Remember the 1970s in all their disco glam glory? It was the decade of bell bottom jeans, daisy-patterned wallpaper, and iconic movies like Star Wars.
But, the things that made that era really special were the normal, everyday items and experiences that don’t often get passed down in history books. Here are 50 things from the ‘70s that take us right back to our weird and wonderful childhoods.
Key Takeaways
| – What defined the 1970s? The 1970s was a decade defined by bold fashion choices like bell bottoms and sequins, iconic snacks like Jell-O Pudding Pops and Space Food Sticks, and groundbreaking technology including the VCR, the first digital camera, and the Atari 2600, all of which left a lasting mark on American culture. – What were the most popular toys of the 1970s? The decade’s most beloved toys included Stretch Armstrong, Hungry Hungry Hippos, Hot Wheels, Silly Putty, and Pong, one of the first commercially successful video games. – What made 1970s fashion so iconic? The 1970s gave the world some of its most recognizable fashion staples, including bell bottom jeans, tube tops, jumpsuits, mood rings, and oversized sunglasses. These styles reflected the decade’s bold, free-spirited, and disco-influenced aesthetic. – What everyday experiences defined growing up in the 1970s? From playing outside after school and collecting green stamps at grocery stores, to squeezing into photo booths and owning a pet rock, the 1970s was filled with simple, unforgettable everyday moments that defined an entire generation’s childhood. |
50 Things From the 1970s That We Miss
From snacks and technology to clothing and toys, here are the things that made the ‘70s a decade to remember.
Snacks From the ‘70s
Processed snacks filled with sugar and packaged in bright colors were all the rage in the ‘70s. Here’s what kids and adults alike were gorging on in the 1970s.
- Doo Dads:
Marketed as 5 great tastes in one snack, the Doo Dads were similar to the Chex Mix and contained a mixture of crisp wheat squares, crunchy pretzels, Cheese Tid-Bits, and roasted peanuts. They were convenient and tasty, as you could eat them right from the packet.
- The Marathon Bar:
An 8-inch long chocolate bar made with braided caramel and milk chocolate. Safe to say that this was a big hit! It was chewy, had a unique design, and lasted a long time.
- Space Food Sticks:
These sticks by Pillsbury® were a byproduct of the space race, and were the earliest versions of a protein bar. They may have tasted chalky, but we loved them, and they were a staple in kids’ school lunchboxes.
- Kraft Koogles:
Peanut butter, who? Back in the ‘70s, we used to eat Koogles, which was just flavored, sweet peanut butter. If you wanted your spread to come in various flavors like cinnamon and banana, this was the snack of choice.
- Space Dust Sizzling Candy:
Remember Pop Rocks? Similar to that, Space Dust was a powdered snack that would crack and fizzle on your tongue, sometimes even changing colors!
- Pizza Spins:
These snacks by General Mills® were crunchy wheel-shaped chips that tasted like pizza. It was the perfect snack for when you got the munchies and craved a pizza, but didn’t want to heat up a frozen pizza.
- Jell-O Pudding Pops:
Picture pudding in popsicle form, and you know what pudding pops were. These frozen treats had a frosted top-layer coating, and were a quintessential ‘70s snack.
- Cup Noodles:
Introduced by the Japanese brand Nissin Foods®, these instant noodles are still around today! All you had to do was add hot water, wait for 2 minutes, and enjoy.
- Jell-O 1-2-3:
This gelatinous dessert mix came in the form of a powder that had to be blended in boiling water and left to cool in the fridge. It would, then, separate into 3 distinct layers, each with a different texture. Yum!
No machine-readable author provided. GeeJo assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, via Wikimedia Commons
- Carnation Breakfast Bars:
These chocolate-covered bars were literally breakfast in a delicious bar. They had proteins, vitamins, and minerals, combined with chocolatey goodness, making for a great breakfast on the go!
1970s Toys
Whether you were a kid or a teenager, owning one of these toys gave you a lot of “cool” points.
- Vintage Easy-Bake Oven:
Geared towards little girls, this miniature (working) oven came with cake mixes and small utensils. Kids could actually make tiny baked goods!
Bradross63, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Hot Wheels Cars and Tracks Set:
If you loved cars, this was the toy to have. You could build your own car tracks and race with your friends.
- Stretch Armstrong:
This action figure was made out of latex that was filled with gelled corn syrup! It could stretch to 4x its size, which meant kids did everything they could to literally stretch the toy to its limit.
Alex Beattie on Flickr, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Strawberry Shortcake:
This rag doll (and her friends) were the labubus of the ‘70s. She was a tiny redheaded girl with a strawberry bonnet and smelled like fruit.
- Silly Putty:
This clay-like stretchy material came inside egg-shaped containers. You could stretch it, break it, bounce it, or spread it over the outline of a picture.
Science History Institute, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Hungry Hungry Hippos:
This plastic board game designed for 2-4 players featured a hippo on each side. Small marbles were released into the center, and the hippo that “ate” the most marbles won.
Dave Fischer, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Frosty Sno-Man Sno-Cone Machine:
A DIY sno-cone machine shaped like a snowman? Yes, please! Kids could load ice cubes and manually operate the grinder to turn them into ice shavings. The apparatus came with 5 different flavors, too.
- Nerf Balls:
Before Nerf guns, there were Nerf balls. Since these were made out of foam, kids could now play ball indoors without worrying too much about breaking things.
- Pong:
Pong, released by Atari®, is often touted as the first successful video game. It was basically a very simplified digital version of table tennis, and was often found in arcades.
- Hoppity Hops:
These were inflatable, plastic balls with handles. All you had to do was sit on them, hold on to the handles, and bounce away.
1970s Technology
The ‘70s brought on a revolution in terms of technology. Here are the most common gadgets that get us all feeling some good ole ‘70s nostalgia.
- Wall Telephones:
Landlines in those days were attached to the walls. If you had to talk to your friends, you had to wait till the rest of your family members were done using the phone.
- VCR:
The VCR enabled you to record your favorite movies and TV shows to watch with your family later.
- Digital Camera:
Though film photography had become mainstream by the ‘70s, the first digital camera was introduced only in 1975. It was huge and weighed 4 kgs!
Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Barcode Scanner:
The first commercial barcode scanners were introduced only in the mid-1970s. When you walked inside a grocery store, you could marvel at the new tech!
- The Atari 2600:
This video game console was revolutionary, helping people play their beloved arcade games right at home.
A7N8X, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Cars From the ‘70s
The beginning of the decade saw a lot of flashy, muscle cars, but as the decade began winding down, car models became smaller and more economical.
- Chevrolet Monte Carlo:
This luxury car entered the market in 1970, and became Motor Trend’s “Car of the Year” in just 3 years. You might remember this stylish machine from The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.
Reinhold Möller, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Honda Accord:
This 2-door hatchback was the first among the Accord series. Not only was it well-built, it was also practical and economical for the common American.
Bull-Doser, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Volkswagen Beetle:
This car’s compact and quirky design, along with its budget-friendly price made it a popular choice among money-conscious drivers. Just 2 years into the decade, this vehicle became the world’s top-selling car.
- Pontiac Firebird Trans Am:
This muscle car had a screaming chicken decal on the hood and removable roof panels. Its aerodynamic design, along with its appearance in Smokey and the Bandit, elevated it to cult status.
Calreyn88, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Oldsmobile Cutlass:
The Cutlass was a common sight on American roads in the ‘70s, even becoming the nation’s bestselling car in 1976. It had a sleek look, yet it was comfortable and dependable.
Fashion in the 1970s
It was the ‘70s that gave us bold, vibrant, and flowy clothing. Polyester rose to stardom in this decade. Here are the most common ‘70s clothing and accessories that we loved.
- Bell Bottom Jeans:
These wide-leg pants with fitted thighs defined the era! They looked cool, and paired perfectly with a variety of tops and shoes.
- Tube Tops:
The ‘70s were all about daring fashion choices, so, of course, tube tops weren’t going to be left behind. Whether you were out and about, or at a disco club, you could see women rocking these.
jeanne, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Jumpsuits:
The ‘70s brought an explosion of working women, which helped popularize the jumpsuit. People loved its versatility and “smartness.”
- Sequins:
How could the disco decade not have sequins? They reflected the disco lights, making you feel like you were shimmering.
- Hot Pants:
Short shorts may be considered summer loungewear today, but back in the day, they did more than beat the heat. They were a symbol of rebellion against conservatism. They also made it easy to dance, which explains their popularity.
- Macrame:
The bohemian, free-spirited approach of this era brought macrame to the forefront. Belts, wall hangings, and planters made of this material became common.
- Mood Rings:
Rings that changed color based on your mood were all the rage in the ‘70s. Were they accurate? Nobody knows. But they certainly were cool.
- Tube Socks:
These were socks that were shaped like tubes (instead of human feet) and had colored stripes at the top. They were one-size-fits-all, and were loved by kids and high schoolers alike.
- Band T-shirts:
It was the ‘70s that turned t-shirts into proper outerwear. Wearing a tee featuring your favorite band was a way of letting everyone know what you stood for.
- Oversized Sunglasses:
In the 1970s, if you wanted to look nonchalant and effortlessly cool while protecting yourself from the sun, all you had to do was wear sunglasses that were too big for your face.
Miscellaneous ‘70s Products
The 1970s gave us all some unique experiences that (mostly) can’t be recreated. Here are a few that will make you go from “I can’t believe we did that” to “I miss those simpler times.”
- Pet Rocks:
This is exactly as crazy as it sounds. Black Mexican beach rocks were sold as “pets,” and everybody had one.
- Shag Carpeting:
It was practically a rite of passage to adorn your floors with these high-pile carpets. They came in the most outrageous colors, such as avocado, purple, and black. Whether you loved these carpets or hated them, raking them to fluff the fibers was a pretty fun activity.
- Tiger Beat:
This was the magazine to have if you were a teenage girl. It featured celebrity gossip, posters of heartthrob stars, and articles on TV shows, music, and movies: perfect for high school girls to fawn over.
- Playing Outside:
After school, kids and teenagers used to gather outside and play ball, ride on bikes, or hang out at diners.
- Colorful Toilet Paper:
You had to match your toilet paper to your bathroom tiles. Cue: colored toilet paper. The dyes weren’t body-safe, but the visuals were nothing to complain about.
- Banana Seats in Bikes:
Kids’ bikes in those days had long banana-shaped seats with tassels on the handlebars. They were long enough to accommodate you and your friend.
- Green Stamps:
Grocery stores used to give out green stamps. Once you had enough of them, you could use them to pay for small items.
- Photo Booths:
If you were out and needed to preserve the moment through pictures, you had to search for a photo booth. Squeezing into the booth and taking pictures with funny faces was the height of fun.
- Wite-Out:
J B from USA, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
This jar of white liquid was applied over written mistakes to “delete” them. Once the liquid dried out, you could write or type over it again.
- Metal Lunch Boxes:
Before plastic became ubiquitous, there was metal. Every kid had a metal lunch box with cartoon characters embossed on them. Even though they weighed a ton, they were sturdy and durable.
Embrace Some ‘70s Nostalgia with Classmates®
The 1970s were certainly a much simpler time. People lived in the moment, and had unique experiences. While you can’t travel back in time to the ‘70s, you can reminisce about that decade with old friends and yearbook photos.
The Classmates website helps you do just that. With over 480,000 yearbook archives, and the ability to find and connect with your old high school and university friends, Classmates will help you relive your best memories.
Register for free and get started!
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