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October 17, 1978

October 17, 1978, was a Tuesday. It was 45 years, 6 months, and 3 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Libra.

On This Day

What happened on this date?

Notable events that occurred on October 17, 1978:

  • The song "Y.M.C.A." is released by the Village People.
Song charts

Top songs

These songs were on top of the music charts in the United States and the United Kingdom on October 17, 1978:

  • United States: "Kiss You All Over" by Exile
  • United Kingdom: "Summer Nights" by John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John

The Billboard Hot 100 on October 17, 1978

These songs were dominating the music charts:

  • Kiss You All Over - Exile
  • Hot Child In The City - Nick Gilder
  • Boogie Oogie Oogie - A Taste Of Honey
  • Don't Look Back - Boston
  • Reminiscing - Little River Band
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 movie "Animal House" was at the top of the box office on this day.

Facts

This date occurred 16,622 days ago. Approximately 554 months have passed. It was the 290th day of 1978, in week 42. The decade was the seventies. People who were born on October 17, 1978, are now 45 years old and belong to the Generation X generation. We have gone through approximately 185 seasons of weather since this date.

Take me back to October 17, 1978

Let's take a walk down memory lane.

The date is October 17, 1978, and it's a Tuesday. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Libra. The summer is long gone. Temperatures have become much cooler, and the evenings are beginning to get darker.

There is a fresh, earthy scent in the air, and fallen leaves have carpeted driveways, lawns, pathways, and sidewalks. In America, the song "Kiss You All Over" by Exile is at the top of the singles charts, while "Summer Nights" by John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John 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 "All in the Family", "Soul Train", "Starsky & Hutch", and "Laverne & Shirley". 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 Sid Vicious and John Wayne would be still alive. People are playing video games such as "Pursuit", "Gun Fight", "Breakout", and "Space Invaders".

Children and teenagers are watching television shows such as "The Pink Panther Show", "Sesame Street", "Happy Days", and "Bagpuss". Children are playing with toys such as Troll doll, the Easy-Bake Oven, Dungeons & Dragons, and Micronauts.

News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on October 17, 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 October 17, 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 October 17, 1978.

  • 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.
  • October 12, 1978: Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious is arrested on suspicion of murdering his girlfriend Nancy Spungen.
  • October 16, 1978: Pope John Paul II succeeds Pope John Paul I.
  • This date: October 17, 1978
  • November 3, 1978: The first episode of "Diff'rent Strokes" is aired.
  • November 15, 1978: Kenny Rogers releases the song "The Gambler".
Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on October 17, 1978, will have the star sign Libra.
  • 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 7.
  • Native American Zodiac: October 17, 1978 falls under the Raven.
  • Birthstone: A person during the month of October will have the birthstones Tourmaline and Opal.
  • Birth flower (October): The Marigold and the Cosmos.

1970s fashion

Photographs of 1970s fashion and hairstyles.

1970s fashion

Television shows

TV series on October 17, 1978

People in October 1978 were watching the following TV series:

TV shows from October 1978.

WKRP in Cincinnati
WKRP in Cincinnati
Taxi
Taxi
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!!

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 October 1978

Children and teenagers were watching the following cartoons and TV series:

Mork & Mindy
Mork & Mindy
Battle of the Planets
Battle of the Planets
The All New Popeye Hour
The All New Popeye Hour

Godzilla
Godzilla
The New Fantastic Four
The New Fantastic Four
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
Toys

Toys in 1978

Children were playing with the following toys and games:

Cabbage Patch Kids
Cabbage Patch Kids
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
Video games

Video games

Popular video games that people were playing in October 1978.

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

Were you born on October 17, 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 October 17, 1984, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on October 17.

Evel Knievel

Evel Knievel

Stunt performer Deceased
Born on October 17, 1938
He turned 40 on this day in 1978.

Norm Macdonald

Norm Macdonald

Comedian Deceased
Born on October 17, 1959
He turned 19 on this day in 1978.

Ziggy Marley

Ziggy Marley

Musician
Born on October 17, 1968
He turned 10 on this day in 1978.

Wyclef Jean

Wyclef Jean

Singer
Born on October 17, 1969
He turned 9 on this day in 1978.

Nancy Sullivan

Nancy Sullivan

Actress
Born on October 17, 1969
She turned 9 on this day in 1978.

Chris Kirkpatrick

Chris Kirkpatrick

NSYNC
Born on October 17, 1971
He turned 7 on this day in 1978.

Eminem

Eminem

Rap singer
Born on October 17, 1972
He turned 6 on this day in 1978.

Simon Harris

Simon Harris

Irish politician
Born on October 17, 1986
He was born exactly 8 years after this date.

Charles Oliveira

Charles Oliveira

Brazilian MMA fighter
Born on October 17, 1989
He was born exactly 11 years after this date.

USA

US President

Jimmy Carter was the President of the United States on October 17, 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 October 17, 1978 was most likely conceived around January 24, 1978.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on October 17, 1978 is close to July 10, 1979.

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Stats for October 17, 1978

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about October 17, 1978:

  • 16,622 days have passed since this date.
  • 2,374 weeks have passed.
  • 1,436,140,800 seconds have passed since October 17, 1978.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,675,497,600 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 741,048,652,800 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 239,356,800 times.
  • You have taken approximately 123,508,109 steps. That's roughly 54,892 miles.
  • 17,233,690 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1978?

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