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October 17, 1979

October 17, 1979, was a Wednesday. It was 45 years, 2 months, and 4 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Libra.

Song charts

Top songs

These songs were on top of the music charts in the United States and the United Kingdom on October 17, 1979:

  • United States: "Rise" by Herb Alpert
  • United Kingdom: "Video Killed The Radio Star" by Buggles

The Billboard Hot 100 on October 17, 1979

These songs were dominating the music charts:

  • Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson
  • Rise - Herb Alpert
  • Sad Eyes - Robert John
  • Sail On - Commodores
  • My Sharona - The Knack
Play the top singles from 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.
When a Stranger Calls

Top movie

The movie "When a Stranger Calls" was at the top of the box office on this day.

Facts

This date occurred 16,502 days ago. Approximately 550 months have passed. It was the 290th day of 1979, in week 42. The decade was the seventies. People who were born on October 17, 1979, are now 45 years old and belong to the Generation X generation. We have gone through approximately 183 seasons of weather since this date.

Take me back to October 17, 1979

Let's take a walk down memory lane.

The date is October 17, 1979, and it's a Wednesday. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Libra. It is "Hump Day", so many are beginning to think about the weekend ahead.

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 "Rise" by Herb Alpert is at the top of the singles charts, while "Video Killed The Radio Star" by Buggles is the number-one song in the UK.

Jimmy Carter is the President of the United States, and the movie When a Stranger Calls is at the top of the box office. Margaret Thatcher is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. On television, people are watching popular shows such as "Hawaii Five-O", "Happy Days", "Three's Company", and "Taxi".

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 Alfred Hitchcock, Ian Curtis, Dorothy Stratten, and Steve McQueen would all still be alive.

People are playing video games such as "Gun Fight", "Breakout", "Space Invaders", and "Lunar Lander". Kids and teenagers are watching TV shows such as "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood", "The Pink Panther Show", "Godzilla", and "The New Adventures of Flash Gordon". Children are playing with toys such as Troll doll, Dungeons & Dragons, Hungry Hungry Hippos, and Cabbage Patch Kids.

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on October 17, 1979, will have the star sign Libra.
  • Zodiac Element: Air.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1979 was the year of the Goat (Yin Metal).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 8.
  • Native American Zodiac: October 17, 1979 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.
News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on October 17, 1979.

  • The Atlanta murders of 1979–1981.

    The Atlanta murders of 1979–1981

    During this time, the Atlanta murders of 1979–1981 were taking place. At least 28 children and young adults were murdered before Wayne Williams was eventually arrested and convicted.
  • 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.
  • 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, 1979.

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, 1979.

  • September 29, 1979: Pope John Paul II visits Ireland.
  • October 5, 1979: The romantic comedy film 10 (1979) is released in movie theaters.
  • October 12, 1979: Magic Johnson makes his NBA debut for the LA Lakers.
  • This date: October 17, 1979
  • October 25, 1979: The final episode of the British sitcom "Fawtly Towers" is aired on BBC2.
  • October 26, 1979: South Korean president Park Chung-hee is assassinated.
  • November 3, 1979: Five people from the Communist Workers Party are shot dead by members of the Ku Klux Klan and the American Nazi Party at an anti-KKK march in Greensboro, North Carolina.
  • November 4, 1979: 52 American diplomats and citizens are held hostage at the US Embassy in Iran.
  • November 5, 1979: 15-year-old Martin Allen is last seen at King's Cross station in London, England.
  • November 15, 1979: American Airlines Flight 444 is forced to land after a bomb made by Unabomber Ted Kaczynski explodes in the cargo hold.
  • November 16, 1979: Paul McCartney releases his festive song "Wonderful Christmastime".

1970s fashion

Photographs of 1970s fashion and hairstyles.

1970s fashion

Television shows

TV series on October 17, 1979

People in October 1979 were watching the following TV series:

TV shows from October 1979.

Archie Bunker's Place
Archie Bunker's Place
Trapper John, M.D.
Trapper John, M.D.
Hart to Hart
Hart to Hart
The Facts of Life
The Facts of Life
The Dukes of Hazzard
The Dukes of Hazzard
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

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

Cartoons and children's TV shows in October 1979

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

The New Adventures of Flash Gordon
The New Adventures of Flash Gordon
Casper and the Angels
Casper and the Angels
Rickety Rocket
Rickety Rocket

Diff'rent Strokes
Diff'rent Strokes
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
Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels
Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels
The All-New Super Friends Hour
The All-New Super Friends Hour
Toys

Toys in 1979

Children were playing with the following toys and games:

The Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine
The Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine
Screwball Scramble
Screwball Scramble
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
Video games

Video games

Popular video games that people were playing in October 1979.

Lunar Lander 1979
Lunar Lander
Space Invaders 1978
Space Invaders
Breakout 1976
Breakout
Gun Fight 1975
Gun Fight

Were you born on October 17, 1979?

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 October 17, 1985, 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 41 on this day in 1979.

Norm Macdonald

Norm Macdonald

Comedian Deceased
Born on October 17, 1959
He turned 20 on this day in 1979.

Ziggy Marley

Ziggy Marley

Musician
Born on October 17, 1968
He turned 11 on this day in 1979.

Wyclef Jean

Wyclef Jean

Singer
Born on October 17, 1969
He turned 10 on this day in 1979.

Nancy Sullivan

Nancy Sullivan

Actress
Born on October 17, 1969
She turned 10 on this day in 1979.

Chris Kirkpatrick

Chris Kirkpatrick

NSYNC
Born on October 17, 1971
He turned 8 on this day in 1979.

Eminem

Eminem

Rap singer
Born on October 17, 1972
He turned 7 on this day in 1979.

Simon Harris

Simon Harris

Irish politician
Born on October 17, 1986
He was born exactly 7 years after this date.

Charles Oliveira

Charles Oliveira

Brazilian MMA fighter
Born on October 17, 1989
He was born exactly 10 years after this date.

USA

US President

Jimmy Carter was the President of the United States on October 17, 1979.

UK

UK Prime Minister

Margaret Thatcher 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, 1979 was most likely conceived around January 24, 1979.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on October 17, 1979 is close to July 9, 1980.

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Stats for October 17, 1979

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about October 17, 1979:

  • 16,502 days have passed since this date.
  • 2,357 weeks have passed.
  • 1,425,776,400 seconds have passed since October 17, 1979.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,663,405,800 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 735,700,622,400 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 237,629,400 times.
  • You have taken approximately 122,616,770 steps. That's roughly 54,496 miles.
  • 17,109,317 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1979?

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