10 Reasons Growing Up In The 1970s Was Totally Groovy
By Jack Ripley | May 8, 2024
McDonald's Was More Than Just a Restaurant
Ah, the 1970s, the era where kids headed out when the sun came up and only came back when the streetlights came on. Our generation saw the rise of some of the best musicians in history from Elton John and Carlos Santana to Barry White and Stevie Wonder. The disco music set our hearts afire and made everyone get up and start dancing. It wasn't just the music we loved, though. Whether you grew up in this decade where America truly came into its own, or you're just a fan, we can't wait to take a look back at the 1970s with you.
Many people know McDonald's today more for its large menu and TV commercials than they do anything else. In the 1970s, though, fast food wasn't an everyday thing. We were lucky if we had it once a week or once a month. Going to McDonald's was such a big deal that some of us only ventured there for birthday parties and other celebrations. As much as we loved the burgers and fries, we loved the playgrounds even more. These weren't the standard playrooms that some restaurants have today, though. These were lawless worlds where anything was possible. From getting trapped in the Office Big Mac structure to crashing down the slides, we loved every moment of it.
KISS Rocked Our Minds and Hearts
KISS made news in recent years when the band announced it sold its entire back catalog and license for a huge amount. Growing up in the 1970s, few of us imagined that the band would become so mainstream or that Gene Simmons would become a household name with a reality show. Back then, KISS was the band we listened to when our parents were gone, if only because we didn't want to hear another lecture about that supposedly demonic music. Known for their shocking makeup and even more shocking costumes, they introduced our generation to a whole new world of music. From “Strutter” and “Rock and Roll All Nite” to “I Was Made for Lovin' You” and “Shout It Out Loud,” KISS songs were a major part of our generation's early soundtrack.
Sesame Street Taught Us Numbers and More
Sure, today's generation still watches "Sesame Street," but we were there from the beginning! Launched by PBS, it hit the air at a time when most homes didn't have cable, but nearly everyone had a television. Not only did we see classic puppets like Oscar the Grouch and Big Bird, but we were also there when the Robinson family first appeared. There was the ever-lovable Gordon along with his sweet wife Susan and the rest of the group. For some of us, it was the first time we saw African Americans on television! To make things even better, the family taught us that it was OK for a mom to go back to work. That was just one of the many lessons we learned along the way from this iconic show.
Roller Skating Rinks Hopped on Weekends
https://detourdetroiter.com/rollercade-detroit-skating-rink-open-60-years/
Kids in the '90s had rollerblades, but kids in the 1970s had roller skating rinks. While some of us loved skating down the block and around the neighborhood, the rink was the place to go on Friday and Saturday nights. Heck, we even had birthday parties and field trips there. Between the flashing lights and loud music, it's no wonder why so many of us remember having our first kiss in a rink. Just imagine dancing in a pair of skates as “Disco Inferno” or “That’s the Way (I Like It)” played. It was an experience none of us will ever forget. Roller rinks were popular among parents, too. They could drop us off and have a few hours alone before coming back to pick us up at the end of the night, knowing we were safe.
Our Mouths Tingled From Pop Rocks
If you grew up in the '70s, you probably heard the story about Mikey. Mikey was in commercials for Life cereal where other kids claimed he liked it. Once the actor left the public eye, rumors swirled that he passed from drinking a combo of Pop Rocks and soda. While this obviously wasn't true, it was easy to believe because of how Pop Rocks made our mouths feel. Made from sugar and other ingredients, the candy has a hard exterior that dissolves in the mouth, creating carbon dioxide that makes the mouth tingle and pop. Pop Rocks hit the market in 1976 and became an almost overnight sensation. We couldn't get enough of the yummy flavors or the unique feeling the candy left behind.
We Cherished Our Star Wars Action Figure Collection
The Star Wars franchise is a global phenomenon today. Even before Disney took over the franchise and released TV shows and cartoons, the original films had already made billions of dollars. Fans today only need to wait a year or less for a new title to be released, but things were different for the 1970s generation. When "Star Wars: A New Hope" hit theaters in 1977, no one expected to see what came next. George Lucas had trouble getting a company to make toys for the movie, but the company that released them underestimated the demand so much that they had to send out empty boxes with a promise to get the action figures out as soon as possible. Many of us who came of age during the '70s still cherish our little plastic Kenner action figures produced back then. We had our own lightsaber duels between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader and had fun twisting R2's head all the way around.
Long John Silver's Made Fish Yummy
While fast food wasn't that common in the 1970s, burgers and fries were pretty standard. You could easily find a McDonald's or a Burger King to grab a quick meal. Long John Silver's changed the industry. Though McDonald's had the Filet-o-Fish on its menu, Long John Silver's had an extensive menu filled with fish and seafood choices that were otherwise out of reach for many families. Some of us had our first taste of shrimp at one of these restaurants. Making things even better, Long John Silver's offered food to go, giving working moms and busy dads the chance to get a delicious and somewhat healthy dinner on the table fast. While Long John Silver's wasn't available in all cities or states, it became the go-to for seafood fans.
Every Cool Home Had a HiFi System
While you can take your favorite music with you anywhere today on your phone, those of us who grew up in the 1970s couldn't get enough of our HiFi systems. Some of us were lucky enough or rich enough to have our own bedroom systems, but others were stuck using the huge, shared units their parents put in the middle of the living room. Still, others begged their parents to invest in one from JCPenney or Sears. With a reel-to-reel and a radio as well as a record player and large speakers, the system was the center of the home's entertainment center. Not only did we spend hours listening to our favorite songs playing on the radio, but we also had the perfect place to enjoy tapes and much more.
We Fell in Love With the Faces in Tiger Beat Magazine
Teens today have an easy way to find out about their crushes. They can just pull up a website or social media and find everything they want to know. Back in the 1970s, we rushed to the grocery store every week to snag the latest issue of Tiger Beat to see our crushes between the pages. Not only did Tiger Beat share photos, but every issue also included a color poster. We loved seeing David Cassidy and Michael Jackson on each page. The magazine didn't discriminate between actors and musicians, either. Each issue included a mixture of both. If you didn't find your favorite celeb one month, you can bet your bottom dollar that they would be there the next. It wasn't a shock that teens would spend their allowances on Tiger Beat to get new photos they could hang on their walls.
Tape Recorders Launched Millions of Mixed Tapes
While tapes gave way to CDs and later streaming services, tape recorders were a huge deal in the 1970s. You have to remember that this was still a time when albums were king. Thanks to the advent of the tape recorder, we now had a way to make our own mixed tapes. Many of us remember calling the local radio station to request a song and then sitting huddled by the radio with our hand over the record button just waiting for the song to start. Kids today have it much easier. On top of music, more than a few budding journalists got their start with these new tape recorders. Whether they chatted with friends or interviewed their neighbors, they honed their interview skills on this new-fangled device.
