16 Things from the 1970s You Probably Forgot About

Change is inevitable, but the generations before us laid the groundwork for the future. For example, people once had limited tv channels and had to change the channel by hand. Today, not only do we have remotes to do all the hard work, but we also have streaming platforms where virtually anything we could hope to watch is readily available. show. This convenience would not be possible today if it were not for the engineers of the past. Actually, it’s quite fascinating to look at the work of previous generations and see how far we’ve come. Here are 16 things from the 1970’s that you’ve either forgotten about, or never even knew existed.

1. The 1970s Had Pet Rocks

In 1975, a toy so bizarre, yet marketed so well, hit the shelves, and kids couldn’t get their hands on them fast enough. Pet rocks were the epitome of children learning to use their imagination and came in a customizable box that mirrored a pet carrier, with “ventilation holes”. As well as straw bedding so the rocks could have a peaceful slumber. While pets are a great way to teach children responsibility, it’s more than likely that thousands of these “pets” were lost by children along the way.

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2. CB Radios

CB Radios emerged in the 1940s and were primarily used as a source of communication between truck drivers and farmers. However, they eventually became a popular commodity for people to install in their homes and cars, allowing them to communicate with their families while on the road. Factors like the distance and or type of radio that was being used had an impact on what came through. As such, many children found joy in eavesdropping on truckers passing by.

3. Waiting for Gas

In the 1970s, there was a gas shortage, which resulted in a great deal of hassle. For some, getting gas took all day. Others, who’d waited for hours, may have been turned away because the gas station ran out of gas. Moreover, cities often used a rotation system, which meant license plates ending in an odd number could only fill up on odd days, and conversely for license plates ending in an even number.

4. Evel Knievel was Injured in the 1970’s

Evel Knievel was a “performer” and daredevil known for his incredible and terrifying stunts. He attempted more than 75 outrageous motorcycle jumps before breaking his pelvis in 1975. The accident occurred after he cleared 13 buses but then lost control of his motorcycle. Fortunately, he survived the accident, going on to live a full life. However, few younger generations know the thrill growing up watching the icon.

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5. Missing out on Shows

Technology has advanced so far that people can now stream practically anything they want, at any time. However, in the 1970s, recording a show wasn’t possible. As a result, people rushed home so as not to miss classics like Dallas, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and All in the Family.

6. Disneyworld Opened in the 1970’s

While it’s highly unlikely that anyone has forgotten about Disneyworld, younger generations, and even those who were very young at the time, may not remember or be aware that Disneyworld first opened in 1971.

7. Betamax was Released in the 1970’s

Betamax was released in 1975, allowing audiences to watch their favorite films from the comfort of their homes. However, only two years later, it became obsolete, replaced by the VHS.

8. HBO

Although it’s also not likely been forgotten because shows like John Oliver and Game of Thrones are still airing and incredibly popular among the general public. However, HBO was founded in 1972.

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9. J.R.R. Tolkien Died

It’s likely that many people don’t know J.R.R. Tolkien died in 1973 because his writings are still incredibly popular today. While LotR and The Hobbit are among his popular, his first work to be published was a “posthumous” Silmarillion.

10. Jaws

Jaws and Jaws 2 were both released in the 1970’s. While the first did incredibly well, terrifying audiences, many were disappointed by the second movie. Incredibly, the first film was so renowned that it is still a popular classic for cinema lovers.

11. Home Gyms

Although workout equipment is still used today, both at commercial and in-home gyms, however, few people know that they became feasible and popular in the 1970s. For example, the Nautilus make working out at home a breeze, and it was a relatively compact machine.

13. Equal Rights Amendment

The Equal Rights Amendment was written in 1923 and was presented to congress every year that followed. It was not ratified when the bill was passed in 1972, and continues to go before Congress, every year.

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14. Women’s Rights

The 1970s were a time when many people were fighting for their rights—those based on ethnicity and sexual orientation, as well as being a woman. Although 1848, and scattered in the years that followed, women were given more rights, they still had limited options until 1972.

15. Automobiles underwent a Massive Transformation

Pictured above is a Mercury Cougar from 1970. However, thanks to a 1974 change in policy by the EPA, companies were required to share with customers the car’s average city and highway MPG. Ultimately, this moved consumers toward more fuel efficiency, including more compact and lighter-weight vehicles.

16. Shag Carpets and Maintenance

Although they became popular in the 1960s, shag carpets were still commonly found in homes and vans in the 1970s. They became popular because they were readily available. Therefore, a seemingly more convenient way to lay flooring as wall-to-wall carpeting was still a new concept. Although most people agree they’re not very aesthetically pleasing, there’s a greater reason why these carpets have long been forgotten since the 1970s. They had to be raked before they could be vacuumed, not to mention the thick fibers made them a breeding ground for bacteria.

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