This December 12th marks the 45th anniversary (1977-2022) of the Saturday Night Fever album and New York City movie premier. (IMDb). Can you believe it’s been that long since John Travolta and Karen Lynn Gorney graced the movie screen with their smooth dance moves to “More Than a Woman?” How can we ever forget John Travolta strutting down a Brooklyn street to the electric beat of Staying Alive?
It was a special time if you were part of the Disco revolution. The Saturday Night Fever album led by The Bee Gees, Tavares, Yvonne Elliman, M.F.S.B., KC and the Sunshine Band, Kool and the Gang, The Tramps and other great artists helped changed the course of dance music around the world.
World Events in 1977-
The world was an exciting place back then. (I was 22 in 1977 and a Native New Yorker). Here are a few events that I remember. The first Star Wars and Superman movies came out, as well as Close Encounters of The Third Kind. All three were Science Fiction movies. Disco had a little of that Sci-Fi affect too. We had the rotating Disco Ball, colorful strobe lights, illuminating dance floors, diverse dance styles, cool and freaky fashions and wild hairdos. All these visuals were eye candy to the beat of a futuristic sound called D-I-S-C-O.
In 1977 and important TV series called Roots came out. For you technology historians, the first Apple II home computer appeared in households. In baseball, the NY Yankees won their first championship in 15 years. In entertainment, sadly, the legendary Elvis Presley passed away. I was speaking to a peer recently and he reminded me that the first Concord Flight from NY to Paris took place that year as well.
There were other important events in 1977. My nightclub-singing mom was part of a Woman’s Liberation group and also a Gay rights group which were being pioneered through meetings, speeches, marches etc. I was a young man who was a witness to many events that changed the course of not only New York history and culture but world history and culture. All of these events left a big impact on our society, especially for us young adults who were the future generation.
Black out in New York City – 1977
During the summer the New York City blackout took everyone by surprise. It lasted for 25 hours with looting, property destruction and fighting for stolen goods taking place throughout the city. I personally was stuck in World Trade Center One for two nights. Here’s why and a little history. In 1975 the first electric card key came out. Now here I am in 1977 with a card key and no electricity! (I’m laughing all these years later).
Unfortunately I was the last person out and I couldn’t open the office door. I still remember vividly listening and dancing to Disco 97.2 WKTU on my portable radio in the dark, while looking through the big World Trade Center windows and dancing with the moon and the stars to pass the time.
Saturday Night Fever – December 12, 1977
Then all of a sudden at the end of the year (12/12/77) like a bolt of lightning, the Saturday Night Fever Movie premier in New York City came out with a bang! Both album and movie helped push the big Disco train from the underground clubs into the mainstream. The electrifying music of the Saturday Night Fever album was all over the airwaves and the movie was happening worldwide!
As you can see now, both topped off a very eventful year. Everyone was pumped up for the upcoming (1977-78) holidays as Disco parties sprouted up everywhere. As young adults we were also excited for the upcoming New Year (1978) to arrive and what the future would bring!
Happy 45th Anniversary Saturday Night Fever! (1977-2022)
Thanks for the great memories.
Happy Holidays to all!