The festive season of 1977
WE step back four decades to the festive season of 1977. If you were alive and kicking then, what were you up to? What are your memories of Christmas and New Year 40 years ago?
It’s been a while, so we’ve had a trawl through the archives to recall just what was going on?
It had been the year of punk rock and the Sex Pistols; the Hollywood boxing blockbuster Rocky, starring Sylvester Stallone; and the TV series Roots which dramatised an AfricanAmerican family’s experiences across the generations.
And, in August, the world of music had mourned the death of Elvis Presley, at the age of 42. Ironically ‘The King’s’ demise brought about a surge in record sales which provided plenty of work at the RCA factory in Washington, Tyne and Wear.
Here in the North East, the summer of 1977 had seen three high-profile visits - American President Jimmy Carter; the Queen on her Silver Jubilee tour; and world heavyweight boxing champion, Muhammad Ali.
Meanwhile, at Christmas and New Year... ■■IN THE POP CHARTS
At the top during the festive period was the dirge-like Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney and Wings. Other big hits included The Bee Gees with How Deep Is Your Love, Bonnie Tyler with It’s A Heartache, and Darts with Daddy Cool. ■■ON THE TELLY
There was a mixed bag on offer for TV viewers on New Year’s Eve, which fell on a Saturday. On BBC1, the day kicked off with Multi-Coloured Swap Shop, while the evening viewing included Val Doonican’s Old Year Music Show, The Good Old Days, and Starsky and Hutch.
And it was reported the 1977 Morecambe & Wise Christmas Show had pulled in more than 28 million viewers - one of the biggest UK TV audiences of all time. ■■AT THE FLICKS
It was a time when Hollywood blockbusters aplenty were showing. Saturday Night Fever, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and the newly-released Star Wars all pulled in huge audiences. ■■TOP TOYS
Star Wars figures, the brain-busting Rubik’s Cube, and the football game Subbuteo were must-have toys at Christmas 40 years ago. ■■IN THE LOCAL NEWS
The band Lindisfarne were performing in concert for the second Christmas at Newcastle City Hall. It would become an annual North East institution. Meanwhile, at the Central Station, the whole eastern side of the ■■PRICES
Down at the local supermarket a tin of Heinz beans would cost you 12p, Stork SB margarine (remember that?) was 26p; and Ski yoghurt was 7p a pot. The average house price was around £13,000, and a gallon of petrol would knock you back 75p.
For those heading to their local pub or club over Christmas, a pint of beer was around 27p, and 20 ciggies around 50p. ■■SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
In the distant pre-digital world of 1977, this was the year of the first MRI scanner in medicine, and the first commercial Concorde flight from London to New York. ■■DEATHS
Those we had lost in 1977 included Marc Bolan, Charlie Chaplin, Joan Crawford and Groucho Marx. ■■NEWCASTLE UNITED
Then, as now, the Toon were in trouble as we celebrated the festive period.
Ten straight defeats at the start of the season had left United rock bottom in the First Division.
Come December, hope was briefly rekindled with successive wins over Leicester, QPR and Wolves.
But these were followed by three defeats on the bounce between Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve to Manchester City, Nottingham Forest and Liverpool.
It was a grim time, and relegation awaited at the end of a wretched season. Let’s sincerely hope history does not repeat itself 40 years later!