Things Only 70s Kids Remember

Been missin' the good old days? You're not alone in that vibe. If you were groovin' in the 70s, you'd get this: it seriously feels like that whole era just happened yesterday. How can it be that the 70s are already five decades behind us? The time of bell bottoms and those trusty 8-track tapes, it's like it was just yesterday. For those of us who rode that rollercoaster of a decade, it's a part of us that's never gonna fade away. If you were a kid in the 70s, here are some things that are likely to make you feel nostalgic! Roller Disco Parties Photo by saquizeta on Adobe Stock Dances have been organized so young people could socialize for literally hundreds of years. However, the 70s had its own flavor. Imagine those same dances with rollerskates! That’s exactly what roller disco parties were. Imagine dancing to Wild Cherry or Bee Gees songs with wheels strapped to your feet. Looking back, it’s a miracle no one broke a leg just going in for a kiss! Playing Atari Photo by Paddy on Adobe Stock Atari was revolutionary when it came out in 1972. Kids really couldn’t have imagined having their own gaming system at home. Most of us went to arcades and fed quarters to machines, but when Atari came out, gaming at home became a reality. More than revolutionary, Atari was downright ahead of its time. The company organized the first electronic sporting event in 1980, pitting Space Invaders players against each other. Who knew esports had been around for more than 50 years? Waiting By the Phone Photo by chepté cormani on Pexels Nowadays, we can call anyone we want anytime we want. It doesn’t matter if they are at home or if we are at home since our phones go everywhere with us. In the 1970s, it was so much more complicated than that. Each home had one phone (usually in the kitchen or living room). The phone was permanently attached to the wall and the receiver was attached by a cord- a fairly short cord. That meant only one person in your house could use the phone at a time. Call waiting wasn’t even a thing yet, so if someone was using the phone anyone calling would simply get a busy signal. Being Bionic Photo by FutureStock on Adobe Stock If you're genuinely a product of the '70s era, there's no need to elaborate on the process of simulating a bionic character. However, for those who haven't experienced it, the technique is quite straightforward: you begin by running in a deliberate slow-motion manner, accompanied by a tongue-generated sound that carries a faint robotic quality. Even long after the conclusion of "The Six Million Dollar Man" and "The Bionic Woman," attempting to emulate the personas of Steve Austin or Jaime Sommers continues to evoke a sense of empowerment within us. Simon Says Photo Credit: WikiMedia If you weren't a kid in the 1970s, you can liken this to the Candy Crush of the era. Simon was a very simple but incredibly addictive electronic game. It would flash different patterns on its four colored panels, and then you had to repeat them. Each pattern would get more intricate as the game went on until eventually, you would not be able to replicate it. They now say that games like this are fantastic for your memory. Perhaps some of us '70s kids should get ole Simon back out and start playing again! The 1973 Oil Crisis Photo by bernswaelz on Pixabay The 1973 oil crisis caused a panic that there would be no gas available. This was followed by a second oil crisis just a few years later. This left people so unnerved that gas station lines would wind around the block and never seemed to move. Things were so out of control that gas stations would post colored signs so customers could see from a distance whether or not they still had gas. This scenario marked a whole generation of kids who grew up to be very conscious of gas prices and the concern of outages. This is no doubt why today's high prices create similar lines and so many people are in support of alternatives to gasoline-fueled vehicles. Family Road Trips Photo by Monkey Business on Adobe Stock Family trips just aren’t what they used to be. For one thing, they just don’t happen as often as they used to because everyone has such busy schedules, including the kids. Today, families are far more likely to travel independently than altogether. On top of that, the trips were quite different. Commercial air flights were more expensive back then, which meant more families traveled together in their cars. Once in the car, things were very different, too. There were no phones or iPads to keep kids busy. Imagine all of the fun and fights that went on without the distractions of modern technology. Saturday Morning Cartoons Photo by BrAt82 on Adobe Stock From The Flintstones to Scooby-Doo to Bugs Bunny, for kids, in front of the television was the place to be on Saturday mornings. Of course, this was our favorite entertainment, but more importantly- if you missed it, that’s it- you missed it! Back then, there was no streaming service and no choice. You watched cartoons when they were on or not at all. Watergate Image: WILL OLIVER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock, Shutterstock Deflategate was a scandal involving the New England Patriots deflating footballs before games. Skategate was a scandal involving cheating judges at an Olympic skating event. Donutgate was a scandal involving Ariana Grande licking donuts. These names all have their origin in the biggest political scandal of the 70s and possibly in US political history. Watergate was the name of a hotel at the center of the scandal that brought down President Richard Nixon. Seeing the President leave the White House after the scandal was a surreal and historic moment. The World Before Star Wars Photo by Otto Rascon on Pexels The 1970s marked the final era in which an individual could begin their day oblivious to the existence of Darth Vader, only to find themselves immersed in contemplations of the Dark Side, black helmets, and lightsabers by evening. This decade starkly separated time into "before Star Wars" and "after Star Wars," forever altering our world's course. No Fear Photo by 100 files on Pexels “Stranger Danger” is something most kids growing up in recent years were made very aware of. You know not to talk to strangers and other basic safety precautions because the world is a dangerous place. In the 70s, it isn’t that there was so much less danger; it was more that we just weren’t aware of it. There were no major public service campaigns devoted to keeping kids safe. Making friends with adults you didn’t know seemed normal. It’s amazing so many of us made it safely out of the decade. Going to Sesame Street Photo by ScribblingGeek on Pixabay As kids in the 70s, there weren’t a lot of television shows geared just towards us. One of the first major shows for kids, especially outside of the cartoon genre, was Sesame Street. We fell in love with those characters and their shenanigans. The songs got stuck in your head and most of us still remember them. Who hasn’t remembered Erine’s ode to Rubber Duckie at some point- whether it was in the shower or in your car driving home from work? Tube Socks with Shorts Photo by Ana Arantes on Pexels Of course, every era has its fashion. We’re not sure anyone escaped their high school years without wearing fashions that would embarrass them in their thirties. For kids who grew up in the 1970s, that fashion was short shorts and tube socks. Yes, it looks dumb when you look back on it, but at the time, we all thought that we looked pretty cool, right? Hitchhiking Photo by Ekaterina Belinskaya on Pexels For people who didn’t grow up in the 70s, this will sound absolutely insane. It’s like the lack of fear of “stranger danger”. We simply didn’t worry about safety protocols back then and no one was standing around trying to reinforce them either. Now, we would be pretty nervous about picking up a random stranger from the side of the road or getting in the car of the first person who pulled over, but in the 1970s, it just wasn’t a big deal. Everyone was hitchhiking back then. If you needed to get somewhere and didn’t have a car, it was basically your first option. Charlie’s Angels Photo by Nolte Lourens on Adobe Stock Charlie's Angels was one of the most popular shows on television in the late 70s. It starred Jaclyn Smith, Kate Jackson, and Farrah Fawcett. The show centered on three private detectives instructed by the mysterious, never seen "Charlie". No matter which of the angels was your favorite, they always solved the case and did it look amazing. For those who didn't grow up in the 70s, we can confirm that Charlie's Angels was a great television show long before it was a blockbuster movie. Also, you now know who Jaclyn Smith is, other than your favorite designer of clothing and home decor. Not Worrying About Sun Damage Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash These days, the majority of health-conscious people wouldn't step out during winter without generously applying sunscreen to their exposed skin. However, back in the 1970s, one could confidently stroll around without a shirt on a scorching summer day, and the notion of questioning whether you'd applied sunscreen wouldn't even cross anyone's mind. Apologies, let's correct that—suntan lotion. During that era, sun protection was rather limited, predominantly consisting of lotion aimed at aiding in achieving a sun-kissed complexion. When the tan proved elusive, the inevitable sunburn wasn't treated with the gravity it deserved. It's evident now that we were quite unaware of the far-reaching consequences of our actions during those times. Using the Metric System Photo by Brad Sauter on Adobe Stock Picture this: The year is 1975, and in the midst of disco beats and bell-bottom jeans, a rather unexpected star emerges on the legislative stage—the Metric Conversion Act of 1975. While the dance floors were grooving to Saturday Night Fever, the corridors of power were swaying to the tune of decimal points and centimeters. This act had everyone talking kilos instead of pounds and kilometers instead of miles, like a linguistic twist in the space-time fabric. Suddenly, folks were deciphering Celsius temperatures and conjuring mental images of liters instead of gallons. It was a groovy attempt to sync up with the global metric melody, but obviously, it didn’t stick. If you want to know the metric equivalent of something today, you’d just Google it. The Not-So-Safe Playground Photo by James on Adobe Stock Playgrounds these days are ultra-safe. If you didn't know, you have probably figured out by now that safety was not the top priority in the 1970s. On the other hand, makers of toys and especially playground equipment were much more worried about durability. Just check out some of the cold steel monkey bars from that time period. Even slides and seesaws could be seriously dangerous. Back then, going out to play meant you were going to get scrapes, scratches, and bruises. The fact is that it just wasn't a big deal and no one really worried about it very much. Jaws Photo by Boma on Adobe Stock When Steven Spielberg unleashed "Jaws" upon the silver screen in 1975, gauging the precise magnitude of its influence on our shared consciousness became quite the challenge. It wasn't merely a fear of venturing into the ocean; it extended to lakes, ponds, and even shallow wading pools, all of which inexplicably seemed to harbor lurking shark fins. Our quest for sharks became an all-encompassing quest, a certainty that their formidable teeth were poised to clamp down mercilessly on our toes, yanking us beneath the waves without a second thought. Smallpox Vaccines Photo by RF._.studio on Pexels Today, vaccines spark all kinds of political debates, but in the 70s, having a scar from a smallpox vaccine was a badge of honor. Yes, those needles were about two inches long and it felt more like a staple gun than a shot, but it was a shared experience we all went through- and the fact is we eradicated smallpox in the United States for many years by doing this. When Learning Was Fun Photo by photoguns on Adobe Stock Saturday mornings were traditionally reserved for indulging in sugary cereals and blissfully zoning out in front of the television, engrossed in cartoons that were light on educational value. However, the Schoolhouse Rock! shorts slyly turned the tables on us, ingeniously imparting lessons on multiplication, history, and the nuances between conjunctions and interjections, all the while flying under our cognitive radar. With their infectious tunes, they bestowed upon us knowledge about the intricacies of government branches and the essence of carbon footprints, all without necessitating the cracking open of a single book. Getting the Oscar Mayer Song Stuck in Your Head Image: Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock, Shutterstock “My bologna has a first name, it’s O-S-C-A-R…” Yeah, we know that you’ll be mad at us all day for that one! It was such a catchy little tune and was ultimately one of the best commercial campaigns of all time. Who wouldn’t want this terrific bologna that this cute little kid was singing about? There has to be some irony in the fact that so many of us grew up and still buy Oscar Mayer products based on the brand loyalty built when we were just kids. But who can blame us? Oscar Mayer has a way with B-O-L-O-G-N-A! Ditto Prints Photo by Agustin on Adobe Stock This is one of those things that really does date you or show your true age. That’s because ditto printers were only super popular in schools for a certain time period in the 78s and 80s. Any worksheet or homework assignment distributed to students within a '70s classroom probably owed its existence to the humble ditto or mimeograph machine. The memory of those purple-inked fingers and the distinctive fragrance they left behind is not one easily forgotten. In this case, you likely really did have to be there to understand what we are talking about. Copying Newspaper Print with Silly Putty Photo by Алла Чеснокова on Adobe Stock We reveled in a sense of ingenious discovery when we realized that Silly Putty could be smoothly pressed over the comic section of a newspaper, flawlessly duplicating our cherished Garfield comic strip. Now, the majority of newspapers utilize ink that doesn't allow for transfer, so today's kids will never have the opportunity to undertake this once-cherished experiment. Pencil Cases with Slide Rulers and Sharpeners Photo by iMattSmart on Unsplash A quintessential fixture among school supplies during the '70s, this contraption represented the pinnacle of cutting-edge pencil innovation. Unveiling one of these from your backpack signaled your unwavering commitment to education, or at the very least, your aspiration to hold the title of the most fashionable student in your class. Pencil cases have now faded into obscurity, much like traditional pencils themselves. Yet, the plastic pencil case of 1975 reigned as the veritable iPhone of its time, encapsulating the spirit of an era defined by its remarkable modernity. Bowl Hair Cuts Photo by auremar on Adobe Stock For those unacquainted with the bowl cut, the name truly speaks for itself. The process involved your mom placing a bowl atop your head and then meticulously trimming along the circumference with scissors. The outcome was a quintessentially '70s hairstyle that gave the impression you were sporting a salad bowl as headgear—perhaps not the pinnacle of fashion, yet bearing in mind that it adorned the likes of Pete Rose and Olympic figure skater Dorothy Hamill, it easily garnered its own distinctive charm. A Mecca for Kids Photo by Nicholas Fuentes on Unsplash Upon its unveiling to the public in 1971, Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, promptly ascended to legendary status—a coveted treasure for every American youngster. It attained a near-mythical aura as the paramount haven, basking in the glory of its early days before the veneer of touristy commotion and overpriced food set in. Those fortunate kids who managed to persuade their parents into the pilgrimage spoke of Space Mountain with a whispered reverence while the rest of us orchestrated elaborate strategies to beguile our own parents into embarking on that southerly adventure. Death by Pop Rocks and Soda Photo by Wesley on Adobe Stock Every kid in the '70s was undoubtedly acquainted with that dreadful tale concerning Mikey, the picky eater from the Life cereal advertisement. The word on the street was that, despite the cautions from his buddies, he had braved the ultimate danger of combining Coca-Cola and Pop Rocks, leading to the inflation of his stomach due to the carbon dioxide reaction. The inevitable outcome? Well, his stomach supposedly burst, tragically ending Mikey's life on the spot! Needless to say, these stories were entirely unfounded, a pure concoction of urban legend. Nevertheless, that didn't stop us from embracing these yarns with complete trust. In an era before Snopes and fact-checking, our sole recourse was to place trust in the wisdom of the sharpest kid on the playground! Being the TV Rabbit Ears Photo by Jazella on Pixabay For today’s kids, if your device stops working, you restart it- that usually does the trick. We didn’t have all those devices back in the 70s and the television that we did have got reception through airwaves. To get a better reception, you had to move the two-pronged antenna (rabbit ears) in a different direction. This was also necessary when changing between the few channels that we had. Sometimes, there was a more distant channel that was harder to get. This would lead to people using all kinds of tricks to try and get better reception. One trick was to use tinfoil to extend the reach of the antenna. By trial and error, many of us found out that you got better reception when you were actually holding the antenna. This led to us actually becoming part of the rabbit ears to watch certain shows or ball games on television. Using a Typewriter Photo by Min An on Pexels Imagine, if you will, your keyboard being attached to a very heavy metal machine that slammed a small hammer with each letter onto a piece of paper to print out what you were typing. Well, that is exactly how it worked in the 70s. The typewriter first became available in 1874 and stayed in use in offices and schools throughout the 1980s until the advent of the word processor- which was a short-lived predecessor to the computer. Photo Booth Selfies Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels Sometimes, annoyed parents and other older folks act like selfies are something invented by millennials- but that isn’t exactly true. Back in the day, there were photo booths- and they could be found at almost any major attraction. You climb inside (alone or with friends) and the camera takes your picture and prints it out. Of course, if you didn’t wait for it to dry it would smear. Photo booths have become, more or less, an oddity since the advent of the iPhone. Nevertheless, you might still see one at a theme park or rented for fun for a birthday party somewhere. Everyone Smoking Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels Smoking was more than acceptable in the 1970s- it was, in fact, cool. Everyone who was anyone was seen smoking, and you could do it anywhere. The idea of smoking being not allowed was preposterous. Secondhand smoke was everywhere. Thank goodness, today, we all know the dangers of smoking and it isn’t allowed really anywhere but inside one’s own home. Watching Violent Cartoons Photo by EwaStudio on Adobe Stock If a contemporary animated film contained the level of graphic violence and bloodshed present in the 1978 original version of "Watership Down," it would undoubtedly garner a strict R rating. Such was the chilling impact of the film on an entire generation of children, who were left aghast as they witnessed scenes where rabbits were subjected to gas, ensnared in barbed wire, and ruthlessly slain by their own kind. Were you to ask a child from the '70s about the most fear-inducing antagonist from their youth, Darth Vader or the Jaws shark would likely take a backseat to General Woundwort—the deranged ruler from "Watership Down." Wondering What “American Pie” Was About Image: John D Shearer/Shutterstock, Shutterstock The meaning behind Don McLean's 1971 hit remained elusive, as no definitive explanation was published or talked about in a printed interview at the time. However, lots of kids developed various theories regarding the identity of the jester, the motive behind his theft of the king's crown adorned with thorns, and whether "Jack" referred to Mick Jagger, Bob Dylan, or an entirely different individual. Was the entirety of the song centered on Buddy Holly's tragic demise in a plane crash, evoking a sense of sorrow within McLean? In the era before the internet, speculations were diverse and your guess was ultimately as good as anyone else’s without any proof. Shaking Your Pictures to Develop Them Photo by Athena on Pexels Outkast served as a reminder through their 2003 hit "Hey Ya!" that the 1970s instructed us in the art of "shaking it like a Polaroid picture." At least, that was the prevailing belief. The instant a fresh photograph emerged from a Polaroid instant camera, tradition dictated that we hold it between two fingers and vigorously shake it, as if allowing it to air dry was the sole method for achieving optimal clarity. However, it wasn't until 2004 that the truth was unveiled. Polaroid clarified matter-of-factly that "shaking or waving had no impact whatsoever." You simply had to wait a few seconds for the picture to develop. Helmets for Safety Photo by TheOtherKev on Pixabay In the '70s, donning a helmet while cycling carried a distinct implication: either you were in the midst of recuperating from a significant head injury, or you held an intense fear of even the slightest mishaps. It literally took years of advertising campaigns and public service announcements to convince people that helmets were necessary for safety. Sadly many people have been injured over the years by the belief that wearing a helmet is uncool. Cartoon Olympics Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash Whether your allegiance lay with the Yogi Yahooeys or the Scooby Doobies (often dubbed the "heroes"), or even with the deceitful and unscrupulous Really Rottens, the identity you cheered for held little importance. Everyone understood that the entire spectacle was prearranged (and, of course, animated), leaving no uncertainty about the ultimate victors. Nevertheless, each episode was consumed as if genuine Olympic glory hung in the balance. Clackers Photo by Tersi Alesti on Adobe Stock Remarkably uncomplicated yet immensely captivating, the concept was straightforward. Comprising of a pair of sizeable acrylic balls connected by a string, the objective was simple: vigorously clack the two balls together. Astonishingly, this rudimentary activity managed to engross us for hours at a time, or at least until a few exuberant children took the clacking fervor too far, leading to the fragmentation of the balls and consequent injuries from the resultant debris. The clackers underwent a transformation from playthings to hazards, ultimately being pulled from store shelves due to their potential as instruments of widespread destruction. The Patty Hearst Drama Image: Robert Stone Prods/Kobal/Shutterstock, Shutterstock Every aspect surrounding the enigmatic saga of Patty Hearst, the granddaughter of publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst, seemed to be ripped from the pages of a Hollywood script. Beginning with her abduction by the Symbionese Liberation Army in 1974, the tale took an even more astonishing turn when she reemerged as "Tania," aligning herself with her former captors and actively participating in bank heists across San Francisco. No one could believe or understand what they were seeing. Aluminum Can Tabs Photo by PF-Images on Adobe Stock Opening a soda in the 1970s involved tugging on a ring that neatly punctured a small triangular opening on the upper surface of an aluminum can. Once the ring fulfilled its purpose, it was promptly discarded, frequently landing on the ground where an unfortunate passerby might inadvertently step on it, resulting in injury. The prevalence of mishaps stemming from these metallic tabs became a nationwide phenomenon. A 1976 report from The New York Times observed that a significant portion of beach-related wounds were attributed to the wounds inflicted by discarded soda can tabs. It was noted that surviving in an environment strewn with these can tabs necessitated everyone getting a tetanus shot.

Must Visit Places in Danger of Disappearing

Ultimate Guide to Florida’s Halloween Theme Park Events

10 Best Little Italy Neighborhoods in the U.S.

Say ‘I Do’ to These Stunning Locations: Top Picks for A Dream Destination Wedding

Exploring the Caribbean: British Virgin Islands vs. U.S. Virgin Islands

Discovering Summer Bliss in Verbier, Switzerland

Sleep Tourism: The Ultimate Relaxation Getaway

Food Lover’s Delight: The Ultimate Taco Destinations in America

Drink of the Summer: The Aperol Spritz

New Orleans: The Must-See Sights

Things Only 70s Kids Remember

Roller Disco Parties

Sleep Tourism: The Ultimate Relaxation Getaway

Food Lover’s Delight: The Ultimate Taco Destinations in America

Drink of the Summer: The Aperol Spritz

Boat Living vs. City Rent: A Cost Comparison

October 2023 Travel Guide: Top 11 Global Destinations

Drink of the Summer: The Aperol Spritz

The Timeless Beauty of the Great Wall of China

Must Visit Places in Danger of Disappearing

Drink of the Summer: The Aperol Spritz

Roller Disco Parties

The Fascinating Culture and History of New York City

The Enchanting Beauty of the Acadia National Park

Sleep Tourism: The Ultimate Relaxation Getaway

Food Lover’s Delight: The Ultimate Taco Destinations in America

Drink of the Summer: The Aperol Spritz

Boat Living vs. City Rent: A Cost Comparison

October 2023 Travel Guide: Top 11 Global Destinations

Drink of the Summer: The Aperol Spritz

The Timeless Beauty of the Great Wall of China

Must Visit Places in Danger of Disappearing

Drink of the Summer: The Aperol Spritz