37 Retro Photos of Everyday Life in 1975

Written by Colby Droscher on updated
Two young women in plaid outfits stand and smile, while next to them is a view of cars winding down Lombard Street in San Francisco, lined with flowers and greenery, with people taking photos at the bottom.

Bell-bottoms, muscle cars, and a fresh stack of Polaroids: 1975 was a year that looked good on film. The 37 snapshots below capture everything from a grinning Jack Nicholson reading his own rave review to a teenage Prince finding his groove, alongside everyday moments like school lunches, road-trip pit stops, and Sears catalog daydreams. Together, they paint a vivid portrait of a country pivoting from Watergate hangovers to disco nights, when VW vans doubled as apartments and Muhammad Ali still floated like a butterfly.

Scroll through and let each frame pull you back to a mid-’70s world of bold patterns, brighter attitudes, and gasoline at fifty-nine cents a gallon.

1. “My father’s Kindergarten photo from 1975”

A young child with short brown hair sits on a small wooden stool, wearing a white textured suit with a blue patterned shirt, smiling against a brown studio backdrop.
holynorth / Reddit.com

2. Jack Nicholson enjoying a review of his work in 1975

A man with a beard and receding hairline smiles while holding up a newspaper clipping titled "Nicholson is delicious." He wears a patterned shirt and stands in front of a light-colored door. The photo is in black and white.
userdeleted / Reddit.com

3. “My mother (left) and her friend Nina, circa 1975)

Two young women stand smiling in front of glass doors. Both wear plaid coats, one in blue and white, the other in navy and white, with white shoes and bags. The setting appears to be outdoors on a sunny day.
cobainseahorse89 / Reddit.com

4. A couple in Chicago in 1975

A man in a bright blue suit and bow tie stands beside a woman in a red sleeveless dress and white sun hat. She holds a white purse, both wear stylish shoes, posing outdoors on a city sidewalk.
OceanCarlisle / Reddit.com

5. Chi Chi Rodriguez and his caddie at the 1975 Masters

A man in a green hat and sunglasses stands beside a golf bag, while another man in a gray sweater, red pants, and a dark hat stands nearby. Both are outdoors on a golf course with people in the background.
ArchiGuru / Reddit.com

6. “My mom says that she never inhaled, but I’m not so sure. Circa 1975”

A young woman with long brown hair smiles broadly with her eyes closed. She is wearing a blue shirt with a colorful floral pattern featuring white, yellow, and orange flowers, set against a plain blue background.
greenpants100 / Reddit.com

7. Muhammad Ali with 2-year-old Dave Chappelle and his brother William Chappelle (1975)

A man in a bathrobe lies in bed, smiling and embracing two young children. One child holds a coloring book featuring the man’s name and image. The scene is warm and affectionate.
3r3n-3r3n / Reddit.com

8. The original cast of SNL in 1975

A black-and-white photo of seven people posing on a staircase set with a brick wall. They wear casual 1970s clothing, some standing and some sitting, looking at the camera with varied expressions.
vmanthegreat / Reddit.com

9. Elton John playing Dodger Stadium on Oct. 26, 1975.

A musician in a sequined outfit and sunglasses plays piano onstage in a large stadium packed with thousands of cheering fans during a concert.
WinstonWolfsMentor / Reddit.com

10. “My husband (left) looking cool even back in 1975”

Two young children stand outdoors. One wears sunglasses and a suit jacket, looking serious with hands on jacket. The other makes goggles with their fingers and wears a white shirt under a dark vest. Trees are blurred in the background.
wtorly / Reddit.com

11. “My dad’s senior year basketball photos in 1975”

Two black-and-white photos of a basketball player wearing a “CUBS 21” jersey. On the left, the player shoots a basketball. On the right, the player stands holding a basketball in a gymnasium, looking at the camera.
invertednurse / Reddit.com

12. A young woman working on her VW Van in San Francisco in 1975

A young woman with long hair sits on a creeper next to an old blue van, holding a wrench and smiling. She wears jeans and a white tank top. Tools and a can of soda are on the ground beside her.
liamlars / Reddit.com

13. “My sister and her ’66 GTO in 1975. Notice the beer can hanging from the mirror.”

A young woman with long brown hair, wearing a white halter top and blue jeans, stands in front of a vintage silver Pontiac car with a Washington license plate, in a rural outdoor setting with trees and grass.
Gnarlodius / Reddit.com

14. “My dad in 1975 and then in 1976”

A side-by-side comparison shows a young man with glasses and long hair on the left, and the same man with short hair in a military uniform in front of an American flag on the right.
maenads_dance / Reddit.com

15. Mr. T in the Army in 1975

Steriodamoeba / Reddit.com

16. “My dad and his green Javelin in 1975”

A person in a denim jacket leans against a green and white classic car parked on a dirt road, surrounded by tall trees with a lake visible in the background on a sunny day.
theflyingracoon / Reddit.com

17. Taking a break on the set of Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Six people dressed as medieval knights pose with large shields shaped like hearts, wearing chainmail hoods and tunics, standing and kneeling in front of a stone wall. The image is black and white.
Bunnes68 / Reddit.com

18. Fairfax High School (Los Angeles, CA), 1975

Two young men walk outside on a sidewalk, dressed in stylish 1970s clothing—one wears a long coat and flared pants, the other wears bold striped pants and a short-sleeve shirt. They appear to be engaged in conversation.
AxlCobainVedder / Reddit.com

19. “My dad, a regular guy off the street, was featured in a beer ad in 1975. This is the poster for it.”

A man in a cowboy hat and sunglasses smiles while holding two six-packs of beer, standing near a red truck. A neon Blitz Beer sign glows in the window behind him. Text reads: "The best country in the country... John Day, Oregon.
kutanskm / Reddit.com

20. Lombard Street in San Francisco, 1975

Winding street lined with colorful flowers and bushes, with cars driving down sharp curves; several people stand at the bottom, some admiring the view. "Do Not Enter" sign is visible in the foreground.
ChaseEmDown150 / Reddit.com

21. “My dad, somewhere at sea, in 1975”

A man wearing a blue knit beanie and a white sweater reclines on a blue surface aboard a ship, with rigging and masts visible in the background under a clear sky.
katewhytephoto / Reddit.com

22. School lunch, 1975

Several young men stand in line with trays in a cafeteria, waiting to be served food such as rolls, soup, and desserts. A worker is serving food behind the counter. The setting looks retro or from past decades.
userdeleted / Reddit.com

23. A 17-year-old Prince at the beginning of his career, 1975

A young man with an afro hairstyle walks on a city sidewalk, wearing a denim jacket and turtleneck sweater. He holds a comb and looks toward the camera. Buildings, a mailbox, and a car are visible in the background.
DenMother8 / Reddit.com

24. A page out of a 1975 high school yearbook

A black-and-white yearbook page featuring 16 formal portrait photos arranged in four rows. Most individuals are wearing classic attire, and some text is obscuring parts of the image.
Right0rightoh / Reddit.com

25. Staff at a Burger Chef in 1975

Two smiling fast food workers in blue uniforms with smiley face patterns serve food and drinks at a Burger Chef counter, with menu boards and meal items visible in the background.
AxlCobainVedder / Reddit.com

26. High School in 1975

A woman in red platform shoes and a red top poses with one foot on a bench, smiling at the camera. She holds papers and a blue bag. Several people walk in the background near a brick building on a sunny day.
morganmonroe81 / Reddit.com

27. A young MC Hammer with baseball legend Hank Aaron in 1975

A smiling boy in a tank top with an Aries design stands next to a smiling man in a Milwaukee Brewers baseball jersey, both posing together in what appears to be a locker room.
OregonTripleBeam / Reddit.com

28. Church Picnic in Cuba, Kansas in 1975

A group of people, including adults and children, gather around tables covered with various dishes and desserts at an outdoor potluck in front of a white building with open double doors.
Slow-moving-sloth / Reddit.com

29. High School classroom in Boston, 1975

Black-and-white photo of a classroom with students sitting at desks. Several students have their hands raised, while others look thoughtful or attentive. The classroom has large windows and papers on the desks.
MalibuHulaDuck / Reddit.com

30. Sally Field, 1975

Photo of Sally Field in a dress from 1975
KinneyBoi / Reddit.com

31. Patio furniture from the Sears Spring/Summer catalog of 1975

A woman in sunglasses stands in a retro backyard patio, surrounded by redwood furniture with colorful patterned cushions, including chairs, a loveseat, coffee table, and a swing, all set on a concrete patio.
Quick_Presentation11 / Reddit.com

32. Family Dinner in Grass Valley, California in 1975

A group of seven people, mostly teenagers, sit around a wooden table eating a meal together in a cozy, wood-paneled room. The table is set with plates, mugs, and a slow cooker. A sewing machine is visible in the background.
userdeleted / Reddit.com

33. Lunchtime on John Street and Broadway, NYC, 1975

Two men in suits walk on a busy city street in front of Gorman’s Frankfurters Sandwiches shop. Other pedestrians and signs, including Coca-Cola ads, are visible. The scene appears to be from the past, possibly the 1970s.
AxlCobainVedder / Reddit.com

Still feeling the bell-bottom buzz?

Keep the retro tour rolling with our look at a Friday night out in the 1970s, see how middle-class life back then stacks up against today, and peek inside offices where typewriters ruled the desk. Each gallery is packed with even more snapshots that bring the decade’s sights, sounds, and shag carpet back to life.