the Billboard Hot 100 chart:

  • (You're) Having My Baby - Paul Anka with Odia Coates
  • I Shot The Sheriff - Eric Clapton
  • Tell Me Something Good - Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan
  • The Night Chicago Died - Paper Lace
  • Feel Like Makin' Love - Roberta Flack
Play the top singles 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.
Chinatown

Top movie

The top movie on this day was "Chinatown".

Facts

This date occurred 18,346 days ago. Approximately 612 months have passed. It was the 243rd day of 1974, in week 35. The decade was the seventies. People who were born on August 31, 1974, are now 50 years old and belong to the Generation X generation. 204 seasons of weather have come and gone since then.

Take me back to August 31, 1974

Let's go back to the seventies.

The date is August 31, 1974, and it's a Saturday. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Virgo. The work week is over and Saturday has finally come, so people are spending time with their kids, going to bars, attending dances, shopping, and watching sports.

The summer of 1974 is coming to an end and fall is just around the corner. In the United States, it is Labor Day weekend. People are attending barbecues and other gatherings. To many Americans, Labor Day represents the end of summer 1974. In America, the song "You're Having My Baby" by Paul Anka is at the top of the singles charts, while "Love Me For A Reason" by Osmonds is the number-one song in the UK.

Gerald Ford is the President of the United States, and the movie Chinatown is at the top of the box office. Harold Wilson is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. On television, people are watching popular shows such as "Maude", "The Bob Newhart Show", "Last of the Summer Wine", and "Happy Days".

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. If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as Oskar Schindler and Eamon de Valera would be still alive.

People are playing video games such as "Pong", "Space Race", and "Gotcha". Children and teenagers are watching television shows such as "Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines", "Star Trek: The Animated Series", "Bailey's Comets", and "Bagpuss". Children are playing with toys such as Crissy (doll), Uno (card game), Magnavox Odyssey, and Baby Alive (doll).

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on August 31, 1974, will have the star sign Virgo.
  • Zodiac Element: Earth.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1974 was the year of the Tiger (Yang Fire).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 6.
  • Native American Zodiac: August 31, 1974 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, 1974.

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 August 31, 1974.

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, 1974.

  • August 8, 1974: US President Richard Nixon announces live on television that he will resign.
  • August 9, 1974:
    • The Watergate scandal forces Richard Nixon to resign as President of the United States.
    • Vice President Gerald Ford becomes the 38th President of the United States.
  • August 14, 1974: Turkey invades Cyprus again.
  • This date: August 31, 1974
  • September 2, 1974: Serial killer Ted Bundy moves from Seattle, Washington, to Salt Lake City, Utah.
  • September 5, 1974: The British prison sitcom "Porridge" begins airing on TV.
  • September 6, 1974: Two grouse hunters stumble across the remains of two of Ted Bundy's victims at a remote site near Issaquah.
  • September 8, 1974: US President Gerald Ford pardons former President Richard Nixon.
  • September 11, 1974:
    • 71 people are killed when Eastern Air Lines Flight 212 crashes in Charlotte, North Carolina.
    • The Western TV series "Little House on the Prairie" is aired for the first time.
  • September 12, 1974:
    • Soccer: Leeds United sack manager Brian Clough.
    • The first episode of the private detective series "Harry O" is aired on ABC.
  • September 13, 1974: The first episode of the police drama "Police Woman" is aired on NBC.
  • September 29, 1974: Montana crime: Serial killer David Meirhofer commits suicide.

1970s fashion

Photographs of 1970s fashion and hairstyles.

1970s fashion

Television shows

Television shows in August 1974

In August 1974, TV audiences were watching the following series:

TV shows from August 1974.

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
The Bob Newhart Show
The Bob Newhart Show
The Waltons
The Waltons
Maude
Maude
The Rookies
The Rookies
Emergency!
Emergency!

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

Cartoons and children's TV shows in August 1974

If you were a kid on August 31, 1974, then you were probably watching the following cartoons and TV shows:

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
Speed Buggy
Speed Buggy
Star Trek: The Animated Series
Star Trek: The Animated Series
Schoolhouse Rock!
Schoolhouse Rock!
The Adventures of Black Beauty
The Adventures of Black Beauty
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids
Toys

Toys in 1974

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

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)
Weebles
Weebles
Video games

Video games

Popular video games that people were playing in August 1974.

Gotcha 1973
Gotcha
Space Race 1973
Space Race
Pong 1972
Pong

Were you born on August 31, 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 August 31, 1980, 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 25 on this day in 1974.

Chris Tucker

Chris Tucker

Actor
Born on August 31, 1971
He turned 3 on this day in 1974.

Jeff Hardy

Jeff Hardy

Wrestler
Born on August 31, 1977
He was born exactly 3 years after this date.

Chloe Ferry

Chloe Ferry

TV personality
Born on August 31, 1995
She was born exactly 21 years after this date.

USA

US President

Gerald Ford was the President of the United States on August 31, 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 August 31, 1974 was most likely conceived around December 8, 1973.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on August 31, 1974 is close to May 24, 1975.

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Stats for August 31, 1974

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about August 31, 1974:

  • 18,346 days have passed since this date.
  • 2,620 weeks have passed.
  • 1,585,098,000 seconds have passed since August 31, 1974.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,849,281,000 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 817,910,568,000 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 264,183,000 times.
  • You have taken approximately 136,318,428 steps. That's roughly 60,586 miles.
  • 19,021,176 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1974?

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