Stuck in the seventies...what do you remember?

@paula27661 (15811)
Australia
February 12, 2009 1:21am CST
Those of you old enough will remember the 70s. Flared pants, vinyl records, no computers, no mobile phones, people used to drink TAB instead of Diet Coke, dial phones... I remember the seventies, I used to wear cheesecloth tops and high waisted jeans and I somehow managed to live without my mobile phone and laptop! Do you remember the seventies? If you had to go back to that era what would you miss from today?
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22 responses
@balasri (26537)
• India
28 Apr 10
What a perfect timing Paula.I am just compiling my favorites from the seventies for my car stereo. Some of them are song by Carpenters,Donna summer,Beegees,Pet shop boys,Billy Ocean and the list goes on.So far I have collected nearly sixty of my favorites.I want to make it 100 before start enjoying my old times.
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@balasri (26537)
• India
29 Apr 10
I am happy to find a partner in you.Cheers to the seventies.
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
29 Apr 10
That sounds great balasri! I was suggesting to my husband the other day that we should buy a turntable because I have lots of seventies vinyls I would love to play! Good old disco times...(LOL) Thanks for responding, I appreciate it! Good luck with your collection...
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@kalav56 (11464)
• India
25 Apr 10
I won't miss anything Paula if I go back to that era because my mind of the young carefree college girl would laso get transported in time isn't it?
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@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
26 Apr 10
Yes wouldn't it be nice to go back with today's mentality? Come to think of it knowing all the things I know now I would definitely miss my precious laptop amongst other things! Thanks for responding kalav!
@naka75 (795)
• Singapore
13 Feb 09
I was born in mid 70s, so I've quite some memory fragments of that era. All the soft drinks were sold in capped glass bottles and the caps have removable rubber seals sometimes with printing underneath, such as redemption for prizes. The milk were sold in tetrahedral tetra-paks which I wonder how the store stacked them up. I missed the days when my parnents brought me to cinemas at $4 per show.
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
13 Feb 09
Those tetrapak milk cartons arrived in hexagonal crates,as I remember
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
13 Feb 09
Those were the days! A pint of milk used to cost 20c...Thanks for responding!
• Philippines
21 Apr 10
I was born in the 90's but I love the 70's! The fashion, the music, and the styles, I love it! I love watching shows in 1970's, well, I can watch them from youtube. I love 70's. By the way, my mother was a kid at that time.
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@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
21 Apr 10
I am not so sure about the fashion! Some of the outfits were a little scary! Not to mention the hair...Life was a little simpler then, we had no laptops or cell phones which sounds almost strange these days! Thanks for the response autumndreamer!
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
12 Feb 09
Gee, you're looking to make us feel old!!! I graduated in 1970 (high school) and was one of the artists that didn't go with the crowd. I remember the Village People, Greatest American Hero, (That might have been the 80's) and Paul Revere and the Raiders along with Glen Campbell, Roy Clark, and water beds (I still have one! LOL) I think the only thing I would miss from today would be my computer. I think I could even survive without that too! The one thing I would love to go back and retrieve is my 1955 Thunderbird. My horrible father insisted that I sell it, because he wanted to go car shopping. So, he put so much pressure on me that I relented and let him sell it, even though it was my graduation gift. I've never forgiven him for doing that, and when I win the lottery I will buy another one.
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
12 Feb 09
Mean old father! That must have broken your heart! I hope you can buy another one some day soon. I admit there have been times I wish I never listened to my parents! Don't tell my daughter that! I remember Greatest American Hero, that was a funny show! Thanks for the memories!
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
12 Feb 09
I bought dvd's of the third season (If I remember right.) of Greatest American Hero. Another product of the 70's was of all things, the Ford Pinto.
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
15 Feb 09
Thank you for the best response...as I'm sitting here enjoying that extra Valentine's gift of the BR, I am thinking back to the 70's and Laugh In, the crush I had on Mark Lindsey from the Raiders, taking all those art classes and becoming the president of our school's art club. I was the founding president in fact. Maybe that is one of the reasons I am still involved in arts and crafts up to the neck and further. I got married and traveled to Thailand with my maxi skirt and guitar... it's kind of a bitter sweet time that you visit on occasion, and enjoy some memories and decide which one's you want to toss out and not bring back to mind. I love being able to see some of the oldie programs from that era...it's fun seeing the clothes and hairdo's...but today isn't to bad either. I've grown a lot, learned a lot and am even finishing that college education. There have been times that I wished I could go back to that time, but I am so happy where I am and the plans I've made for myself, which includes writing several books for publication (at least I hope they'll get published). It's growing that courage to continue on even though the road has gotten rather rough at times. I doubt that when you posted this discussion that there would be a person out there that would realized how much being alive in the 70's would influence their life in the 21st century. I remember my Suzuki 90 motorcycle. I met a lot of guys riding that baby. I used it to commute to college, and the Christmas after I got it I received a luggage race for it. When I got married later in the 70's my then husband decided he wanted to learn how to ride. Dear old dad decided he would do the teaching. As he did with my Mom, he neglected to inform my husband about how to stop the bike. Dad and a friend of his decided to take my husband out on the road to our house. It was dirt, mountainous and curvy. The trio didn't get too far when my husband decided to down shift the bike, popped the clutch and lost control and went down a steep embankment. It wasn't too bad because he wasn't going to fast, but he couldn't figure out how to stop the bike. He tried dragging his feet, which didn't work, he only lost the heels off his boots. So he figured that he was tall enough that he would just let the bike slip out from under him. That was a great thought until he looked down and saw the luggage rack heading for something rather important to the male anatomy! Needless to say the man hustled and got a hold of the handle bars and scrambled forward to save his manhood. The bike finally stopped itself and my then husband forced my dad to ride the bike back up the hill. They got home and dad came in and announced about the near wreck. If I remember right, dads words were "Your husband just had an accident on your bike". The loving spouse that I was, the first words from my mouth was "How's my bike???" The marriage didn't last, for some strange reason, but I do still get the giggles over the accident and my response. I did go and check on him, he was out in the front yard trying to nail the heels of his boots back on the boots! Thank you again for the best response and the trip down memory lane!
• United States
12 Feb 09
I remember 8 track tapes and records. I also remember the black light parties. This was the era that most everyone where I lived rode bikes rather than drive. Skateboards had metal wheels and stingray bikes were still "in". I remember I understood the words to songs back then and sang along. Princess phones were just coming out if I remember right. You could smoke in grocery stores and dining establishments. I think I would miss my puter the most if I had to go back. Like now I have no need for a phone book, but back then it was the only way to look up a number.
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@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
12 Feb 09
So true! People did ride bikes more didn't they? My little 7 year old picked up an audio cassette tape the other day and asked me what it was! Those were the days...Thanks for responding!
@lucy02 (5016)
• United States
13 Feb 09
I remember the bell bottom pants, ponchos, miniskirts, knee socks, and those peasant type shirts. That stuff has made a comeback too. Mood rings, afros, perms, hip huggers, clogs, gauchos, pet rocks, discos, strobe lights, clackers. I'm sure I'm forgetting so many. Nice remembering.
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
13 Feb 09
Ponchos! I had bright orange one! Ughr! Thanks for the response!
@anne25penn (3305)
• Philippines
13 Feb 09
I was a child in the 70's and what I really miss is how laid back people were those days. I could wander my neighborhood and my mother would not worry if I had been kidnapped or molested. Our tv shows were kid friendly. I grew up watching Sesame Street. And my all-time favorite Star Rangers. LOL. I even had pink sneakers because of them. I had Raggedy Ann dolls and coloring books. We did not get sick because of peanut butter sandwich lunches. We lived without computer games. Our games was on the street that made us run or jump. I guess looking back, there is nothing that I would miss in my present day time. ^-^
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
13 Feb 09
Life sure was more wholesome and safe than it is today. I would love to have that again. I would like to go back if I could take my laptop! Thanks for a grear response!
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
13 Feb 09
I ALSO MISS THE 50S & 60S, BUT CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING i WOULD MISS FROM TODAY.
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
13 Feb 09
From today I would miss my laptop that's for sure! Thanks for the response!
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@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
13 Feb 09
There's the saying "If You can remember the 60's,you weren't really there"..I've never heard of an equivalent saying for the 70's!..What I can remember about the 70's..Raleigh Chopper Bikes (big back wheel,small front wheel,monkey handlebars and a 3 gear shifter on the crossbar..)-so good they relaunched it again recently!- The Bay City Rollers,the Osmonds,Seeing "Diamonds are Forever" on the big screen,The switch from Sean Connery to Roger Moore with "Live and Let Die",(I must've blinked and missed George Lazenby...!)Spacehoppers,Jaws,Monty Python on TV...I had a red LED Commodore pocket Calculator at school,it ran on a 9 Volt PP3 Battery,and didn't come with the power supply brick it really needed...I started making the switch from vinyl to cassette tapes when I bought my first cassette player in '76..What I'd miss going back? The Internet,home recording and playback of favourite shows and movies,Digital Cameras..
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
13 Feb 09
I remember buying my first record player, it was around 1978 and I saved up for such a long time for it...Thanks for a great response!
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
20 Feb 09
I remember the mid-to-late 70's...I was born in '68. I wouldn't mind going back to it...it seems like things were simpler. I'd probably miss my pc the most but I lived without it before so if I had to I know I could again. [b]**AT PEACE WITHIN** ~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~[/b]
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
21 Feb 09
Things certainly were simpler. I would miss my laptop most of all too but without it I may get a bit fitter! Thanks for responding!
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
14 Feb 09
Well I was born in 1955 so I most definitely remember the 70s...Mmmm..you forgot to mention..nehru jackets, love beads, saying things like groovey or far out man..The Partridge Family, The Monkees. LOL I would most definitely miss computers if I were to go back to that time--can't even remember how my life was prior to working on a computer...
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
14 Feb 09
I had forgotten the Partridge Family, used to love that show! "Groovey man!" Thanks for the response!
@TessWhite (3146)
• United States
13 Feb 09
Hmmm do they still make Tab I wonder? Used to drink it when I thought I had to lose a pound or two. Silly when I remember, considering how thin I was. I remember elephant leg pants, wide white belts, halter tops and platform shoes or clogs. I remember being sent to the principal's office for drawing peace signs on my jeans. LOL Ever the rebel huh? I remember night after night at the skating rink, skating to rock music while the disco ball spun. Dates with the boyfriend at the local drive in, and laying out working on the tan without worry of skin cancer. I'd rather not go back to that era, although there are things I miss from that time period. Too many new things I like these days.
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
13 Feb 09
I agree. Tab is now Diet Coke I think. I wish the worst thing our kids would do nowadays is draw peace signs on their jeans! I remember going to the drive in with my boyfriend in his first car. Thanks for the memories!
@BlueGoblin (1829)
• United States
12 Feb 09
No. I don't remember the 70s at all. I wasn't even born in the 70s. I still remember some of the things you are talking about though. I really wouldn't want to live in the 70s. I would like to go further back but only to visit.
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
13 Feb 09
I know what you mean. It would be good to go back and take a look but have the choice to return to all the commodoties of today. Thanks for the response!
@Polly1 (12645)
• United States
12 Feb 09
I fondly remember the seventies too, I would miss my computer the most. It opens the world while sitting at home.
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
12 Feb 09
I know what you mean, computers make the world seem so much smaller. Thanks for responding!
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
12 Feb 09
I graduated from high school in 1973 so I remember that decade fondly and well. I'll tell you one thing I wouldn't miss if I could return to that time and that's my cell phone. It's convenient to have but it's also a pain in my butt to own one and to be "on call" 24/7 to family and friends. I don't like being interrupted while I'm at the grocery store or trying to do something at our business by a friend or family member who wants to chat. What would I miss? Probably the internet, the microwave and having over 200 channels on satellite television.
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
12 Feb 09
We do get used to all the "mod cons" don't we? I don't know how I ever lived without a microwave, I guess you don't miss something if you've never had it! Thanks for responding!
@22angel22 (450)
• United States
12 Feb 09
My husband LIVES in the 70s still. He really only listens to the music that was in the era and he doesn't really do the whole tech thing. If he wants on the internet I have to load the computer and get him where he needs to be. He finally got a cell phone, but still its the basic model. Also, we have a record player and he pretty much only uses that. Skynyrd, Lovin Spoonful, Bob Dylan, Peter Paul and Mary... These are bands he listens to all the time. I got him an Ipod for his bday and its fun watching him use it.
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
12 Feb 09
I didn't know people still lived in that era! Whatever makes him happy! Music is good though. Thanks for the response!
• Philippines
12 Feb 09
so interesting to read this topics but during the 70's i was only what 4years hahahahhah so i never really had a chance to appreciate it but thanks to the people like you who likes to remember such thing i've got a glimpse of it even only in your stories.
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
12 Feb 09
You are still a baby! (LOL) The seventies was an interesting sartorially challenged time! Thanks for the response!
@minx267 (15553)
• Hartford, Connecticut
12 Feb 09
I remember bellbottoms, bikes with banana seats (I still have mine) motown was awesome! the extra long shirt collars were not! I remember pop rocks and pixie sticks. If I had to go back to the 70's I would miss a hell of a lot. (although I wouldn't mind going back to the 80's.) :) I loved the hair, the bandanas, the music - ah , Nostalgia!
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
12 Feb 09
Bikes with banana seats of course! I had one with bright flowers on it and a basket to match. I would miss a lot if I had to go back, although it would be good if we could go back in age too knowing then what we know now! (If you know what I mean)Thanks for responding!
@Lindery (853)
• Latvia
12 Feb 09
I remember only late eighties because I was born on 1983. But I have heard those years were a real fun! Much better than now. I wonder why...
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
13 Feb 09
Some things took longer to do because we did not have the technology of today but because of that, on the other hand, life was far less complicated. Thanks for responding you young thing!(LOL)