1978

Last Updated on: 6th July 2025, 10:33 pm

In 1978, Los Angeles TV newscasts were covering a mix of dramatic local events, political shifts, and cultural moments that reflected both the unique identity of Southern California and major national trends. Here’s a look at some of the biggest news stories LA television stations (like KTLA, KNBC, KABC, and KCBS) were covering throughout that year:

🔹 MAJOR LOCAL LOS ANGELES STORIES IN 1978

1. Chinatown Explosion – August 2, 1978

• A massive explosion at a fireworks warehouse in LA’s Chinatown killed 9 people and injured dozens.

• Covered live by all major LA stations; graphic images of smoke and destruction shocked viewers.

2. Proposition 13 Passed (June 1978)

• A tax revolt led by Howard Jarvis that dramatically cut property taxes in California.

• Local newscasts were filled with debates, rallies, and predictions about the impacts on schools, services, and city budgets.

• Prop 13 coverage was a major turning point in California’s political identity.

3. LAPD and Crime Coverage

• Increasing focus on gang activity, particularly in South Central LA.

• LAPD under Chief Daryl Gates received both praise and criticism for aggressive tactics.

• Car chases and high-profile murders were often featured on nightly broadcasts.

4. The Hillside Strangler Case (1977–1978)

• A terrifying serial killer case that haunted LA.

• In 1978, bodies of young women were still being discovered across LA and Glendale.

• Massive media coverage as fear spread across the city.

• The suspects (Kenneth Bianchi and Angelo Buono) weren’t arrested until late 1979, so speculation ran rampant on local news.

5. Fires and Smog Alerts

• Los Angeles continued struggling with air pollution and wildfires, especially in the dry late summer and early fall.

• Smog alerts were common, and health warnings were aired regularly on local news.

• Malibu-area wildfires also made headlines.

6. City Growth and Development Battles

• LA news featured coverage of debates about urban sprawl, freeway expansion, and the destruction of older neighborhoods to make way for new developments.

• The debate over the construction of Century City and expansion of the 405 and 10 freeways was ongoing.

🔹 NATIONAL & CULTURAL STORIES LA STATIONS COVERED

1. Jonestown Massacre (November 1978)

• Horrifying story where over 900 people died in a mass murder-suicide in Guyana, led by cult leader Jim Jones.

• LA covered it intensely, as many of the victims were from California.

2. Assassination of Harvey Milk & George Moscone (November 1978)

• The murder of the first openly gay elected official in California, along with San Francisco’s mayor, stunned the state.

• LA stations connected this to broader issues of LGBTQ rights and political violence.

3. Pope John Paul II Elected

• News broke in October 1978 that Karol Wojtyła had become Pope John Paul II.

• Local Catholic communities in LA responded, and news crews visited local churches for reaction.

🔹 ENTERTAINMENT & POP CULTURE IN LA NEWS

1. Grease, Saturday Night Fever, and disco craze

• Coverage of movie openings and red carpet events at iconic LA theaters (like Mann’s Chinese Theatre).

• Disco culture, fashion, and nightclub scenes (like Studio One in West Hollywood) were often featured in lifestyle segments.

2. Celebrity Trials and Scandals

• LA newscasts covered ongoing legal and personal dramas of local celebrities.

• Drug busts and DUIs involving actors and musicians were regular news fodder.

3. Television Industry

• Local newscasts followed ratings wars between LA-based networks and the rise of cable.

• Sitcoms and dramas like Three’s Company, Taxi, and Dallas were becoming cultural institutions.

🔹 Daily Staples on LA Newscasts

• Traffic reports (early versions of SigAlert updates).

• Weather forecasts, especially concerning Santa Ana winds.

• Local crime, missing persons, and community stories (e.g., school events, festivals, parades like the Hollywood Christmas Parade).

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