In 1975 an American became a millionaire selling ordinary stones.
Ad man Gary Dahl packed pebbles in boxes with air holes, like a pet carrier, and in about six months sold nearly 1.5 million Pet Rocks at almost $4 each.
More amazing facts
- 1973 The first call from a handheld mobile phone went to a rival.
- 1973 · 1977 George Lucas secured the merchandising and sequel rights to Star Wars before filming, after the 1973 hit American Graffiti.
- 1974 In one month of 1974 a soldier who had ignored the end of the war for 29 years gave up, and an army that had waited 2,200 years was found: Onoda surrendered on 10 March, the Terracotta Army turned up on 29 March.
- 1977 Star Wars came out in May 1977, and in September France carried out its last execution by guillotine.
- 1977 · 2012 'Johnny B. Goode' is now travelling through interstellar space: on 25 August 2012 Voyager 1, carrying its Golden Record, became the first human-made craft to enter interstellar space.
- 1977 · 1980 The last person to catch smallpox naturally was a hospital cook in Somalia.