Top 24+ Fads from the 60s and 70s That Seem Prehistoric Today

Every decade is made unique because of the everyday fads that were popularized by a willing public. In the 1990s, disposable cameras and video rental stores were totally normal then but virtually extinct today. In the 1950s, poodle skirts and raccoon skin caps were pretty run-of-the-mill fashion trends that would cause you to stick out like a sore thumb at the grocery store now. And in the 1960s and 70s, the trends were just as off-the-wall! We’ve gathered together 24 of our favorite bygone fads that really paint a picture of what the ’60s and ’70s were actually like.

#1: Mood Rings

Not even the tone of your mood was safe from a mood ring! Feeling relaxed, but your mood ring looks red? You must be angry! Jokes aside, mood rings were a fun and mystical way to show your sense of style. Body temperature would affect the ring’s color and thereby represent your mood…Whether they worked or not, mood rings became a popular trend for teens and adults.

#3: Pogo Sticks

The beloved pogo stick was an already classic toy that enjoyed a surge of popularity in the 1960s and ’70s. Kids (and adults!) enjoyed the challenge of seeing how high they could jump and for how long. The toy provided a surprisingly good workout, briefly adopted as a fitness fad by women of the 1950s and ’60s. It was a great way to get rambunctious kids to burn off some of their excess energy!

#4: Earth Shoes

These odd-looking shoes may remind you a bit of Bilbo Baggins and his friends from The Shire (if Hobbits wore shoes, that is), but Earth Shoes became very popular in the 1970s! Touted as a whole-body wellness solution, the “negative heel” design was believed to help you achieve better posture. Earth Shoes were shockingly common despite their less-than-glamorous appearance, which probably explains why the counterculture movement was so fond of them.

#6: Lava Lamps

Even if you didn’t partake in mind-altering substances in the 1960s, it was highly possible that the psychedelic subculture still managed to find its way into your life. Take the lava lamp, for example. This popular novelty lamp was seen in just about every living room, kids room, or basement in the 1960s. The floating blobs of wax were oddly comforting and entertaining, and the soft glow from the colored light made for a peaceful ambiance when you were winding down from a busy day.

#7: Sea Monkeys

Sea Monkeys, or Brine Shrimp, are tiny little creatures sold in a pouch. All you had to do was add water and, ta-dah! You’ve got tiny little water-bound pets! The whimsical marketing of Sea Monkeys made them a popular choice for kids in the ’60s and ’70s because they seemingly came to life with “magic.” The eggs of the shrimp can actually stay in a state of suspended animation for years until water is introduced into their environment.

#9: Platform Shoes

Platform shoes are making a huge comeback in this decade for their nostalgic flair. In the 1970s, however, they were the disco dance room shoe of choice! Fun to dance in, with the playful aspect of added height, platform shoes did not discriminate across genders, as they were popular with many male disco stars like The Bee Gees. Disco was all about fantasy and self-expression, and the platform shoe fit perfectly into that equation.

#10: Hippie Bead Curtains

In the 1960s, a phenomenon known as Hippie Beads became the go-to solution for creating mystery and wonderment as you traveled from room to room inside your home. Hung in the doorway and available in endless colors, patterns, and materials (wood, plastic, crystal, even macrame if you wanted something softer), hippie beads created a groovy, sensory experience as you made your exit or entrance, leaving behind that soft tinkling sound that said, “I have arrived!”

#12: View-Master Reels

Even though video games were entering the scene in the 1970s, The View-Master had been around for decades and wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon! There was, and still is, something so novel and pleasing about looking through the viewfinder and seeing the Grand Canyon right before your eyes, or your favorite Disney characters in a scene from that movie you just saw in the theaters. The clicking sound that you made when advancing the reel was also extremely gratifying.

#13: Pop Rocks Candy

Pop Rocks provided a sensory experience like no other candy before it, and it seemed like very strange science when we were kids! How can a tasty, sour-sweet candy explode so violently without doing any damage? The animated popping and fizzing provided endless fun for your tongue, but maybe it wasn’t the best choice for theater-going, as the popping and fizzing made it hard to hear the movie!

#15: Fad Diets (Grapefruit and Cabbage Soup)

Fad diets have long been a cultural talking point throughout the decades, and the ’60s and ’70s were no different. Strange promises were made by vague sources that said if you ate only grapefruit, for instance, you would lose weight. Companies like Nestle and Pillsbury jumped on this bandwagon, producing packaged foods that made similar claims of future sveltness. Unfortunately, the instant gratification mindset of weight loss still persists in our culture today.

#16: String Art Kits

String Art may be a relic from the midcentury era, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t look cool in its own strange and unique way! While some people preferred making their creations free-hand, others enjoyed working from a kit. A board was provided with nails hammered into a chosen shape. Varying strings were then wrapped around the nails to create shading and depth through geometric shapes and patterns. It was a mesmerizing activity that is still available for purchase if you know where to look!

#18: Disco Roller Skating

Disco roller skating merged the nationwide pastime of skating with the novel fun of a Discotech! Folks would dress up in their flashiest disco attire and then hit the rink, combining dance grooves with skating moves for double the excitement. Skating and dancing are both great exercise, and the funky vibes that disco music brings turned this phenomenon into an experience we actually wish would have stuck around!

#19: Invisible Ink Spy Pens

Can you imagine having the power to write a message somewhere in plain sight that only your chosen few could witness? Such was the appeal of Invisible Ink Spy Pens! Kids could send secret messages to their friends without teachers or parents being able to read them. All you needed was a UV light and the desire for espionage to make your spy dreams a living reality. It’s little wonder that these pens are still on the market today. Being a spy never gets old!

#21: Avocado Green Kitchens

We can’t say with certainty what it was about avocado green that so captivated the housewives and interior designers of the 1970s. What we can tell you is that this muted, pea-like shade was absolutely the It color for all things kitchen appliances! The 60s and 70s were all about making bold statements in fashion and home decor, so it’s unsurprising that avocado green would become the darling color of choice. And while later decades shunned the continued use of this color, avocado green has made a not-so-surprising return to kitchens in need of a retro boost.

#22: The Ford Pinto

As cool as it might have looked back then, the Ford Pinto had some truly “fiery” qualities. Infamous for its flammable nature, the popularity of the Pinto was unbridled for its time. Once the public eventually became aware of its explosive potential, the Pinto’s run came to a swift and smoky end.

#24: The Twist Dance

Aptly named, the Twist dance required both men and women to twist their entire bodies from the neck down, making all kinds of shapes and angles on the dance floor. While an undeniably fun dance to experience, the Twist just hasn’t translated for any other generation past the 1960s, making it more like a time capsule than an up-to-the-moment way to express oneself to music.