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August 31, 1978

August 31, 1978, was a Thursday. It was 46 years, 2 months, and 5 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Virgo.

Song charts

Popular songs

On August 31, 1978, the following songs were at the top of the music charts in the USA and the UK:

  • United States: "Grease" by Frankie Valli
  • United Kingdom: "Three Times A Lady" by Commodores

The music charts on August 31, 1978

The following songs were dominating the Billboard Hot 100 chart:

  • Grease - Frankie Valli
  • Three Times A Lady - Commodores
  • Miss You - The Rolling Stones
  • Boogie Oogie Oogie - A Taste Of Honey
  • Hot Blooded - Foreigner
Play the top singles 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.
Animal House

Top movie

The top movie on this day was "Animal House".

Facts

This date occurred 16,868 days ago. Approximately 562 months have passed. It was the 243rd day of 1978, in week 35. The decade was the seventies. People who were born on August 31, 1978, are now 46 years old and belong to the Generation X generation. 187 seasons of weather have come and gone since then.

Take me back to August 31, 1978

Let's go back to the seventies.

The date is August 31, 1978, and it's a Thursday. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Virgo. The summer of 1978 is coming to an end and fall is just around the corner.

Labor Day weekend is a few days away, which means that many Americans are planning barbecues and other social gatherings. In America, the song "Grease" by Frankie Valli is at the top of the singles charts, while "Three Times A Lady" by Commodores is the number-one song in the UK. Jimmy Carter is the President of the United States, and the movie Animal House is at the top of the box office.

James Callaghan is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. On television, people are watching popular shows such as "The Jeffersons", "Wonder Woman", "Charlie's Angels", and "The Love Boat". 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. People are playing video games such as "Pursuit", "Gun Fight", "Breakout", and "Space Invaders".

Children and teenagers are watching television shows such as "Captain Kangaroo", "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood", "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!", and "Fred Flintstone and Friends". Children are playing with toys such as Troll doll, Twister mat, Star Wars action figures, and Simon (memory game).

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on August 31, 1978, will have the star sign Virgo.
  • 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 1.
  • Native American Zodiac: August 31, 1978 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, 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 August 31, 1978.

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, 1978.

  • August 6, 1978: Pope Paul VI passes away.
  • August 7, 1978: US President Jimmy Carter announces a federal health emergency at Love Canal in Niagara Falls, New York, due to dangerous levels of toxic waste.
  • August 19, 1978: 420 people are killed when four men set the Cinema Rex on fire in Abadan, Iran.
  • August 26, 1978: Pope John Paul I succeeds Pope Paul VI.
  • This date: August 31, 1978
  • September 3, 1978: Rhodesian Bush War: 48 people are killed after Air Rhodesia Flight 825 is shot down by ZIPRA guerrillas near Karoi, Rhodesia.
  • September 5, 1978: Peace talks between Egypt and Israel begin at Camp David.
  • September 7, 1978:
    • The Who drummer Keith Moon dies of a drug overdose.
    • Bulgarian dissident writer Georgi Markov is assassinated on Waterloo Bridge in London.
  • September 8, 1978: Black Friday: Iranian soldiers kill 700 - 3000 protesters.
  • September 11, 1978: Janet Parker becomes the last person to die of smallpox.
  • September 16, 1978: 25,000 people are killed when an earthquake hits the Iranian city of Tabas.
  • September 17, 1978: The Camp David Accords are signed by Israel and Egypt.
  • September 18, 1978: The first episode of "WKRP in Cincinnati" is aired on television.
  • September 25, 1978: 144 people are killed when PSA Flight 182 collides with a small aircraft in San Diego, California.
  • September 28, 1978: Less than two months after being named as the new Pope, John Paul I passes away.

1970s fashion

Photographs of 1970s fashion and hairstyles.

1970s fashion

Television shows

Television shows in August 1978

In August 1978, TV audiences were watching the following series:

TV shows from August 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
Wonder Woman
Wonder 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

Cartoons and children's TV shows in August 1978

If you were a kid on August 31, 1978, then you were probably watching the following cartoons and TV shows:

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

Toys in 1978

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

Speak & Spell
Speak & Spell
Simon (memory game)
Simon (memory game)
Shogun Warriors
Shogun Warriors
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
Video games

Video games

Popular video games that people were playing in August 1978.

Space Invaders 1978
Space Invaders
Breakout 1976
Breakout
Gun Fight 1975
Gun Fight
Pursuit 1975
Pursuit

Were you born on August 31, 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 August 31, 1984, 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 29 on this day in 1978.

Chris Tucker

Chris Tucker

Actor
Born on August 31, 1971
He turned 7 on this day in 1978.

Jeff Hardy

Jeff Hardy

Wrestler
Born on August 31, 1977
He turned 1 on this day in 1978.

Chloe Ferry

Chloe Ferry

TV personality
Born on August 31, 1995
She was born exactly 17 years after this date.

USA

US President

Jimmy Carter was the President of the United States on August 31, 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 August 31, 1978 was most likely conceived around December 8, 1977.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on August 31, 1978 is close to May 24, 1979.

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Stats for August 31, 1978

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about August 31, 1978:

  • 16,868 days have passed since this date.
  • 2,409 weeks have passed.
  • 1,457,398,800 seconds have passed since August 31, 1978.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,700,298,600 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 752,017,780,800 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 242,899,800 times.
  • You have taken approximately 125,336,297 steps. That's roughly 55,705 miles.
  • 17,488,786 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1978?

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