Explore 1970s restaurants: fast food boom, sit-down spots with flair and photos showing how America dined in the ’70s.
Search Results for: fast food
Step back in time with vintage McDonald’s photos, menus and ads from the 1950s through the 1990s, capturing decades of classic fast food history.
See the quirky history of vintage Taco Bell — from a tiny taco stand to a fast-food empire — and see vintage photos, ads and articles from the past!
When it comes to the fascinating saga of American fast food, the tale of Roy Rogers Restaurant chain is a true standout. Check out these old photos from decades past.
Arthur Treacher’s Fish & Chips fast food restaurants were based on the English tradition of serving fried fish together with crispy potatoes. Take a look back!
Grains sprouting in jars and dense homemade bread were signs that organic food was gaining ground in 1970 — see how it all started.
This retro pancake recipe from 1962 lets you add fruit, bacon, chocolate chips or even sliced hot dogs right into the batter. Quick, easy and still fun to make.
In 1965, Instant Quaker Oatmeal hit grocery store shelves, and so was born a popular hot breakfast cereal that has lasted more than 50 years.
Delmonico’s during the Gilded Age helped turn fine dining into a spectacle Starting in the 1820s as a modest downtown confectionery, New York City’s legendary
General Mills’ vintage Breakfast Squares from the 70s promised a complete meal in two frosted bars — though sugar and shortening topped the ingredient list.
General Foods International Coffee ads from the ’70s and ’80s had cozy vibes, sweet flavors and a jingle you still can’t get out of your head.
In the ’60s, vintage breakfast cereals became really popular, gaining millions of fans – especially kids. What was your favorite? See all the best retro brands here (many of which are, sadly, long gone).
Chi-Chi’s may have closed its US restaurants, but it’s far from forgotten. Reminisce with these old menus and get you some of that yummy Chi Chi’s salsa – it’s still on the market!
Vintage Chef Boy-Ar-Dee said that their canned food was all you needed to make an Italian-like meal – including spaghetti, meatballs, ravioli, and tomato sauce. Look at some of these retro dinners here!
Take a look back at the delicious history of airline food, from the humble beginnings of in-flight meals, to the gourmet dinners that graced the skies in vintage advertisements.
The old Carnation Breakfast Bars were an offshoot of the popular Instant Breakfast powdered drink mix. Here’s a look back at both of these popular products!
The square pieces of smooth, orange, slightly rubbery American cheese used to be the quintessential lunch food, showing up on everything from gooey grilled cheeses to baloney sandwiches. Here’s a look at how they came to be!
If you’re having a party, consider these 12 cheese ball recipes! These tidbits provide a good color, taste and texture contrast to other foods, and can be made ahead of time, too — even several days ahead to suit your convenience.
Weddings have changed a lot in the past century – and so have the parties for the bride-to-be! Here’s a look back at some sweet old-fashioned bridal shower ideas from the first decades of the 20th century.
See how families managed the grocery budget in the 1950s, and what their practical, everyday habits reveal about shopping, saving and running a midcentury kitchen.
What did kids – and adults – eat in the mornings back in the fifties when eggs, bacon, toast and pancakes weren’t on the menu? Take a look back at these popular vintage 1950s breakfast cereals to get a glimpse into the options people had back then!
The 1970s arrival of old-school food processors like these vintage Cuisinarts – along with similar small appliances from other companies – were some of the most beloved kitchen tech tools since the invention of the stand mixer.
Take a look back at these cute plastic retro Rubbermaid food storage containers, mixing bowls, measuring cups and other kitchen gadgets that lived in kitchens during the seventies and eighties.
This quick taco bake recipe from the ’90s is easy to prepare, using Bisquick as its base. It needs to be in the oven just 35 minutes before it’s ready to serve.
A chewy retro ’60s energy snack developed for astronauts became known as Pillsbury Space Food Sticks – treats in chocolate, caramel & peanut butter flavors.
Tastee-Freez was the go-to spot in the 1950s for fast food and frozen treats. See what made this ice cream chain a summertime favorite.
On April 1, 1996 – April Fool’s Day – the Taco Bell fast food chain announced they’d bought the iconic Liberty Bell, and renamed it the Taco Liberty Bell.
If you were alive in the 1970s & 1980s, you know that vintage 7-Eleven stores were the corner grocery — as well as a place for kids to hang out. Here are dozens of old photos so you can take a look back!
Charlie Brown? Check. Grinch? Yep. You can also see how Johnny Depp, Elvira, Martin Lawrence & Tom Hanks got into the holiday spirit years ago on these vintage Halloween TV specials.
Explore Dr Pepper history from its quirky origin story to its fizzy rise as America’s oldest major soft drink.
Burger King — the nation’s fastest-growing chain of self-service restaurants — is so delightfully different, no wonder it has caught America’s fancy!
Remember vintage TV dinners — shiny foil trays filled with delicious-looking dinner delights, waiting in the freezer for a special night? Plus find out the history of TV dinners!
McDonald’s Shamrock Shakes: The story of how a simple shake became a holiday tradition (1970s & 80s)
McDonald’s shamrock shakes have been a St. Patrick’s Day favorite for decades. Here’s the surprising history behind this minty green fast-food classic.
Let Christmas stocking stuffers of yesteryear inform your Christmas list THIS year! We’ve rounded up over 30 vintage Christmas stocking stuffers we loved in days gone by.
Take a look back at vintage Pizza Hut restaurants, and some of the popular foods they served over the years – plus find out the history of the chain!
Was Red Lobster restaurant where you got your first taste of seafood? The first Red Lobster restaurant was in Lakeland, Florida, and opened its doors
McDonald’s Big Mac has a big, delicious combination of twoallbeefpattiesspecialsaucelettuce cheesepicklesonionsonosesameseedbun — enough to handle the biggest appetite.
What’s amazing about KFC history? There really was a Colonel Sanders, he truly had a secret recipe, and he actually started Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants.
Let’s explore the fates of some of the most iconic 80s restaurants, charting their journey from their heyday to the present. Which ones have survived?
Dairy Queen history involves decades of transformation, innovations, and, of course, a few yummy vintage menu items that make folks nostalgic.
Wendy’s has been a top player on the American fast food scene since not long after their first restaurant opened back in 1969. Established in
Sambo’s Restaurants were popular in the ’60s and ’70s. But as much as people loved the diners, the company name was always a problem. Here’s why.
See some long-forgotten photos of today’s celebrities before they were famous – young stars who paid the bills with modeling gigs until they hit the bigtime.
We found some great vintage graham cracker pie crust recipes, and ways to make other delicious crumb crusts. Get the basic how-to, and try some of these creative and classic combinations!
It’s been a remarkable journey from that first Bob’s Big Boy hamburger stand to the national restaurant franchise it still is today. Here’s a look at the restaurant chain over the years!
Roy Rogers was a name that transcended the man himself, becoming synonymous with a bygone era of optimism and adventure.
Get the history of ketchup, and see vintage catsup bottles of super-popular condiment in America that’s come a long, long way to be a tasty dip for our fries.
Here are 5 recipes from the 60s & 70s for Campbelled eggs – a breakfast dish created by the Campbell’s Soup company – including the how-to for Western-style Campbelled eggs.
In the ’80s, these sweet vintage Dunkin’ Donuts glass jars came filled with Munchkins donut holes, and were meant to live out the rest of their days on a kitchen counter, just waiting to be refilled with tasty treats.
Imagine, up above the clouds enjoying a cheeseburger from McDonald’s for lunch or dinner. McDonaldland cookies for dessert. That’s what United Airlines’ McDonald’s Friendly Skies Meals offered kids in the 1990s!
Scroll down and take a stroll into the iconic orange-roofed ice cream restaurants – vintage Howard Johnson’s – that were so popular in the fifties & sixties.
The Next Door restaurant in the ’70s had Revolutionary War-themed decor, and you placed your order via a red telephone at your table.
See some vintage Tupperware – including pitchers and picnic baskets, lunchboxes and every kind of storage container – in a variety of retro hues.
Who’s got time to fix dinner during the holiday rush? Colonel Sanders! In the ’60s, the hot tip was to have Kentucky Fried Chicken for Christmas.
See 20 vintage scenes in and around Philadelphia in the 1950s & 60s! There’s the city itself, landmarks, suburbs, skylines and more from yesteryear.
See classic 1960s Ford Mustangs and discover how this pony car became an enduring symbol of style, performance and American automotive culture.
The eighties had a unique flair, not just in music and movies, but also in footwear! As these dozens of 80s kids shoes show, the options back then were as diverse as the culture that influenced them.
Barbra Streisand’s rising star in the early 1960s changed what Broadway stardom looked like — see how her career took off before the icon era began.
Take a look back at old-school packaged cookies like Hydrox, Chips Ahoy, Almost Home, Lorna Doone and more — some still around, others long gone.
Arizona’s push for statehood took decades — and came with wild stories, big ambitions, and a lot of bees. Here’s how it finally became the 48th state.
If you like a cheeseburger, chances are you’ll love one with the cheese melted inside the meat instead of on top. These cheese-stuffed burgers are
Do you remember Shrinky Dinks? They were DIY crafts that could be made by coloring on a plastic sheet, cutting out the various shapes, and then shrinking them down using heat.
Dive into the nostalgia of 80s toys! From Transformers to Strawberry Shortcake, explore the iconic playthings that made the 1980s a decade of fun.
Gifts from the kitchen are easy to make, easy to share and don’t require anything fancy. Use what you have and turn treats into thoughtful gifts fast.
See vintage Christmas decorations 1960s and 70s families used to light up the holidays — from homemade trees to bright outdoor candles and festive centerpieces.
Here are 12 amazing classic apple pie recipes, collected from newspapers published across the US throughout the ’60s!
A shrimp Christmas tree appetizer is a scene-stealer and a real buffet beauty, certain to cast a special charm over any holiday party – yet so easy to do! Here’s how.
Get seven sassy snack mix how-tos from yesteryear, including the granddaddy of them all: the original Chex mix recipe!
Ovaltine promised better sleep, more energy and extra nutrition in vintage ads from the 1920s to the 1980s — see how this chocolate drink made its case.
Here are 20 classic mincemeat recipes (used to make the holiday favorite, mincemeat pie) – as remembered through the decades.
Vintage Formula 409 household cleaner hit supermarket shelves in the ’60s, and was one of the most popular household cleaning products during the 1970s and 1980s. See why people loved the stuff here!
Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid led a 500-man gang that rattled the Wild West—governors plotted against him, but his legend only grew.
Before Flipper was a hit TV show, Luke Halpin appeared as Sandy Ricks in two movies, Flipper and Flipper’s New Adventure!
Take a nostalgic look back at how Americans have loved coffee for generations – plus get some great old-fashioned ways to brew a delicious cup of vintage coffee.
Make breakfast feel like fall with these vintage pumpkin pancakes from 1989, made with real pumpkin, warm spices and easy pantry staples.
When jack-o’-lantern carving time rolls around, conjure up your own designs, or try one of these that use pumpkins or squash!
Explore teen Halloween party ideas from 1963 featuring spooky games, handmade decorations and festive food for a night full of fun.
Popcorn balls were a holiday and party favorite for decades. See how these sticky-sweet treats became a go-to homemade snack in vintage America.
What was life like in 1900? Step into everyday life back then—work, school, clothes, streets—and see how America looked at the turn of the century.
Dream Whip topping debuted in the late 1950s, and told customers that it was low in cost and low in calories – plus that it came a box, stayed fresh on a shelf, and needed no refrigeration.
What can you make with Spam? According to these retro Spam recipes – what *can’t* you make with it?! Check out these easy vintage how-tos here.
After a teen gets a record score on a video game called The Last Starfighter, an intergalactic visitor tells him the game was just a test – and asks him to come help fight a space battle.
Retro paper plates took off in the 60s and haven’t disappeared since. See how these colorful classics shaped party tables then and now.
In both 1975 and 1978, singer Helen Reddy took national magazine photographers on tours of her California home, which was full of music, plants and country charm. Here’s a look inside!
See vintage Disneyland in its earliest days, with rare photos and stories from the park’s 1955 opening through its first years of magic.
See how the cash register changed 1950s and 60s grocery stores and retailers with automatic change-making machines that sped up checkout and cut errors.
This Italian zucchini crescent pie from 1980 won $40,000 at the Pillsbury Bake-Off and still holds up as a fast, hearty retro dinner favorite.
Incredible Edibles, the candy-making Thingmaker counterpart, said that their Sooper Gooper would mold sugarless liquid Gobble Degoop into chewy gumdrop-like morsels in 4 flavors. Here’s how it worked.
From neatly organized tool racks to clever storage solutions, these 1950s (and early 60s) home workshops maximize space and productivity.
Here, take a look back at this collection of gorgeous designs and styles of vintage canopy beds that were popular the seventies. Some are some classic and elegant, others modern and breezy, and many fabulously frilly.
The 1918-19 Spanish flu pandemic killed an estimated 50 million people – the majority of deaths from pneumonia following an attack of influenza.
Here are some easy, clever & cute vintage pasta crafts that you can make, including a pineapple that would make a great centerpiece, and some pretty dried noodle trees.
The life of Helen Keller: In her own words, and through the eyes of a visitor Helen Keller’s name is one that most Americans learn
See inside an old general store in Oregon that sold everything pioneers needed — from food to tools, shoes to stoves.
Explore the Cocktail movie’s blend of ambition and flair as Tom Cruise takes on the role of a charismatic bartender in 1980s New York City.
Quick summer recipes from 1969 bring retro charm and fast dinner fixes with soups, salads, casseroles and more from the Daylight Time-Savers cookbook.
These retro yellow kitchens – in all their buttery, warm and sunny splendor – are here for the midcentury home decor enthusiast to appreciate!
Remember when a vintage slumber party brought noise, snacks & secrets to countless 80s living rooms?
A slumber party brought chaos, candy and confessions to countless American homes — the loudest and most legendary way to grow up.
