1974

Photos from a 1975 Brookwood Village brochure

1974 was the 103rd year after the founding of the city of Birmingham.

Events

• The Shelby County Historical Society was founded.
• The original Tutwiler Hotel was demolished.

Business

• Angry Revolt and Gene Crutcher Books closed.
• The first Birmingham Home & Garden Show was held.
• Ed's Pet World and La Cocina opened for business.
• Anita Evans bought Carlile's Barbecue.
• Cliff Holman became manager of the Parliament House.
• The Paperman ceased publication.
• Tinder Box opened at Brookwood Village.

Government

• The Birmingham Community Participation Program was established.
• Earl Hilliard was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives.

Religion

• Brinkley Morton became rector of Cathedral Church of the Advent.

Birmingham Americans logo

Sports

• The Birmingham Americans played their only season, earning a 17-5 record and becoming World Bowl champions.
• The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Auburn Tigers at the 1974 Iron Bowl.
• Homewood High School won the AHSAA 4A football championship, the highest class at the time.

Works

Buildings

• BJCC Theater
• Brookwood Village
• Horton Mill Bridge (restored)
• Porter Chapel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
• Sea Lion Pool
• Sears portion of Century Plaza
• Social Security Building (1974)
• WIAT Tower

Music

• Oldies rock band Chevy 6 formed.
• "Birmingham" by Randy Newman

Individuals

• Tommy Charles became sports anchor at WBMG 42.
• Jessie Mack became the Homewood Police Department's first African American officer.
• Johnny O'Neal moved to Birmingham.
• Henry Parsley became a priest.
• Carole Robertson's remains were moved from Shadow Lawn Cemetery to Greenwood Cemetery.

Births

• January 31: Hiro Koda, professional stunt performer and coordinator
• March 25: Michelle Clemon, business executive
• April 18: Les Nuby, musician
• August 9: Michael Saab, entertainer
• August 10: Loretta Nall, marijuana legalization advocate
• August 12: Jon Vickers, attorney
• August 24: Aaron Martens, professional bass fisherman
• October 18: Michael Pickens, city councilor
• December 27: Nate Bland, professional baseball player
• Travis Bryant, blogger and businessman
• Brent Hinds, musician
• Craig Krawczyk, architect
• Chip Lindsey, high school football coach
• Chris MacNicol, Talladega Tire Man
• Jason Malone, brewmaster
• Lloyd Peeples, attorney
• Rumplesealskin, zoo sea lion
• Derric Rush, church media director
• Terrence West, high school basketball coach

Awards

• Charles Ghigna became poet-in-residence for the Alabama School of Fine Arts.

Graduations

• Emory Anthony from Alabama A&M University, Bachelor's
• Mark Gaines from Vestavia Hills High School
• Alan King from the University of Alabama, Bachelor's in finance
• Stephen Rolfe Powell from Centre College, Bachelor of Arts in painting
• Jeff Rutledge from Banks High School
• Richard Scrushy from UAB, respiratory therapy

Deaths

• May 31: Blanche Dean, naturalist, author and educator
• November 14: Johnny Mack Brown, college football player and actor
• November 25: Eddie Dent, professional baseball player
• Leo E. Bashinsky, industrialist, investor and civic leader
• Liston Corcoran, Birmingham city councilor

See also: List of Birmingham homicides in 1974

Context

In 1974 the crew of Skylab 4 completed a then-record 84 days in orbit. Charles de Gaulle Airport opened in Paris. OPEC ended their oil embargo. The Terracotta Army of Qin Shi Huang was discovered at Xi'an, China. India successfully detonated its first nuclear weapon. The first product was sold by scanning its Universal Product Code (UPC). President Richard Nixon resigned as a result of the Watergate scandal. The Rumble in the Jungle saw Muhammad Ali knock out George Foreman in 8 rounds to regain the Heavyweight title. A skeleton from the hominid species Australopithecus afarensis was discovered and named Lucy.

Notable births in 1974 included model Kate Moss, actor Christian Bale, actor Seth Green, singer James Blunt, acress Eva Mendes, singer Victoria Beckham, acress Penélope Cruz, singer Jewel, singer Alanis Morissette, baseball player Derek Jeter, basketball player Rasheed Wallace, comedian Jimmy Fallon, NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr, actor Leonardo DiCaprio, Mythbuster Kari Byron, and television and radio host Ryan Seacrest.

Notable deaths included movie mogul Samuel Goldwyn, comedian Bud Abbott, musician Duke Ellington, Chief Justice Earl Warren, aviator Charles Lindbergh, television host Ed Sullivan, U. N. Secretary-General U Thant, boxer James J. Braddock, and comedian Jack Benny.

Notable novels of 1974 included Stephen King's Carrie, Peter Benchley's Jaws, John le Carré's Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, and Madeleine L'Engle's A Wind in the Door. Non-fiction works included Carl Bernstein & Bob Woodward' All the President's Men, Vincent Bugliosi's Helter Skelter, and Piers Paul Read's Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors.

Top box office hits included The Towering Inferno, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, and Earthquake. The Godfather, Part II took Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director (Francis Ford Coppola), and Best Supporting Actor (Robert De Niro).

Albums released in 1974 included self-titled debut albums by Bad Company, Kansas, and Kiss, Court and Spark by Joni Mitchell, Good Times by Elvis Presley, and Walls and Bridges by John Lennon. The Grammy Award for Album of the Year went to Fulfillingness' First Finale by Stevie Wonder. Hit singles included Carl Douglas' "Kung Fu Fighting", Terry Jacks' "Seasons in the Sun", The Steve Miller Band's "The Joker", and George McCrae's "Rock Your Baby".

1970s

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