Looking back 50 years ago – April 1975

April 1975 was a month filled with controversy, technology revolutions and political decisions that have come to shape the following 50 years. How many of these key moments do you remember?

Bobby Fischer Stripped of Title (April 3)

Bobby Fischer was stripped of his World Chess Championship title by the International Chess Federation (FIDE). Fischer, who had won the title in 1972 by defeating Boris Spassky, refused to defend it against Soviet challenger Anatoly Karpov due to disagreements over match conditions, including the number of games and prize money. His withdrawal left FIDE with no choice but to declare the title vacant. Karpov, by default, became the challenger, though the official title match was delayed. Fischer’s refusal marked the end of his reign and was a significant moment in chess history.

Microsoft Founded (April 4)

In April 1975, Bill Gates and Paul Allen, two young tech enthusiasts, founded Microsoft in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The company was initially created to develop and sell software for personal computers, a market that was still in its infancy. The duo’s big break came when they developed an interpreter for the BASIC programming language, which they licensed to Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems (MITS) for its Altair 8800 computer. This deal established Microsoft as a key player in the software industry. Over the following decades, Microsoft revolutionised personal computing, introducing operating systems like MS-DOS and Windows. Gates and Allen’s vision of making computers accessible to the average person shaped the modern tech landscape. By the 1990s, Microsoft had become one of the most powerful companies in the world, dominating the software industry. Today, it remains a tech giant, leading advancements in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and gaming. The founding of Microsoft in 1975 is now seen as a pivotal moment in the history of technology.

Did you know:
The First Computer Weighed More Than 27 Tons. Her name was ENIAC, and she took up a modest 1800 square feet of space.

The Academy Awards (April 8)

The 47th Academy Awards took place on April 8, 1975, with The Godfather Part II making history as the first sequel to win Best Picture. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, the film was praised for its storytelling and performances, particularly by Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. Other winners included Art Carney (Harry and Tonto) for Best Actor and Ellen Burstyn (Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore) for Best Actress. The ceremony reflected the changing landscape of Hollywood, with a growing interest in complex narratives and socially conscious filmmaking.

Operation Eagle Pull (April 12)

Operation Eagle Pull was a U.S. military operation conducted on April 12, 1975, to evacuate American citizens, Cambodian government officials, and other at-risk individuals from Phnom Penh. As the Khmer Rouge rapidly advanced toward the capital, fears of a violent takeover prompted the U.S. to conduct a swift airlift operation. Using helicopters from the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, personnel were transported from Phnom Penh to U.S. ships stationed offshore. Despite initial fears that the evacuation would be chaotic, it proceeded smoothly, with over 750 people safely removed. However, many Cambodians who were unable to flee were left behind, soon facing the brutal rule of the Khmer Rouge.

Operation Eagle Pull foreshadowed another major evacuation just weeks later—Operation Frequent Wind, which involved the evacuation of Saigon as North Vietnamese forces captured South Vietnam’s capital. The fall of Cambodia and the U.S. withdrawal symbolised the collapse of American influence in Indochina. For many Cambodians, it was the last chance to escape the horrors that would follow.

Cyclone Joan Hits Western Australia (April 12)

Cyclone Joan, one of the most powerful tropical cyclones to hit Australia in 1975, struck Western Australia on April 12. With wind speeds exceeding 200 km/h, it caused extensive damage, particularly in Port Hedland and surrounding areas. Buildings were destroyed, power lines were downed, and flooding made rescue efforts difficult. Despite the destruction, the preparedness of emergency services helped prevent large-scale loss of life. The cyclone highlighted the vulnerability of Australia’s northern regions to tropical storms and led to improvements in disaster preparedness. Cyclone Joan remains one of the strongest storms to impact Western Australia in the 20th century.

Fall of Phnom Penh (April 17)

On April 17, 1975, the Khmer Rouge, a communist revolutionary group led by Pol Pot, captured Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. This marked the beginning of one of the most brutal regimes in modern history. The Khmer Rouge sought to create an agrarian utopia by forcibly evacuating cities, dismantling institutions, and abolishing money, private property, and religion. Over the next four years, approximately two million people (a quarter of Cambodia’s population) perished due to execution, starvation, forced labor, and disease. Phnom Penh’s fall also signaled the failure of U.S. intervention in Cambodia, as American-backed forces proved unable to withstand the communist advance.

The international community largely remained unaware of the full extent of the atrocities for years. Today, the fall of Phnom Penh is remembered as a tragic turning point in Southeast Asian history, leading to widespread suffering and a refugee crisis. Many Cambodians fled the country, seeking asylum in places like Australia and the United States. The legacy of this period continues to shape Cambodia, with efforts to bring former Khmer Rouge leaders to justice still ongoing in international courts.

Alice Cooper Banned from Entering Australia

In April 1975, Australian Labor and Immigration Minister Clyde Cameron banned American rock musician Alice Cooper from entering Australia. The ban was imposed due to concerns about Cooper’s controversial stage performances, which were considered inappropriate by some authorities at the time. This decision sparked debates about censorship and artistic expression within the country.

Billboard Number One Songs

Throughout April 1975, the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 featured several iconic songs at number one:

• April 5: “Lovin’ You” – Minnie Riperton
• April 12: “Philadelphia Freedom” – The Elton John Band
• April 19: “(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song” – B.J. Thomas