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Other Happenings in 1973

Ballet/Dance History

Feb 8: Twyla Tharp choreographs Deuce Coupe for Joffrey Ballet.
Mar 1: Robert Joffrey Dance Company debuts.
Jul 19: Australian Ballet’s film of Don Quixote premieres at the brand-new Sydney Opera House.
Dec 15: Boston Ballet celebrates 10 years as a professional company.

American History

Jan 22: In Roe v. Wade, US Supreme Court rules that abortion is a constitutional right.
Jan 23: US President Nixon announces an accord has been reached to end the Vietnam War.
Mar 8: Eisenhower Tunnel opens and is established as the world’s highest/US longest tunnel.
Apr 18: US government ends Mandatory Oil Import Program, established in 1959 by President Eisenhower.
Jul 20: The US Senate passes the War Powers Act.
Sept 13: Congress passes and sends a bill to Nixon to lift football’s blackout.
Dec 28: The Endangered Species Act is enacted in the US to protect wildlife rights.
Three African Americans are elected as mayors in their respective cities: Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Detroit.

World History

Jan: The United Kingdom, Denmark, and Ireland join the European Economic Community.
Aug 15: US involvement in Vietnam officially ends.
Oct 20: Sydney Opera House opens, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 was performed.

Arts & Science

Jan 14: The Elvis Presley concert “Aloha from Hawaii” becomes the most watched broadcast by an individual entertainer.
Mar 27: 45th Academy Awards—The Godfather, Marlon Brando and Liza Minnelli win. Marlon Brando turns down Oscar for best actor in support of Native Americans.
Apr 3: The first portable cell phone call is made in New York City.
May 4: Valerie Perrine becomes the first woman to display female nudity on an American TV network in Steambath (PBS).
May 17: Stevie Wonder releases “You are the Sunshine of My Life.”
Jun 19: The Rocky Horror Picture Show stage production opens in London.
Aug 6: Stevie Wonder is involved in car crash, goes into a four-day coma.
Sep 8: Star Trek: Animated Series premieres on TV.
Dec 25: The Sting, directed by George Roy Hill and starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford, premieres in Los Angeles and New York (Wins Best Picture 1974).

Human & Civil Rights

Jun 28: Black Sports Hall of Fame forms, inducting Paul Robeson, Elgin Baylor, Jesse Owens, Jim Brown, Wilma Rudolph, Joe Louis, and Althea Gibson.
Jul 1: Tom Bradley becomes the 38th Mayor of Los Angeles, the first (and only) African American to hold that position
Jul 2: National Black Network begins operation on radio.

Sports

Jan 22: George Foreman TKOs Joe Frazier in 2 for heavyweight boxing title.
Mar 20: Roberto Clemente elected to Hall of Fame 11 weeks after his death.
Mar 31: Ken Norton defeats Muhammad Ali in a 12-round split decision.
May 8: Ernie Banks fills in for Cubs manager Whitey Lockman, who is ejected during the game, technically becoming baseball’s first African American manager.
Sept 1: George Foreman KOs Jose “King” Roman in 1 for heavyweight boxing title.
Sept 10: Muhammad Ali defeats Ken Norton.
Sep 21: Nate Archibald signs 7-year contract with NBA Kansas City Kings for $450,000.