35 Candid Photos of the Early 70s That Show Everyday Life

You can always tell when a photo’s from the early ’70s. It’s in the colors, the clothes, the way people carried themselves. These photos of the early ’70s aren’t staged or polished; they’re just everyday moments, the kind of things you’d see if you were flipping through an old family album. From 1970 to 1973, life had a certain feel to it: a little rough around the edges, full of character, and completely different from today.

1. Flying Economy class in 1970

Photos of the Early 70s - Black and white photo of a crowded airplane cabin from the past, with passengers of various ages seated and eating meals, while a flight attendant serves food in the aisle. — GaGator43

2. McDonald’s menu from 1970

Black-and-white photo of an old McDonald’s menu board listing items like Big Mac, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, fries, apple pie, shakes, and drinks, with prices under 50 cents. Kitchen equipment visible below the menu. — Quick_Presentation11

3. Some friends goofing around in Medford, Massachusetts in 1972

A group of young women sit smiling in a convertible while a young man playfully hangs upside-down over the car door. A brick building and parked cars are visible in the background. — blrghh

4. “I got you!” Dad on duty in 1973.

An adult man in sunglasses runs alongside a young boy who is learning to ride a red bicycle on a park path, helping him balance. Trees and greenery are visible in the background. — FlamingoEvery5528

5. Men’s 1970s fashion. Check out those prices.

Three young men stand together modeling 1970s fashion: one in striped pants and tank top with a white helmet, one in a striped tee and purple pants, and one in bell-bottom jeans, cartoon shirt, and headband, all smiling. — GaGator43

6. Garment District, NYC at 36th Street and 7th Avenue in the 1970s

A man wearing a red striped shirt pushes a cart full of plastic-wrapped items on a busy city street, while pedestrians walk by and steam rises from a vent, with storefronts in the background. — AxlCobainVedder / Ozzie Friedman

7. Some friends hanging out in Leakey, Texas in 1973.

A group of men and a boy stand outdoors near a motorcycle. One man sits on the motorcycle wearing sunglasses. Others stand around, one in a plaid shirt wiping his face. There is grass, trees, and a classic car in the background. — DualCay0te

8. Los Angeles International Airport in the 1970s

A woman in a red dress stands with a suitcase at a vintage airport terminal, beneath airline signs for Japan Air Lines, BOAC, Pan American, Aerolíneas Argentinas, and Mexicana. Palm trees line the street. — userdeleted

9. At a bar in Ann Arbor, Michigan called ‘Mackinac Jack’s’ in 1972

Black and white photo of two women sitting at a bar, chatting with a smiling woman standing beside them. Drinks, napkins, and an ashtray are visible on the wooden bar counter. — AxlCobainVedder

10. Young couple at a soul club in Memphis in 1971

Two stylish people pose indoors on a wooden floor. One wears a white dress, pink hat, glasses, and holds a tambourine; the other wears a patterned shirt, dark jacket, and bell-bottom pants, holding a bag. — David Redd / UserDeleted

11. Students in the girls’ dormitory lined up to call their friends and family.

Six teenage girls in pajamas and nightgowns chat and laugh, some using rotary telephones in wooden phone booths, while others sit on the floor, suggesting a lively scene at a slumber party in a retro setting. — GaGator43

12. Mother and daughter going for a stroll in NYC in 1970

A woman and a young girl, both wearing red coats and sporting large afros, hold hands while standing on a snowy, leafless path in a city park with empty benches and tall buildings in the background. — robaco

13. “My dad going to his prom in the ’70s.”

A young man in a white tuxedo jacket with black trim stands smiling beside a classic car parked in front of a suburban house. The photo has a vintage, nostalgic feel. — balloongirl0622

14. “The traditional ‘before high school grauduation’ pose with my aunt in 1971”

A young woman in a light blue graduation cap and gown stands smiling beside an older woman in a red sleeveless top and patterned skirt, indoors near a window with beige curtains. — dittidot

15. “My grandma and her friends around 1970.”

Three teenage girls sit on concrete steps eating popsicles. Two wear jeans and one wears a McDonalds t-shirt and flip-flops. They are smiling and sitting in front of a white door and brick wall. — BilasG808

16. Pacific Southwest Airlines flight attendants in the early 70s

Two women in bright orange and pink uniforms with matching boots and bags smile as they descend airplane stairs. The aircraft behind them displays “Pacific Southwest Airlines” on its side. — UserDeleted

17. World Trade Center under construction as seen from below the Brooklyn Bridge in 1971

A person stands on a rooftop, looking at the New York City skyline, with one World Trade Center tower under construction and the other completed, visible under the Brooklyn Bridge. — Paul Rice / AxlCobainVedder

18. A milkman in 1972 wearing the new prize-winning uniform that was designed to make him more attractive to housewives.

A person in a uniform and cap carries bottles of milk in metal holders beside a delivery truck filled with crates of milk bottles, on a city street in a black-and-white photo. — jocke75

19. St. Clair Ave W in Toronto, Ontario in 1972

A vintage red streetcar travels down a busy city street lined with shops and cars from the 1960s or 1970s. Billboards, street signs, and tall apartment buildings are visible in the background. — sussoutthemoon

If you’re interested, here’s a look at roughly the spot today.

20. A couple in a J.C. Penney catalog from 1972

A man in a brown jacket sits on a red sectional sofa beside a woman in a white dress, relaxing in a retro living room with a guitar, shag rug, candles, and a formal meal set on a low white table. — morganmonroe81

Definitely getting a ‘the bowl for you keys is on the counter’ vibe from this photo.

21. A hitchhiker and his dog ‘Tripper’ on Route 66 in Topock, Arizona in 1972.

A man with shoulder-length hair in a white USA tank top and patchwork jeans stands outdoors, holding a black dog in his left arm, against a clear blue sky. — notbob1959

22. Memphis, 1972

A woman with light hair in a navy dress sits on a yellow curb, holding an open book, with trees and suburban houses in the background. A chained post stands beside her under an overcast sky. — UserDeleted

23. Living room decor in the early 1970s

Colorful mid-century modern living room with red carpet, an orange swivel chair, striped sofa, round glass coffee table, bookshelf filled with books, a grand piano, a tall lamp, and a plant. Light streams in through curtains. — frecklefactor

24. “Pretending to be Evel Knievel jumping your bike over some neighborhood kids in 1972.”

A boy on a bicycle jumps over a group of children lying on the ground using a wooden ramp, while other kids watch in front of suburban houses. The scene appears playful and daring. — MooseMalloy

25. “My dad and his band in 1971”

Four young men stand together with musical instruments, including electric guitars and a bass, against a textured wall, posing for a black-and-white photo and appearing to be part of a band. — UserDeleted

26. “My mother in 1970”

A woman with blonde hair, wearing a light sweater and dark pants, stands in a small kitchen holding a white cup and looking over her shoulder. The cupboards above the stove are open, revealing food items. — Madbuster75

27.

A vintage bathroom decorated in bright pink shag carpet, including toilet lid and seat covers, a bath mat, a toilet base cover, wastebasket, tissue box, towels, and a shower curtain with floral wallpaper. — Quick_Presentation11

28. Some teenagers practicing archery in 1973.

A group of children and adults stand in a grassy field, aiming bows and arrows. Trees and rolling hills are visible in the background under a clear sky. — AxlCobainVedder

29. Marquee for the Fillmore East in New York City in 1971

A black and white photo shows people walking on a busy sidewalk beneath the Fillmore East theater marquee, which advertises upcoming concerts by artists like Mountain, Mayall, Dead, and Jethro Tull. — HesJuggernaut

30. “My mom’s student ID card from Louisiana State University, 1973.”

A close-up of a vintage Louisiana University student ID card with a portrait of a smiling young woman with short, curly hair. The card is placed over a book page with partially visible printed text. — valleedelarde

31. A Taco Bell menu from 1972

A vintage Taco Bell menu displays photos and descriptions of six items—taco, burrito, enchirito, bellburger, tostada, and frijoles—with their pronunciations and brief descriptions below each photo. Drinks listed: Pepsi, Orange, Root Beer, Coffee.

Pretty hilarious to think of a time when people would need a pronunciation guide for things like taco and burrito. Also the enchirito and bell burger both made our list of Discontinued Taco Bell Menu Items That Fans Still Taco ‘Bout.

32. A found ektachrome slide from 1973

Four adults sit talking in a retro living room with gold curtains, yellow chairs, drinks, and snacks. A TV shows a black-and-white image, and framed photos and candles decorate a wooden cabinet. — MyDogGoldi

33. A middle-aged couple in their basement bar enjoying some Seagram 7 and Coke in 1973.

An older woman sits at a home bar holding a small white dog, smiling. An older man sits behind the bar with drinks and glasses. The room is warmly lit and decorated with bottles and shelves. — MyDogGoldi

34. Page from the Spring 1973 issue of a fashion magazine.

A vintage 1973 fashion magazine spread shows women modeling colorful spring outfits, including dresses, pantsuits, skirts, and blouses in bold patterns like stripes, plaid, and polka dots against bright backgrounds. — TerryLovesThrowaways

35. Vietnam Veterans Day Parade in NYC in 1973.

A large group of uniformed Marines, some standing and some sitting on bleachers outdoors, smile and interact with each other; fallen leaves and scattered litter cover the ground. — AxlCobainVedder

35 Photos of the Early 70s That Show the Way We Were (1970-1973)