Remembering the 70s, What Life Looked Like In 1973
1973 had game. Twin Towers scraped the sky, Billie Jean King beat a man on the tennis court, and Skylab lifted off above Florida. Celebrities, activists, and athletes collided in streets, stages, and arenas while fashion flared in bell-bottoms, hoop earrings, and hairstyles that defied gravity. Again, 1973 had game.
Music blasted from radios, cigarettes dangled from every hand, and cars rolled past in colors too bright to be real. Protests, concerts, and sports moments filled every corner. People posed, marched, cheered, and occasionally just stared at the camera.
These images show fashion, headlines, and moments that made 1973 sure seem like it was an exciting time to be alive.
Hard Hats, No Safety Nets
Two iron workers balance on a tiny platform high above the North Tower of the World Trade Center.
Elvis Meets Ali
Music legend Elvis Presley and boxing champion Muhammad Ali pose in playful mock fighting stances.
Baby Eminem
Marshall Mathers III sits on his mother Debbie’s lap, wearing striped shirt and red overalls in 1973.
Flower Seller
Barefoot young woman in a crop top and denim cut-offs sells flowers on an Oklahoma roadside.
Oscars Protest
Sacheen Littlefeather reads Marlon Brando’s statement, advocating for Native American representation at the Academy Awards.
Maskless Goalie
Gump Worsley defends his net in vintage leather gear, the last NHL goalie without a mask.
Dragon Set
Bruce Lee poses with John Saxon on set, days before the film’s release and Lee’s untimely death.
Dolly Parton
Dolly poses in voluminous hair and low-cut dress during 1973, the year “Jolene” was released.
Jerry Lee Rocks
Jerry Lee Lewis tilts back at the piano during his dramatic and controversial Grand Ole Opry debut.
Young Sid Vicious
John Ritchie, later Sid Vicious, rocks glam fashion: David Bowie T-shirt, denim jacket, bell-bottoms.
Soviet Riviera Sun
Crowds sunbathe on Sochi beach, cruise ships docked nearby, capturing the Soviet holiday scene.
Closest to Heaven
A 1973 brochure shows the Twin Towers towering over New York, promising heaven on Earth.
Steinbrenner Buys Yankees
New York Daily News announces George Steinbrenner purchases the Yankees for ten million dollars from CBS.
Young Harrison Ford
Harrison Ford grins mischievously in American Graffiti, straw cowboy hat completing his cocky racer look.
Watching Watergate
Woodward and Bernstein watch Nixon’s speech intently, documenting the unfolding political scandal.
Secretariat’s Triumph
Legendary Secretariat pulls far ahead of competitors, clinching the Triple Crown at Belmont Stakes.
Skylab Launch
Saturn V rocket lifts Skylab into orbit, bright orange exhaust reflected in Kennedy Space Center waters.
Perfect Dolphins
Miami Dolphins defender leaps over the line as Washington attempts a pass in Super Bowl VII.
Burst of Joy
Lt. Col. Robert Stirm reunites with family at Travis Air Force Base after POW release.
Battle of the Sexes Victory
Billie Jean King raises her trophy, smiling broadly after defeating Bobby Riggs in front of cheering fans.
Vietnam Cease-Fire
North and South Vietnamese soldiers shake hands, marking the end of US involvement in the war.
Reproductive Rights March
Three women demand the enforcement of Roe v. Wade, holding bold protest signs in the streets of St. Louis.
Wounded Knee Standoff
Two AIM activists stand alert in trenches, blankets wrapped, and rifles ready, on the Pine Ridge Reservation.
Sydney Opera Opening
Queen Elizabeth II greets a massive crowd during the 1973 inauguration of the iconic Opera House.
McDonald’s Prices
1973 menu board shows a Big Mac at 65 cents, Quarter Pounder 60 cents, Hamburger 28 cents.
