30 Throwback Photos From 1970 That Take Us Back in Time

Written by Colby Droscher on updated
Split image: On the left, a man angrily yells at a football referee wearing a jersey with the number 52. On the right, a woman in a patterned dress talks on a corded phone in a retro phone booth.

The year 1970 marked the dawn of a new decade—a time when fashion got bolder, cars got sleeker, and pop culture icons were just beginning to leave their mark. From poolside parties in Palm Springs to bustling city streets filled with style, this collection of vintage photos captures everyday life, big moments, and forgotten scenes from a world that was vibrant, gritty, and constantly changing.

Whether it’s a young Michelle Obama, a furious John Madden, or the debut of the recycling symbol, these snapshots offer a vivid time capsule of what life looked like in 1970.

1. Poolside party in 1970

Several people in stylish, retro clothing socialize beside a modern backyard pool, with lounge chairs and drinks nearby. Mountains and palm trees are visible in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
Thin_Arachnid6217 / Reddit.com

2. Italians in awe of the Lancia Stratos Zero in 1970

A futuristic, low-slung car drives down a busy city street lined with parked cars and people walking on the sidewalk; some pedestrians and cyclists stop to admire the car.
Although / Reddit.com

3. Gary Anderson, the guy who, at age 23, designed the recycling logo for a contest in 1970

Two men with glasses, one in a suit and tie, the other in a striped shirt, look at a paper on a table featuring a large, hand-drawn recycling symbol with three arrows forming a triangle.
yorbo / Reddit.com

4. Donald Sutherland, 1970

A black-and-white photo collage of a man with changing hairstyles and expressions: serious with a beard, covering his mouth in surprise, repeating the gesture, and looking to the side with a neutral face.
InevitableClear / Reddit.com

5. A woman police officer playing with Children in New York in 1970

A smiling police officer plays jump rope with a group of laughing children sitting on a city street. The scene is lively and joyful, with buildings and a church sign visible in the background.
userdeleted / Reddit.com

6. John Madden yelling at a referee in 1970

A football coach wearing a striped shirt and tie yells at a referee in a striped uniform with the number 52 on the back during a game, with a crowded stadium in the background.
YoureASkyscraper / Reddit.com

7. The original Sesame Street cast circa 1970

A group of adults, children, and Muppet characters, including Big Bird, sit and chat on the steps outside a brownstone building marked 123, resembling a classic scene from Sesame Street.
DenMother8 / Reddit.com

8. A child’s reaction to meeting Andre the Giant in 1970

A very tall man in a suit smiles down at a small child who is looking up at him in awe, both standing outside among a group of people.
TicaraJoe / Reddit.com

9. Sam Elliot circa 1970

A man with long wavy hair and a thick mustache gazes thoughtfully into the distance. He wears a collared shirt and appears serious. The image is in black and white.
fearless94 / Reddit.com

10. “My mom showing off her all-time favorite outfit as a kid in 1970.”

A young girl with long blond hair sits on a wooden bench outdoors, wearing a red plaid poncho, white tights, black knee-high boots, and holding a small brown purse, surrounded by green trees and plants.
Classarts / Reddit.com

11. Shelley Duvall on the set of Brewster McCloud in 1970

A young woman with dramatic eye makeup eats pink cotton candy outdoors on a sunny day, wearing a colorful shirt with cartoon characters. The background is bright and slightly blurred.
OldHob / Reddit.com

12. Kids playing in the south Bronx in 1970

Three boys play on a broken blue Chrysler Windsor car parked on a city street; one boy stands on the roof, another climbs the trunk, and the third pushes a lawn chair onto the hood. The background shows an old brick apartment building.
oldsoul88789 / Reddit.com

13. Stevie Wonder visiting a children’s school for the blind in London circa 1970

A man kneels on the ground, smiling as two young boys touch his face and sunglasses. The boys are wearing striped shirts and shorts. Other children play in the background outdoors.
reporter_at_large / Reddit.com

14. My great-grandfathers celebrating my grandparents’ wedding in 1970

Two men in dress shirts and ties smile and embrace each other, appearing to enjoy themselves at a social gathering. Bottles are visible on shelves in the background.
French_Lys_Flower / Reddit.com

15. Opening day of a Kmart in Santa Rosa, California, in 1970

A large group of Kmart employees in uniforms pose for a group photo inside a store, with a “Kmart Quality Guaranteed” sign hanging above and store shelves visible in the background. The image is in black and white.
AxlCobainVedder / Reddit.com

16. Jack Nicholson and Dennis Hopper in 1970

Three people at a crowded event: a man with a beard leans in closely to another man wearing a cowboy hat and patterned collar, while a woman in a sheer, decorated dress stands beside them, looking away and smiling.
Helloo_clarice / Reddit.com

17. New York hair salon, 1970

Black-and-white photo of a busy hair salon, with a woman sitting in a chair getting her hair styled into a tall beehive by a hairdresser; other clients and stylists work in the background.
deathakissaway / Reddit.com

18. A teacher in California teaching the physics of surfing in 1970

A teacher enthusiastically poses on a classroom chalkboard, crouching with one hand on the board and the other holding chalk. Students in the foreground smile and watch. The chalkboard features drawings and the equation "1+1=Tube.
Reddit_PI / Reddit.com

19. 1970 Office Christmas Party

A group of people, mostly young adults, sit and chat in a festively decorated office with paper snowflakes, tinsel, and a gift box, suggesting a holiday or winter celebration.
mistermajik2000 / Reddit.com

20. Dancing in Aspen, Colorado, in 1970

People dance energetically on a colorful, illuminated dance floor in a retro nightclub. The woman wears a short brown dress and boots, and the man sports a blue shirt and striped pants. Others mingle in the vibrant background.
morganmonroe81 / Reddit.com

21. Peter Ostrum and Gene Wilder having tea during a break from filming Willy Wonka and the Chcolate Factory in 1970

Two people sit at a table, smiling and laughing while holding teacups. The person on the right has curly hair and is laughing with eyes closed, while the younger person on the left smiles. There are dishes and a glass on the table.
Scrambled_Creature / Reddit.com

22. Former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama at 6 years old in 1970

A young child stands smiling in front of a gold car, wearing a striped sleeveless shirt and beige pants, with a white house and a screen door in the background. "Mich 1970" is handwritten at the bottom of the photo.
rockystl / Reddit.com

23. Chemistry class demonstration at Woodlawn High Schoo, Shreveport, Louisiana 1970

A man in a classroom stands beside a lab table as a large yellow smoke cloud billows up, likely from a science experiment. Shelves with glass jars and a seated student are visible in the background.
notbob1959 / Reddit.com

24. Diner conversation in NYC in 1970

A woman and a man in formal attire sit at a brightly lit diner counter, engaged in conversation. There is a white mug, glass of water, and various condiments on the counter in front of them.
sussoutthemoon / Reddit.com

25. Two Native American women in an Arizona Magazine from the early ’70s

Two women wearing traditional Native American clothing and jewelry pose in front of a sandstone butte in a desert landscape under a clear blue sky. One stands while the other sits on a log, both looking into the distance.
redwingsfan97 / Reddit.com

26. Legendary Brazilian soccer player, Pele, in 1970

A man wearing a shiny turquoise shirt and patterned trousers leans against a vintage silver Mercedes-Benz with a yellow license plate, outdoors near palm trees and a building.
gibgod / Reddit.com

27. Bob Ross with a baby raccoon in 1970

A smiling man with curly hair and a beard holds a small raccoon in his hands. The background is outdoors with blurred greenery.
userdeleted / Reddit.com

28. A group of young women relaxing on the NYC subway in 1970

Four teenage girls in school uniforms sit and relax on graffiti-covered seats inside a dimly lit subway car, with sunlight streaming through the windows.
hotjohny / Reddit.com

29. A United Airlines stewardess in 1970

A woman in a red dress and patterned scarf sits on a vintage built-in airplane phone booth, holding the receiver and looking to her left. The booth has control buttons and a coiled phone cord.
wannabe_brazilian / Reddit.com

30. A state trooper somewhere in Iowa in 1970

A black-and-white photo shows a "State Trooper" car parked on the shoulder of a rural highway while other cars drive in both directions on the road that curves over rolling hills in the background.
userdeleted / Reddit.com

More Nostalgic Photos You Might Enjoy

If you loved this look back at 1970, you might also enjoy browsing through these visual time capsules. Check out what weekends looked like in the 1980s, relive Friday nights in the 1970s, or explore vintage photos that capture growing up middle class. Also, be sure to check out our vintage photos that show what life was like in 1975.

h/t to our friends at TheScroller: 70+ Photos That Totally Sum up The 1970s