The great blackout of '65

On Sunday, July 4, 1976, at 5:50 p.m., the lights began to flicker in Salt Lake City, then went out entirely. Police and fire departments, hospitals, and Salt Lake International Airport immediately switched to standby auxiliary generators that were available for just such an emergency. However, radio and television stations were knocked off the air and many families that had holiday dinners in electric ovens had to rely on charcoal grills and dine by candlelight. About one million people in 85 percent of Utah, plus southwestern Wyoming, were without power from 1 1/2 to 6 hours. The incident did not receive widespread publicity outside of Utah and Wyoming. After all, it was the Fourth of July and most of us were preoccupied with Bicentennial celebrations.