Images From The 1970s That Will Not Soon Be Forgotten

By: Lauren Wurth | Published: Nov 02, 2023

A picture is worth a thousand words, and we are certainly glad that we have the technology to capture the following images. Some of these pictures are once-in-a-lifetime shots, iconic, to say the least—but whether you love the 70s aesthetic or hate it, judge this decade on its merits for yourself. Whether you were there or not, the 70s produced some exciting stories. 

The debate about what decade is the greatest still remains unanswered, but we are sure that the 1970s is up there, giving the others a run for their money. Don’t believe us? Then take a closer look at some of these snapshots from a bygone era and witness for yourself the funky, clunky decade.

Robin Williams Ahead Of His Time

We all love his jokes and impressions—but the thing we miss most about Robin Williams is his infectious smile. This picture certainly may have been played for laughs, but we choose to think that he is showing off some progressive thinking—that men and women should be able to dress however they want. 

Advertisement

Source: 70sarchives

His smile says it all. It’s as though he’s laughing at society’s rigid definitions of gender in his high white high-heeled boots, orange necktie, white gloves, and mini skirt. We get why people considered him to be a man ahead of his time. 

The Right Woman For The Job

As a society, we’ve made big strides in tackling gender inequality over the years. The fight is far from over, but it’s nice to look back at some of the achievements made over the years in fighting sexism. Her quote says it all: “The Right Man For The Job May Be A Woman.”

Advertisement

Source: 70sarchives

Ruth Gordon Schnapp was the first woman to be licensed as a structural engineer in California in the late 1970s, and she wasn’t afraid to kick the door down in the engineering industry, proving once and for all that when it comes to work—it’s what’s between your ears that counts, not what’s between your legs. 

Hello Dolly!

Born on January 19, 1946, in the United States, Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, actor, philanthropist, and entrepreneur who is best recognized for her contributions to the country music genre. We all know her from her legendary records, but few know that she came from humble beginnings. 

Advertisement

Source: 70sarchives

After having achieved success as a songwriter for other artists, Dolly Parton released her first album, Hello, I’m Dolly, in 1967. This led to great success through the rest of the 1960s (both as a solo artist and with a series of duet albums with Porter Wagoner). But her sales and chart peak occurred during the 1970s and continued into the 1980s.

The Giant Meets The Lad

This picture is priceless. By the look on this young man’s face in his reaction to meeting Andre the Giant, we can only wonder about the millions of things racing around in his head. Now that he’s met a real giant, maybe he thinks fairy tales and other stories are real. 

Advertisement

Source: 70sarchives

Funnily enough, Andre the Giant was very accommodating to the young lad. Perhaps he looked back on a time when he was just as small—but that would have been a very long time ago. This picture is fittingly black and white as it shows the contrast between the two.

The Sweet Transvestite

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a musical comedy horror film that was released in 1975 by 20th Century Fox, directed by Jim Sharman, and produced by Lou Adler and Michael White. Sharman and actor Richard O’Brien, who is also included in the film, collaborated to write the film’s script. O’Brien is also featured in the film.

Advertisement

Source: 70sarchives

Frank N. Furter, who is brilliantly portrayed in Rocky Horror Picture Show by Tim Curry, is, of course, the show’s most famous character. In addition to the sheer fascination and charisma that Curry exudes, one of the things that makes Frank ‘N Furter so appealing is the fact that he does not conform to any gender.

Advertisement

Thomas Carey Standing Up For What He Believes In

The debate over rights for minorities, sexual orientations, and gender roles is far from over, but back in the 70s, the fight for basic rights had just taken off. This man knew what he believed in and stood proudly behind his convictions. 

Advertisement

Source: 70sarchives

If other people do not recognize it, better put a huge signboard up to make it known to all people. Now the pride flag comes in different colors to show that it is a champion for everyone, no matter who they are, where they come from, or what color of skin they inhabit. 

Advertisement

The Queen Of Rock

As the lead singer of the rock band Queen, Freddie Mercury, became an international sensation with his theatrical approach to rock and roll. His flamboyant stage style and four-octave vocal range made him one of the greatest rock singers of all time. 

Advertisement

Source: 70sarchives

In 1990, the Brit Accolade for Outstanding Contribution to British Music was given to Queen as a group. In 1991, one year after his death, Mercury was given the award individually. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the UK Music Hall of Fame all recognized Mercury for his contributions to music in 2001, 2003, and 2004, respectively. 

Advertisement

The Dark Lady

“Dark Lady,” Cher’s eleventh studio album, was released in May 1974 on MCA Records. Record producer Snuff Garrett and arranger Al Capps worked with Cher again on this album. MCA released their last studio album, Dark Lady, with this release.

Advertisement

Source: 70sarchives

Also, it was the last single to be promoted on her hit Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour program. But unlike her last record, which Garrett also produced, this one was only modestly popular when it was released. The album earned favorable reviews from reviewers.

Advertisement

Young Harrison Ford

We all know him as a silver fox, often aloof in the limelight. But he, too, was once a handsome young man, and here is the shot to prove it. With his portrayal of the cunning Han Solo in George Lucas’ Star Wars, Ford was a major box office draw (1977).

Advertisement

Source: 70sarchives

In the end, the space-fantasy epic was one of the highest-grossing movies of all time. During the 1980s, Ford became a household name after starring in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, and the Indiana Jones trilogy, in which he played an adventurer-archaeologist.

Advertisement

Bowie On The Roof

This strapping young man looked so dapper in his suit, and the place looked so chic that one would find it hard to imagine him as the rock legend he really is. David Bowie was prescient when it came to his views of modern society, even as far back as the 1970s. 

Advertisement

Source: 70sarchives

During the most important decade of David Bowie’s career, his forward-thinking attitude to sexual orientation, celebrity image, and musical presentation spoke to many of the hot-button problems that worry us today.

Advertisement

The G.O.A.T. Meryl Streep

No, this is not a picture of Mary Will Gummer, although she does look much like her mother, Meryl Streep, from back in the 70s. Good looks do seem to run in the family as well as good acting chops, but let’s be serious—no one comes close to the G.O.A.T. Meryl Streep. 

Advertisement

Source: 70sarchives

She has been nominated for a record 21 Academy Awards, winning three, and a record 32 Golden Globe Awards, winning eight, over her four-decade career. She’s been nominated for a Tony Award and six Grammy Awards, and she won two British Academy Film Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and three Primetime Emmy Awards.

Advertisement

The OG Wonder Woman

Before Galgadot wore the mantel of our favorite superhero, Wonder Woman, there was Lynda Carter, who saved the world all on her own, without the help of the justice league. She clearly aced it, as the show corralled a considerable audience in the 70s, and the television series was well-received.

Advertisement

Source: 70sarchives

American writer and psychologist William Moulton Marston collaborated with illustrator Harry G. Peter to develop the fictitious heroine Wonder Woman in 1941 for DC Comics. She became the most well-known and important female superhero in the DC universe almost immediately after her debut.

Advertisement

Like Mother Like Daughter

All women are unique, but these two certainly have a lot of things in common. You might think that they share more than genes. This picture shows Jamie Lee Curtis recreating the iconic shower scene from the movie Psycho that starred her mother, Janet Leigh. 

Advertisement

Source: 70sarchives

Alfred Hitchcock produced and directed the 1960 film Psycho, a psychological horror thriller. The story revolves around a chance meeting between an amateur embezzler, Marion (Leigh), and bashful hotel owner Norman (Anthony Perkins). After she disappears, a private detective, her boyfriend, and her sister investigate her absence.

Advertisement

The Twins In The Shining

There are a few truly horrific scenes from a horror movie but none as iconic as the Grady twins from the Shining. The image of these twins has been forever etched into the brains of movie lovers the world over—so much so that people will always look over their shoulders while walking through an empty hotel in case these two show up. 

Advertisement

Source: 70sarchives

When Jack Torrance takes the job of the keeper of the ancient Overlook Hotel in Colorado with his wife Wendy and little son Danny, he is an aspiring writer and a recovering alcoholic, but he soon turns into something darker. A winter blizzard leaves the Torrances stranded, and Jack begins to lose his mind as the hotel’s paranormal inhabitants take their toll.

Advertisement

A Crown For The Queen

Freddie Mercury’s smile while wearing a real crown here is infectious. It might even rival that of the Monaliza. The image seems to have a hidden meaning, as if he is telling us something—or maybe he’s just gloating about the golden hat on his head. 

Advertisement

Source: 70sarchives

It’s fitting for the lead singer of Queen to be photographed with a crown on his head, and he knows it, and he just wants us to know too. This is what happens when fiction becomes a reality, so keep reaching for every dream. Who knows if it may come true? 

Advertisement

Don’t Worry; It’s Not A Real Shark

This looks dangerous, but don’t worry—a team of highly talented professionals made this shark look as close to real life as possible for the enjoyment of movie lovers worldwide. This is a still from 1975’s Jaws. Yes, before the invention of CGI, cinema relied on props. 

Advertisement

Source: 70sarchives

Who in their right mind would trust a shark to hold them in their mouth? That might have been your first big giveaway that this shark is not real. Back when movies did not overdo it with CGI, people really believed that a fictional shark terrorized beachgoers. Needless to say, the movie turned out to be a huge blockbuster.

Advertisement

Who Can Forget Helen?

Dame Helen Lydia Mirren DBE is a well-known English actress. She was born Helen Lydia Mironoff on July 26, 1945. She is the only performer to have earned the Triple Crown of Acting in both the United States and the Kingdom. She has received several honors over the course of her life.

Advertisement

Source: 70sarchives

As a consequence of her work with the National Youth Theater, Mirren was asked to join the RSC. During her time with the RSC, she performed in countless masterpieces and went on to star in many critically-acclaimed television and film projects.

Advertisement

Always The Bridesmaid, Never The Bride

These young ladies are undoubtedly enjoying their time at their friend’s wedding—what a pretty picture of a memorable time in their lives. Back then, matching dresses for their bridesmaids were in fashion, although it might not be as now. 

Advertisement

Source: 70sarchives

Fashion comes and goes, so matching bridesmaids’ dresses may yet come back in vogue. We think the pink looks great here, and it might be nice to see matching sets again. One thing is for certain, though—the woman on the right is having a great time. 

Advertisement

Flying In Style

It is hard to believe how much fashion has changed over the decades. Some of the fashion trends are coming back, but some we pray will stay in the past. The bright dresses of these ladies as a uniform for their flights are certainly interesting. 

Advertisement

Source: 70sarchives

But with a smile like that, she could probably pull off any dress. It’s nice that these stewardesses are so comfortable and confident with what they are wearing—if they are happy, then they are more likely to provide better service to passengers. 

Advertisement

In Bed With Shoes On

Miss Dolly Parton can pull any look off, no problem. We’re not against this look, but we do not think that this is proper attire for going to bed, not with those high heels. However, we can get over it—Dolly still makes it look good. 

Advertisement

Source: 70sarchives

Her sweet disposition makes it look inviting to use those shoes instead of comfortable slippers. This southern bell certainly was a trendsetter during the 70s. Who knows if women truly followed this unusual trend—it certainly looks impractical to us.

Advertisement

The Young Princes Of Wales

Look at that pretty face. Who would have thought she would grow up to be the beautiful and much-loved Princess of Wales? Some people will have a celebrity in their high school yearbook, but only a few get to boast that they knew a princess. 

Advertisement

Source: 70sarchives

This picture, along with her other children’s photos, must be regarded as a treasure during the 70s and even long after her passing. During her time with the royal family, she was the darling of the paparazzi, and we can only think of how much this picture would have been sought after.

Advertisement

The Studio 54 Back In The 70s

Here is a picture of young Liza Minnelli and Carrie Fisher at Studio 54 in New York City back in the 70s. On 54th Street in Midtown Manhattan in New York City is where you’ll find the Broadway theater known as Studio 54, which was once a disco nightclub. 

Advertisement

Source: 70sarchives

Long before CBS started utilizing it as a radio and television studio in 1942 and giving it the name Studio 52, the “Gallo Opera House” first opened its doors in 1927. It had previously functioned as an entertainment venue under a variety of titles.

Advertisement

Missing Dear Robin

What an iconic picture of the young Robin Williams back in 1977. His charm is incomparable. Midway through the 1970s, Williams started his career as a stand-up comedian in San Francisco and Los Angeles. 

Advertisement

Source: 70sarchives

 In the late 1970s, Williams helped lead San Francisco’s “comedy renaissance,” according to critic Gerald Nachman. In the 1960s, San Francisco was undergoing a cultural renaissance involving hippies, drugs, and the sexual revolution. In the late 1970s, Williams helped lead San Francisco’s “comedy renaissance.”

Advertisement

The Legendary Cher

Cher looks regal in this picture, like a queen on her mighty stallion. She is often referred to as the “Goddess of Pop” by the media, and she has been regarded as reflecting female liberty in an industry dominated by men.

Advertisement

Source: reddit

In addition to adopting a wide range of styles and looks over the decades, Cher is well-known for her unique contralto singing voice, as well as the fact that she has worked in a wide range of entertainment-related fields during her six-decade-long career.

Advertisement

Susan In Rocky Horror Picture Show

People in the 70s were obsessed with the Rocky Horror Picture Show as it contains controversial topics accompanied by catch tunes. People could not resist or take notice. One main character in the movie, Janet, was played by Susan Sarandon. 

Advertisement

Source: 70sarchives

Susan Sarandon had no intention of trying out for the role of Janet Weiss in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and once she arrived at the audition, she was adamant that she did not want to sing. However, she ultimately convinced the casting directors to cast her by showing off her incredible voice.

Advertisement

Abba, 1974

Agnetha Faltskog, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad are the founding members of the Swedish co-ed musical group ABBA, which was originally known as Bjorn & Benny, Agnetha & Frida. The group was established in Stockholm in 1972. 

Advertisement

Source: 70sarchives

The name of the band is an acronym formed from the first letters of each member’s first name, with the letters being placed in a palindrome. They became one of the best-selling music acts in the history of popular music, topping the charts globally from 1974 to 1983 and in 2021, making them one of the most popular and successful musical groups of all time.

Advertisement

Skater Chick

This is a picture of Ellen O’Neal skating the road with grace back in the 70s. Skateboarding was a popular sport among kids in California in the 1970s, when new tricks, equipment, and a distinct style were developed. It’s no surprise that the youngsters took to the fashion and attitude of surf culture.

Advertisement

Source: 70sarchives

During a protracted stretch of drought in Los Angeles in 1975, most pool owners were compelled to shut their pools due to water restrictions. While waiting for the waves, the Z-boys crew, an inner-city surf gang, began skating in the empty pools.

Advertisement

Fashion In The Halston’s Fall Ready-To-Wear Collection 

Anjelica Huston is an American actress, playwright, director, and producer. She was also a model before she became an actor. Huston made her film debut in her father’s A Walk with Love and Death (1969) and then relocated to New York City, where she worked as a model in the 1970s.

Advertisement

Source: 70sarchives

This is an image of Anjelica Huston at Halston’s Fall Ready-To-Wear Collection in 1972. She looks like she is having a groovy time in this fashion show, and fashion critics took notice. Ah, to be young and careless again. 

Advertisement

Friends or Lovers

A picture is worth a thousand words, and sometimes, there is more to a picture than meets the eye. People have been staring at this picture for ages and trying to decipher if these two were just friends or something more. It’s something that is worth looking into. 

Advertisement

Source: 70sarchives

Although some believed Bowie and Elizabeth Taylor were more than just friends; they were definitely lovers, in our opinion. They would meet up whenever he was in town to “discuss gossip and cosmetic advice.” We leave this picture for the public to decide.

Advertisement

Rose Covered Pavement

This was Lombard Street in San Francisco, California, back in 1975. What a beautiful sight to behold. The streets were colored pink by the flowers that looked delicate in contrast to the city’s robust nature. This picture also encaptured the beauty of vintage cars. 

Advertisement

Source: 70sarchives

There are eight hairpin twists on one block of San Francisco’s Lombard Street, which runs east-west. There is a gap on Telegraph Hill, which is a significant highway designated as part of U.S. Route 101; however, much of the street’s western stretch extends from The Presidio to The Embarcadero. It looks like a stiff road to descend from!

Advertisement

Jessica Lange In The 70s

Lange became a model for Wilhelmina after being found by fashion artist Antonio Lopez in Paris. Her first job in New York City was as a waitress at the Greenwich Village’s Lion’s Head Tavern in 1973, after which she returned to the United States.

Advertisement

Source: 70sarchives

Producer Dino De Laurentiis, seeking an “innocent victim” for his remake of King Kong, met Lange when she was modeling. In 1976, Lange made her acting debut as the damsel-in-distress in King Kong, where she beat out Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn.

Advertisement

Taxi Driver In 1975

Here we have the co-stars Billie Perkins, Jodie Foster, and Robert De Niro on the set of Taxi Driver, a film made in 1975. As part of his training for this role, Robert De Niro spent a month driving a taxi and putting in a total of fifteen-hour days.

Advertisement

Source: 70sarchives

In addition to this, he researched mental illness and, during his downtime while shooting 1900  in 1976, he went to a United States Army installation in Northern Italy and recorded discussions with troops from the Midwest on tape so that he might acquire their accent.

Advertisement

Elton John Getting His Star

This is Elton John Posing in front of his star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame in 1975. John, who arrived at the event on a gold golf cart, was the 1,662nd person in the entertainment industry to be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Advertisement

Source: 70sarchives

The dapper young man truly deserves a spot on the walk of fame as he has contributed countless hits in the music industry. Like a true showman, he arrived in style. How else would he have done it? Nothing short of a memorable moment for him and everyone else. 

Advertisement

Bush Dressed As A Bat

This picture may be a little avant-garde, but we like it nonetheless. This is a picture of Kate Bush posing as a bat, and a cute one, at that. Catherine Bush, better known by her stage name, Kate Bush, is an English musician who is also accomplished as a dancer, pianist, and composer.

Advertisement

Source: 70sarchives

People would never have worn this style of clothing as everyday clothing back in the 70s, but it would have been an excellent inspirational costume for their Halloween parties. Her take on Batgirl is quite different from the one in the comics.

Advertisement

Bill And Hillary

This one is a power couple back in the 70s. Who would have known he would be a future president? When Bill and Hillary first crossed paths in 1972, they were both students at Yale Law School, volunteering for the presidential campaign of George McGovern, who was running for office that year. 

Advertisement

Source: 70sarchives

After getting married, the couple opted to make their home in Arkansas, where Clinton would become heavily involved in politics and practice law until he decided in 1978 to run for governor of Arkansas. After his victory, he set a record for being the youngest man to ever assume the role of governor in any state. The rest, as they say, is history.

Advertisement

Iconic Grease

Summer lovin’ never looked so good, and there were more iconic songs that Grease produced. This was the stepping stone for young actors such as John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John that catapulted their careers to the top of the Hollywood pyramid. 

Advertisement

Source: 70sarchives

Grease was a musical picture that was released on June 16, 1978, and it went on to become the highest-grossing musical film ever at the time it was released. It was successful on both the critical and financial fronts. The album of the film’s soundtrack finished in the year 1978 in the United States as the album with the second-highest number of copies sold.

Advertisement

Relaxing With Audrey Hepburn

The beauty of Audrey Hepburn is timeless. Here she is taking time off in a rented beach house in Tuscany in 1972. Her beauty never fades, and her looks will remain in pictures in magazines for ages to come. 

Advertisement

Source: 70sarchives

Acting became a secondary priority for Hepburn after 1967 when she decided to spend more time with her family. However, in 1976, alongside Sean Connery as Robin Hood, she made a reappearance as Maid Marian in the period piece Robin and Marian, which was only modestly successful.

Advertisement

The Cars Of The 70s

This looks like a sea of Volkswagen. They’re all parked in a New York Port Authority Parking Lot. Volkswagen has its headquarters In Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, Germany, but in the 70s, the German automobile manufacturer had a lot of success in the American market.

Advertisement

Source: 70sarchives

As you can see, these cars were more in style back then. But today, 40% of the company’s revenues and earnings come from China. A Volkswagen is an automobile for the people since the German word Volk means “people.”

Advertisement

Art From Andy Warhol

Some of his creations are a bit older, but this one sticks to one’s memory. Here is a collection of Polaroid Pictures from the 70s and 80s by the famous artist Andy Warhol. This may look simple, but this art is highly valued, and not just because it’s a good place for the rich to store their money. 

Advertisement

Source: 70sarchives

Several retrospective exhibits, publications, and feature and documentary films have been dedicated to Warhol’s work. As the biggest museum devoted only to a single artist in the United States, the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh has a vast collection of paintings and documents.

Advertisement

The Making Of Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” Album Cover

“Wish You Were Here” was Pink Floyd’s ninth studio album. It was released on September 12th, 1975, via Harvest and Columbia. Pink Floyd’s Wish You Was Here was recorded at the EMI Studios in London over many months in 1975.

Advertisement

Source: 70sarchives

Critics panned Wish You Were Here upon its release, deeming it uninteresting and inferior to the band’s past work. However, Pink Floyd keyboardist Richard Wright and guitarist David Gilmour both listed it as their favorite album, and many consider it to be one of the finest albums ever made.

Advertisement