Things From the 1970s That Defined a Generation
The 70s were full of weird trends and unforgettable moments. From disco parties to pet rocks, life in the ‘70s was colorful and crazy. Join us on a trip down memory lane as we explore 35 things that only people who lived in the 1970s will remember.
Shake It Up
Every Polaroid owner swore that shaking the photo helped it develop faster. They’d wave it in the air like it was magic, and the image slowly appeared. Spoiler alert: shaking didn’t actually help, but it made the whole process of waiting for your photo a bit more fun.
Pop Tops
Before safety designs came along, soda and beer cans had little pull-off tabs. People would pop off the tab and toss them on the ground in parks, on the beach, and on the street. Kids collected them, but stepping on one barefoot hurt like crazy.
Covering Your Mistakes
Before the backspace key was invented, people used Wite-Out to cover up their mistakes. All it took was a quick swipe, waiting for it to dry, and you could carry on typing. Sure, papers looked like patchwork quilts after, but it was great for perfectionists.
Rolles Disco Parties
Imagine disco music blasting, disco balls spinning, and people dancing while skating in circles. Ah, disco parties were the height of cool back in the ‘70s. Outfits had sparkle, skates had flair, and falling was just all part of the fun.
The Busy Signal
Families usually had one phone in the ‘70s. And, surprise, it wasn’t cordless. If someone was talking, you just had to wait for your turn. There was no texting, and no call waiting, just patience and maybe tapping your foot and sighing loudly to let them know you’re waiting.
Watership Down - Enough Said!
Watership Down was supposed to be a cartoon about rabbits. But then - bam - sudden violence, blood, and scary music. Kids in the ‘70s sat there wide-eyed, realizing cartoons weren’t always safe. Needless to say, this movie left a huge mark.
Simon
Every ‘70s kid remembers Simon. Now, Simon was just four colored buttons, but it could make your brain melt. You had to follow the pattern Simon played, hoping not to mess up. And the longer it went, the more stressful it became. You felt like a genius when you won.
Saturday Morning Cartoon Magic
Cartoons weren’t on every day in the ‘70s. You had to wait for Saturday mornings. Kids woke up early, grabbed cereal, and stared at the TV in their pajamas. Those few hours were pure gold for Mom and Dad, who got to have a lie-in.
Watergate
The Watergate scandal wasn’t just history - it was daily news on TV. Kids got bored watching adults argue, but parents stayed glued. Watergate was dinner table conversation for months, and it showed the whole country that even the president wasn’t untouchable.
The Pre-Star Wars Days
Imagine a world without Darth Vader, lightsabers, or the Force. Before Star Wars was released in 1977, kids didn’t even know what they were missing. And when it finally arrived, it blew everyone away. Sci-fi felt pretty empty without it.
The “Rubber Duckie” Song
Thanks to Sesame Street, kids across America sang “Rubber Duckie, you’re the one…” in the tub. That silly song turned bath time into fun time, and every kid wanted their own yellow rubber duck. And, yes, parents probably got tired of hearing it, but kids loved every quack.
Short Shorts and Tube Socks
Fashion in the ‘70s was, um, bold. Boys wore tiny shorts, and everyone had tube socks pulled up to their knees. Photos from that era look funny now, but at the time, it was the height of sporty cool. Comfort wasn’t the point, but style sure was.
Confused by the Metric System
In the ‘70s, America tried switching to the metric system. Suddenly, kids were being taught centimeters and kilometers instead of inches and miles. Adults and kids alike got confused, and in the end, it didn’t really stick. For a while, it felt like everyone had homework.
Jaws and a Fear of the Ocean
When Jaws hit theaters in 1975, everyone thought twice about swimming in the ocean. The movie’s music alone gave people chills, and beaches suddenly felt a little scarier. Spielberg managed to turn a shark into the most terrifying monster of the decade.
The Smallpox Vaccine Badge
If you got the smallpox vaccine, you had a little round scar on your arm to prove it. Kids in the ‘70s compared theirs at school, and it was like showing off a secret badge. It wasn’t pretty, but almost everyone had one back then.
Oscar Mayer’s Commercial
“I wish I was an Oscar Mayer wiener…” and that kid fishing while eating bologna - these are the commercials that played nonstop on televisions across America in the ‘70s. Everyone knew the jingle, and it got stuck in your head.
Ditto Machines
Do you remember doing your school projects on a ditto machine? You know the one that left purple text on the page? Kids grabbed their school work and immediately sniffed the pages because the ink had a smell you just couldn’t resist.
Copying Comics With Silly Putty
This one was fun. You’d press Silly Putty into the Sunday comics, peel it off, and there was the picture! Stretching the comic faces into weird shapes made everyone laugh. In the ‘70s, Silly Putty wasn’t just a toy - it was an art project that fit in your pocket.
Pencil Cases With a Difference
School supplies in the ‘70s were anything but simple. Pencil cases had slide rulers, built-in sharpeners, and compartments everywhere. They felt more like gadgets, and kids compared them like they were trading cars. A fancy one made you instantly cooler.
The Famous Bowl Cuts
Parents loved bowl cuts because they were cheap and easy. And in the ‘70s, almost every child sported the bowl cut. Kids hated them, but school photos from the ‘70s prove that it was a popular haircut that everyone gave their children.
Walt Disney World
When Disney World opened in Florida in 1971, it was a big deal. Families made the trip, wide-eyed at the castle, rides, and parades. It felt magical, new, and larger than life. Visiting Disney became the dream vacation for every kid.
A Candy Explosion
Pop rocks fizzed in your mouth like fireworks. Add soda, and kids whispered about stomachs exploding. Spoiler alert: nobody actually blew up, but daring a friend to try it was half the fun. It was candy that came with a side of drama.
Fixing the Signal
TVs had “rabbit ears” antennas. When the picture got fuzzy, you’d twist, turn, and sometimes even hold them while someone watched the screen to watch the picture get clearer. And that clear picture at the end of a struggle? It felt like a victory!
Typewriters, Where Are You?
Before computers, typewriters ruled the office. Every key was loud, and mistakes meant starting over or pulling out the Wite-Out. If you finished a whole page without messing up, it felt like winning a marathon. We can’t help but miss them now.
Photo Booth Selfies
Want a selfie in the ‘70s? You crammed into a photo booth. Four little photos slid out, sometimes blurry, but always fun. Friends made silly faces, couples kissed, and kids giggled. It was instant memories way before smartphones ever existed.
The Patty Hearst Story
Patty Hearst’s kidnapping shocked the whole country. She went from being an heiress to being part of a radical group. News stories followed her every move, and even kids felt the drama when they heard her name. She was a hot new topic in the ‘70s.
Sea-Monkeys
Owning Sea-Monkeys in the ‘70s felt more like you were a scientist. Ads promised magical creatures with crowns and smiles. In reality, they looked more like little shrimp swimming around. But kids loved them, even if they were the bane of every parent’s existence.
A Road-Trip Classic
Every family seemed to have one of those massive station wagons with fake wood panels back in the ‘70s. The back seat faced the road behind you, and it was perfect for waving at strangers. Sure, they guzzled gas, but they carried the entire family - dogs and luggage included.
Tang
Astronauts drank Tang in the ‘70s, so of course, kids wanted it too. All you had to do was mix powder with water, and suddenly you felt like you were in space, too. It wasn’t the tastiest drink, but being like an astronaut made it cool.
The Pet Rock Craze
If you didn’t have a pet rock in the 1970s, you just weren’t cool. Yes, people bought rocks. They came in boxes with instructions on how to “care” for them. It was the ultimate fad, and kids loved naming theirs even though it literally just sat there.
The Joy of the Atari Console
Atari was the start of home video games like Pong, Space Invaders, and Asteroids that kept kids glued to the TV for hours. The graphics were blocky, but back then, it felt revolutionary. It was the machine that made kids dream of beating high scores.
Gas Shortages
In the ‘70s, gas wasn’t always easy to find. Cars stretched down blocks waiting for a few gallons. People sat in line, frustrated, with their engines off to save fuel. It was stressful, but it’s one of those moments you never forget if you lived through it.
Learning With Music and Schoolhouse Rock!
Every Saturday morning, kids learned about history, grammar, and math through catchy cartoons on Schoolhouse Rock! “Conjunction Junction” and “I’m Just a Bill” are stuck in many heads today. It was sneaky education at its best - you were learning, but it felt like fun.
