This Is What Pop Culture Looked Like In 1970
While “popular culture” was a term coined in the 1800s, people in 1970 weren't talking about pop culture like we do today. Mostly, it was just “culture,” and different tastes could mix and merge, and almost nobody was called a nerd as a compliment back then. The proliferation of television offerings was a decade away with the advent of cable TV, but people loved what they had and hit shows filled the limited airwaves. Music began to put flower power in the rearview mirror in favor of a heavier sound.
The sixties offered a glimpse of pop culture's endless horizon, and the seventies marched towards it. So, this is what pop culture looked like in 1970.
Star Trek World
The original series ended in 1969, but people wanted more, and they got it a few years later. Star Trek is alive and well to this day, releasing new stories every decade since the sixties.
The M*A*S*H Movie
Before the popular TV show, audiences saw the original M*A*S*H in theaters.
British Sci-Fi
In the UK, Doctor Who was king of sci-fi, introducing Jon Pertwee as the third incarnation of the titular character and expanding the concept and the franchise to brand-new places.
Cheerleading Squad
High School life just hit different.
1970's Fashion
There was no such thing as being overdressed.
Harlem Look
1970s New York is where it was at.
Economy Class
This is what flying in 1970 looked like.
Gimme Shelter
The Rolling Stones documentary showed the last weeks of the 1969 US tour that ended in the disastrous Altamont Free Concert that claimed one fatal victim. It's a mix of great music and an eerie atmosphere.
Creedence World
Creedence Clearwater Revival released an album with some of their most iconic songs, providing what would later become the soundtrack of the Vietnam War.
Racing Girl
A girl and her Corvette, one of the most popular cars ever.
Bridge Over Troubled Water
One of Simon & Garfunkel's best-regarded albums, not only for the music but also for the cover.
Black Sabbath debut
With very long hair and a whole new attitude, the iconic band released not one but two albums, taking the world by storm with hits like Paranoid.
Afro Time
The 1970s were going to look like this, and they knew it.
Music Festivals
The US celebrated its first music festivals during the '60s, and 1970 brought new opportunities to see some of the most prominent artists of the moment.
Deep Purple in the house
Deep Purple also released their debut album, In Rock, opening a new era for rock music.
County Fair Memories
One of the kids isn't too happy about this.
Let It Be
The Beatles finally broke up in 1970, releasing their last studio album and closing a very particular era of music. Nothing would be the same after this, but the legacy was alive and well.
