Capture the significant events of your graduation year here
Economics of 1972
US GDP (1998 dollars): $1,237.30 billion
Federal spending: $230.68 billion
Federal debt: $435.9 billion
Median Household Income
(current dollars): $9,697
Consumer Price Index: 41.8
Unemployment: 5.9%
Cost of a first-class stamp: $0.08
Tidbits
In 1972 you could buy a brand new Pontiac Parisienne for $3,945.00 or a new Volkswagen Beetle for $2, 500. Gas back then was 47 cents a gallon.
Top movies of 1972 included The Godfather, Cabaret, Deliverance, The Poseidon Adventure, and The Candidate.
The top TV shows of 1972 were All In The Family, Bridget Loves Bernie, Ironside, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Maude and Hawaii Five-0.
Entertainers born in 1972 include Cameron Diaz, Gwyneth Paltrow and Ben Affleck.
Men's fashion includes cuffed or flared bell bottoms
Einstein's theory of relativity is validated
Jonathan Livingston Seagull is a best seller (Richard Bach)
Dr. Adkins starts a diet revolution with his new book
The Peter Principal by Laurence Peter is popular at the book store and dinner talk
I'm Ok your Ok self help book makes a hit
'Glitter Rock' is introduced by David Bowie
China sends Pandas to Washington
Bobby Fisher beats Russian Boris Spassky for world chess title
Frank Sinatra is called to testify about Mafia
TV program The Waltons wins Emmy award
Sanford and Son with Redd Foxx and Demond Wilson premiers
M*A*S*H starts it's long TV run, starring Alan Alda, Loretta Swit
Deliverance with Burt Reynolds opens at the movie theaters
Sports
Super Bowl
Dallas d. Miami (24-3)
World Series
Oakland A's d. Cincinnati (4-3)
NBA Championship
LA Lakers d. New York (4-1)
Stanley Cup
Boston d. NY Rangers (4-2)
Wimbledon
Women: Billie Jean King d. E. Goolagong (6-3 6-3)
Men: Stan Smith d. I. Nastase (4-6 6-3 6-3 4-6 7-5)
Kentucky Derby Champion
Riva Ridge
NCAA Basketball Championship
UCLA d. Florida St. (81-76)
NCAA Football Champions
USC (12-0-0)
Superbowl VII : Miami 14 - WASHINGTON 7
Pro MVP: Larry Brown, Washington, RB
College Football: USC
Heisman Trophy: Johnny Rodgers, Nebraska, FL
Rose Bowl: USC 42, Ohio St. 17
Orange Bowl: Nebraska 40, Notre Dame 6
Cotton Bowl: Texas 17, Alabama 13
Sugar Bowl: Oklahoma 14, Penn St. 0
Basketball
NBA Championship
Winner: LA Lakers 4-1 (LWWWW) - Coach: Bill Sharman
Opposing Team: NEW YORK - Coach: Red Holzman
NBA MVP: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee, C Ave Score: 34.8
NCAA National Champions: UCLA 30-0 - Coach: John Wooden
Baseball
World Series
Winner: Oakland A's 4-3 (WWLWLLW) - Coach: Dick Williams
Opposing Team: CINCINNATI - Coach: Sparky Anderson
National League
MVP: Johnny Bench, Cin - C
Rookie of the Year: Jon Matlack, NY -P
American League
MVP: Dick Allen, Chi - 1B
Rookie of the Year: Carlton Fisk, Bos - C
1972 News
News Headlines
Governor Wallace Is Shot In Laurel MD. And Paralyzed
Nixon And Brezhnev Sign Two SALT Agreements
11 Israelis Are Killed By Palestinian Terrorists At Munich Olympics
Beak-In At Democratic Headquarters In Watergate Towers, Five Caught
Nixon Wins by A Landslide 47 Million To 29 Million
Washington Post Connects Watergate With Committee To Elect Nixon
Kissinger Secretly Negotiating With North Vietnamese In Paris
Music of 1972
1. Alone Again (Naturally) - Gilbert O'Sullivan
2. I Can See Clearly Now - Johnny Nash
3. Black And White - Three Dog Night
4. Brandy (You're A Fine Girl) - Looking Glass
5. My Ding-A-Ling - Chuck Berry
6. Horse With No Name, A - America
7. Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress) - Hollies
8. Papa Was A Rolling Stone - The Temptations
9. Nights In White Satin - Moody Blues
10. Back Stabbers - The O'Jays
Top Albums
America - America
American Pie - Don MeLean
Chicago V - Chicago
First Take - Roberta Flack
Honky Chateau - Elton John
Music - Carole King
Grammy Awards
Album of the Year: The Concert for Bangla Desh
Best New Artist: America
Best Pop Duo or Group: “Where Is the Love,” Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway
Best Pop Female Vocal: “I Am Woman,” Helen Reddy
Best Pop Male Vocal: “Without You,” Nilsson
Record of the Year: “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” Roberta Flack
Song of the Year: “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”
Television and Movies of 1972
Americas Top 20 TV Favorites
1) All in the Family
2 ) Sanford and Son
3 ) Hawaii Five-O
4 ) Maude
5 ) Bridget Loves Bernie
6 ) The NBC Sunday Mystery Movie
7 ) The Mary Tyler Moore Show
8 ) Gunsmoke
9 ) The Wonderful World of Disney
10 ) Ironside
11 ) Adam 12
12 ) The Flip Wilson Show
13 ) Marcus Welby M.D.
14 ) Cannon
15 ) Here's Lucy
16 ) The Bob Newhart Show
17 ) ABC Tuesday Movie
18 ) NFL Monday Night Football
19 ) The Partridge Family
20 ) The Waltons
Emmy Awards
Drama
Best Drama - The Waltons (CBS)
Best Actor - Richard Thomas, The Waltons (CBS)
Best Actress - Michael Learned, The Waltons (CBS)
Supporting Actor - Scott Jacoby, Wednesday Movie of the Week: That Certain Summer
Supporting Actress - Ellen Corby, The Waltons
Comedy
Best Comedy - All in the Family (CBS)
Best Actor - Jack Klugman, The Odd Couple
Best Actress - Mary Tyler Moore, The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Supporting Actor - Ted Knight, The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Supporting Actress - Valerie Harper, The Mary Tyler Moore Show
1972 Movies
$$$ -Top Movie Money Makers
The Godfather - $134,963,773
The Poseidon Adventure - $93,300,000
Malcolm X - $48,140,000
Cabaret - $42,765,000
Lady Sings the Blues - $9,600,000
Other New Movie Releases
Deliverance
Heat
Last Tango in Paris
Play It Again, Sam
Sleuth
Sounder
The Candidate
The Heartbreak Kid
The Ruling Class
Academy Awards
Best Actor: Marlon Brando: The Godfather
Best Actress: Liza Minnelli: Cabaret
Best Director: Bob Fosse: Cabaret
Best Picture: Albert S. Ruddy: The Godfather
Best Supporting Actor: Joel Grey: Cabaret
Best Supporting Actress: Eileen Heckart: Butterflies Are Free
