1978, also designated as MCMLXXVIII, was a common year that began on a Sunday. According to the Gregorian Calendar, it was the 1978th year of the [[Anno Domini/Common Era] and the 9th in the 1970s decade.

A number of natural disasters occurred in 1978. On January 30th, blizzards struck the United States, killing 90 people, while in February the Northeastern United States Earthquake tore apart New England, killing nearly 100 people, and contributing to US $250 million in damages.http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqarchives/significant/sig_1978.php

In the realm of sports, Super Bowl XII was won by the Dallas Cowboys, 27-10 over the Denver Broncos. Argentina won the Soccer World Cup, 3-1 over the Netherlands. The New York Yankees would go on to win the 1978 Baseball World Series. In the National Basketball Association, the Washington Bullets, now known as the Washington Wizards, won the NBA Championship over the Seattle Supersonics, now the Oklahoma City Thunder.http://www.1970sflashback.com/1978/Sports.asp

In terms of music, the critically acclaimed British band The Bee Gees released their smash hit single Stayin Alive, along with the best-selling song of the year, Night Fever, in 1978. The Village People would also release their memorable song YMCA. John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John would also record the song You're The One I Want, for the immensely popular musical Grease.http://www.superseventies.com/1978_3singles.html

• Jan. 15: Eddie Cahill - CSI: New York
• Mar. 01: Jensen Ackles - Supernatural
• Mar. 15: Brooke Burns - Baywatch
• Mar. 21: Kevin Federline - Dancer
• Apr. 19: James Franco - Pineapple Express
• Jul. 04: Becki Newton - Ugly Betty
• Nov. 24: Katherine Heigl - Grey's Anatomy
• Dec. 02: Nelly Furtado - Musician
• Dec. 23: Estella Warren - Planet of the Apes
• Dec. 28: John Legend - R&B Musician

• Sep. 07: Keith Moon - The Who
• Nov. 08: Norman Rockwell - Painter

• Jan. 07: Bee Gees - How Deep Is Your Love
• Jan. 14: Player - Baby Come Back
• Feb. 04: Bee Gees - Stayin Alive
• Mar. 04: Andy Gibb - Thicker Than Water
• Mar. 18: Bee Gees - Night Fever
• May 13: Yvonne Elliman - If I Can't Have You
• May 20: Wings - With a Little Luck
• Jun. 03: Johnny Mathis - Too Much...
• Jun. 10: Travolta/John - You're the One...
• Jun. 17: Andy Gibb - Shadow Dancing
• Aug. 05: The Rolling Stones - Miss You
• Aug. 12: The Commodores - Three Times a Lady
• Aug. 26: Frankie Valli - Grease
• Sep. 09: A Taste of Honey - Boogie Oogie Oogie
• Sep. 30: Exile - Kiss You All Over
• Oct. 28: Nick Gilder - Hot Child in the City
• Nov. 04: Anne Murray - You Needed Me
• Nov. 11: Donna Summer - MacArthur Park
• Dec. 02: Barbra Streisand / Neil Diamond - You Don't Bring Me Flowers
• Dec. 09: Chic - Le Freak
• Dec. 16: Barbra Streisand / Neil Diamond - You Don't Bring Me Flowers
• Dec. 23: Chic - Le Freak Billboard: Historical Billboard Charts

1. Grease
2. The Deer Hunter
3. Halloween
4. Up in Smoke
5. Superman IMBD: Top Grossing Films of 1978

• Presented on: April 9, 1979
• Best Picture: The Deer Hunter
• Lead Actor: Jon Voight in Coming Home
• Lead Actress: Jane Fonda in Coming Home
• Best Director: Michael Cimino for The Deer Hunter
• Best Documentary: Scared Straight! RopesofSilicon: Complete Oscar winners list

• Stanley Cup - NHL: Montreal Canadiens
• World Series - MLB: New York Yankees
• NBA Finals - NBA: Washington Bullets
• Super Bowl - NFL: Dallas Cowboys

• NHL MVP: Guy Lafleur, Montreal Canadiens
• MLB AL MVP: Jim Rice, Boston Red Sox
• MLB NL MVP: Dave Parker, Pittsburgh Pirates
• NBA MVP: Bill Walton, Portland Trail Blazers
• NFL MVP: Terry Bradshaw, Pittsburgh Steelers

• Chemistry: Peter Mitchell
• Economics: Herbert Simon
• Literature: Isaac Bashevis Singer
• Medicine: Werner Arber, Daniel Nathans, Hamilton Smith
• Peace: Anwar Sadat, Menachem Begin
• Physics: Pyotr Kapitsa, Arno Penzias, Robert Wilson NoblePrize.org: 1978 Noble Winners

• 1970
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• 1979
• All Years

• March 24: The Amoco Cadiz tanker split off the coast of France dumping The entire cargo of 1,619,048 barrels spilled into the sea creating a slick 18 miles wide and 80 miles long.

• April 27: Pro-communist rebels overthrow and murder Afghanistan president Sardar Mohammed Daoud.

• June 9: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints changed their rules to allow black men to become priests.

• August 22: Cardinal Albino Luciani of Venice became John Paul I after being named the 264th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church.

• September 16 A 7.5 level Earthquake hits Tabas, Iran leaving between 15,000 and 22,000 people dead.

• October 16: At The Vatican, John Paul II of Poland is named Pope

• November 18: Over 900 cult members are left dead in Guyana after drinking cyanide laced grape juice.