This page offers an insight into life in 1973 and includes World news, political leaders, prices, population statistics and information about the popular culture of 1973.
The year 1973 began on a Monday and was not a leap year
1973 In The News
1st January – The United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland joined the European Economic Community (EEC).
27th January – The Paris Peace Accords ended US involvement in Vietnam.
10th April – Operation Spring of Youth saw 3 Palestinian resistance leaders assassinated by Israeli commandos.
11th September – Augusto Pinochet overthrew the Chilean government and became head of the military Junta that took over rule.
20th October – Sydney Opera House was opened by Queen Elizabeth II.
30th October – The completion of the Bosphorus Bridge in Turkey joined the continents of Europe and Asia for the first time.
Life in 1973 – Prices
Average house:
UK – £9,000; USA – $32,500
Petrol per gallon:
UK – £0.39; USA – $0.40
Loaf of Bread:
UK – £0.11.5; USA – $0.35
Gold per ounce:
UK – $97.39, USA – $135
Life in 1973 – Population
World: – 3,943,271,451
Australia: – 13,380,400
Canada: – 22,559,500
China: – 883,019,776
India: – 592,654,080
Soviet Union: 132,556,176
United States: – 211,356,992
United Kingdom: – 56,210,000
Life in 1973 – Music
Best Selling Single:
UK – Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree – Dawn featuring Tony Orlando
USA – Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree – Dawn featuring Tony Orlando
AUS – Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree – Dawn featuring Tony Orlando
CAN -Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree – Dawn featuring Tony Orlando
Best Selling Album:
UK – Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player – Elton John
USA – The World Is a Ghetto – War
AUS – Hot August Night – Neil Diamond
CAN – No Secrets – Carly Simon
Popular Artists:
David Cassidy, Donny Osmond, Elton John, Gilbert O’ Sullivan, Michael Jackson, Neil Diamond, Pink Floyd, Rod Stewart, The Stylistics, T-Rex
On the Bookshelves
Books Published in 1973:
The Princess Bride – William Goldman
Breakfast of Champions – Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
The Complete Maus – Art Spiegelman
Rendezvous with Rama – Arthur C. Clarke
A Wind in the Door – Madeleine L’Engle
At the Movies
1973 Top Movies (USA box office figures):
1. The Exorcist – $88.5 million
2. The Sting – $79 million
3. American Graffiti – $55.9 million
4. Papillon – $22.5 million
5. The Way We Were – $22.4 million
Life in 1973 – World Leaders
Australia Prime Minister – Gough Whitlam
Canada Prime Minister – Pierre Trudeau
China President – Dong Biwu
India Prime Minister – Indira Gandhi
Soviet Union Leader – Leonid Brezhnev
United States President – Richard Nixon
United Kingdom Prime Minister – Edward Heath
Born in 1973
25th February – Julio Iglesias Jr. (Singer)
27th February – Peter Andre (TV Personality)
18th April – Haile Gebrselassie (Runner)
21st May – Noel Fielding (Comedian)
29th September – Alfie Boe (Singer)
17th December – Paula Radcliffe (Athlete)
Died in 1973
22nd January – Lyndon B Johnson (US President)
26th January – Edward G Robinson (Actor)
26th March – Noel Coward (Playwright)
8th April – Pablo Picasso (Artist)
12th August – Karl Ziegler (Scientist)
2nd September – JRR Tolkien (Author)
20th December – Bobby Darin – (Singer)
1973 Sport Highlights
Football – Sunderland won the FA Cup
US Football – Miami Dolphins won the Superbowl
Cycling – Luis Ocaña (ESP) won the Tour de France
Boxing – George Foreman became World Heavyweight Champion
Tennis – Margaret Court won the Australian Open, French Open and the US Open
Golf – Johnny Miller won the US Open and Tom Weiskopf won the British Open
Baseball – Oakland Athletics won the World Series
Horse Racing – The Dikler won the Cheltenham Gold Cup; Secretariat won the Kentucky Derby
Christmas Wishlist
Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle
Skateboard
Scalextric
Walkie Talkie Sets
Easy Bake Oven
Space Hopper
What Was New?
Bic Disposable Lighter invented
Mobile Phone invented
Voicemail invented
Skylab Space Station launched
Fiber Optics invented
Jet Ski invented
Published Oct 20 2022 @ 08.49 – Updated –
