September 20 in History
Many events took place on September 20, 1976 from births
and natural disasters to closures of historical landmarks. Here
are just a few events that happened and one very special event
that took place almost thirty-two years ago. As the years go by
other events happened on this date such as in television
history, shows that made a huge breakthrough for other shows.
September 20, 1976 at approximately 3PM in the city of
Phoenix, Arizona at St Joseph’s Hospital Reyes Blaine sits at
work on the OBGYN floor. Suddenly her water breaks and quickly
her fellow nurses place her on monitors for she was not due for
another month to the day. Despite all efforts moments later
Reyes is welcoming her daughter into the world.
Also on this date on September 20, 1976 according to the
article in the Las Cruces Sun News “Spanish Missions Closed” The
article states “Officials have closed one 17th century Spanish
mission in central New Mexico to tourist and have blocked off
part of another mission because of the walls on the old
structures are deteriorating.”1 The article goes on to state that
“[t]he Museum of New Mexico asked the legislature last year for
1
"Spanish Mission Closed." Las Cruces Sun News, 09/20/1976 1976.
1
$30,000 to conduct …[a] study.”2
I wonder how long it took the
Museum of New Mexico to get the money needed to fix the
structures.
The NY York Times issued an article on September 20, 1976
about the cost of raising a child. The title was “Child-Rearing
Cost is Put Near $85,000”, although the article is based on the
cost of raising a child in the city of New York surely it could
be a basis for any parent giving birth to a child in 1976. The
article mentions that in “the first year of the child’s life,
the cost was estimated at $1,835”3. The article also gives a
chart that shows the cost increase from 1958 to 1975. Those
increases based on the “[c]hanges in living patterns included in
1963 the ownership of a television set as well as radio and
cigarettes for the wife and the husband, and in 1970 an
occasional family meal in a restaurant, ownership of a
phonograph and a modest amount for alcoholic beverages.”4 The
amazing thing is just how much the price of raising a child has
changes in the last thirty years.
2
"Spanish Mission Closed." Las Cruces Sun News, 09/20/1976 1976.
3
"Child-Rearing Cost Is Put near $85,000." New York Times, 09/20/1976 1976,
35.
4
"Child-Rearing Cost Is Put near $85,000." New York Times, 09/20/1976 1976,
35.
2
Finally, in television history on September 20, 1984 the
“Cosby Show” aired for the first time. The show “[f]ocused on
the everyday adventures of an upper-middle class black family.
The series revived a television genre (situation comedy), saved
a beleaguered network (NBC), and sparked controversy about race
and class in America.”5 This show opened doors for many other
ethic shows to be developed.
This has been quite a journey to look back at what happened
on the day of September 20, 1976. Surely, a million other events
happened on that date things that were more or less important.
It was interesting to see the advertisements for food and
clothing. The prices were so different and cheap.
This is just a casual look at September 20, 1976 and what
else happened on this day in history. This look back is just a
simple reminder that the news does not sleep and life just keeps
happening.
5
The Cosby Show U.S Situation Comedy The Museum of Broadcast Communications,
[cited 09/09/08 2008]. Available from
www.museum.tv/archives/etv/c/html/c/cosbyshow/cosbyshowt.htm.
3
Work Cited
"Child-Rearing Cost Is Put near $85,000." New York Times,
09/20/1976 1976, 35.
The Cosby Show U.S Situation Comedy The Museum of Broadcast
Communcations, [cited 09/09/08 2008]. Available from
www.museum.tv/archives/etv/c/html/c/cosbyshow/cosbyshowt.ht
m.
"Spanish Mission Closed." Las Cruces Sun News, 09/20/1976 1976.
"Tremor in Mexico." Albuquerque Journal, 09/20/1976 1976, 2.
4