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The 1970s were a time of vibrant colors, revolutionary technology, and cultural shifts. This was the period when people had ideas and nobody was afraid to implement. Items of daily use of this period have now become antiques, which proves that great progress is being made.
Pew Research Center found that only 58 percent of Americans say life is worse now than 50 years ago, and only 23 percent say it’s better. This contrast goes to show as many things are technologically and socially more advanced, there was such a longing to return back to the past.
Pet Rocks
Gary Dahl advertised the Pet Rock, a smooth pebble supplied with a cardboard house and an owner’s manual, in 1975. Consumer interest and entertainment are indicated by the fact that Pet Rocks sold over 1 million in six months.
An excellent example of how something can be so ridiculous and yet it is popular. As well, their acceptance and seeking of playful, unorthodox products in regular life, was demonstrated.
Rotary Dial Phones
Rotary phones also took much waiting in traditional dialing. Only manually could the dial be turned, and it turned slow, and there were numbers to memorize. Back then, there was no speed dial, and it was slower than using today’s smartphones to dial a number.
Rotary phones were more thoughtful to use and needed more attention than modern ones jam-packed with mobile apps. This slow communication is an indicator of how technology has now affected the rate of communication as we can now multitask.
Bean Bag Chairs
They became popular at homes and offices in comfortable and versatile chairs. They were comfortable and adaptable. Bean bag chairs were a first for furniture in its choice of relaxed, and informal seating.
There are different sizes, colours and materials from which to choose, but bean bags are one of those items that both kids and adults enjoy.
Vinyl Records
People would use old vinyl records when streaming services didn’t exist. Each album has to be treated, and the listening wasn’t automatized. The album art for the songs also contributed a lot towards that whole experience, and in giving the music the right mood.
For this reason, it is not surprising that today the music format is returning because it remains emotive. For some people it is just the sound and the physical feel of ‘vinyl’ (even better without the help of the music companies presenting music to them).
Gasoline at 30 Cents a Gallon
For 30 cents a gallon, you could fill your tank in the ’70s. There was little such thing as slight gas shortages, and fuel economy didn’t create a huge problem. The roads were ruled by muscle cars—this an epitome of the age. Gasoline had a very good price that made it possible to travel everywhere and explore.
And because of increased concern about environmental issues and changing fuel prices, this has been the case. As the world people slowly come to realize about the need for resource sustainability and overall conservation, the public interest in electric cars and hybrids is on the rise.
8-Track Tapes
They were precursors to cassette tapes and CDs, and are very portable music cartridges. They existed but their sound quality wasn’t great and they weren’t very capacious. The 8-tracks were larger than those heard in cassettes or CDs that came after them in the market.
However, their portability was a huge step in the process of mobile audio technology and constituted a new level of the freedom for the fans of mobile music.
Polaroid Cameras
Polaroids that could snap pictures and then the photos were printed later with white borders. The help of creative filters in digital photography offers this analog instant photography the same encouragement for creativity.
With the use of digital cameras now largely standard, Polaroid cameras have especially come back into fashion among those for whom the nostalgic and physical nature of their images make them appealing.
Bell-Bottom Jeans
The bell bottom jeans were fashionable because they were about freedom and individuality. These pants were usually bright, colorful, and if they ever looked bad, it was because of the decade.
Bell bottoms are a symbol of freedom and rebellion and are still popular fashion.
Payphones
The way back before cell phones was pay phones. Most needed coins to use, and you’d find them on corners. Anonymity and convenience were supplied by these tools now supplanted by mobile devices.
People who did not have a home phone depended on the payphones as a lifeline and during emergency. Public payphones are hard to come by these days especially as everyone, almost all the time, carries their mobile phones with them.
Waterbeds
There also existed waterbed, predominantly as an alternative to traditional mattresses, providing warmth and relaxing experience. They have seen their popularity fall off in recent years, though, but they are remembered for their unique floating sensation.
Waterbeds were a byword of that 1970s counterculture and an image of experimentation, and relaxation.
Pong
Pong was an amazing breakthrough when it was released. For the first time it introduced millions of people to the world of interactive entertainment, and it paved the way for future game consoles and computer.
Pong was a revolutionary idea that introduced video games onto people’s screens and showed them how to spend their down time.
TV Antennas
There was a time back in the ’70s when one was lucky to get a good TV signal with a set that included rabbit ear antennas on top of it. In fact, these antennas were sometimes adjusted by families so reception would be better and so families could continue to watch their favorite shows.
Your patience and skill was often needed to operate the antenna that was a symbol of those early days of television.
Typewriters
Typewriters were extremely precise, and one really had to be careful about typing because if you screwed up, you were then forced to either redraw a line or, at best, scrub them with whiteout. This is starting to feel more like what used to be: mechanical writing.
Writers, journalists, business professionals all had to have typewriters, as well as associated skills, because typewriters were a symbol of professionalism and the intellectual activities of life.
Mood Rings
Mood rings, with their changing color stones, became the rage and were supposed to reflect what mood you are in. The temperature-sensitive liquid crystal appeared in these whimsical and mysterious accessories.
And though scientifically flawed, they entertained and fascinated many buyers. Teens and young adults who were exploring their identities and feelings all found them popular.
Station Wagons
Station wagons were the go to family car of the ’70s, long before SUVs or minivans. They were spacious cars great for families to haul around the kids, turn into a carpool or for hauling groceries or camping gear.
With wood paneling, they were symbols of practical suburban life. Today they inspire a primitive longing for more basic and untroubled stories.
Tang
Powdered orange drink mix that became associated with NASA astronauts. It became an American staple, the easy and refreshing drink in many of our American homes.
Tang, once a symbol of the space age, the ‘American way,’ and of nostalgia, remains a nostalgic favorite.
Lava Lamps
These colorful and attractive lamps were big time home decor items. The glow combined with their psychedelic look, captured the spirit of the time.
Lava lamps were a symbol of the counterculture movement and the psychedelic drug culture and represented relaxation and experimentation.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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