In 1978, "Shadow Dancing" topped the charts, Grease packed theaters, a stamp cost 15¢, the average home went for about $62,500.
🎵 Top songs of 1978
"Shadow Dancing" — Andy Gibb
"Night Fever" — Bee Gees
"Stayin' Alive" — Bee Gees
🎬 In theaters
Grease
Superman: The Movie
The Deer Hunter
What things cost in 1978
$0.65
Gallon of gas
15¢
Postage stamp
$2.34
Movie ticket
$1.71
Gallon of milk
$62,500
Average home
$6,000
New car
$15,064
Household income
A $0.65 gallon of gas in 1978 has the buying power of roughly $3.10 in 2024 dollars. A 15¢ stamp is around 72¢ today, and a $2.34 movie ticket is about $11.
The biggest moments of 1978
Louise Brown, the world's first IVF "test-tube" baby, was born in England on July 25.
Pope John Paul II was elected on October 16 — the first non-Italian Pope in 455 years.
The Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel were signed at the White House on September 17.
Garfield comic strip debuted in newspapers on June 19 — soon syndicated globally.
The Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel were brokered by President Carter in September.
Pope John Paul II became the first non-Italian Pope in 455 years on October 16.
Toys, TV & trends of 1978
The Saturday Night Fever soundtrack made disco the soundtrack of suburban America.
Space Invaders arrived in U.S. arcades and triggered a 25-cent coin shortage in Japan.
Mork & Mindy debuted on ABC on September 14, launching Robin Williams.
Roller skating returned to mainstream popularity with roller-disco rinks opening nationwide.
"Battlestar Galactica" debuted on ABC in September, riding the Star Wars sci-fi wave.
Disco fashion peaked: polyester three-piece suits, gold chains, and platform shoes.
The music scene
1978 was peak disco. The Saturday Night Fever soundtrack stayed at #1 for 24 weeks (a record at the time). The Bee Gees and Andy Gibb dominated singles, while new wave (Blondie, The Cars) and album rock (Boston, Aerosmith) shared the airwaves.
At the movies
The Deer Hunter won the Best Picture Oscar. Grease was the year's box-office champion and became the highest-grossing musical to that date. Animal House launched John Belushi's film career. Superman: The Movie defined the modern superhero blockbuster.
Cartoons kids loved
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! (syndication)
The Bugs Bunny / Road Runner Show
The Pink Panther Show
Saturday-morning cartoons were in flux. Scooby-Doo Where Are You! remained in heavy syndication. The Pink Panther Show continued strong. Hanna-Barbera was developing new shows — The Smurfs were still three years away.
The world in 1978
World population: about 4.3 billion
U.S. President: Jimmy Carter
The Camp David Accords were signed by Egypt and Israel
Louise Brown, the world's first IVF baby, was born in Oldham, England on July 25.
The Camp David Accords were signed on September 17 between Egypt's Anwar Sadat and Israel's Menachem Begin.
The People's Temple mass murder-suicide in Jonestown, Guyana killed 918 people on November 18.
1978 birthday questions
How old is someone born in 1978?
Someone born in 1978 turns 48 in 2026 (47 if their birthday has not come round yet).
What was the number one song in 1978?
"Shadow Dancing" by Andy Gibb was among the biggest hits of 1978.
What movie came out in 1978?
Grease was one of the films packing theaters in 1978.
How much did gas cost in 1978?
A gallon of gas ran about $0.65 in 1978, and a postage stamp cost 15¢.
How much did a house cost in 1978?
The average home went for roughly $62,500 in 1978, against a typical household income of about $15,064.