The ’70s Chevy Nova went from muscle car holdover to police fleet favorite — here’s the full story of this decade’s most dependable compact.
1970
Jigsaw puzzles: The fun & addictive fad that took over American living rooms — more than once (1908)
Jigsaw puzzles swept America not once but twice — first in 1908, then again in the Great Depression. Here’s the wild history behind the hobby.
Let’s consider for a moment the soap-on-a-rope phenomenon — a peculiar fusion of the useful and the whimsical that once occupied a prominent place in
Rocky and Bullwinkle debuted in 1959 as a kids’ cartoon – and spent five seasons smuggling Cold War satire past network censors. Here’s the full story.
Hawaiian luau parties swept American backyards in the late ’50s and ’60s — here’s the real history behind the roast pigs, paper leis and pineapple punch.
Household tips from the ’70s, straight from Bert Bacharach’s legendary “Now See Here” column — dozens of tricks for cleaning, repairs and everyday life.
Whether you call them 7-layer bars, magic cookie bars or something else, It’s just layer after layer of delectable ingredients, spread on top of the other right in the baking pan. No mixing!
The Hoppity Hop was just an inflated ball with a handle — and it sold 300,000 units in months. Here’s the history behind one of the ’60s biggest toy crazes.
International long-distance calls cost $75 in 1927 and $12 in the ’60s — which was considered a bargain. Here’s the history of how we got connected.
The Doors turned every concert into something unpredictable. Here’s what it was actually like to see Jim Morrison and the band perform live in the 60s and 70s.
Burnt sugar, chocolate malt, pink lemonade, black walnut — vintage cake mixes once offered flavors you’d never find on shelves today. Here’s how it all happened.
Vintage jukeboxes ruled American bars, diners and drugstores for decades — here’s the full story of the machines, the makers and the music that defined an era.
Sprite launched in 1961 as Coca-Cola’s long-shot bet against 7-Up. Here’s how the lemon-lime soda went from Ohio test markets to a global top-three bestseller.
This gigantic collection of vintage wall paneling from mid-century (and beyond) makes for a surprisingly delightful scroll down nostalgia lane!
Mad magazine launched as a 10-cent comic in 1952 and grew into America’s most influential humor mag. Here’s the wild story behind Alfred E. Neuman.
Wacky Packages were the sticker craze that outperformed baseball cards in 1973. Here’s the full story behind the parody packs that kids couldn’t get enough of.
Card tables started out as elegant colonial furniture and ended up in nearly every American home. Here’s how they got from one to the other.
Her name is Carol Burnett, and her elongated, restless, expressive and oddly beautiful face is one of show business’s favorite funny valentines.
Vintage Converse shoes outfitted Olympians, NBA legends and baseball stars for decades. Here’s the full history of America’s original athletic shoe brand.
Drive-in movie theaters were everywhere in the 1950s and ’60s — but how did they rise, and what finally brought them down? Here’s the full story.
Home hooded hair dryers were a real game-changer for women in the 1960s & ’70s. See the vintage models that made salon-style results possible at home.
A multi-million-dollar family amusement park – Six Flags Over Texas – has brought millions of people to a former strip of pasture.
Hawaii Five-O ran 12 seasons on CBS and made Jack Lord a TV icon. Here’s the full history of one of America’s greatest cop shows.
For years, curious kids have loved experimenting with vintage chemistry sets and science kits like these with countless things to explore!
Check out the classic Ford Pinto, a coupe hatchback auto that was super popular, that Ford said proved a small economy car didn’t have to be ugly. (They didn’t have to explode, either, and we cover that, too.)
Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland opened in 1967 — see what the original looked like before Disney made some major changes.
Mall stores from the 1960s, 70s & 80s: See what these popular shops actually looked like decades ago
In the spirit of reminiscing, we’ve collected 50 photos of some of the most memorable mall stores from the heyday of shopping centers in the 60s, 70s and 80s.
These are the vintage alarm clocks – ranging from the mod to the digital – that used to wake people up during the workweek. Take a look!
Actual carpeting – and even shag rugs – in the food prep area? Yep, it was a thing, as these vintage kitchen carpet photos will prove!
James Garner rose from Oklahoma to become a beloved TV and film star, known for Maverick, The Rockford Files and a career built on authenticity.
Who’s behind those Foster Grants? See the popular vintage sunglasses of the stars in the 1960s & 70s
Foster Grants sunglasses built one of the most iconic ad campaigns of the ’60s & ’70s, starring Mia Farrow, Raquel Welch & more.
James Brown went from shining shoes in Augusta to selling out arenas nationwide. See the vintage photos & press clippings that tell his real story.
Golf ball history goes from hand-stuffed feathers to rubber cores to space-age solids — and the story is wilder than you’d expect.
Retro Easter candy has a surprisingly short history. See vintage ads for Brach’s, M&M’s, Cadbury & more from the 1970s–’90s!
The original Rice Krispies treats were invented in the 1930s. By 1940, the recipe was known across the country — and their popularity has hardly waned since. Here, get the original version of the treats recipe, along with some modern variations!
Whether new or classic, millions still love vintage Corelle dishes from the Corning company (also behind Pyrex & Corningware). See some of the dish patterns available during the ’70s & ’80s!
As you prepare for your Easter celebration, check out these vintage Easter egg decorating ideas! There are probably a few you remember… and maybe one or two you haven’t seen!
VW bus nostalgia is real — here’s the history behind the iconic van that won over families, road-trippers and everyone in between.
Here’s a delicious pineapple upside-down bundt cake — an easy-to-make pound cake dessert with a crushed pineapple glaze.
Explore 1970s restaurants: fast food boom, sit-down spots with flair and photos showing how America dined in the ’70s.
Jeep Cherokee grew from a 1960s trail-ready wagon into a defining 1980s SUV. See vintage models and classic ads from its early decades.
Princess phones lit up 1960s homes with color and a glowing dial. See how this compact classic changed telephone style.
Neil Sedaka, the singer-songwriter behind “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,” died at 86. His career spanned generations with chart-topping hits and enduring influence.
In the 1950s and 1960s, prefab fireplaces had become a clear signal that a home was keeping up with the times. Sleek, practical and affordable, these units offered the appeal of a traditional fire without the heavy commitment of masonry construction.
Vintage payphones once lined streets, stations and stores — see how phone booths, walk-up, and drive-up telephones kept America connected.
Vintage mini dresses and miniskirts helped define 60s and 70s style. See the bold colors, short hemlines, and standout looks that made fashion history.
Explore the history of vintage beaded curtains — from early room dividers to their 1960s surge — and see why this flexible decor trend never fully went away.
Tang orange drink mix was advertised as a ‘new breakfast drink discovery’ when it was introduced in the ’50s, and went on to become a part of pop culture history – especially once NASA and Mrs Brady got in on the action.
With these vintage Disneyland tickets, visitors could enjoy their choice of dozens of Disneyland rides and attractions in Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Frontierland and Adventureland.
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!
In this vintage Peanuts TV special from the sixties, You’re in Love, Charlie Brown, only two school days remain before summer vacation starts, and time is running out. See the cartoon here!
Everyone knows the pastel little Valentine’s Day sweets that say Hug Me, Cutie and more. Where did those candy heart sayings come from? Look back here!
Find out about The Muppet Show, an all-family comedy-musical-variety TV series from the ’70s & ’80s, and see the opening credits and theme song lyrics here!
Joe Namath’s guarantee before Super Bowl III became one of the most famous moments in football history after the Jets upset the Colts in 1969.
George Takei looks back on playing Sulu, the rise of Star Trek fandom and how the series influenced his life long after the Enterprise left TV screens.
Grains sprouting in jars and dense homemade bread were signs that organic food was gaining ground in 1970 — see how it all started.
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.
If you grew up in the age of film, you will know the excitement that came from vintage instant cameras, like these ones from Polaroid and Kodak.
Here are three vintage articles about Fleetwood Mac, telling the band’s story — often in their own words — from 1969 to 1977.
Try these hot rum recipes for winter drinks made with cider, coffee, tea or eggnog. Easy to make and good for cold nights or holiday gatherings.
The official photos with Santa – once called ‘sitting on Santa’s lap’ – has been around for generations. Here’s a look back at this Christmas ritual!
There’s a reason that advertising has evolved over the decades – and these bad vintage Christmas ads from years ago show you exactly why!
See vintage Christmas decorations 1960s and 70s families used to light up the holidays — from homemade trees to bright outdoor candles and festive centerpieces.
Vintage Christmas TV specials were as much a part of the holiday as gifts and Christmas trees. Millions of people – especially kids – looked forward to them year after year. Look at more than 100 of these classics.
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!
Here are 20 classic mincemeat recipes (used to make the holiday favorite, mincemeat pie) – as remembered through the decades.
How Charles Manson rose to cult leadership in 1969, shaped by a troubled past and a turbulent era in American history.
Frosty, the famous snowguy turned into a jolly, happy soul, starred in the vintage animated Christmas special, Frosty the Snowman, narrated by Jimmy Durante.
Try this tasty and easy recipe from the early 1960s for old-fashioned rolled sugar cookie cutouts, accompanied below by step-by-step photos!
Did you know that Silly Putty was originally marketed to adults? Read on for more interesting tidbits about this fun and magical stuff!
Chevy Chevelle cars from the ’60s and ’70s brought big power and bold style to the mid-size market. See how these classics defined American driving fun.
Though many have tried, no cook has ever been able to improve upon the taste of traditional pumpkin pie. Carnation’s famous pumpkin pie recipe is a Thanksgiving classic – and we have the ’50s recipe right here.
To many Americans living south of the Mason-Dixon line, sweet potatoes must be made with marshmallows! Here are 6 ways to make old-fashioned marshmallow sweet potatoes for a Thanksgiving side dish!
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!
These pinecone cheese ball recipes are the ultimate decorative old-school appetizer spread! Find out how to make them here.
Bruce Lee became a global sensation with his kung fu films — then died days before his big Hollywood debut. Here’s how he got there.
These cheap vintage Halloween masks & costumes proved that when you spent a couple bucks to get ready for trick-or-treating, you got what you paid for. But the kids? They loved it.
Halloween greeting cards made especially for children became popular in the 1970s – most far more sweet than scary. Look back at these vintage Halloween cards for kids from the ’70s and ’80s!
The history of Halloween is full of strange customs and ancient beliefs. Discover how this spooky holiday evolved from Celtic rituals to trick-or-treating.
When it comes to ready-to-wear 70s costumes, you basically have two style choices: Hippie or Disco Styles. We’ve picked some of our favorites modern-day takes on the era so you can dress up and get on down!
Smokey Bear, the friendly brown bear that said, ‘Only YOU Can Prevent Forest Fires,’ was a powerful force in stopping forest fires. Here’s his story.
Pepsi-Cola history began in a North Carolina drugstore in 1893 and grew through decades of quirky slogans and everyday moments across America.
Scooby Doo fans, here’s how a goofy cartoon dog and his mystery-solving gang turned a 1969 TV debut into decades of iconic pop culture moments.
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.
See how Halloween costume patterns from the 1970s helped families sew creative costumes with superheroes, animals, and more homemade classics.
Explore how the sit-in movement began, spread, and reshaped the civil rights struggle—plus a look back with the students who started it in Greensboro.
Shirley Temple rose from Hollywood child star to political powerhouse. Here’s how she spent her life after leaving the big screen behind.
See the history of the Buick Skylark from the ’60s to the ’90s, with vintage photos and ads that show how this classic car kept changing with the times.
Big screen TV once meant something very different. From 17-inch Crosleys to giant projection sets, see how “big” looked from the 1950s to the 1990s.
Hilarious vintage ads from the ‘60s to ‘80s show how brands used humor, awkward charm, and bold claims to sell just about anything.
Candice Bergen grew up Hollywood royalty, dodged the spotlight, then became a star on her own terms — see her early career and offbeat rise to fame.
Explore teen fashions through the decades and see how high school style shaped identity, cliques, and culture from the 1930s to the 1970s.
Explore real 1970s bathroom decor with wild colors, bold patterns and sunken tubs that made home bathrooms totally unforgettable.
Cracker Jack became a pop culture icon with its caramel popcorn, peanuts and surprise prizes. See how this vintage snack won America’s heart.
Discover the most popular dog names from the 1950s to the 1970s, collected from vintage records, contests and real-life hero pups.
