In 1976, "Silly Love Songs" topped the charts, Rocky packed theaters, a stamp cost 13¢, the average home went for about $48,000.
🎵 Top songs of 1976
"Silly Love Songs" — Wings
"Don't Go Breaking My Heart" — Elton John & Kiki Dee
"Disco Lady" — Johnnie Taylor
🎬 In theaters
Rocky
All the President's Men
Network
What things cost in 1976
$0.59
Gallon of gas
13¢
Postage stamp
$2.13
Movie ticket
$1.65
Gallon of milk
$48,000
Average home
$4,950
New car
$12,686
Household income
A $0.59 gallon of gas in 1976 has the buying power of roughly $3.20 in 2024 dollars. A 13¢ stamp is around 71¢ today, and a $2.13 movie ticket is about $11.65.
The biggest moments of 1976
The United States celebrated its Bicentennial on July 4 with nationwide fireworks and a tall-ship parade in New York Harbor.
NASA's Viking 1 became the first U.S. spacecraft to successfully land on Mars on July 20.
Jimmy Carter won the U.S. presidential election in November, defeating incumbent Gerald Ford.
Israeli commandos rescued more than 100 hostages from a hijacked Air France airliner at Entebbe Airport, Uganda, on July 4 — the same day as the U.S. Bicentennial.
Mao Zedong, founder of the People's Republic of China, died on September 9 at age 82.
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Tangshan, China, on July 28 — the deadliest earthquake of the 20th century, with 240,000+ deaths.
Toys, TV & trends of 1976
Charlie's Angels debuted on ABC on September 22 and became an instant hit.
Apple Computer was founded on April 1 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne.
The Bionic Woman and The Six Million Dollar Man dominated TV ratings.
Saturday Night Live was in its first full season, with the original "Not Ready for Prime Time Players."
Mood rings, troll dolls, and the Stretch Armstrong figure ruled toy aisles.
The CB radio fad was peaking, with truckers leading a national hobby and slang craze.
The music scene
1976 was disco's commercial breakthrough — Wild Cherry, the Bee Gees, and Donna Summer hit the charts. Soft rock dominated with Paul McCartney, Elton John, and Fleetwood Mac (whose self-titled album was a year-long fixture). Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life was the year's defining album, winning the Best Album Grammy.
At the movies
Rocky won the Best Picture Oscar for 1976 and became the highest-grossing film of the year. All the President's Men brought the Watergate story to the screen. Network gave the world Howard Beale's "I'm as mad as hell" monologue. Taxi Driver, Carrie, and A Star Is Born were also released.
Cartoons kids loved
The Scooby-Doo / Dynomutt Hour
The Pink Panther Show
Tom and Jerry
Hanna-Barbera was at its peak. The Scooby-Doo / Dynomutt Hour aired on ABC Saturday mornings. The Pink Panther Show was in its sixth season. Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry remained syndication staples.
The world in 1976
World population: about 4.15 billion
U.S. President: Gerald Ford (Carter elected in November)
The American Bicentennial — 200 years since the Declaration of Independence
The Soweto uprising began in South Africa on June 16 when police opened fire on Black student protesters, sparking a national crisis.
North and South Vietnam were officially reunified as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on July 2.
The Concorde began regular transatlantic supersonic passenger service from London and Paris on January 21.
1976 birthday questions
How old is someone born in 1976?
Someone born in 1976 turns 50 in 2026 (49 if their birthday has not come round yet).
What was the number one song in 1976?
"Silly Love Songs" by Wings was among the biggest hits of 1976.
What movie came out in 1976?
Rocky was one of the films packing theaters in 1976.
How much did gas cost in 1976?
A gallon of gas ran about $0.59 in 1976, and a postage stamp cost 13¢.
How much did a house cost in 1976?
The average home went for roughly $48,000 in 1976, against a typical household income of about $12,686.