The 70s—a vibrant era of groovy music, bold fashion, and unforgettable gadgets. Whether you’re reminiscing or just intrigued by the quirkiest trends of the time, we’ve uncovered a trove of once-popular products that have since become retro relics.
From quirky home appliances to unusual children’s toys, prepare for a nostalgic trip down memory lane that’ll bring a smile to your face.
Pet Rock
In 1975, America fell in love with an unlikely new companion: the Pet Rock. Created by ad executive Gary Dahl, who became a millionaire thanks to this quirky idea, the Pet Rock quickly became a sensation.
Priced at about $4 each, over a million were sold in no time, driven by clever marketing that treated the rocks like real pets. Each came in a cardboard box with “breathing” holes and a set of care instructions.
However, the novelty faded shortly after the Christmas season of 1975. Although the fad brought Dahl immense wealth, he later regretted inventing it.
Sunken Living Rooms
Emerging in the late ’60s and reaching peak popularity in the ’70s, conversation pits were a stylish centerpiece in interior design. These sunken seating areas provided a cozy, defined space for relaxing and socializing with guests.
Although their popularity waned after a decade, debate continues over whether they should make a comeback. With a few steps separating the pit from the rest of the room, it created the feeling of entering a distinct space.
Many now see the appeal of reviving this retro feature, as a dedicated area for conversation and connection remains a charming novelty.
Electric Fondue Kits
Fondue has enjoyed enduring popularity, but its heyday was undoubtedly in the ’70s. At-home fondue kits became a dinnertime staple, particularly in the South, and were used for a variety of foods.
From melted cheese and hot oil to sweet chocolate, fondue made meals feel like a fun, interactive experience. One reason for its rise in popularity was the heavy marketing push at the time.
According to Groovy History, fondue’s appeal was tied to the idea of cheese as a healthy, upscale food—reminiscent of cozy ski lodges in Switzerland.
This clever positioning allowed people to recreate that ambiance in their own dining rooms.
8-Track Tapes
In the ’70s, 8-track tape players were a must-have for music lovers, priced at around $30 and made popular by brands like Sony, Panasonic, and Pioneer. These devices were the forerunners to CDs and revolutionized how people enjoyed their favorite tracks and albums.
A significant factor in their popularity was their inclusion in cars, with motor companies equipping vehicles with 8-track players, allowing drivers to listen to music on the go.
However, as sound systems evolved and portability improved, 8-tracks became obsolete.
Today, with music readily available on smartphones, these once-iconic players are sought after as novelty collector’s items.
TV Dinners
TV dinners first appeared in the ’50s and gained traction through the ’70s, reaching peak popularity due to their convenience and affordability. They offered a quick, no-prep solution for meals, making them a hit with busy households.
However, their popularity began to wane in the ’80s as concerns about their health impacts grew. Nutritionists criticized them for their high sodium content, and a stigma emerged around eating in front of the TV.
Despite this, frozen dinners remain a beloved convenience for many, even as their healthiness continues to be debated.
Wood Paneling
Wood paneling was a hallmark of ’70s interior design, remembered fondly—or not—by many. While modern decor tends to favor sleek, minimalistic styles with subtle wooden accents, rooms dominated by wood paneling are now a rarity.
In fact, wood paneling is often viewed as outdated and can lower a home’s value, with countless guides available on how to cover it up. Despite its nostalgic charm, it wasn’t without its flaws.
The glossy coating meant to give the panels an upscale appearance sometimes had the opposite effect, making them look inexpensive instead.
Love it or hate it, wood paneling remains a defining feature of ’70s decor.
Farrah Fawcett Posters
Farrah Fawcett rose to stardom after beginning her acting career in 1969, becoming the ultimate ’70s icon. Known worldwide, she earned six Golden Globe nominations, four Emmy nods, and skyrocketed to fame as one of Charlie’s Angels.
Her iconic red swimsuit poster became one of the best-selling images of the decade, with over 12 million copies sold—an unmistakable fixture of ’70s pop culture.
Although her popularity waned in the ’80s, the poster remained a financial triumph, with Fawcett earning 40% of the profits from the now-legendary photograph.
Atari Game Consoles
Atari was the video game console that transformed the gaming industry. When the Atari Video Computer System launched in 1977, priced at $190 (equivalent to $850 today), it became the must-have item for kids everywhere.
While Atari initially dominated the market, it struggled to keep pace as competitors introduced their own consoles. Today, Atari is synonymous with retro gaming, having been left behind as the industry evolved.
Challenges like stiff competition from Nintendo and Sega, coupled with poor management, led to the company’s decline in the early to mid-’80s.
Presto Hot Dogger, the Electric Hot Dog Cooker
Emerging in the early ’70s, the Presto Hot Dogger offered a peculiar way to cook hot dogs. While most people grilled or boiled their hot dogs, this gadget used an electric current to “electrocute” up to six at a time, cooking them in just one minute.
Sold primarily in department stores, the Hot Dogger produced hot dogs that reportedly tasted similar to the traditional methods. The ’70s were a time of quirky, head-scratching inventions, and the Hot Dogger was no exception.
Though its sudden popularity remains a mystery, it quickly became a widespread novelty of the era.
Ball and Egg Chairs
The Space Race of the ’60s and ’70s inspired a wave of Space Age designs, leading to eclectic and era-defining furniture choices. One such iconic piece was the Ball Chair, introduced in the early ’60s.
It gained widespread attention, particularly after appearing in numerous films and TV shows, which boosted its popularity in the following decade.
However, its hefty price tag led many to opt for more affordable alternatives, such as the Egg Chair.
If you take a look at ’70s homes, you’ll likely spot these unique, egg- or ball-shaped chairs, which became a staple in Space Age-inspired interiors.
Sea Monkeys
One of the strangest toys of the ’70s was the Sea Monkey, a novelty pet that became incredibly popular for its unique appeal. These tiny brine shrimp were sold as eggs, which would hatch and grow once added to water.
Priced around $1.25, which included postage from the “Sea Monkey Aquarium,” the creatures would eventually grow to about half an inch.
Their small size and independent nature made them a hit, particularly because the marketing presented them as a simple, low-maintenance alternative to traditional pets, sparking a surge in their popularity.
Bar Cabinets
Wood was a key design element of the ’70s, appearing in many iconic pieces, including bar cabinets. These cabinets, often crafted from wood, became a staple in homes where liquor was enjoyed.
Designed for both functionality and entertainment, they featured sliding butterfly doors that opened to reveal ample storage for your favorite drinks.
As the ’80s ushered in a greater focus on health and a shift away from drinking as a social expectation, these bar cabinets gradually fell out of favor.
However, they remain a classic symbol of ’70s home decor.
Wood Trim for Station Wagons
In the ’70s, “The Woodie” became a popular station wagon design, characterized by its faux wooden trim on the exterior. Despite the absence of actual wood in the car’s construction, the wood accents added a nostalgic and stylish touch.
Major car brands, including Ford, Chevrolet, Volkswagen, and Jeep, competed to offer these trendy vehicles.
While they were beloved for their novelty and retro appeal, the wood-trimmed cars quickly lost favor as many found the look bulky and impractical, often comparing them more to furniture than to functional vehicles.
Crock Pots
Slow cookers remain a popular kitchen appliance today for their convenience, allowing you to toss in ingredients and let them cook while you go about your day.
In the ’70s, the iconic Crock-Pot, a trademarked name by Sunbeam, was the slow cooker to have.
After WWII, as more women entered the workforce, the need for quick, easy meals grew. The Crock-Pot became a go-to solution for busy families, allowing them to have a hot meal ready by dinnertime.
Though other brands eventually emerged to compete, the Crock-Pot’s influence as a household staple endures, and many people still use “Crock-Pot” as a generic term for slow cookers.
View-Masters
The View-Master was a beloved toy that captivated American families for decades, especially in the ’70s.
Originally created by William Gruber for Mattel in the ’30s, the View-Master evolved with the release of the Talking View-Master, which included audio alongside its 3D images.
It also came with the View-Master Rear Screen Projector, a tabletop device that allowed users to project the images onto a screen. While these vintage toys were a hit for many years, their popularity waned after the ’70s.
Today, collectors still seek them out, often paying upwards of $50 apiece.
Wall Phones
In today’s homes, it’s rare to find a household telephone, but in films from the ’70s or those set in the era, wall phones are a common sight. These phones were mounted on the wall, with a long cord connecting the handset.
Motorola made one of the most popular models of the time and even pioneered the first portable option.
However, despite the advent of portable phones, they were often bulky and inconvenient, so many people continued to rely on their wall phones for years before cell phones could offer the convenience we enjoy today.
TV Dinner Tray Tables
As frozen TV dinners became more popular, people transitioned from dining at the table to eating in front of the TV. With no dining table to use, the question of where to place the hot tray arose.
Enter tray tables, which became a must-have item, allowing people to enjoy their meals comfortably from the sofa or chair.
These tables often featured quirky, sometimes mismatched designs, with floral patterns and clashing colors that tried to give them a fancier look than they deserved.
Today, many of these tray tables are considered vintage collectibles.
Orange Everything
Looking back at ’70s decor, two things stand out: wood and the color orange. The decade, shaped by significant cultural shifts after the ’60s, saw many people embracing the environmental movement and opting for earth tones.
As a result, homes were often filled with shades of yellow, brown, beige, and, most notably, orange. The term “earth tones” was coined during this time to describe these colors.
While they may seem unusual to us now, they made sense in the context of the era, with a desire for peace and tranquility as people recovered from the Vietnam War.
Metal Lunch Boxes
Kids in the ’70s would have likely carried their lunch in a metal lunch box, often featuring designs of popular bands, cartoons, comic book characters, and movie icons.
These lunch boxes were a source of pride, with kids proudly showing them off to one another. Today, they’ve become collectors’ items, with many fetching $80 or more online.
King-Seeley was one of the leading brands at the time, and many lunch boxes came with a matching thermos, which further increased their value as collectibles.
Clackers
Clackers were a popular toy in the ’70s, consisting of two balls connected by string, meant to be swung and clacked together to produce a satisfying sound.
However, the original version of the toy was eventually discontinued due to safety concerns, as the balls would sometimes shatter upon impact, causing injury from flying shards.
A safer version of the toy was later reworked and re-released in the ’70s. While this new design reduced the risks, there was still a lingering concern about the potential dangers of swinging hard balls around.
Sony Walkmans
The original Sony Walkman, released in 1979, was priced at around $150 (equivalent to $613 today). It quickly became the go-to portable audio player, revolutionizing the way people listened to music on the go.
The Walkman became synonymous with portable music players, and by the time Sony ceased production in 2010, they had sold over 200 million units.
While the brand later expanded to include CD players, phones, and other devices, the original Walkman was a simple cassette player.
Today, vintage Walkman models can sell for up to $800 online.
TVs Both Giant and Small
In the ’70s, families could purchase a massive color TV console for around $500, which is roughly $2,000 in today’s money. These TVs were quite bulky, often weighing around 100 lbs and taking up significant space in the living room.
Despite their large size, the screens themselves were relatively small, which led to crowded seating arrangements in many homes.
The technology of the time simply couldn’t provide the convenience of modern flat-screen TVs, making these consoles clunky and cumbersome.
Over time, TV screens grew larger while the bulky console portion became smaller, and today, these vintage TVs look quite outdated compared to the sleek, slim flat-screens from brands like Samsung and LG.
Short Shorts and Tube Socks
The classic pairing of short shorts and tube socks became a go-to outfit for summer in the ’70s, favored by both men and women. It was especially popular among active individuals who enjoyed spending time outdoors.
Sports stars like Pele, Dr. J, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bjorn Borg helped cement this look, making it iconic. However, as with many fashion trends, the combo eventually faded.
The tube socks were replaced by ankle socks, but short shorts continued to have a lasting influence, even reappearing in modern-day fashion.
Wood-Frame Furniture
Wood was a dominant material in the ’70s, with wooden components found in nearly every piece of furniture and décor.
Beech, mahogany, birch, and white ash were some of the most popular types used, while oak, hard maple, and American elm were commonly used for framing.
Wood paneling and wooden-framed furniture were staples of the era, making it easy to identify ’70s-style pieces today.
For those who appreciate vintage aesthetics, these wooden fixtures continue to be cherished as iconic symbols of the period.
Transistor Radio
The transistor radio, a major innovation following the invention of the transistor in the ’40s, became a staple of the ’60s and ’70s.
With its compact size and portability, it was the go-to device for communication, leading to millions of units being sold worldwide. Despite a price tag of $50 (which was considered steep at the time), the radios sold out frequently due to their popularity.
Today, while newer technologies have replaced radios, transistor radios are often sought after by collectors, with some models still functioning and fetching prices of $50 or more.
Platform Shoes
Platforms, originally introduced in the 1930s, became a massive trend during the disco era of the ’70s. While the shoes had existed for decades, their popularity soared in the ’70s, with countless designs hitting the market.
They were marketed as the shoe to own, and many iconic musicians, including David Bowie and David Johansen, were often seen wearing platforms on stage.
Although their popularity waned in the following decades, platforms made a notable comeback in recent years, proving their enduring appeal and timeless nature.
Simon
In the late ’70s, Simon, a memory game created by Milton Bradley, became a massive hit. The toy was introduced at a release party at NYC’s exclusive Studio 54, and it quickly became a favorite.
Inspired by the classic game “Simon Says,” players had to repeat a sequence of lights and sounds. Originally priced at $25 (around $92 in today’s money), Simon was a fun challenge for kids.
Today, the toy has become a collector’s item, with vintage models fetching up to $150 due to their rarity.
Photo Booths
In the ’70s, photo booths were a common sight in malls, offering a quick and affordable way to take pictures. At a time when photography wasn’t as accessible as it is today, these booths provided a fun and instant option for capturing memories.
People would pile into the booths for group photos, making them a staple at shopping centers.
However, as handheld cameras became more affordable and smartphones emerged, photo booths gradually faded from everyday life, becoming the nostalgic novelty you occasionally find at parties or special events today.
Vinyl Records
Vinyl records reached their peak popularity in the ’70s, becoming the primary format for music at parties and in households. Record players were common as cassette tapes were still gaining traction.
As technology advanced, vinyl eventually faded out in favor of cassettes, floppy disks, and CDs. However, many iconic albums from the era are still only available on vinyl, making them highly sought after by collectors.
Depending on rarity, vintage vinyl records can sell for anywhere from $10 to $30, with rare editions fetching even higher prices, securing their place as cherished collectibles.
Pac-Man Arcade Games
The ’70s is often seen as the golden era for arcade games, with the rise of iconic games like Pac-Man dominating the scene.
During this time, arcades were the go-to spots for video gaming, but as the ’80s arrived, home consoles from companies like Sega began to take over, leading to the decline of arcades.
Pac-Man, one of the most iconic games from that era, is still widely recognized today, though it’s more commonly found as an app now.
Back in its heyday, you could play Pac-Man for around $0.10 per game or $0.25 for three games.
