January 17
January 17
The execution of Gary Gilmore
Gary Gilmore, convicted in a double murder, is shot to death by a firing squad in Utah, becoming the first person to be executed in the United States since the…
A Year In History: 1977
This Year in History:
1977
Discover what happened in this year with HISTORY’s summaries of major events, anniversaries, famous births and notable deaths.
January 19
January 19
President Ford pardons Tokyo Rose
President Gerald R. Ford pardons Tokyo Rose. Although the nickname originally referred to several Japanese women who broadcast Axis propaganda over the radio to Allied troops during World War II,…
January 21
January 21
President Carter pardons draft dodgers
On January 21, 1977, U.S. President Jimmy Carter grants an unconditional pardon to hundreds of thousands of men who evaded the draft during the Vietnam War. In total, some 100,000…
January 29
January 29
“Roots” premieres on television
January 23, 1977 sees the premiere of Roots, a groundbreaking television program. The eight‑episode miniseries, which was broadcast over eight consecutive nights, follows a family from its origins in West…
March 27
March 27
Jumbo jets collide at Canary Islands airport
On March 27, 1977, two 747 jumbo jets crash into each other on the runway at an airport in the Canary Islands, killing 583 passengers and crew members. Both Boeing…
April 11
April 11
President Carter hosts White House Easter egg roll
On April 11, 1977, President Jimmy Carter, along with first lady Rosalynn Carter, hosts local children at the traditional White House “Easter egg roll.” According to White House curator Bill…
April 26
April 26
Studio 54 opens in New York City
The crowd outside 254 West 54th Street in New York City on this day in 1927 would have been waiting for the curtain of a Puccini opera. On this day…
May 25
May 25
Chinese government removes ban on Shakespeare
A new sign of political liberalization appears in China, when the communist government lifts its decade‑old ban on the writings of William Shakespeare. The action by the Chinese government was…
May 25
May 25
“Star Wars” opens in theaters
On May 25, 1977, Memorial Day weekend opens with an intergalactic bang as the first of George Lucas’ blockbuster Star Wars movies hits American theaters. The incredible success of Star…
May 31
May 31
The BBC bans the Sex Pistols’ “God Save the Queen”
Thirty years after its release, John Lydon—better known as Johnny Rotten—offered this assessment of the song that made the Sex Pistols the most reviled and revered figures in England in…
June 16
June 16
Leonid Brezhnev is elected Soviet president
Leonid Ilych Brezhnev, first secretary of the Soviet Communist Party since 1964, is elected president of the Supreme Soviet, thereby becoming both head of party and head of state. A…
July 2
July 2
“Gonna Fly Now (Theme From ‘Rocky’)” is the #1 song on the U.S. pop charts
On July 2, 1977, Hollywood composer Bill Conti scores a #1 pop hit with the single “Gonna Fly Now (Theme From Rocky).” Bill Conti was a relative unknown in Hollywood…
July 20
July 20
Great great flood hits Johnstown
A flash flood hits Johnstown, Pennsylvania, on July 20, 1977, killing 84 people and causing millions of dollars in damages. This flood came 88 years after the infamous Great Flood…
August 3
August 3
“The Spy Who Loved Me” released in theaters
On August 3, 1977, “The Spy Who Loved Me,” starring Roger Moore as the suave superspy James Bond, known for his love of fast cars and dangerous women, is released…
August 10
August 10
Son of Sam serial killer is arrested
On August 10, 1977, 24‑year‑old postal employee David Berkowitz is arrested and charged with being the “Son of Sam,” the serial killer who terrorized New York City for more than…
August 16
August 16
Elvis Presley dies
Music icon Elvis Presley dies in Memphis, Tennessee. He was 42. The death of the “King of Rock and Roll” brought legions of mourning fans to Graceland, his mansion in…
September 7
September 7
U.S. agrees to transfer Panama Canal to Panama
In Washington, President Jimmy Carter and Panamanian dictator Omar Torrijos sign a treaty agreeing to transfer control of the Panama Canal from the United States to Panama at the end…
September 10
September 10
Serial killers Charlene Williams and Gerald Gallego meet
Charlene Williams meets Gerald Gallego at a poker club in Sacramento, California, resulting in one of the worst serial killing teams in American history. Before they were finally caught, the…
September 10
September 10
The guillotine falls silent
At Baumetes Prison in Marseille, France, Hamida Djandoubi, a Tunisian immigrant convicted of murder, becomes the last person executed by guillotine. The guillotine first gained fame during the French Revolution…
September 16
September 16
Opera star Maria Callas dies
Celebrated soprano Maria Callas dies in Paris at the age of 53. Born in New York City in 1923 to Greek immigrants, Callas demonstrated her talent for singing at an…
