Photos From The ’70s That Show Its Grooviest Moments
American history has been marked by decades of intense nationwide tumult, which are often followed by ones that saw the nation calm down. The uncertainty of World War I was followed by the Roaring 20s, the horrors of the Great Depression and World War II was followed by the ’50s, and the social and political strife of the ’60s was followed by the ’70s.
Although the ’70s had its own problems, it was also a period that saw several issues of the past decade wind down as the United States entered its 200th year as a nation. Naturally, that means there’s a lot about the ’70s to inspire some serious nostalgia.
Every Man Wanted To Be Him
Those who weren’t alive in the ’70s may have a hard time grasping how red-hot Burt Reynolds’s career was at the time. After cutting a cool, strapping figure in Deliverance, Reynolds got a break that would take him through classics like The Longest Yard but especially catapult him into stardom by 1977.
That was thanks to a little movie about bootlegging called Smokey And The Bandit. Not only was the movie an entertaining thrill ride but it gave Reynolds his most iconic look. Anyone who wanted to look like him from then on could do so with ease.
A Look At Something Most People Don’t See Anymore
Although this gate may seem whimsical in its castle-like design, its walls were built for a practical purpose rather than an aesthetic one. That’s because this is a prison in Oklahoma during an annual prison rodeo.
There’s still a vibrant prison rodeo tradition in Louisiana but most states that used to run them like Texas and Oklahoma ended the practice years or even decades ago. Texas did so in 1986 due to no longer needing it to raise money, while Oklahoma did so in 2009 due to a lack of interest and crumbling infrastructure.
ATMs Had A Lot More Rules Back Then
Although this ATM is broken, it is interesting to see how these signs describe the way they used to work in a bygone age. On the one hand, they seemed more inconvenient because of the restrictions of transactions that no longer exist.
On the other hand, $50 was considered a lot more money back in the ’70s than it is now. It’s also nice to see that they explained where all the other locations are in the event that this machine is broken.
What Would The ’70s Be Without Wood?
One of the clearest tell-tale traits that something was made in the ’70s is the amount of wood panelling featured on it. Whether it was a station wagon or a kitchen, it’s harder to describe the aesthetics of the ’70s better than that.
Indeed, there seemed to be a widespread fondness for brown at the time, as even interior decoration designs that didn’t feature wood panelling to this degree tended to emphasize the color in other ways. Fashion and design trends are always changing.
People Had Their Last Chances To See The King
Throughout most of the 1970s, those who wanted to see Elvis could head to Las Vegas, where he held one of the most successful residencies in the city’s history. However, that would all come to an end in 1977. And his final performance didn’t take place in Vegas.
Instead, he held his last concert at the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, Indiana, on June 26, 1977. The final song he sang before leaving the building for the last time was “Can’t Help Falling In Love.” Less than two months later, he would pass away.
A Big Time For Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali has gone down in history as perhaps the greatest boxer of all time, and he proved it during an unprecedented effort to regain the heavyweight title twice after he made his whirlwind return to the sport in 1970.
He was ousted from boxing after making the bold but principled move to refuse to join any American military operation in the Vietnam War even if it meant imprisonment. As the war grew even more widely unpopular than before and American presence in Vietnam dwindled, however, the consequences from this choice became harder and harder to justify.
This Probably Hasn’t Changed All That Much
At first glance, it’s likely hard to tell what these young women are doing with these balloons. However, the picture becomes far clearer when it’s revealed that this is a shot of curriculum at the Robert Fiance Hair Design Institute in New York City.
Specifically, these students are learning how to shave people closely but safely. They’re using real straight razors as they shave foamy balloons and if that balloon pops, it’s clear they need more practice. Better a balloon than a neck, after all.
This Was Truly The People’s Theater
This woman was dancing in in a program simply called “Variety Show” but it was part of an ambitious, civic-minded theater project in Brooklyn’s Brownsville neighborhood. Specifically, this was part of the second annual Lincoln Center Community Street Theater Festival.
This was a free theater event held on Brownsville’s streets meant to entertain residents who couldn’t afford to frequent New York City’s vibrant theater scene. Even back then, a Broadway show was probably fairly pricey to attend since it was such a big tourist draw.
The Decade Began With The End Of An Era
It’s unclear where the prevalence of brown clothing here is a marker of the style of the time or of allegiance to the Cleveland Browns, as they were one of the two teams battling it out in the very last NFL Championship Game held on January 4, 1970.
That might seem confusing to modern fans, as the NFL has obviously held annual championships at the Superbowl ever since. However, it’s worth noting that the Super Bowl used to be the final competitive event between the American Football League and the National Football League, who had their own separate championships. Once the leagues merged, the Super Bowl became all-encompassing. That means the Minnesota Vikings are the final NFL champions of this pre-merger era.
An Idyllic Scene
Although picking strawberries is undoubtedly hard work, this photo makes the scene it happened in look so vibrant and gorgeous with the range of colors in this field of daisies. From the sounds of things, the experience was worth it to Caroline McGlynn of Medford, Massachusetts as well.
Apparently, she wasn’t hired to pick these strawberries but made a special arrangement to harvest them because there’s no way to get them fresher than this. That’s because she reportedly paid the John Nourse Farm in Westboro, Massachusetts, to let her harvest them.
As The Decade Went On, Punk Became A Global Movement
Although disco was certainly a popular genre in the late ’70s, that period also saw punk turn into a sudden, provocative sensation all but overnight. The movement’s simplicity and extremity made it refreshing and cathartic for fans and excitement in the associated music travelled faster than the bands making it.
That’s why this young man with a safety pin in his face was eagerly waiting in Atlanta on January 5, 1978. Since most of the major punk bands at the time were British, he was waiting for the most infamous among them to make their first American tour date.
Summer Fashions Took On A New Twist
Although bikinis were hardly anything new by the ’70s, there was a fairly new phenomenon that gained ground at the time and seemed to drive spectators just as wild as bikinis once did when they debuted.
On one day in Daytona Beach, Florida, these young women demonstrated that phenomenon: cut-off denim shorts. Since their popularity was heavily influenced by the success of The Dukes Of Hazzard, they were typically called Daisy Dukes. As this photo makes clear, they quickly became a popular look and remain a great option for those who want to be nostalgically flirty.
It’s So Casual But It Can’t Be Done Anymore
Here, we can see Jane Fonda on a plane with her lawyer, likely discussing a recent legal matter that saw her arrested for alleged contraband and for assaulting an officer. However, that’s not what makes this such a time capsule from the ’70s.
Instead, it’s the fact that she’s casually waving a cigarette during their conversation. During the ’70s, most airlines had no issue whatsoever with passengers smoking on their planes. At the most, some may have offered non-smoking sections to ensure a little more comfort for non-smoking passengers.
In the ’70s, People Developed Some Impressive Skate Skills
As disco became more popular in the ’70s, so to did rollerdiscos. Although roller skating was already a popular pastime in the ’70s, disco fever compelled them to get a lot more ambitious about what they did on their skates.
Although his friend seems to be struggling to keep up, that’s why this young man is showing that he has the right balance to pull off a pretty impressive limbo move. Understandably, it seems that he’s pretty proud of it.
Flower Power Hadn’t Completely Run Out
Although it’s true that the hippie movement was already on its way out by the 1970s, there were still young people in America you started the decade with a similar spirit in their hearts.
While it’s true that one graduate in this class didn’t entirely agree with Timothy Leary when he said, “Turn on, tune in, drop out,” they still showed how passionate they were about seeing peace in the world. If they really understood this sign, they were specifically hoping for nuclear disarmament.
