The 70s solved problems we still struggle with today. Look at platform shoes – beyond height, they transformed ordinary people into confident performers with every step. Corduroy pants also outlasted most modern clothing by years because quality mattered then. Even mood rings served a purpose beyond fashion, sparking conversations about feelings long before anyone talked about emotional intelligence.
The past offers better answers than our disposable present.
15. Earth Shoe Craze
Looking weird but feeling right, Earth Shoes featured a negative heel that sat lower than the toe, supposedly mimicking barefoot walking in sand. Danish yoga instructor Anne Kalsø created them as an ergonomic alternative when mainstream footwear focused on style over function. Jane Fonda wore them during the height of her fitness fame. They became symbols of the natural lifestyle movement that defined much of 70s counterculture. Did they actually fix your posture and reduce back pain as claimed? The science was sketchy at best. But they were different—a bold statement against mainstream fashion that now sits in vintage shops waiting for revival. Real comfort never goes out of style.
14. Yo-Yo Comeback
During their massive 70s revival, yo-yos evolved far beyond simple toys. Duncan introduced glow-in-the-dark models while Russell revolutionized play with the butterfly shape and its wide body that changed technique forever. Kids mastered complex tricks instead of staring at screens. The industry introduced adjustable string gaps for better performance and control. Nationwide competitions turned simple play into serious sport with regional champions and signature moves. Simple physics, endless fun. No batteries, no updates needed—just gravity and skill. Modern toys rarely achieve such perfect balance between simplicity and complexity.
13. CB Radio Mania
Highway culture changed forever when CB radios connected strangers across America’s roads. These affordable two-way radios became crucial during the 1973-74 gas crisis when drivers shared locations of stations that actually had fuel. Travelers created unique “handles” and spoke in colorful code to avoid speed traps. Films like “Smokey and the Bandit” and songs like “Convoy” pushed CB culture into mainstream awareness. Despite limited range and frequent interference problems, the CB represented DIY communication and rebellion against authority. It was social media before social media, just without the trolls and with more genuine human connection.
12. Marbles Tournaments
Simple glass balls once commanded playground respect across America. Marbles—Cat’s Eyes, steelies, clearies—became serious business in dirt circles scratched into schoolyards. Kids carried pouches filled with their best shooters, ready to compete at a moment’s notice. The rules remained simple: knock your opponent’s marbles out of the circle to claim them as prizes. Winners walked away with pockets full of captured glass trophies. No charging cables, no monthly fees—just skill and strategy played out in countless variations. Modern gaming can’t replicate the tactile satisfaction of a perfect shot.
11. Corduroy Comfort
The distinctive ribbed fabric dominated fashion across college campuses nationwide. Corduroy pants offered durability when most clothing fell apart after a year of wear. From straight legs to massive bell bottoms, cords came in every imaginable color and cut. The fabric’s texture added dimension to otherwise simple designs. Brands like Levi’s and Wrangler produced variations that worked for everyone from professors to students. Fashion cycles constantly, but few materials match corduroy’s perfect blend of comfort, durability and subtle style that improves with age.
10. Mood Ring Mystique
The jewelry counter phenomenon began in 1975 when Maris Ambats and Josh Reynolds convinced millions a stone could read emotions. Using basic science—temperature changes triggered color shifts—mood rings created personal biofeedback loops before such concepts went mainstream. Teens obsessed over rings changing from black (stressed) to blue (calm), treating the colors as windows into their inner states. They didn’t actually work as emotional detectors, but that wasn’t the point. They sparked conversations about feelings during an era when emotional intelligence wasn’t yet in the cultural vocabulary.
9. Chopper Bike Dreams
Freedom arrived on two wheels when the Raleigh Chopper hit American streets. Those high handlebars and elongated seats transformed suburban kids into Easy Rider wannabes overnight. The distinctive frame-mounted gear shifter mimicked motorcycle controls, adding to the rebellious appeal. Safety took a backseat to style, with the design prone to wheelies and questionable handling. Every neighborhood kid wanted one regardless of the risks. Today’s bikes focus on performance metrics and weight reduction while forgetting that style and identity matter just as much to young riders.
8. Frye Boot Freedom
Craftsmanship defined the iconic Frye boots that walked through the entire decade and beyond. The Campus Boot design with its distinctive square toe and hardy leather became footwear of choice across social boundaries. College students, rock stars, and counterculture icons all recognized quality when they saw it. These weren’t disposable fashion items—they were investments built to last decades of hard use. Vintage pairs still command high prices because the quality speaks for itself. If you find an original pair, grab them—they’ll outlast anything in your current closet.
7. Tang’s Taste
Space exploration came to breakfast tables when Tang’s orange powder became associated with astronaut nutrition. After NASA sent it to space with John Glenn, every kid wanted to drink like their orbital heroes. General Foods capitalized on the connection with commercials featuring Florence Henderson introducing the drink to families as a convenient alternative to squeezing oranges. Was it actually healthy? The high sugar content suggested otherwise. But it was quick, sweet, and made ordinary mornings feel connected to America’s greatest technological adventure.
6. Pet Rock Hysteria
Entrepreneurial genius struck when Gary Dahl packaged ordinary stones as low-maintenance pets. Each rock came in a cardboard carrier complete with air holes and straw bedding for comfort. The included training manual featured deadpan instructions for care and tricks, playing the concept completely straight. Americans purchased millions of these utterly useless items in just a few months. The Pet Rock perfectly captured the decade’s blend of irony, anti-consumerism, and paradoxical willingness to buy anything marketed cleverly. It was stupid. It was brilliant. It was pure 70s distilled into stone.
5. Platform Shoe Fever
Nightlife changed when platform shoes added inches to dancers across America. Men and women both gained height with wooden, cork, or plastic soles that dramatically altered their silhouettes. David Bowie performed in them while Studio 54 regulars competed for who could wear the most extreme versions without falling. They were uncomfortable, potentially dangerous, and absolutely worth it for the dramatic entrance they provided. Fashion cycles between practical and theatrical—platform shoes represented the perfect theatrical extreme that transformed ordinary people into performers. This is probably not the only fad that you might have forgotten from the 70s.
4. Smelling Terrific
Product naming peaked when “Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific” launched as an actual shampoo brand in 1976. The direct approach worked—the memorable name stuck in consumer minds while the product delivered a powerful floral fragrance that lasted all day. Teenagers couldn’t get enough of the distinctive scent that announced their presence before they entered a room. Modern hair products focus on subtle, quickly-fading scents, missing the point that sometimes people want to be noticed. The straightforward name and powerful fragrance represented perfect product honesty.
3. Bicentennial Fever
American pride reached fever pitch when 1976 marked the country’s 200th birthday with a year-long celebration. Archibald Willard’s “Spirit of ’76” painting appeared on everything from lunch boxes to postage stamps. The American Freedom Train toured nationwide, bringing historical documents and artifacts to communities large and small. Cities competed to host the most spectacular July 4th celebrations in their histories. Special commemorative coins and stamps sold out immediately. It was patriotism without partisan division—a nationwide party that temporarily united a country still healing from Vietnam and Watergate.
2. Lemon Twist Craze
Playground domination came from the simplest of designs—a plastic lemon attached to a rope that children swung around their ankles while jumping. Chemtoy Corporation struck gold with this minimalist toy that required no batteries, screens, or complicated instructions. Kids competed to see who could perform the most consecutive jumps without stopping. Physical activity and coordination replaced passive entertainment, building skills through play. The affordable price point made it accessible to almost everyone. Modern toy designers often miss this fundamental truth—sometimes the simplest concepts provide the most engaging play experiences.
1. Disco Dance
Cultural revolution arrived on 120 beats per minute when disco transformed nightlife across America. The Bee Gees, Donna Summer, and Gloria Gaynor created anthems while Studio 54 became the ultimate symbol of glamorous excess. “Staying Alive” and “I Will Survive” packed dance floors regardless of background or social status. Despite fierce backlash, disco created spaces where diverse groups mixed freely under colored lights and mirror balls. The music wasn’t just entertainment—it was escape, release, and community in rhythmic form. Modern clubs segment audiences into narrow niches while disco’s genius lay in bringing everyone together.
