Thank goodness the Disco storm from the previous year had subsided somewhat while Progressive Rock was reclaiming its territory as Rock music’s true art form!

Musically-speaking, 1978 was a good year with plenty of variety across multiple genres. As for me, I was living and breathing College Radio 24/7 during that year..

Also In 1978:

• Minimum wage in the U.S. was $2.65 per hour
• The average annual income was $16,975
• A new car sold for $5,405
• You could build a new house for $54,749
• A loaf of bread was 42 cents
• A gallon of gas was 63 cents
• First Class postage was only 15 cents

1978 World News Headlines:

• More than 900 American followers of cult leader Jim Jones commit mass suicide in South America
• Millions marched in Tehran against the Shah of Iran
• Despite the Vatican’s opposition, abortion is legalized in Italy
• The first “test tube baby” was born to a British couple
• A 7.7 Earthquake struck Iran, killing over 25,000
• A Czech pilot became the first non-Russian or American in space
• Joint winners of the Nobel Peace Prize were Israel’s Prime Minister Begin and Egypt’s President Sadat

1978 U.S. News Headlines:

• In response to threats of a farm strike, President Carter proposed increasing federal aid to the nation’s farmers
• Larry Flynt, owner of Hustler magazine, was critically wounded by a would-be assassin
• The Nuclear Regulatory Commission halted construction of a nuclear power plant in New Hampshire due to public opposition
• The endangered Snail Darter stopped the $100 million Tellico Dam project in Tennessee
• 35 astronaut candidates were selected by NASA for the Shuttle program
• The first American-made Volkswagen rolled of the assembly line in Pennsylvania

The top TV shows in 1978:  Dallas, Laverne & Shirley, Three’s Company, Happy Days, Mork & Mindy, WKRP in Cincinnati, The Ropers, What’s Happening, Alice, M*A*S*H*, One Day at a Time, Taxi, Soap, Eight Is Enough, Vegas, The Incredible Hulk and Fantasy Island

Favorite movies from 1978:  Grease, The Deer Hunter, Coming Home, Animal House, Halloween, Superman, Midnight Express, Jaws 2, Up In Smoke, Lord of the Rings, Watership Down, Capricorn One, Every Which Way But Loose, The Last Waltz, FM, California Suite, Same Time Next Year, Pretty Baby, Eyes of Laura Mars, The Wiz, Return From Witch Mountain and Semi-Tough

This week, we’ve programmed a good show… a true and varied sampling, respectful of both your ears and your eyes!

Hear Progressive FM Rock and other favorites from 1978 right now on both Live365 and TuneIn apps!

Please share your thoughts, comments and opinions with us.  And thanks for listening!

– Fred