{"id":1714,"date":"2026-06-01T15:36:24","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T15:36:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.cortland.edu\/musiclegacy\/?page_id=1714"},"modified":"2026-06-01T18:42:32","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T18:42:32","slug":"class-of-1976","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.cortland.edu\/musiclegacy\/class-of-1976\/","title":{"rendered":"Class of 1976"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Times<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/sup>, 1975 Microsoft was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen and just one year later, on April 1st<\/sup>, 1976, Apple Computers was founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne. Liquid Paper,<\/em> used to make corrections with typewriters  (created by Monkee Michael Nesmith\u2019s mother) would soon be obsolete with text correcting programs built into these new personal computers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On September 26th<\/sup>, 1975, The Rocky Horror Picture Show debuted in Los Angeles with a general release three days later.\u00a0 Although an initial flop, the movie relaunched in 1976 at New York\u2019s 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<\/sup> anniversary and in 2026, a major Broadway revival hit the Great White Way.\u00a0 Also debuting in 1975, NBC\u2019s Saturday Night Live aired on October 11th<\/sup>, 1975.\u00a0 Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, Garrett Morris, Jane Curtin and Laraine Newman were known as the \u201cNot Ready For Prime Time Players\u201d with the first episode hosted by George Carlin with musical guests Billy Preston and Janis Ian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On November 10th<\/sup>, 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, \u201cThe Wreck Of the Edmund Fitzgerald\u201d recording was captured on tape as an impromptu rehearsal take with a band that had never played together. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria featured American Ladies Singles Gold Medalist Dorothy Hamill at just 19 years old. On February 10th<\/sup>, 1976, Hamill\u2019s performance earned her the title of \u201cAmerica\u2019s Sweetheart\u201d having won gold despite not performing any triple jumps.  She created a signature move called the \u201cHamill Camel,\u201d a camel spin that transitions to a sit spin. Hamill also shaped a fashion hair trend with her short, bouncy wedge-cut hairstyle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two monumental movies released during in the spring of 1976 were Taxi Driver<\/em> and All the President’s Men<\/em>, two of the most celebrated and culturally defining American films in history.  Both films captured the cynical, anti-establishment view of the 1970\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1976 graduates donned caps and gowns on May 22nd<\/sup>, 1976 for their Commencement Ceremony held at the PER Ice Arena.  It was the 108th<\/sup> year of the college and also the Bicentennial of the United States.  To commemorate the country\u2019s 200th<\/sup> birthday, each graduate received a special charm to put on their cap tassel featuring the Liberty Bell and the number 76. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The music of 1975\/1976 continued to push boundaries with cinematic, conceptual rock, which became known as \u201cArena Rock.\u201d 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\u2019re 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\u2019s Bowery district and at clubs like  CBGB\u2019s. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Notable Events<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • Apple Computer Company Founded – <\/strong>April 1st<\/sup>, 1976\n
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    • 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<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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