H&M's
Blue Bell headquarters construction goes full speed ahead: Groundbreaking
occurs February 13, by March 19 the first steel is erected, and by April 24,
the steel framing is complete. On
July 3, the company's 51st birthday,
Henkels & McCoy’s Headquarters distinctive blue brickwork is completed...
a few months later, on October 27, John B. (Jack) Henkels, Jr., founder of Henkels & McCoy, passes away.
By the time of his passing Jack had witnessed his little company grow from
a $500 loan, six men and a truck to an international company with thousands of employees
coast to coast and revenues in the hundreds of millions of dollars... H&M
completes welding of all pipework in and around two 583,000 barrel storage
tanks for liquid natural gas for Philadelphia Gas Works' Northeast
Philadelphia facility. The tanks measure some 225 feet in diameter and
are 120 feet high... Ken Beamer is elected Vice President for H&M's York
Division...Mrs. Betty Boise is hired as a Cable Splicer in Sunnyside,
Washington... H&M finalizes construction of a challenging river crossing
installation of 10-inch insulated, concrete coated pipe from a marine
terminal to a fuel tank storage site 3.4 miles distant... Henkels & McCoy
uses helicopters to help install 1,500-pound replacement poles over 1.3
miles of treacherous mountain terrain for United Telephone Company in
Letterkenny, Pa. in icy conditions... H&M performs emergency power
restoration work after Ice Storm Felix slams Connecticut.
January 15
The Missing Audio – Watergate court-appointed experts announce that there is
missing audio on the Watergate tapes. This includes 18.5 minutes that they
think is erased. The White House offers simplistic explanations why long
sections are "missing".
February 4
Patricia Hearst, heiress to the Hearst family publishing fortune, is
abducted by the terrorist group Symbionese Liberation Army. Much publicized
pictures are taken of Patty Hearst posing in army fatigues with a submachine
gun (left). Hearst is videotaped carrying a weapon while participating in a bank
holdup. When she is finally arrested, a year later, she claims to have been
brainwashed.
March 3
In the worst aviation accident to date a DC-10 loses a cargo door and
crashes, killing all 346 passengers and crew.
March 18
The OPEC embargo ends.
April 4
It’s a 25th anniversary celebration for NATO.
April 8
Henry "Hank" Aaron breaks Babe Ruth's record of 714 home runs. He hits off
Al Downing of the LA Dodgers in Atlanta to earn his 715th homer.
August 8
It becomes apparent that Richard Milhous Nixon cannot remain
effective as President with the country bitterly divided over Watergate and
its far reaching implications. With testimony before Congress -- and in open
court -- all but damning him, and with transcripts tape recorded Oval Office
dealings made public, Nixon resigns, to be succeeded in office by his
unelected vice president, Gerald
R. Ford, US Representative, of Michigan. Two weeks earlier, the US Supreme Court had ordered Nixon to release 64
taped conversations, made during the Watergate cover-up. Nixon's aides had
stonewalled Congress and the Court for months before finally yielding.
Above: former President Nixon flashes his V sign as he boards a helicopter
after resigning. Nixon returns to San Clemente, California. Nixon will later
attempt to rehabilitate his reputation as an elder statesman.
October 17
Pardon Me: President Gerald Ford pardons Former President Richard Nixon for
any crimes he may have committed.
October 30
The Rumble in the Jungle – In Zaire, Muhammad Ali knocks out George Foreman
to regain the Heavyweight title.
December 19
The second unelected Vice President is Nelson Rockefeller.
ALSO IN 1974:
Construction begins on Chicago's Sears Tower. When completed in 1976 the
110-story building (left) will surpass New York’s World Trade Center and be the world's
tallest building for twenty-two years.
Beverly Johnson's photo graces Vogue magazine; their first African-American cover
girl.
The Heimlich maneuver is invented.
Girls are permitted to play Little League Baseball.
Ballet star Mikhail Baryshnikov defects from the Soviet Union.
At the Movies
The Sting (Best Picture of 1973), The Exorcist,
Papillon, Magnum Force, Herbie Rides Again, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's
Nest.
In Sports
The Philadelphia Flyers defeat the Boston Bruins in a 4-2 win for the
Stanley Cup...
Frank Robinson becomes the first African American manager in Major League
Baseball...
Jimmy Conner and Chris Everet both win Wimbledon...
Yankee Mickey Mantle is inducted to the Hall of Fame. Mantle had over 535
home runs with the Yankees. He is rated second only to Babe Ruth. He has
played more than 2,401 games, more than any other Yankee, including Lou Gehrig...
and Ruth’s home run record is beaten by
Hank Aaron after forty-six years...The Miami Dolphins soak the Minnesota Vikings in a 24-7 defeat at the
Super Bowl.
What's
On TV
Dysfunctional families of all types rule the sitcom airwaves. All in
the Family and Sanford & Son still top the charts, followed by
newcomer Chico and the Man starring the ill-fated Freddie Prinze
(left) and veteran Jack Albertson chronicling the meeting and
eventual friendship between the crotchety, Albertson and optimistic Latino
upstart Chico. The Jeffersons, a new Archie Bunker spin-off weigh
in at Number Four, followed by M*A*S*H, Rhoda, and Good Times.
Also this year, The Rockford Files, a private eye show with a twist
with James Garner as the affable detective with a past.
1974 CHART ACTION
1 THE WAY WE WERE - Barbra Streisand (Columbia)
2 SHOW AND TELL - Al Wilson (Rocky Road)
3 SEASONS IN THE SUN - Terry Jacks (Bell)
4 BENNIE AND THE JETS - Elton John (MCA)
5 THE JOKER - The Steve Miller Band (Capitol)
6 YOU MAKE ME FEEL BRAND NEW - The Stylistics (Avco)
7 LOVE'S THEME - The Love Unlimited Orchestra (20th Century)
8 THE STREAK - Ray Stevens (Barnaby)
9 COME AND GET YOUR LOVE - Redbone (Epic)
10 YOU HAVEN'T DONE NOTHIN' - Stevie Wonder (Tamla)
11 TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia) - MFSB (Philadelphia Int'l)
12 DANCING MACHINE - The Jackson 5 (Motown)
13 THE LOCO-MOTION - Grand Funk (Capitol)
14 KUNG FU FIGHTING - Carl Douglas (20th Century)
15 ROCK ME GENTLY - Andy Kim (Capitol)
16 NOTHING FROM NOTHING - Billy Preston (A&M)
17 HOOKED ON A FEELING - Blue Swede (EMI)
18 SUNSHINE ON MY SHOULDERS - John Denver (RCA Victor)
19 THEN CAME YOU - Dionne Warwicke & The Spinners (Atlantic)
20 YOU'RE SIXTEEN - Ringo Starr (Apple)
