The Times
In 1976, you could hear the click-clack of Smith Corona Electric Portable Typewriters all over campus as students typed their class papers. But everything was about to change with the launch of the personal computer. On April 4th, 1975 Microsoft was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen and just one year later, on April 1st, 1976, Apple Computers was founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne. Liquid Paper, used to make corrections with typewriters (created by Monkee Michael Nesmith’s mother) would soon be obsolete with text correcting programs built into these new personal computers.
On September 26th, 1975, The Rocky Horror Picture Show debuted in Los Angeles with a general release three days later. Although an initial flop, the movie relaunched in 1976 at New York’s Waverly Theater as a midnight show that included audiences dressing as the actors with the rest of the audience screaming dialogue at the screen. This proved to be the magic formula making the film the largest grossing, most successful cult movie of all time. In 2025, the film celebrated its 50th anniversary and in 2026, a major Broadway revival hit the Great White Way. Also debuting in 1975, NBC’s Saturday Night Live aired on October 11th, 1975. Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, Garrett Morris, Jane Curtin and Laraine Newman were known as the “Not Ready For Prime Time Players” with the first episode hosted by George Carlin with musical guests Billy Preston and Janis Ian.
On November 10th, 1975, the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, the largest vessel on Lake Superior, lost her entire crew of 29 men, after a monster storm with hurricane-force winds of 90 miles per hour barreled down and sank the ship. The shipwreck currently rests 535 feet below the surface in two large pieces. Immortalized by Canadian singer Gordon Lightfoot just one month later, “The Wreck Of the Edmund Fitzgerald” recording was captured on tape as an impromptu rehearsal take with a band that had never played together.
The 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria featured American Ladies Singles Gold Medalist Dorothy Hamill at just 19 years old. On February 10th, 1976, Hamill’s performance earned her the title of “America’s Sweetheart” having won gold despite not performing any triple jumps. She created a signature move called the “Hamill Camel,” a camel spin that transitions to a sit spin. Hamill also shaped a fashion hair trend with her short, bouncy wedge-cut hairstyle.
Two monumental movies released during in the spring of 1976 were Taxi Driver and All the President’s Men, two of the most celebrated and culturally defining American films in history. Both films captured the cynical, anti-establishment view of the 1970’s in America. One revealed corruption at the top of American government as exposed through intrepid journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein and the other explored corruption at the street level fomented by a disillusioned, mentally-unstable Vietnam Veteran.
1976 graduates donned caps and gowns on May 22nd, 1976 for their Commencement Ceremony held at the PER Ice Arena. It was the 108th year of the college and also the Bicentennial of the United States. To commemorate the country’s 200th birthday, each graduate received a special charm to put on their cap tassel featuring the Liberty Bell and the number 76.
The music of 1975/1976 continued to push boundaries with cinematic, conceptual rock, which became known as “Arena Rock.” Bands like Queen, Boston, Fleetwood Mac, Rush and Peter Frampton played to massive crowds at large stadiums. Disco came into its own not only through booming dance beats and falsettos (Bee Gees, we’re talking to you!) but also through fashion featuring platform shoes, ruffled shirts and wrap dresses worn at DJ-hosted clubs like Studio 54. The times also saw the birth of Punk Rock in both the US and the UK with totally different motivations. The raw Punk sound in the US was a reaction to the highly produced Arena rock driven by the underground art scene in NYC’s Bowery district and at clubs like CBGB’s. The UK punk movement was fueled by socio-political rebellion due to unemployment, racial tension and lack of opportunity. Music from Ramones, Patti Smith, The Sex Pistols and The Clash was known for fast tempos, raw and distorted instrumentation, and aggressive, anti-establishment lyrics.
Notable Events
- Apple Computer Company Founded – April 1st, 1976
- Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne founded the Apple Computer Company launching their first product the Apple-1 in July 1976. It was an assembled circuit board priced at $666.66
- Rocky Horror Picture Show Movie Premiere – September 26th, 1975 – Los Angeles
- The Rocky Horror Picture Show movie debuted in Los Angeles with a general release three days later. Although an initial flop, the movie relaunched in 1976 at New York’s Waverly Theater as a midnight show that included audience costumes and dialogue participation.
- The Sinking Of The SS Edmund Fitzgerald – November 10th, 1975
- The SS Edmund Fitzgerald, the largest vessel on Lake Superior, lost her entire crew of 29 men, after a monster storm with hurricane-force winds of 90 miles per hour barreled down and sank the ship
- Dorothy Hamill Wins Olympic Gold at the 1976 Winter Olympics – February 10th, 1976 – Innsbruck, Austria
- Nicknamed “America’s Sweetheart, 19-year-old Dorothy Hamill won gold for Women’s Figure Skating and performed her signature move the “Hamill Camel.”
- Music of 1975/1976
Arena Rock was in full force filling stadiums and in high rotation at radio stations around the world from Queen, Boston, Journey, Fleetwood Mac, Rush and Peter Frampton
Disco music was defined by synthesizers, electric instruments and upbeat rhythms at clubs like Studio 54 and hosted by well-known DJs. It was music to “get down” to!
Punk Rock was based on rebellion. In the US, punk bands rejected the overly polished and over-produced Arena Rock. In the UK, punk music was steeped in high unemployment and economic hardship
CONCERTS THAT CAME TO CORTLAND 1975/1976
Aztec Two-Step – SAB CCC @ Moffett Gym – October 10th, 1975
- Meeting at the Stone Phoenix, a coffeehouse in Boston in 1971, Rex Fowler and Neal Shulman, were the folk-rock duo Aztec Two-Step. They immediately clicked musically and after a few months of writing and performing together they were signed to Electra Records. Their performance at Cortland supported their second album Second Step. This show was part of Homecoming Weekend and was billed as a Mini Folk Festival also featuring singer-songwriters Tom Rush and Elliot Murphy.
Return To Forever – Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Al Dimeola Lenny White – SAB CCC & TWA @ Moffett Gym – November 19th, 1975
- In 1975, the jazz-fusion supergroup Return To Forever made up of Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Al Dimeola and Lenny White, toured extensively through the US and Europe promoting their album “No Mystery.” Cortland students were lucky to see these musicians with such technical virtuosity in 1975 since Return To Forever disbanded a few years later in 1977.
Sha Na Na – SAB CCC @ Lusk Field House – February 13th, 1976
- Starting out as a Columbia University a cappella group, Sha Na Na was an American Doo-Wop, Rock and Roll band that simultaneously revived and parodied the music and the look of New York in the 1950’s. Frequently clad in gold lamé suits and leather jackets, pompadours and ducktail hairdos, they gained prominence by performing at Woodstock opening for Jimi Hendrix who was a friend of the band and got them on the bill.
The David Bromberg Band – SAB CCC @ Moffett Gym – March 10th, 1976
- Considered an “American roots music” artist, David Bromberg earned a following as a gifted multi-instrumentalist playing fiddle, acoustic and electric guitar, pedal steel guitar and dobro. He was also known for talking to the audiences during his shows with a sly sense of humor. In the 1960’s and 1970’s he gained a reputation as a sought-after session player for Bob Dylan, Jerry Jeff Walker, George Harrison, The Grateful Dead and Bonnie Raitt. In the early 1970’s he toured as a solo artist and made a stop at Cortland in 1976 with his “Big Band.”
Robert Klein – Corey Function Room – December 7th, 1975
- Robert Klein, comedian, singer and actor, originally wanted to study medicine but decided to go into acting while in college. He studied at Yale Drama School and eventually found his way to comedy as part of The Second City. After Second City, Klein appeared on Broadway, on several televised comedy shows and in 1975 went on an extensive college tour stopping at Cortland. Just a few weeks before his performance on campus, Robert Klein hosted the 5th episode of the 1st season of Saturday Night Live. Various comedians including Bill Maher, Billy Crystal, Richard Lewis, Jay Leno and Jerry Seinfeld have all cited Robert Klein as a comedic influence.