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May 12, 1978

May 12, 1978, was a Friday. It was 46 years, 4 months, and 25 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Taurus.

On This Day

What happened on this day?

What happened on May 12, 1978?

  • John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John release the song "You're the One That I Want".
Song charts

Top songs

These songs were on top of the music charts in the United States and the United Kingdom on May 12, 1978:

  • United States: "If I Can't Have You" by Yvonne Elliman
  • United Kingdom: "Rivers Of Babylon" by Boney M (Top 75)

The Billboard Hot 100 on May 12, 1978

These were the top five songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart:

  • Night Fever - Bee Gees
  • If I Can't Have You - Yvonne Elliman
  • Can't Smile Without You - Barry Manilow
  • The Closer I Get To You - Roberta Flack With Donny Hathaway
  • With A Little Luck - Wings
Play the top songs from 1978
A Spotify playlist of songs from the year 1978. Take a trip back to the days of the Bee Gees, the Dire Straits, Eric Clapton and Frankie Valli.
F.I.S.T.

Top movie at the box office

The movie "F.I.S.T." was at the top of the box office on this day.

Facts

This date was 16,949 days ago. Approximately 565 months have passed. It was the 132nd day of 1978, in week 19. The decade was the seventies. People born on this day are currently 46 years old and belong to the Generation X generation. We have gone through approximately 188 seasons of weather since this date.

Take me back to May 12, 1978

Ready for a walk down memory lane?

It is Friday, May 12, 1978. Anyone born today will have the star sign Taurus. People have "that Friday feeling" and are excited for the weekend.

The summer of 1978 has finally arrived. The weather has warmed up, and the evenings are brighter than usual. The school year is nearly finished. In America, the song "If I Can't Have You" by Yvonne Elliman is at the top of the singles charts, while "Rivers Of Babylon" by Boney M (Top 75) is the number-one song in the UK. Jimmy Carter is the President of the United States, and the movie F.I.S.T. is at the top of the box office.

James Callaghan is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. In fashion, clothes have become baggier and pants have become less flared. Sports clothing and the "disco look" are both popular at the moment. Women are wearing sundresses, strapless tops with t-shirts, shoulder pads, cardigans, knee-length skirts and daisy dukes. Meanwhile, men are wearing tracksuits, flare jeans, low-top sneakers and untucked collared shirts. Because it's 1978, the music charts are being dominated by the likes of the Bee Gees, John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John, the Village People, Boney M and Andy Gibb.

If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as Keith Moon, Sid Vicious, and John Wayne would all still be alive. On TV, people are watching popular shows such as "All in the Family", "Little House on the Prairie", "The Rockford Files", and "The Jeffersons". Meanwhile, gamers are playing titles such as "Pursuit", "Gun Fight", and "Breakout".

Kids and teenagers are watching TV shows such as "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood", "Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids", "Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels", and "Fred Flintstone and Friends". Popular toys at the moment include Risk board game, Connect Four, Dungeons & Dragons, and Lego Technic.

News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on May 12, 1978.

  • Iranian Revolution.

    Iranian Revolution

    Between January 1978 and February 1979, a revolutionary movement formed in Iran. This eventually led to the overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of an Islamic Republic led by Ayatollah Khomeini.
  • 1978 in music.

    1978 in music

    Popular music artists in 1978 included Andy Gibb, The Bee Gees, Debby Boone, Exile, Player, A Taste of Honey, Commodores, Frankie Valli, Kate Bush, John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John, Eric Clapton, Paul Davis and Samantha Sang.
  • Who were the best NBA players in 1978?

    Who were the best NBA players in 1978?

    The best NBA players in 1978 were Bill Walton, Truck Robinson, Julius Erving, George Gervin and David Thompson.
  • 1978 in movies.

    1978 in movies

    Movies released in 1978 included Grease, Superman, Animal House, Every Which Way but Loose, Heaven Can Wait, Hooper, Jaws 2, Revenge of the Pink Panther, The Deer Hunter, Halloween, Invasion of the Body Snatchers and Dawn of the Dead.
  • Best soccer players.

    Best soccer players

    In 1978, the best soccer players were Kevin Keegan, Hans Krankl, Rob Rensenbrink, Roberto Bettega, Paolo Rossi, Ronnie Hellström, Ruud Krol, Kenny Dalglish, Allan Simonsen and Peter Shilton.
  • The Deer Hunter.

    The Deer Hunter

    "The Deer Hunter" won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1978.
  • Time Person of the Year: 1978.

    Time Person of the Year: 1978

    China's Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping was named the Time Person of the Year in 1978 after he overthrew Hua Guofeng and became the Supreme Leader of China.
  • Billy Joel - "Just the Way You Are"

    Billy Joel - "Just the Way You Are"

    "Just the Way You Are" by Billy Joel won a Grammy for 1978's Song of the Year.
  • Roller skates.

    Roller skates

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

Personality traits

Check out our personality summary for people who were born on May 12, 1978.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

View Personality Summary

Events

What happened around this time?

Notable events that happened close to May 12, 1978.

  • April 20, 1978: Korean Air Lines Flight 902 is forced to make an emergency landing on a frozen lake after it is shot down by a Soviet air defense plane.
  • May 3, 1978: The first ever spam email is sent to multiple ARPANET addresses.
  • May 6, 1978: A goal from Roger Osborne helps Ipswich Town win the FA Cup Final with a 1-0 victory over Arsenal.
  • May 8, 1978: Serial killer David Berkowitz (Son of Sam) pleads guilty to six murders.
  • May 9, 1978: The Red Brigades execute former Italian prime minister Aldo Moro two months after they kidnapped him.
  • May 10, 1978: Football: Liverpool win the European Cup after defeating Club Brugge 1-0.
  • This date: May 12, 1978
  • May 15, 1978: Former Australian Prime Minister Robert Menzies passes away at the age of 83.
  • May 17, 1978: Charlie Chaplin's coffin is recovered more than two months after it was stolen in Cosier-sur-Vevey, Switzerland.
  • May 25, 1978: The Unabomber's first bomb explodes in the parking lot of the University of Illinois in Chicago.
  • May 26, 1978: The first legal casino opens in Atlantic City.
  • June 1, 1978: The 1978 FIFA World Cup starts in Argentina.
  • June 7, 1978: The Washington Bullets win the 1978 NBA Finals after they defeat the Seattle SuperSonics 4-3.
  • June 9, 1978: NBA draft: Larry Bird is selected by the Boston Celtics with the sixth overall pick.
Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on May 12, 1978, will have the star sign Taurus.
  • Zodiac Element: Earth.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1978 was the year of the Horse (Yang Metal).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 6.
  • Native American Zodiac: May 12, 1978 falls under the Beaver.
  • Birthstone: A person during the month of May will have the birthstone Emerald.
  • Birth flower (May): The Lily of the Valley and the Hawthorn.

1970s fashion

Photographs of 1970s fashion and hairstyles.

1970s fashion

Television shows

TV series on May 12, 1978

TV audiences were watching the following shows on May 12, 1978:

TV shows from May 1978.

Dallas
Dallas
The Incredible Hulk
The Incredible Hulk
The Love Boat
The Love Boat
Chips
Chips
Soap
Soap
Eight Is Enough
Eight Is Enough
Three's Company
Three's Company
Quincy, M.E.
Quincy, M.E.
Charlie's Angels
Charlie's Angels
What's Happening!!
What's Happening!!
Laverne & Shirley
Laverne & Shirley
The Bionic Woman
The Bionic Woman

Cars in 1978

1978 saw the introduction of cars such as the Chrysler Horizon, the Saab 900, the Mitsubishi Mirage, the Ford Fairmont, the Toyota Supra, and the AMC Concord.

Cars in 1978.

Children TV shows

Kids TV shows on May 12, 1978

Cartoons and TV shows that children and teenagers were watching on this day in 1978:

Fred Flintstone and Friends
Fred Flintstone and Friends
Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels
Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels
The All-New Super Friends Hour
The All-New Super Friends Hour

The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show
Bagpuss
Bagpuss
Happy Days
Happy Days
Schoolhouse Rock!
Schoolhouse Rock!
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids
All in the Family
All in the Family
Sesame Street
Sesame Street
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!
Toys

Popular toys and games in 1978

Toys and games that were popular in 1978:

Hungry Hungry Hippos
Hungry Hungry Hippos
Water Ring Toss
Water Ring Toss
The Atari 2600
The Atari 2600
Star Wars action figures
Star Wars action figures
Mattel Electronic Football (handheld game)
Mattel Electronic Football (handheld game)
Lego Technic
Lego Technic
Stretch Armstrong
Stretch Armstrong
Micronauts
Micronauts
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Connect Four
Connect Four
Magna Doodle
Magna Doodle
Risk board game
Risk board game
Video games

Video games

Popular video games that people were playing in May 1978.

Breakout 1976
Breakout
Gun Fight 1975
Gun Fight
Pursuit 1975
Pursuit

Were you born on May 12, 1978?

If you were born on this date, then it is unlikely that you will remember anything from the year 1978.

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 May 12, 1984, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on May 12.

Florence Nightingale

Florence Nightingale

Historical figure Deceased
Born on May 12, 1820
She was not alive on this date.

George Carlin

George Carlin

Stand-up comedian Deceased
Born on May 12, 1937
He turned 41 on this day in 1978.

Tony Hawk

Tony Hawk

Skateboarder
Born on May 12, 1968
He turned 10 on this day in 1978.

Jonah Lomu

Jonah Lomu

Rugby player Deceased
Born on May 12, 1975
He turned 3 on this day in 1978.

Rishi Sunak

Rishi Sunak

UK Prime Minister
Born on May 12, 1980
He was born exactly 2 years after this date.

Rami Malek

Rami Malek

Actor
Born on May 12, 1981
He was born exactly 3 years after this date.

Marcelo

Marcelo

Brazilian soccer player
Born on May 12, 1988
He was born exactly 10 years after this date.

Etika

Etika

American YouTuber Deceased
Born on May 12, 1990
He was born exactly 12 years after this date.

Sawyer Sweeten

Sawyer Sweeten

Child actor Deceased
Born on May 12, 1995
He was born exactly 17 years after this date.

USA

US President

Jimmy Carter was the President of the United States on May 12, 1978.

UK

UK Prime Minister

James Callaghan 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 May 12, 1978 was most likely conceived around August 19, 1977.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on May 12, 1978 is close to February 2, 1979.

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Stats for May 12, 1978

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about May 12, 1978:

  • 16,949 days have passed since this date.
  • 2,421 weeks have passed.
  • 1,464,393,600 seconds have passed since May 12, 1978.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,708,459,200 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 755,627,097,600 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 244,065,600 times.
  • You have taken approximately 125,937,850 steps. That's roughly 55,972 miles.
  • 17,572,723 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1978?

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