The 1970s saw the disco craze take over America, iconic Saturday morning cartoons created, and the video game industry rise. Only real ’70s kids will remember these 18 fixtures of the decade.
Saturday Morning Cartoons
Kids growing up in the 1970s enjoyed hours of cartoons every Saturday morning, including classic shows like Star Trek: The Animated Series and The New Adventures of Flash Gordon. Looper argues that while “the 1960s were the golden age of Saturday morning cartoons,” the 1970s “cemented the legacy of that early weekend programming.”
Vinyl Records and 8-Track Tapes
Listening to the vinyl and 8-track records of Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and David Bowie was an important part of childhood in the 1970s. Albums like Bowie’s Aladdin Sane and Low were bestsellers on vinyl, which has seen a revival in interest over the past decade.
The Rise of Arcade Games
The 1970s saw the birth of the video game industry and early arcade games that were immensely popular with kids at the time. Pong, Space Invaders, Galaxian, and Asteroids helped create the golden age of arcade games that cemented the popularity of video games that continue today.
The Pet Rock Craze
The 1975 Pet Rock craze was one of the decade’s most memorable fads. The rocks were sold for $4 each in iconic cardboard pet carriers complete with straw bedding and ventilation holes, and their inventor, Gary Dahl, became a millionaire despite the fad lasting only half a year.
Mood Rings
Mood rings were immensely popular between 1975 and 1977 and were one of the decade’s biggest fashion fads. The rings contained temperature-sensitive liquid crystals encased in quartz that reacted to the wearer’s body temperature and changed color. The rings had seven different colors, including blue for happiness and yellow for tension.
Schoolhouse Rock!
Schoolhouse Rock! began airing in 1973 as part of ABC’s lineup of Saturday morning cartoons, delivering lessons on grammar, civics, economics, math, history, and science to kids through animated music videos. Grunge explains that advertising executive David McCall came up with the idea of the show after noticing his son “seemed to have an encyclopedic knowledge of the lyrics of the Rolling Stones” but couldn’t remember his multiplication tables.
Roller Disco
Disco music was huge in the 1970s, before Disco Demolition Night. Roller discos combined dance music with roller skating, and venues popped up nationwide. The 1979 film Roller Boogie famously depicted the fad and has a cult following today.
The Influence of Star Wars
When George Lucas’s Star Wars was released in 1977, the movie gripped American audiences and helped to bring science fiction films into the mainstream. The franchise is still hugely popular, with shows like The Mandalorian on Disney+ introducing new audiences to a galaxy far, far away.
Iconic Fashion Trends
The 1970s had a distinctive look, with bell bottom jeans, platform shoes, and polyester leisure suits dominating the decade. Fashion History Timeline explains that in the 1970s, “children’s fashion followed adult fashion with bold plaids and bright colors, with the distinction between genders lessening throughout the decade.”
Outdoor Play and Freedom
Playing outdoors with kids from the neighborhood for the day before coming back home for dinner was the norm in the 1970s. Kids growing up in the 1970s had unimaginable freedom compared to today’s safety-focused culture.
Classic Family Sitcoms
Kids growing up in the 1970s experienced classic family sitcoms like Happy Days and The Brady Bunch, which became a huge part of the culture of the time. Britannica notes that while Happy Days was never a success with critics, it “left its mark on the larger culture, with Fonzie becoming a pop culture icon.”
Color TV Becomes the Norm
TVs had been black and white since they were invented in 1927 but started to become available in color in the 1960s. By the 1970s, color TV was the norm, transforming the Saturday morning cartoon viewing experience for kids.
The Advent of the Microwave
Commercially available microwaves first appeared in 1947, but they were huge and more expensive than the average house. By the 1970s, they had become affordable for the middle class, making reheating meals easier than ever before.
Environmental Movement Gains Momentum
The first Earth Day celebration was held in 1970, and student Gary Anderson created the Universal Recycling Symbol. During the decade, the need to protect the environment entered the mainstream. Smithsonian Magazine argues that “the environmental movement of the 1970s can be credited with directly shaping American recycling programs.”
The CB Radio Phenomenon
The 1973 oil crisis saw the U.S. government impose a nationwide 55 mph speed limit, and truckers began using CB radios to notify each other of speed traps. By the mid-1970s, the phenomenon had entered the mainstream, and films like Smokey and the Bandit and the TV show Movin’ On referenced it.
Gas Shortages and the Energy Crisis
The 1973 oil crisis saw fuel shortages and skyrocketing energy prices after OAPEC refused to sell crude oil to the U.S. in response to its support of Israel during the 1973 Yom Kippur War. OAPEC lifted their embargo in March 1974, but the American economy had taken a serious hit.
The Start of Sesame Street
Sesame Street first aired in November 1969, and kids nationwide were soon introduced to Grover, Big Bird, Bert, and Ernie. The PBS children’s show still airs today and is one of the world’s longest-running TV shows.
Shag Carpets
Shag carpets were one of the uglier 1970s trends, but they were surprisingly cozy and soft. Their popularity ended in the 1980s, but shag carpets are popular today as smaller rugs in living rooms.
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