BestOfDate

January 31, 1978

January 31, 1978, was a Tuesday. It was 46 years, 9 months, and 22 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Aquarius.

Song charts

Popular songs

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

  • United States: "Stayin' Alive" by The Bee Gees
  • United Kingdom: "Uptown Top Ranking" by Althea & Donna

The music charts on January 31, 1978

The following songs were dominating the Billboard Hot 100 chart:

  • Baby Come Back - Player
  • Short People - Randy Newman
  • Stayin' Alive - Bee Gees
  • You're In My Heart (The Final Acclaim) - Rod Stewart
  • Slip Slidin' Away - Paul Simon
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.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Top movie

The top movie on this day was "Close Encounters of the Third Kind".

Facts

This date occurred 17,097 days ago. Approximately 570 months have passed. It was the 31st day of 1978, in week 05. The decade was the seventies. People who were born on January 31, 1978, are now 46 years old and belong to the Generation X generation. 190 seasons of weather have come and gone since then.

Take me back to January 31, 1978

Let's go back to the seventies.

The date is January 31, 1978, and it's a Tuesday. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Aquarius. In America, the song "Stayin' Alive" by The Bee Gees is at the top of the singles charts, while "Uptown Top Ranking" by Althea & Donna is the number-one song in the UK.

Jimmy Carter is the President of the United States, and the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind 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 Bob Newhart Show", "Barnaby Jones", "Wonder Woman", and "Soap".

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", and "Breakout". Children and teenagers are watching television shows such as "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood", "All in the Family", "The All-New Super Friends Hour", and "Fred Flintstone and Friends". Children are playing with toys such as Magna Doodle, Dungeons & Dragons, Stretch Armstrong, and Hungry Hungry Hippos.

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on January 31, 1978, will have the star sign Aquarius.
  • Zodiac Element: Air.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1978 was the year of the Horse (Yang Metal).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 3.
  • Native American Zodiac: January 31, 1978 falls under the Otter.
  • Birthstone: A person during the month of January will have the birthstone Garnet.
  • Birth flower (January): The Carnation and the Snowdrop.
News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on January 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 January 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 January 31, 1978.

  • January 1, 1978: 213 people are killed when Air India Flight 855 crashes.
  • January 14, 1978: English punk rock band the Sex Pistols hold their last ever concert at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco.
  • January 15, 1978:
    • Super Bowl XII: The Dallas Cowboys defeat the Denver Broncos 27-10 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans.
    • American serial killer Ted Bundy murders two women at the Chi Omega sorority in Tallahassee, Florida.
  • January 18, 1978: William H. Webster becomes the new Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
  • January 20, 1978: Kate Bush releases her debut single "Wuthering Heights".
  • January 28, 1978: Serial killer Richard Chase is arrested in Sacramento, California.
  • This date: January 31, 1978
  • February 1, 1978: Film director Roman Polanski skips bail and flees to France after pleading guilty to having a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old girl.
  • February 5, 1978: The Northeastern United States blizzard of 1978 kills 100 people.
  • February 9, 1978: Serial killer Ted Bundy abducts and murders 12-year-old Kimberly Dianne Leach in Lake City, Florida.
  • February 15, 1978: Serial killer Ted Bundy is captured in Pensacola, Florida.
  • February 24, 1978: The "Yuba County Five" go missing in Chico, California.
  • March 1, 1978: Charlie Chaplin's coffin is stolen from Cosier-sur-Vevey, Switzerland.

1970s fashion

Photographs of 1970s fashion and hairstyles.

1970s fashion

Television shows

Television shows in January 1978

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

TV shows from January 1978.

The Love Boat
The Love Boat
Logan's Run
Logan's Run
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
Black Sheep Squadron
Black Sheep Squadron
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

Cartoons and children's TV shows in January 1978

If you were a kid on January 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:

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 January 1978.

Breakout 1976
Breakout
Gun Fight 1975
Gun Fight
Pursuit 1975
Pursuit

Were you born on January 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 January 31, 1984, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

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

Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson

Baseball player Deceased
Born on January 31, 1919
He was not alive on this date.

Giant Gonzalez

Giant Gonzalez

Wrestler Deceased
Born on January 31, 1966
He turned 12 on this day in 1978.

Justin Timberlake

Justin Timberlake

Singer
Born on January 31, 1981
He was born exactly 3 years after this date.

Gemma Collins

Gemma Collins

English media personality
Born on January 31, 1981
She was born exactly 3 years after this date.

Josh Richards

Josh Richards

TikTok user
Born on January 31, 2002
He was born exactly 24 years after this date.

USA

US President

Jimmy Carter was the President of the United States on January 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 January 31, 1978 was most likely conceived around May 10, 1977.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on January 31, 1978 is close to October 24, 1978.

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Stats for January 31, 1978

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about January 31, 1978:

  • 17,097 days have passed since this date.
  • 2,442 weeks have passed.
  • 1,477,180,800 seconds have passed since January 31, 1978.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,723,377,600 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 762,225,292,800 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 246,196,800 times.
  • You have taken approximately 127,037,549 steps. That's roughly 56,461 miles.
  • 17,726,170 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1978?

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