The 1970s were a time like no other: a colorful, chaotic, and unforgettable mix of disco balls, shag carpets, and rotary phones. If you were lucky enough to grow up during this unforgettable decade, these memories will take you right back.

1. Saturday Morning Cartoons

Waking up early on Saturdays to catch your favorite cartoons was a weekly ritual. From Scooby-Doo to The Jetsons, it was pure animated magic before noon.

2. Record Players and Vinyl

Before streaming, music lovers would carefully drop the needle onto a spinning vinyl record. The crackle before a song started was just part of the charm.

3. The Smell of Mimeograph Paper

That purple ink and oddly satisfying chemical scent from freshly printed school handouts was unmistakable. It meant a pop quiz, or if you were lucky, a coloring sheet.

4. Rotary Phones

You had to patiently dial each number, one digit at a time, and hope you didn’t mess it up. And if you did? Start all over again.

5. Drive-In Theaters

Pile into the car with snacks, roll down the windows, and enjoy a movie under the stars. It was the original version of Netflix and chill.

6. Tang and Space Food

Astronaut-inspired snacks like Tang made you feel like you were prepping for a space mission. It didn’t taste great, but that didn’t matter.

7. Roller Disco

Combining roller skating with disco music was the ultimate weekend thrill. Neon lights, funky beats, and glitter everywhere.

8. Pet Rocks

Yes, people actually bought rocks as pets and they came with care manuals. It was peak ‘70s absurdity, and we loved it.

9. 8-Track Tapes

The chunky 8-track was a car essential for blasting your favorite tunes. You couldn’t rewind, but you could fast-forward to your favorite song, eventually.

10. Earth Shoes

These oddly shaped shoes were supposed to be good for your posture. Whether they worked or not, they were unmistakably ‘70s.

11. Waterbeds

Having a bed filled with water felt like the future of sleeping. Until it sprang a leak, of course.

12. Mood Rings

These rings changed color based on your “mood” or body temperature, more accurately. Still, we believed in the magic.

13. Pong

This simple video game was revolutionary at the time. Two paddles, one dot, and endless hours of fun.

14. TV Dials

Changing the channel meant getting up and turning a knob, remote controls were a luxury. And there were only a handful of channels anyway.

15. Jell-O Molds

From dinner to dessert, Jell-O was the star of many meals. Sometimes it had fruit, sometimes vegetables… and sometimes meat.

16. Metal Lunchboxes

Kids carried Star Wars, The Bionic Woman, or Dukes of Hazzard lunchboxes with pride. Bonus points if you still have the matching thermos.

17. School Filmstrips

Teachers would dim the lights and play a filmstrip with a “ding” to change the slide. It was educational, but also the best chance for a nap.

18. CB Radios

Truckers weren’t the only ones with CBs, everyone wanted a cool handle and to say “10-4, good buddy.” It was social media before the internet.

19. Banana Seats and High Handlebars

Kids ruled the neighborhood on their banana-seat bikes, usually with streamers on the handlebars. No helmet, no rules, just freedom.

20. The Sears Catalog

This thick book was everything: wish list, toy catalog, fashion guide, and even furniture inspiration. It was the original window shopping.

21. Macramé Everything

From plant holders to wall hangings, macramé was the home décor go-to. If it could be knotted, it was on display.

22. Shrinky Dinks

Draw, bake, and watch your creation magically shrink in the oven. It never got old, and you always worried it would disappear completely.

23. Avocado Green and Harvest Gold

These were the colors of every kitchen and appliance in America. If your fridge wasn’t avocado, it was behind the times.

24. “Don’t Touch That Dial!”

TV hosts actually said this because you could literally turn the dial. And somehow, it worked. You stayed glued to the screen.

25. Clackers

These hard plastic balls on a string clacked together with dangerous force. It’s hard to believe that more windows and fingers weren’t broken.

26. Easy-Bake Ovens

You could bake cakes with a lightbulb, and it was the height of independence. Slightly undercooked? Sure. Totally worth it.

27. The Muppet Show

Before Sesame Street went full educational, the Muppets were variety show stars. Kermit, Miss Piggy, and that glorious theme song ruled the night.

28. Shrugging at Seatbelts

Seatbelts were optional in many cars, and few people actually used them. It was a different time, one with more risk and fewer regulations.

29. Gas Lines

The oil crisis meant waiting hours in line to fill up your tank. People even installed locks on gas caps to prevent theft.

30. Saying “Far Out” and “Groovy”

Slang was psychedelic, and everything cool was either far out or groovy. And if you still say it, you’re probably smiling right now.