January 1
January 1
Air India jet crashes just after takeoff
An Air India Boeing 747 jet crashes into the sea just after takeoff from a Bombay airport on this day in 1978, killing all 213 people on board. The crash…
A Year In History: 1978
This Year in History:
1978
Discover what happened in this year with HISTORY’s summaries of major events, anniversaries, famous births and notable deaths.
January 9
January 9
Harvey Milk becomes the first openly gay person elected to public office in California
Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in the history of California, takes his place on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors on January 9, 1978. The first and,…
January 11
January 11
“Song of Solomon” wins National Book Critics Circle Award
On January 11, 1978, Toni Morrison wins the National Book Critics Circle Award for Song of Solomon. The award brought the writer national attention for the first time, although she…
January 27
January 27
“Dracula Killer” murders four people
On January 27, 1978, Richard Chase, who becomes known as the “Dracula Killer,” murders Evelyn Miroth and Daniel Meredith, as well as Miroth’s 6‑year‑old son and another woman, in Sacramento,…
February 1
February 1
Harriet Tubman becomes the first African American woman to appear on a U.S. postage stamp
February 1, 1978: Antislavery crusader and Civil War veteran Harriet Tubman becomes the first African American woman to appear on a U.S. postage stamp, the first in the Post Office’s Black…
February 8
February 8
New England digs out after blizzard
A classic “Nor’easter” storm that brought a severe blizzard to New England finally subsides on February 8, 1978, and the region begins to dig out from under several feet of…
February 22
February 22
Navstar 1, the world’s first operational GPS satellite, launches
The U.S. Air Force launches Navstar 1, the world’s first operational GPS satellite, from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. GPS begins as a military technology, but expands to transform…
February 23
February 23
It’s a tie for Song of the Year at the 20th annual Grammy Awards
On February 23, 1978, Grammy voters make history by failing to settle on a winner for the year’s Best Song. Instead, Barbra Streisand’s “Love Theme from A Star Is Born…
March 2
March 2
Reports surface of grave robbers stealing Charlie Chaplin’s body
On March 2, 1978, news outlets report one of history’s most famous cases of body‑snatching: Sometime in the middle of the previous night, two men had stolen the corpse of…
March 16
March 16
Supertanker wrecks off French coast
One of the world’s worst supertanker disasters takes places when the Amoco Cadiz wrecks off the coast of Portsall, France, on this day in 1978. Although the 68 million gallons…
April 3
April 3
“Annie Hall” beats out “Star Wars” for Best Picture
The rise of the action‑adventure blockbuster was on the horizon, but on April 3, 1978, the small‑scale romantic comedy triumphs over the big‑budget space extravaganza. At the 50th annual Academy…
April 9
April 9
George Gervin scores 63 points in final game to win the 1978 NBA scoring title
On April 9, 1978, the San Antonio Spurs’ George Gervin scores 63 points in his final game of the regular season to edge out the Denver Nuggets’ David Thompson in…
April 13
April 13
Fans toss candy bars onto field, disrupting MLB game
On April 13, 1978, opening day at Yankee Stadium, the New York Yankees give away thousands of Reggie! bars to fans, who naturally toss them onto the field after star…
April 20
April 20
Korean Air Lines jet forced down over Soviet Union
Soviet aircraft force a Korean Air Lines passenger jet to land in the Soviet Union after the jet veers into Russian airspace. Two people were killed and several others injured…
April 22
April 22
The Blues Brothers make their world premiere on “Saturday Night Live”
On April 22, 1978, “Saturday Night Live” showcases the worldwide television debut of the Blues Brothers—the not‑quite‑real, not‑quite‑fake musical creation of SNL cast members Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi. The…
April 22
April 22
Bob Marley headlines One Love Peace Concert
On April 22nd, 1978, international reggae superstar Bob Marley headlines the One Love Peace Concert at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica. The lineup included 16 reggae acts (including Marley)…
April 27
April 27
Afghan president is overthrown and murdered
Afghanistan President Sardar Mohammed Daoud is overthrown and murdered in a coup led by procommunist rebels. The brutal action marked the beginning of political upheaval in Afghanistan that resulted in…
May 5
May 5
Ben & Jerry’s opens its first ice cream shop
On May 5, 1978, area residents line up outside a renovated gas station in Burlington, Vermont, for the grand opening of Ben & Jerry’s Homemade. Opened by childhood friends Ben…
May 9
May 9
Former Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro is found dead
On May 9, 1978, the body of former Italian prime minister Aldo Moro is found, riddled by bullets, in the back of a car in the center of historic Rome.…
May 21
May 21
Rookie golfer Nancy Lopez wins her first Coca‑Cola Classic
On May 21, 1978, 21‑year‑old rookie golfer Nancy Lopez defeats her childhood hero, JoAnne Carner, on the first hole of a sudden death playoff to win the Coca‑Cola Classic in…
