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January 1st, 1979

January 1st, 1979, was a Monday. It was Day 1 of 1979. The decade was the Seventies.

44 years, 4 months, and 26 days have passed since January 1st, 1979.

The zodiac star sign for this date is Capricorn.

On This Day

On this day.

What happened on January 1st, 1979?

  • Soccer: Gary Lineker makes his senior debut.
Song charts

Music charts.

Songs that were on top of the music singles charts in the USA and the United Kingdom on January 1st, 1979.

  • United States: Too Much Heaven - The Bee Gees
  • United Kingdom: YMCA - Village People

The Billboard Hot 100 on January 1st, 1979.

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

  • Le Freak - Chic
  • Too Much Heaven - Bee Gees
  • You Don't Bring Me Flowers - Barbra Streisand & Neil Diamond
  • My Life - Billy Joel
  • I Love The Nightlife (Disco 'round) - Alicia Bridges
Play the top singles from the year 1979.
A Spotify playlist of songs from the year 1979. Take a trip back to the days of Donna Summer, ABBA, Bob Seger and the Bee Gees.
Superman

Top movie at the box office.

The movie "Superman" was at the top of the box office on January 1st, 1979.

Take me back to January 1st, 1979!

Let's take a stroll down memory lane!

The date is January 1st, 1979, and it's a Monday. Anyone born today will have the star sign Capricorn. The weekend has just passed, so some people are feeling a bit down. Others are tired after partying too much.

It's New Years Day, the official start of the year 1979. A lot of people are relaxing at home. Others are nursing hangovers from the night before. In America, the song Too Much Heaven by The Bee Gees is at the top of the singles charts. Over in the UK, YMCA by Village People is the number-one hit song.

Jimmy Carter is the President of the United States, and the movie Superman 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 "M*A*S*H", "Welcome Back, Kotter", "The Incredible Hulk", and "WKRP in Cincinnati".

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 1979, the music charts are being dominated by the likes of Blondie, Gloria Gaynor, M, Donna Summer, Patrick Hernandez, The Knack and Rod Stewart. If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as Sid Vicious, John Wayne, Alfred Hitchcock, and Ian Curtis would all still be alive.

People are playing video games such as "Pursuit", "Gun Fight", "Breakout", and "Space Invaders". Kids and teenagers are watching TV shows such as "The Muppet Show", "The All-New Super Friends Hour", "Godzilla", and "The All New Popeye Hour". Children are playing with toys such as Etch A Sketch, Lite-Brite, Star Wars action figures, and Hungry Hungry Hippos.

News

News topics, nostalgic fads, and pop culture events.

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on January 1st, 1979.

  • 1979 in music.

    1979 in music.

    Popular music artists in 1979 included The Knack, Donna Summer, Chic, Rod Stewart, Peaches & Herb, Gloria Gaynor, Village People, Anita Ward, Robert John and The Bee Gees.

  • Who were the best NBA players in 1979?

    Who were the best NBA players in 1979?

    The best NBA players in 1979 were Moses Malone, Marques Johnson, Elvin Hayes, George Gervin and Paul Westphal.

  • 1979 in movies.

    1979 in movies.

    Movies released in 1979 included Kramer vs. Kramer, The Amityville Horror, Rocky II, Apocalypse Now, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Alien, 10, The Jerk, Moonraker, The Muppet Movie, Monty Python's Life of Brian and The Warriors.

  • Best soccer players.

    Best soccer players.

    In 1979, the best soccer players were Kevin Keegan, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Ruud Krol, Manfred Kaltz, Michel Platini, Paolo Rossi, Trevor Francis, Liam Brady, Zbigniew Boniek, Zdenek Nehoda, Kenny Dalglish and Allan Simonsen.

  • The Walkman.

    The Walkman.

    In the late 1970s and 1980s, portable cassette players such as the "Sony Walkman" were becoming more common.

  • Kramer vs. Kramer.

    Kramer vs. Kramer.

    "Kramer vs. Kramer" won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1979.

  • Ruhollah Khomeini.

    Ruhollah Khomeini.

    The leader of the Iranian Revolution, Ruhollah Khomeini, was named Time Person of the Year in 1979.

  • The Doobie Brothers - "What a Fool Believes"

    The Doobie Brothers - "What a Fool Believes"

    "What a Fool Believes" by The Doobie Brothers won a Grammy for 1979's Song of the Year.

  • 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.

  • 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.

Information

Facts.

Basic facts and information about this date:

  • 44 years, 4 months, and 26 days have passed since January 1st, 1979.
  • Week Number: This date occurred during Week 1 of 1979.
  • Leap Year: 1979 was not a leap year.
  • Age: People born on January 1st, 1979, are now 44 years old.
  • Generation: People born in 1979 belong to the Generation X generation.
  • Unix Timestamp: The Unix Timestamp for this date is 283996800.

Personality traits.

Check out our personality summary for people who were born on January 1st, 1979.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

View Personality Summary

Events

Around this time.

News stories, pop culture trends, and other events that happened around January 1st, 1979.

  • December 11th, 1978: The Lufthansa heist at John F. Kennedy International Airport is carried out by associates of the Lucchese family.
  • December 16th, 1978: The City of Cleveland enters into a financial default on federal loans.
  • December 20th, 1978: Serial killer John Wayne Gacy confesses his crimes to police.
  • December 22nd, 1978: American serial killer John Wayne Gacey is arrested and admits to committing 25+ murders.
  • December 27th, 1978: The Constitution of Spain is approved in a referendum, officially ending 40 years of military dictatorship.
  • This date: January 1st, 1979
  • January 12th, 1979: Serial killer Kenneth Bianchi (Hillside Stranglers) is arrested in Washington.
  • January 16th, 1979: Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi flees Iran with his family.
  • January 21st, 1979: Super Bowl XIII: The Pittsburgh Steelers defeat the Dallas Cowboys by 35-31 at the Miami Orange Bowl.
  • January 29th, 1979: U.S. President Jimmy Carter commutes the prison sentence of Patty Hearst.
Zodiac info

Horoscope, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Zodiac and birthstone information.

NEW! Check out our personality summary image for this birth date.

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on January 1st, 1979, will have the star sign Capricorn.
  • Zodiac Element: Earth.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1979 was the year of the Goat (Yin Metal).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 1.
  • Native American Zodiac: January 1st, 1979 falls under the Goose.
  • Birthstone: A person during the month of January will have the birthstone Garnet.
  • Birth flower (January): The Carnation and the Snowdrop.

Photos of 1970s fashion.

Photographs of 1970s fashion and hairstyles.

Photos of 1970s fashion.

Television shows

TV shows in 1979.

Television shows that people were watching in January 1979.

TV shows from January, 1979.

WKRP in Cincinnati
WKRP in Cincinnati
Sitcom about staff members who work at a radio station in Cincinnati.

Taxi
Taxi
American sitcom starring Andy Kaufman and Danny DeVito.

Dallas
Dallas
Soap opera.

The Incredible Hulk
The Incredible Hulk
Starring Lou Ferrigno.

The Love Boat
The Love Boat
Television series that was set on a cruise ship. Starring Gavin MacLeod as Captain Merrill Stubing.

Chips
Chips
TV show about two California Highway Patrol motorcycle officers called Jon Baker and Frank "Ponch" Poncherello.

Soap
Soap
Comedy series / satire about soap operas. Starring Billy Crystal as Jodie Dallas.

Eight Is Enough
Eight Is Enough
Television series about the "Bradford brood" and their father.

Three's Company
Three's Company
Sitcom about two girls and their male room mate.

Quincy, M.E.
Quincy, M.E.
TV show about a Los Angeles County medical examiner called Dr. Quincy.

Charlie's Angels
Charlie's Angels
TV show about three female police academy-trained private detectives.

What's Happening!!
What's Happening!!
Comedy TV show about three young men called Raj, Dwayne and Rerun.

Laverne & Shirley
Laverne & Shirley
Series about two roommates called Laverne DeFazio and Shirley Feeney.

Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman
TV show about a superhero called Diana Prince.

Fawlty Towers
Fawlty Towers
British sitcom about a hotel owner called Basil Fawlty.

Welcome Back, Kotter
Welcome Back, Kotter
Gabe Kotter returns to his old school as a teacher, where he's put in charge of "the Sweathogs".

Starsky & Hutch
Starsky & Hutch
Detectives David Starsky and Kenneth 'Hutch' Hutchinson protect the streets of Bay City.

Barney Miller
Barney Miller
Sitcom about a police station in New York City. Starring Hal Linden as Captain Bernard "Barney" Miller.

The Jeffersons
The Jeffersons
TV show about an African- American couple that have moved into an upscale high-rise building.

The Rockford Files
The Rockford Files
TV show about a Private Detective that was previously jailed for a crime that he didn't commit.

Little House on the Prairie
Little House on the Prairie
TV show that was set in the 1870s.

Good Times
Good Times
American sitcom about a family living in a poor, black neighborhood in inner-city Chicago.

Happy Days
Happy Days
TV show that is set in the 1950s / 1960s in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Barnaby Jones
Barnaby Jones
Television series about a Private Detective and his widowed daughter-in-law.

Last of the Summer Wine
Last of the Summer Wine
British sitcom about three senior citizens in the Yorkshire Dales.

M*A*S*H
M*A*S*H
TV series about an American military medical unit during the Korean War.

The Waltons
The Waltons
TV series about a family living in rural Virginia during the Great Depression.

Cars in 1979.

1979 saw the introduction of cars such as the Chevrolet Citation, the Volkswagen Jetta, the Honda Civic (second generation), the Datsun Bluebird (910), the Vauxhall Astra and the Dodge St. Regis.

Cars in 1979.

Children TV shows

Kids' TV shows on January 1st, 1979.

Cartoons and TV shows that children and teenagers were watching on this day in 1979.

Diff'rent Strokes
Diff'rent Strokes

Mork & Mindy
Mork & Mindy

Battle of the Planets
Battle of the Planets

Godzilla
Godzilla

The New Fantastic Four
The New Fantastic Four

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

The Pink Panther Show
The Pink Panther Show

Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood

The Bugs Bunny Show
The Bugs Bunny Show

Captain Kangaroo
Captain Kangaroo

Toys

Popular toys and games in 1979.

Toys and games that were popular on this date in 1979.

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

Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons

Connect Four
Connect Four

Magna Doodle
Magna Doodle

Risk board game
Risk board game

Big Jim (action figure)
Big Jim (action figure)

VertiBird (toy helicopter)
VertiBird (toy helicopter)

Battleship (game)
Battleship (game)

Lite-Brite
Lite-Brite

Twister mat
Twister mat

Operation
Operation

The Easy-Bake Oven
The Easy-Bake Oven

Etch A Sketch
Etch A Sketch

Video games

Video games.

Popular video games that people were playing in January of 1979.

Space Invaders 1978
Space Invaders
Shooter arcade game.

Breakout 1976
Breakout
Arcade game published by Atari.

Gun Fight 1975
Gun Fight
Wild West themed arcade shooter game.

Pursuit 1975
Pursuit
Arcade game where the player gets to control a World War I flying ace.

Were you born on this date?

If you were born on this date, then it is unlikely that you will remember anything from the year 1979.

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 1st, 1985, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays.

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on January 1st.

J. Edgar Hoover

The first Director of the FBI. Deceased
Born on January 1st, 1895
He was not alive on this date.

Grandmaster Flash

Hip Hop DJ.
Born on January 1st, 1958
He turned 21 on this day in 1979.

Verne Troyer

Actor. Deceased
Born on January 1st, 1969
He turned 10 on this day in 1979.

Ice Spice

Rapper.
Born on January 1st, 2000
She was born exactly 21 years after this date.

Holidays

Holidays.

National holidays and famous events that fall on the 1st of January.

  • New Year's Day
USA

US President.

Jimmy Carter was the President of the United States on January 1st, 1979.

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 1st, 1979 was most likely conceived around April 10th, 1978.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on January 1st, 1979 is close to September 24th, 1979.

Post a comment about this date.

Have something to say about this date? Was it your birthday? Or perhaps you have a memory of it?

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How old was I?

Find out what your age was on January 1st, 1979, by entering your DOB below.
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Stats for January 1st, 1979

Time difference & statistics.

Here are some fun statistics about January 1st, 1979.

  • A total of 16,218 days have passed since this date.
  • 2,316 weeks have passed.
  • 1,401,231,600 seconds have passed since the January 1st, 1979.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beated approximately 1,634,770,200 times.
  • Since January 1st, 1979, the Earth has travelled approximately 723,035,505,600 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 233,538,600 times.
  • If you were born on this day, you have taken approximately 120,505,918 steps. That's about 53,558 miles!
  • Since this date, 16,814,779 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere!
  • How many years ago was 1979?

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