19 Iconic Flashbacks to the Electric 1970s

Welcome to the wild, flashy, and unapologetically groovy world of the 1970s—a decade that gave us disco balls, bold fashion, and moments so iconic they’re still buzzing today. This lineup isn’t just history; it’s a time capsule of epic proportions.

1. Under Construction


The Twin Towers, well underway in 1971.

2. Kent State

Kent State activist Alan Canfora confronts National Guardsmen just before the deadly shooting in 1970.

3. Message to Soldiers


A black U.S. soldier reads a message left by the Việt Cộng during the Vietnam War. The message reads, “U.S. [black] armymen, you are committing the same ignominious crimes in South Vietnam that the KKK clique is perpetrating against your family at home.” 1970.

4. Three Mile Island


William Behrle, the first man to enter the Three Mile Island reactor containment building following its accident on March 28th, 1979.

5. Watergate

Woodward and Bernstein watching Nixon’s first TV speech on Watergate in 1973. The two journalists did much of the initial reporting that brought the presidential scandal to light.

6. Nixon Resigns


Richard Nixon waves goodbye as he boards a helicopter after resigning the presidency earlier that day. August 9, 1974.

7. The Munich Massacre


Photographers gather after the Munich Massacre, during the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. West Germany, 1972.

8. Star Wars


People wait in line to see the original Star Wars in 1977.

9. IRA


A female IRA volunteer on active service in West Belfast. 1970s.

10. Elvis


Elvis performs his last show on June 26, 1977.

11. Pinball

Roger Sharpe demonstrating to the NYC council that pinball is a game of skill, not luck, by calling a shot. This lifted the ban on pinball, saving it throughout the country. 1976.

12. Crackdown


A South Korean soldier forcibly cuts a young man’s hair in front of others during a nationwide crackdown on men with long hair and women wearing short skirts in South Korea.

13. Bodybuilders


Franco Columbu doing his bat act while Arnold Schwarzenegger looks on.

14. Protest

Members of the Japanese “Marxist Youth League” in a protest, 1970s.

15. Coming Home


Lt. Col. Robert Stirm, is greeted by his family, returning home after more than five years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam. 1973.

16. America Celebrates its Bicentennial


July 4th, 1976.

17. Iranian Hostage Crisis

Imam’s Line activists invade the U.S. Embassy, beginning the hostage crisis. Tehran, Iran. November 4, 1979.

18. Battle of the Sexes

  • Billie Jean King defeats Bobby Riggs in a tennis “Battle of the Sexes.”

19. Cold War

A Soviet bomber crewman takes a photo of an F-4 Phantom with its RIO taking a picture of the Tu-142 Bear F over the Atlantic, 1970s.

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