16 Simple Pleasures from the ’70s That Are Hard to Find Today
A nostalgic look at the simple pleasures of the 1970s—those tactile, heartfelt moments that once defined daily life but have quietly slipped away in our digital age.
- Alyana Aguja
- 5 min read
The 1970s were a halcyon era of analog bliss, when time lumbered along, slow and gentle, and pure pleasures had an enduring impact. From Saturday-morning cartoons and hand-written missives to drive-in movies and Polaroid photo captures, each everyday experience rendered a kind of enchantment rare in the now-turbulent, digital realm. This articles takes on 16 real, beloved encounters that framed an era—and provides a reminder of what we have lost along the way.
1. Listening to vinyl on a console stereo
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Families would sit around big wood console stereos and drop the needle on a vinyl record. That soft crackle leading up to the music being played was part of the ritual. Today, despite the revival of vinyl, music played that way in the full living room stereo experience rarely happens.
2. Writing (and receiving) letters on funky stationery
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Teenagers and pen pals wrote handwritten notes on perfumed or decorated stationery, usually adorned with doodles or glitter. The anticipation of a response provided an excitement that emails and texts can’t match. Hallmark even sold themed sets complete with coordinating envelopes, now largely a relic of the past.
3. Saturday morning cartoons
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A ritual of the sacred: a bowl of sweet cereal, pajamas, and unbroken cartoon marathons from 7 a.m. to noon. Super Friends, The Pink Panther, and Fat Albert dominated the airwaves. Cartoons are now available 24/7 through streaming, but that shared Saturday morning magic is lost.
4. Polaroid instant photos
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Snap, pull, and shake—the magic of watching a photo come together in your hand in a matter of minutes was indelible. Friends took spontaneous shots with Polaroid SX-70s at gatherings and parties. Though instant cameras are still around, the excitement and physical anticipation aren’t quite as present.
5. Playing outside until the streetlights came on
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Back when there were no smartphones or relentless parental monitoring, children wandered the neighborhoods independently—on bicycles, playing kickball, or creating forts. The streetlights let them know when it was time to go home, not some alert from an app. This type of autonomous freedom is scarce these days.
6. Paging through the Sears catalog
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The Sears Wish Book was a fall family tradition—circling around toys, gadgets, or avocado-green appliances to put on Christmas lists. It was shopping, dreaming, and family time combined. Online browsing is easy but does not have the same tactile rush.
7. Getting your news from the evening paper
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Opening the paper on the breakfast table was a morning ritual, scenting the ink and the delightful sound of crumpling newspaper. Children looked at the cartoon sections while Mom and Dad heard the latest news on Watergate or neighborhood tidings. The news seemed prearranged, contained, and dependable—not that limitless scroll they’ve got today.
8. Jell-O salad made fresh for every potluck
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From church picnics to potlucks, colorful Jell-O molds with suspended nuts, fruit, or even tiny marshmallows floating inside were everywhere. They were strange, sweet, and a centerpiece in more ways than one. Now, you’d struggle to get anyone to serve lime Jell-O with cottage cheese.
9. Taping music off the radio onto cassette tapes
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Hovering over the boombox with your finger poised on the “Record” button was a coming of age. You had to record your favorite song just before the DJ spoke over the intro. It was sloppy, inexact, and strangely gratifying.
10. CB radios and “10-4, good buddy” culture
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Truckers and curious children used to play with CB radios, exchanging slang and eavesdropping on messages from miles away. The citizen’s band fad made communication exciting and adventurous. Smartphones might link us all around the world, but they won’t utter “breaker one-nine.”
11. Drive-in movie theaters
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Watching a double feature under the stars, parked in your car with a tiny speaker on the window, was a social activity. You could bring your own food, talk freely, and even smuggle in friends in the trunk. Though some still linger, they’re now retro novelties, not neighborhood institutions.
12. Tang and other “space age” snacks
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NASA-motivated beverages like Tang and powdered astronaut ice cream were the epitome of cool in a space-crazed era. Children drank the orange-colored beverage and fantasized about being suspended in zero gravity. The fads remain but no longer retain the same otherworldly excitement.
13. Inscribing your initials on a tree or school desk
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A teenage act of defiance is marking your territory somewhere permanent (and a little taboo). Either under a desk lid or on a tree in the playground, it was like something that could survive you. Nowadays, all that is digital—likes, posts, and Snapchats that disappear.
14. Brown bag lunches with a thermos and mom’s note
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Frequently, lunchboxes featured our favorite cartoon heroes and contained a peanut butter sandwich, a milk flask, and perhaps an inscription. The small piece of paper—“Good luck on your test!"—made all the difference. These days, lunch might be served up or snapped on the street.
15. Reading comic books at the drugstore rack
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You might sit cross-legged in a corner store, thumbing through Archie, Spider-Man, or Mad Magazine without being disturbed. Nobody rushed you, and nobody fretted about collectible worth. Comic culture endures, but the hedonistic browsing is gone.
16. The excitement of a View-Master reel
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Inserting a new reel and clicking through 3D Disney scenes or far-off places was enchanting. It was as if you were carrying a miniature, magical cinema in your palm. Tablets can display anything to you but lack the click or wonder.