We tend to look back to our past through rose-colored glasses. Even an era such as the 70s, with its gas lines, stagnant economy, pet rocks, bad hair, and even worse clothes, had some things to recommend it.
24/7 Tempo took a nostalgia trip back to the 70s to seek childhood traditions that should come back. We referenced sources such as Things Boomers Like, an online community devoted to remembering all the good things about growing up in the Baby Boomers and Gen-X eras.
Traditions from the 70s sprang up in an era that saw continued divisiveness in America. While feminist, gay, and civil rights movements continued to grow, Americans became disillusioned with government because of scandals like Watergate, U.S. meddling in Latin America, and the Vietnam War. Those on the right of the political spectrum turned to conservative candidates who saw change as an assault on traditional values and recoiled from what they considered overregulation of the economy and higher taxes.
The 70s, the so-called decade of disillusionment, gets a bad rap when compared with the optimism of the 60s. But if you put aside the cringeworthy hairstyles, polyester suits (and please do so), and the substandard American cars coming out of Detroit, the decade was when technology first started making an impact on the culture, with video games, portable calculators, the rollout of ATMs, and the release of the first Walkman in 1979.
Elsewhere, new music genres sprouted such as hip-hop, rap, and disco, while rock music fragmented into soft rock, heavy metal, glam, and punk. In fashion, bell bottom pants, maxi dresses, and (gulp) leisure suits were the fashion trends. (Here are 50 photos that prove the ’70s had the best style)
Here are childhood traditions from the 70s that should come back.
Riding in the back of a station wagon
Station wagons were a popular mode of transportation for families in the 1970s.
Going trick or treating unattended
Most kids went trick or treating on Halloween without their parents.
Playing Pong on the computer
Pong was an early computer game that transfixed gamers.
Playing Pac-Man and Space Invaders
Pac-Man and Space Invaders were popular video games in the 1970s.
Going to the roller rink on weekends
Roller skating on Friday nights was a big deal.
Learning to do the Hustle and other dances in the disco era
Inspired by John Travolta in “Saturday Night Fever,” people learned how to do dances like the Hustle.
Watching TV stations in pre-cable period go off the air
Television programming went off the air in the early morning hours.
Watching parade of sit-coms on CBS on Saturday night
Sit-coms like “The Mary Tyler Moore Show’ dominated Saturday night television viewing.
Never missing “Saturday Night Live”
The comedy skit show “Saturday Night Live” began its run in 1975.
Looking for the parts to fix your first car
People who knew how to fix cars headed for the junkyard or cannibalized parts from other cars to keep their wheels on the road.
Music choices in vinyl, cassette, and 8-track
Besides vinyl, music lovers had other formats such as cassettes and 8-tracks to enjoy their favorite tunes.
Going to drive-in movies
Families and friends piled into their cars to watch drive-in movies.
Watching cartoons after school and on weekend mornings
Kids who found it difficult to get up for school during the week had no trouble rising early to watch cartoons on the weekends.
Playing license plate poker on long drives on family vacations
Families fought off the boredom of long road trips by playing licence plate poker.
Hanging out at record stores waiting for newest releases
Kids met at record stores to track down the latest releases from American and British bands.
Prizes inside cereal boxes
Cereal boxes contained prizes inside such as a whistle or small plastic toy.
Piling friends into your first car
The number of friends multiplied once you got your first car and everyone crowded in.