Can You Dig This Quiz on the Year 1975?

Leonard Nimoy’s portrayal of Mr. Spock in the original “Star Trek” series from 1966 to 1969 made him a sci-fi legend. However, when he released his autobiography “I Am Not Spock” in 1975, fans were confused by Nimoy rejecting the beloved character. Nimoy went on to say the move was a “huge mistake,” and tried to make it up to fans in 1995 by titling his second biography “I Am Spock.”

Captivating Broadway audiences with its dazzling costumes, infectious music, and powerful performances, “The Wiz” was a groundbreaking retelling of “The Wizard of Oz” with an all-Black cast. The musical helped to challenge stereotypes, and became a commercial and critical success. “The Wiz” won seven Tony Awards, ran for over four years, and was adapted into a feature film.

On February 11, 1975, KC and the Sunshine Band released their breakthrough single “Get Down Tonight,” which became the first of their five No. 1 hits. Led by founder Harry Wayne Casey, the group followed up with “That’s the Way (I Like It)” and also won a Grammy for the album in 1976. Still popular today, “Get Down Tonight” has cemented KC and the Sunshine Band’s place in disco history.

On October 22, 1975, Cincinnati emerged victorious over the Boston Red Sox after a grueling seven-game battle. Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk hit a dramatic extra-inning home run to capture game six. But in the final game, it was Joe Morgan’s clutch, two-out, ninth-inning single that scored Ken Griffey Sr. and secured a 4-3 win for the Reds, earning them the World Series title.

In 1975, Sony revolutionized home entertainment with the release of Betamax. The tapes allowed people to record their favorite TV shows, making it possible to watch what you wanted, when you wanted. Betamax faced stiff competition, however, when VHS tapes were released by JVC in 1977. The more lightweight and affordable format allowed JVC to undercut Sony’s production, and ultimately dominate the market.

Dubbed by some as the greatest movie of all time, “The Godfather Part II” was the sequel to the already-iconic “Godfather’ film directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Starring such acting legends as Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Robert Duvall, and Diane Keaton, the film won six Oscars in 1975, including Best Director for Coppola, and the coveted Best Picture award.

In 1975, Arthur Ashe broke barriers by becoming the first Black man to win Wimbledon. Ashe faced off against the heavily favored Jimmy Connors in the final, but in an upset, emerged victorious, winning in four sets. Off the court, Ashe used his platform to speak against apartheid and to raise awareness about HIV. He was a vocal advocate for civil rights and social justice until his death in 1993.

On November 3, 1975, America woke up to a new tradition: “Good Morning America.” The ABC morning show featured a cast of anchors including David Hartman and Nancy Dussault, and it quickly became a hit, drawing in millions of viewers. Initiallyz, “Good Morning America”faced criticism for its lighthearted approach to the news, but the show persevered and now has a legacy spanning nearly five decades.

Though it was a successful musical play in London and Los Angeles, “Rocky Horror” was a box office flop upon its release. It’s since become a fan favorite, thanks in large part to decades of participatory midnight viewings in movie theaters around the world. Devoted fans thrill to the film’s campy setting and kitschy songs, sung by stars such as Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, and Barry Bostwick.

On September 5, 1975, Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, a follower of cult leader Charles Manson, tried to shoot President Gerald Ford during a visit to the Capitol building in Sacramento, California. Just 17 days later, another attempt on Ford’s life was made in San Francisco by Sara Jane Moore, who managed one shot before she was apprehended. Ford was unharmed in both incidents.

After sales of his first two studio albums proved lackluster, Bruce Springsteen needed a hit, and “Born to Run” became his breakthrough album. The title track was his first Top 40 hit, and two weeks after the album’s October 11 release, 26-year-old Springsteen was on the cover of both “TIME” and “Newsweek” magazines, heralding the arrival of a fresh new voice on the rock music scene.

More than a year after disappearing from her Berkley, California home, Patty Hearst, the granddaughter of legendary media tycoon William Randolph Hearst, was arrested in San Francisco. Hearst claimed that her captors, members of the radical Symbionese Liberation Army, had brainwashed her into joining them in several deadly robberies. Hearst’s prison sentence was commuted by President Jimmy Carter in 1979.

Former high school classmates at Lakeside School in Seattle, 19-year-old Bill Gates and 22-year-old Paul Allen teamed up in April 1975 to launch Microsoft (then known as Micro-Soft), which produced software for one of the first personal computers, the Altair 8800. Microsoft became massively successful licensing its operating systems, and their startup became one of the largest companies in the world. Allen left Microsoft in 1983 and Gates in 2008.

The Thrilla in Manila was the third and final heavyweight championship match between Ali and Frazier (they’d split the first two). Considered one of the greatest fights of all time, it was held on October 1, 1975 in the Philippine capital, and watched by a global audience estimated in the hundreds of millions. The brutal bout lasted 14 rounds, before Ali was declared the winner by technical knockout.

“Jaws,” Steven Spielberg’s second feature film, had a troubled production, but savvy television marketing and positive word of mouth from viewers made it a box-office sensation. An adaptation of Peter Benchley’s book about a man-eating great white shark, the film starred Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw. “Jaws” was the year’s highest-grossing film and ushered in the summer blockbuster.

The brainchild of Canadian producer Lorne Michaels, “Saturday Night Live” marked the start of a new era of edgy, topical humor on television — exemplified by its first host, comedian George Carlin. SNL was an instant smash, and its original cast, which included John Belushi, Jane Curtin, Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd, and Chevy Chase, became the first of dozens of comedic stars that got their start on the show.

On January 1, 1975, the Watergate scandal that shook the Nixon administration came to a head with the conviction of several White House officials. Attorney General John Mitchell and White House chief of staff H.R. Haldeman were among those found guilty of covering up the break-ins at the Democratic National Committee headquarters.

Before serving as the United Kingdom’s first female prime minister from 1979 to 1990, Margaret Thatcher made history in 1975 with an unexpected victory over Edward Heath that saw her become the leader of the country’s Conservative Party. The “Iron Lady,” as she was known, served in the role for four years before taking over the prime ministership from James Callaghan.

On April 30, 1975, Saigon, the capital of the Republic of Vietnam, fell to forces of the Communist People’s Army of North Vietnam. The last U.S. troops had left two years earlier, after more than a decade of fighting. Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh City, and the fall of the city marked the end of the Vietnam War.

In 1975, in a rare instance where he didn't play himself, Elton John appeared in the motion picture adaptation of The Who's 1969 rock opera "Tommy." Elton John played The Pinball Wizard, who Tommy competes with. The film included an all-star cast of celebrities, such as Ann-Margaret, Roger Daltrey, Keith Moon, and Jack Nicholson.

Jimmy Hoffa became president of the powerful International Brotherhood of Teamsters in 1957. Allegations of corruption followed, and Hoffa was imprisoned on jury tampering, fraud, and conspiracy charges in 1967, but his conviction was commuted by President Richard Nixon in 1971. Hoffa made powerful enemies, and his mysterious disappearance in 1975 led to decades of conspiracy theories surrounding his fate.