Vintage Photos From The 1970s That Shine The Era In A Whole New Light

Remember when people used to dress up on planes? Better yet, remember when planes actually had room to breathe? Sure, you may have had to put up with a few clouds drifting over from the smoking section, but that's a small price to pay for a little extra legroom.

The '70s was the decade of disco, and you couldn't turn a corner in most cities without spotting at least one or two discotheques packed with people. With the signature move of the '70s being a simple finger point, it's no wonder those dancefloors were so packed! Even the dads could master that move!

Believe it or not, but this is what a computer looked like in the '70s. Even with the technology being so new to the average consumer, these digital dinosaurs still probably weren't as complicated as the Macs of today. Though at least you don't have to do all that dial-up faff anymore. That screeching fuzzy noise still haunts us now!

Before they became the sleek and sterile eyesores they are today, most fast-food joints actually had some character back in the day. All the colors in this photo certainly make the establishment more inviting. As one Reddit humorously commented, "50 shades of orange, that's how you know it's the 70s." They’re not wrong!

Today, all the world's music is at our fingertips. But in the '70s, jamming to your favorite tunes solo meant throwing on a pair of bulky headphones and parking yourself next to the stereo. Sure, it made dancing a little difficult, but at least you didn't have to worry about anyone gunking up your earbuds!

If you thought the New York City subways were awful now, the trains of the '70s would make today's transit look like luxury. But, like most New Yorkers, it looks like these commuters opted to suck it up and make the best of it. We can't tell if this lady is shocked at something she’s seen down the carriage or if it's just too early in the morning for her. Probably the latter!

In the '70s, owning a custom van was the epitome of cool, with neon colors and bold designs turning heads as you cruised down the highway. Today, you can find most of these vans parked outside concert venues peddling knockoff t-shirts, making you feel as though you've stepped back in time for a few moments.

Ah, Christmas morning. What fun it was to tear downstairs at the crack of dawn, rip every last shred of wrapping paper off your presents, and spend the rest of the day racing slot cars with dear old dad. These toys still exist today, but unfortunately for the big-kid dads of today, most youngsters would rather be playing something on the iPad or TV.

The 1970 season was a big one for the sport of football, as it marked the first to be played after the AFL-NFL merger. It's safe to say that retro football jerseys are still lightyears better looking than the "modern" styles of today. It might be time to dig yours out of the attic!

There was really nothing better than a '70s amusement park. The snacks were tastier, the prizes were bigger, and the Gravitron didn't fly off its hinges after every other ride. In this decade, parks around the states seemed to be in a race to build the tallest, fastest, sleekest rollercoaster, which of course meant more fun for the public!

Back in the day, supermarkets were quaint and tidy, filled with clean and straightforward packaging instead of the busy, in-your-face designs of today. Is it cereal or an adventure to a magical cartoon world? Make up your mind, Kellogg's! Fun fact: it wasn't until 1974 that stores started using price scanners. And the first item to ever be scanned? Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit chewing gum.

Roller skating was all the rage in the '70s, and there was no better place to get your four-wheeled groove on than at the local roller disco. As the guy in the dress shirt on the left could attest to, the funkadelic outfits were clearly optional. Who knows, maybe he loved it so much he came straight from work!

What would it look like to have knotty pine, florals, and plaid in one room? In the ’70s, people were determined to find out! Homeowners experimented with all kinds of colors, patterns, and furniture during the grooviest decade, and with questionable results. You can't deny it, though. The kitchen in this photo simply screams "good food was made here."

The beaches of this era were magical, if only because you could actually park near the water. What most people wouldn't give these days to grab a few chairs from the trunk and set them out right there instead of dragging an umbrella, three coolers, towels, and toys 50 yards to the sand.

Before everyone got cars, it was bikes that took you from point A to point B. Cruising on a Schwinn was a great way to get exercise, though, admit it: you felt pretty darn cool when you and a group of friends coasted down the block together. We're getting Stranger Things vibes!

High fashion has certainly evolved since the '70s. What most people don't know is that these four ladies actually inspired the creation of Skittles (just kidding). In reality, they’re modeling Guy Laroche’s cooler-weather designs that were due to hit the shelves for in time for the fall of 1971. Which color would you have chosen?

Shoes are like potato chips: you can't have just one (pair). The '70s, however, made the platform shoe the footwear of the times — creating a generation of deceivingly tall people and lots of twisted ankles. They were particularly popular in the discos, though they don't look like the comfiest dancing shoes to us!

Fake news wasn't a problem back when young Timmy Thompson from the cul-de-sac was launching newspapers onto your doorstep. A few may have landed on the roof, but, hey, he was trying his best! By the middle of the 1980s, a combination of television and fewer people reading the paper meant that the need for paperboys kind of dried up. The young boys in the neighborhood had to find new ways to make their pocket money.

Long before teens were being chastised for using their thousand-dollar smartphones at the dinner table, college students had to wait in long lines if they wanted to call home to check on their mas, pas, and grandparents. Late night calls would have been common, as that's when phone rates dropped. At least they got to show off their awesome pajamas!

In keeping with the clothing preferences of the hippie generation, which were mostly brightly colored, much of 1970s interior design dealt in opulent colors. Warm yellows and golds were commonplace, especially on glassware and soft furnishings such as cushions, pillows and blankets. The idea was that the colors would be statement pieces and a far cry from neutral whites and creams.

This might seem insane to think of now, but up until the 1970s, pinball was illegal in some parts of the States. For one reason or another, authorities thought that playing it would push youngsters into committing crimes. Here are Debbie Harry and her Blondie bandmates posing for a photo with the fun arcade game — after the prohibition had been put to rest, of course.

In 2018, British newspaper the Independent wrote that, “Corduroy was the fabric of the Seventies, used in everything from dresses to skirts and trousers.” Men wore corduroy sports jackets and even “ranger suits” made from the material, complete with butterfly lapels. That is, of course, when they weren’t wearing suits and jackets made from crushed velvet.

The 1970s, in many ways, was a time of abundance. However, when it came to gas, this was not the case. This somewhat anxiety-inducing image shows the long wait drivers had to endure in order to fill up their tanks in the so-called "oil crisis" of '73. Officials in Saudi Arabia refused to send gas to countries supporting the war in Israel, meaning supplies were limited, and prices were sky high.

Hitchhiking today is generally frowned upon —at least by anyone who watches the news! But back in the day, it was a popular choice of transportation for free-spirited people who wanted to see the world on a tight budget. As transportation expert Alan Pisarski explains, the '70s was "an era of good feeling, an era of people being very comfortable with each other. A 'we're all in this together' sort of thing."

The tie-dye phenomenon boomed throughout the 1970s. It originated, once again, in the hippie movement and was a homemade method of turning plain white items of clothing into psychedelic, multi-colored garments, often containing spiral patterns or the peace sign. Musicians of the era, such as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and The Grateful Dead all became associated with tie-dye.

The wide-brimmed floppy hat was an essential item for many women in the 1970s and paired nicely with a floaty peasant dress. The cloche hat and beanie hat were also popular, as was a French beret. Many women also chose to wear scarves around their heads, a style which had carried over from the 1960s.

Any father who's never once quoted this famous scene to their children is doing something wrong. The cultural phenomenon that is Star Wars has brought a galaxy far, far away to us for over 40 years, and Disney has shown no hesitation in churning out films and series for the next era of Jedi. Nothing will ever beat the original, though!

Who could forget the rush of cracking open the seal on a fresh pack of baseball cards? It's almost a rite of passage to hand down an old shoe or cigar box filled with cards to your kids. In all likelihood, though, they probably won't understand why the pictures aren't moving and go looking for an iPad or console.

If the outfits alone don't take you right back, then the film and its soundtrack definitely will. Grease remains one of the most beloved musicals of all time, and the songs "You're the One That I Want" and "Summer Nights" still rank among the 20 best-selling singles in music history. We apologize in advance if that'll be playing in your head all day!

Long, flowing, colorful hippie dresses are one of the female fashion trends most synonymous with the 1970s. The flower power generation wanted loose-fitting, comfortable clothing and the hippie maxi dress was perfect for this. As long-haul commercial air travel became increasingly commonplace, hippie women drew inspiration for their dresses from Indian, Asian and African garments.

Denim jeans became a symbol for youthful rebellion when James Dean wore them in 1955’s Rebel Without A Cause. But by the 1970s, jeans were worn by much of the American public casually. However, denim expanded greatly in the 1970s, with shirts, jackets and skirts being made from the fabric.

If you were a teen boy in 1976, then chances are you had Farrah Fawcett's iconic poster hanging in your bedroom. Farrah's poster still remains the best-selling pin-up of all time. Women and girls would have taken pics of her along to the hair salon, too, wanting the same golden, face-framing feathered look. It must have been surreal seeing her hairstyle on heads everywhere!

Shag rugs were huge in the 1970s, as they had an appealingly rustic, shaggy look. But they were also extremely comfortable to lie on. They had a bohemian, hippie vibe and were difficult to keep clean, but their popularity maintained throughout the decade. In fact, shag and sheepskin rugs would continue to be mainstays of Scandinavian interior design for decades to come.

The lava lamp was invented by British entrepreneur Edward Craven Walker in 1963. It featured a colored wax mixture and a translucent liquid inside a glass vessel and was a must-have home accessory up until the end of the 1970s. It didn’t give off much light but created a groovy mood when the colors danced on the walls of a darkened room. Were the '60s just as cook, we hear you ask? You bet they were...

Elvis and Priscilla Presley weren't the only power couple of the '60s. Before she enjoyed enormous success as a solo artist, Cher was part of Sonny & Cher with her then-husband, Sonny Bono. They quickly became an iconic husband-and-wife duo. Oh, and we can’t forget to mention the cute pooch sat in the middle there.

For a short time, guitar legend Jimi Hendrix had a gig as the opening act for The Monkees. It may seem like an odd choice for the iconic rocker, but he and the band were all very good friends. They even jammed out in private sessions in hotel rooms. What we’d have given to be a fly on the wall!

Linda Ronstadt has collaborated with many well-known musicians, including The Eagles and Paul Simon. In the '60s, though, she performed with her own band before branching off into a solo career. They were called The Stone Poneys. Does "Different Drum" or "Sweet Summer Blue and Gold" ring any bells at all?

The biggest revolution in women's fashion came in the form of the miniskirt. Beyond being stylish, women used these skirts as a personal statement about their bodies; in their minds, they could wear whatever they wanted regardless of what more conservative folk might say. Why did they need to dress like their parents and grandparents?

TV favorites from the era included the Adam West-helmed Batman series. Campy and over-the-top, the show introduced Batgirl, played by Yvonne Craig, who got to ride the Batcycle. With her unique ride, spray-on suit, and her quick moves in the fight scenes, she quickly stole some thunder from Batman and Robin, bringing the show a new lease of life in the process.

Beatlemania dominated the Sixties, so when the Fab Four announced they'd be splitting at the end of the decade, they knew they needed to go out with a bang. That's why on January 30, 1969, the Beatles played their hearts out in a final concert on the Apple Corps rooftop. Over and out.

If you had visited the set of Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds, it would've been an eerie sight. Fake birds were set up by the hundreds for various shots — that is, except for when Hitchcock was using real ones to torment his lead actress, Tippi Hedren. This went on for a week, and yes, Hedren did need to see a doctor during filming.

Joan Crawford and Bette Davis were famous actresses, yet the only thing more famous than them was their long-standing feud. The bad blood likely started when Crawford married the man Davis had been in love with, though their future interactions didn't help. And things got especially bad in 1962...

Why? Well, this is when the pair both starred in the movie What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? Here, the rivalry reached new heights. Audiences gleefully watched as the two clashed and tried to out-act one another. Who could justify ending the feud when it made so much money? To make matters worse, Davis received an Oscar nomination for her part in the film, but Crawford didn’t gain the same recognition.

Pacific Southwest Airlines was known for standing out from the crowd. Their planes had smiley faces on their noses, and flight attendants wore uniforms so vibrant you could spot them a mile off. The company was even the first low-cost airline in the United States! If only flying on a budget was this fun nowadays!

The sexual revolution took over the '60s as Americans sought greater autonomy over their bodies. Traditional values regarding sexuality and marriage were replaced with newer, more free-spirited ideals. Women also enjoyed greater reproductive freedom with the invention of the first oral birth control. By 1965, a quarter of married women under 45 in the U.S. had used the contraceptive pill.

The war in Vietnam was a contentious issue throughout the '60s, one that sparked almost constant civil unrest. Protests were common all across the States, and in some instances, situations even turned violent. Despite their efforts, the war would continue until 1975, costing the lives of 58,000 American fighters and many more Vietnamese soldiers.

The evolution of the ruffled shirt began in the late 1950s, when some actors wore tasteful ruffles to the Academy Awards. However, during the 1960s and into the 1970s, the ruffles got bigger, completely taking over the design, and the colors became gaudier. By 1978, the ruffled shirt was deemed, “not in good taste” by Amy Vanderbilt in her Complete Book Of Etiquette.

By the decade's end, the LGBT civil rights movement was well underway in the wake of the Stonewall riots. Up until this point in time, members of the community had tried their best to live beneath the weight of society's rigid rules. More times than not, bars were their only refuge.

In 1969 quick cash withdrawals were more involved than pressing a few buttons, as the first ATM was only just released that year. Unless you happened to go to one of the few innovative banks with these machines, you'd have to line up to speak to a teller to withdraw your money. And if you were a woman, you may not have even been allowed in on your own!

In the '60s cars had no backup cameras or blind spot alerts, so folks had to actually pay attention to the road. However, when it came to filling the gas tank, drivers got a break. Pumping gas by yourself was illegal until 1964 when Colorado made the first self-serve gas station. 23 more states followed the trend in 1968, but some states still have attendants today.

The tie-dye phenomenon began in the late 1960s and boomed throughout the 1970s. It originated, once again, in the hippie movement and was a homemade method of turning plain white items of clothing into psychedelic, multi-colored garments, often containing spiral patterns or the peace sign. Musicians of the era, such as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and The Grateful Dead all became associated with tie-dye.

Before anyone could whip out wireless earbuds, the average Joe had to use a handy-dandy radio for tunes on the go. One only had to crank up the volume and hold the palm-sized box to their ear for full audio euphoria. And it wouldn't be right without that lovely, nostalgic crackle, now, would it?

Along with portable music, music festivals took off in the late 60s. Prior to Woodstock, festivals were a tamer affair, but ideals of freedom, love, and peace were spreading like wildfire through the hippie movement, which championed the art and expression of music. It all culminated in the technically-illegal Woodstock, which brought together the greatest artists of the time and changed the festival landscape forever.

The first Woodstock ran for three days from August 15 and saw hugely popular stars entertain as many as half a million people. Unseasonal rain turned the field that the crowd flocked to into a sea of mud. And here, in Bethel, NY, history was made as the music festival and art fair exploded into our cultural consciousness.

Even though organizers spent ages trying to get their money back, the festival was deemed a success. But it’s not just remembered for the stellar music. No, the crowds of “hippies” that swarmed the festival grounds also became cultural icons: so much so that some call the youth of their day “the Woodstock generation.”

The people who came were not just hippies, although the festival has been somewhat identified with them. There were plenty of other young people who were affected by the turmoil of the times. The war in Vietnam saw enormous opposition by lots of youngsters, while they supported the increase of civil rights. But Woodstock offered the opportunity to forget those things for a few days.

As quickly as the '60s came, then arrived the '70s. This was the decade of disco, and you couldn't turn a corner in most cities without spotting at least one or two discotheques packed with people. With the signature move of the '70s being a simple finger point, it's no wonder those dancefloors were so packed! Even the dads could master that move!