Rocky! Farrah! Carrie! Sonny! Cher! Get out your disco shoes, feather your hair, and tie up your wrap dress: 1976 saw the debut of Charlie’s Angels, Rocky Balboa, and film’s bloodiest prom queen. Now PEOPLE celebrates America’s bicentennial year with a special issue jam-packed with photos and throwback fun. From Stevie Wonder’s masterpiece “Songs in the Key of Life” to goofy variety shows like Donny & Marie and the singing Brady Bunch. From Blondie on the radio to Taxi Driver at the movies, as well as The Bionic Woman and that Saturday-morning cartoon classic “I’m Just a Bill” on TV. You’ll find exclusive interviews, including Jaclyn Smith on the making of Charlie’s Angels, and memories from rocker Peter Frampton, Olympic gold medalist Dorothy Hamill, Interview with the Vampire author Anne Rice, and more. The headlines, fashions, trends, and inventions (hello, first Apple computer!) that made 1976 a year to remember. Just ask Charo.
Celebrate The ’70s: 1976 Edition
1976: Never A Dull Moment
StarTracks
‘76 Icons • IN OUR BICENTENNIAL THE ‘THREE LITTLE GIRLS WHO WENT TO THE POLICE ACADEMY’ RIVALED RED, WHITE & BLUE AS THE YEAR’S MOST POPULAR TRIO. EVEN NOW, CHARLIE’S ANGELS, ROCKY BALBOA AND THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF THE ERA REMAIN INDELIBLE
At The Movies • JESSICA LANGE MADE HER SCREEN DEBUT WITH A VERY BIG COSTAR, ONE OF SEVERAL MEMORABLE PAIRINGS: HOFFMAN & REDFORD, STREISAND & KRISTOFFERSON AND DE NIRO TALKING DOWN HIS OWN CREEPY REFLECTION WITH A LINE PEOPLE STILL CALL OUT TO HIM TODAY
On The Tube • ALONGSIDE SO-CALLED ‘JIGGLE TV’WERE FAMILY-FRIENDLY VARIETYSHOWS STARRING REAL AND FICTIONAL BROODS—AND A LOT OF SEQUINS. ALSO GETTING AIRTIME: SINGLE WORKING GALS AND THE CATCHIEST CIVICS LESSON EVER SUNG
The Sound of ‘76 • FORMER SUPREMES LEADER DIANA ROSS EMBRACED DISCO AND SET A NEW CHART RECORD. ALREADY A SOLO STAR, ELTON JOHN HAD A HIT DUET, WHILE BOWIE WAS CHANGING HIS TUNE AND NEW WAVE AND PUNK TOOK OFF AT A DOWNTOWN NEW YORK CITY DUMP CALLED CBGB
Books • THREE BESTSELLERS GRIPPED THE NATION, ONE FORCING US TO CONFRONT THE WORST OF U.S. HISTORY, ANOTHER EXPLORING A FAMILY TRAGEDY AND ONE WITH AN IMMORTAL ANTIHERO. AUTHOR ANNE RICE TALKED ABOUT HER STILL-SEXY VAMPIRE AT 40
In The News • HAPPY 200TH BIRTHDAY, AMERICA! DURING THE BICENTENNIAL WE CELEBRATED DEMOCRACY, WELCOMED THE QUEEN AND PARTIED ACROSS THE LAND
Sports • TWO OLYMPICS IN THE SAME YEAR? SCORE! (THAT’S HOW THEY USED TO DO IT.) SKATER DOROTHY HAMILL REMEMBERS HER VICTORY IN INNSBRUCK. AT THE SUMMER GAMES, A ROMANIAN GYMNAST AND AN AMERICAN DECATHLETE OWNED THE SPOTLIGHT IN MONTREAL. ON THE TENNIS COURTS, EX-FIANCÉS JIMMY CONNORS AND CHRIS EVERT WERE THE CHAMPIONS
Fashion • OUTFITTING CELEBRITIES, WORKING WOMEN OR DISCO QUEENS, A FEW DESIGNERS BECAME STARS OUTSIDE THE DEPARTMENT STORE—AND CONTINUE TO INFLUENCE THE WAY WE DRESS TODAY
Passages • WHO GOT HITCHED (FRANK), WHO GOT DITCHED (ZSA ZSA), WHO DID BOTH (LIZ!). ALSO: A FOND FAREWELL TO LEGENDS OF STAGE, SCREEN, PAGE AND INDUSTRY AND A CROP OF BABIES WHO GREW UP FAMOUS
Class of ‘76 • BEFORE THEY WERE ACTORS, MUSICIANS OR MOGULS—THEY WERE SENIORS
CREDITS
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