14 Vintage Ads From 1971 to 1979

Written by Alina Wang on
Left: A man holding a Bic shaver beside a McDonald's breakfast tray with eggs, sausage, pancakes, and hashbrowns. "Free Bic Shaver" text. Right: Two iced tea glasses with lemon, a Kool-Aid Iced Tea Mix box, and text promoting a special offer.
WealthGang / u/BillBrasky1179 via Reddit.com / u/Djf47021 via Reddit.com

The 1970s were a groovy decade for advertising, complete with bright colors, catchy slogans, and quirky images. From retro campaigns for McDonald’s and Bic razors to eccentric (and downright creepy) promotions for household products and restaurants, these ads capture the essence of an era that was all about being unapologetically loud and bold. Here are 14 vintage ads from the ’70s that not only promoted everyday items, but also mirrored societal trends and aesthetics of the time.

1. Brach’s (1971)

Vintage advertisement for Brach's Easter candies featuring chocolate bunnies and a real rabbit. Text highlights Brach's as "America's No. 1 Easter Bunny" and promotes the fresh taste and popularity of the candies.
u/Djf47021 via Reddit.com
u/Djf47021 via Reddit.com

2. Swim Trip (1971)

A vintage advertisement for “Swim Trip '71” featuring three male models. They showcase swimwear: a tank suit, a Waikiki swim boxer with floral patterns, and a Puccini boxer swim suit. The ad includes pricing and ordering information for Ah-Men swimwear.
u/Slow-moving-sloth via Reddit.com
u/Slow-moving-sloth via Reddit.com

3. IHOP (1972)

A vintage advertisement for The International House of Pancakes featuring a smiling football player holding a mug. In front of him are stacks of mugs with various team logos. The text promotes "Mug It Up!" offering mugs for 59 cents with a beverage purchase.
u/UrbanAchievers6371 via Reddit.com
u/UrbanAchievers6371 via Reddit.com

4. Palacio de Pancho (1973)

Retro-style advertisement for "Palacio de Pancho," a Mexican restaurant in Chicago. Features a cartoon character in a sombrero leaning against a brick wall. Text offers "Mitey Fine Mexican Food" in a relaxed garden setting. Contact info included.
u/RetroMan70s via Reddit.com
u/RetroMan70s via Reddit.com

5. Kool-Aid (1973)

A vintage advertisement for Kool-Aid Iced Tea Mix. It features two glasses of iced tea with lemon slices and mint leaves. A box of the mix is shown, with a coupon at the bottom offering a 5-cent discount. Text promotes the drink's benefits.
u/Djf47021 via Reddit.com
u/Djf47021 via Reddit.com

6. The Oscars (1974)

A black and white poster features a sinister, horned figure resembling a devil. The text reads: "Is Oscar going to the Devil?" promoting a TV special about "The Exorcist" and its Oscar potential. Airing on WBBM-TV, Sunday at 9:30 PM.
u/proteanflux via Reddit.com
u/proteanflux via Reddit.com

7. H. Salt Esquire (1975)

A vintage newspaper ad features a man in a top hat advertising H. Salt, Esquire Fish & Chips. It includes three coupons: Onion Rings Special, Fried Clam Special, and Smelt & Chips Special, each offering discounted prices and deals.
u/RetroMan70s via Reddit.com
u/RetroMan70s via Reddit.com

8. Shoney’s Big Boy (1975)

Black and white advertisement for Shoney's Big Boy Restaurant featuring a cartoon catfish with a bowtie and smiling boy. Promotes "Old Fashioned Catfish Fry" for $1.89 on Wednesdays, including hush puppies, fries, and coleslaw.
u/RetroMan70s via Reddit.com
u/RetroMan70s via Reddit.com

9. Tappan Microwave (1977)

A vintage advertisement for a Tappan microwave. A man peers inside the microwave, which features a browning coil. The text highlights the oven's browning feature. Below, there are images of browned foods like pie and chicken.
u/Djf47021 via Reddit.com
u/Djf47021 via Reddit.com

10. Sears’ Bean Bag Chairs (1977)

A vintage advertisement displaying various bean bags in different colors and designs, including brand logos like Pepsi-Cola and Storm Trooper. Prices and catalog information are shown, with a person reclining on a large green bean bag.
u/UrbanAchievers6371 via Reddit.com
u/UrbanAchievers6371 via Reddit.com

11. A&P Pizza (1977)

Black and white vintage A&P advertisement featuring Bozo the Clown for Bozo's sausage pizza. Includes images of pizza, promotional text, prices starting at $1.79, and a coupon to save 20 cents on sausage pizza.
u/RetroMan70s via Reddit.com
u/RetroMan70s via Reddit.com

12. McDonald’s and Bic Shaver (1978)

A vintage McDonald's advertisement featuring breakfast items, including pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, and a McMuffin. A man holds a Bic shaver with the text "FREE BIC SHAVER when you buy any breakfast entree.
u/BillBrasky1179 via Reddit.com
u/BillBrasky1179 via Reddit.com

13. Lipton Iced Tea (1979)

A vintage advertisement features a man in a fur coat holding a glass of iced tea. Text reads, "Lipton Iced Tea in the winter? Why not?" Below, a signature and a box of Lipton tea bags on a table are visible.
u/Tony_Tanna78 via Reddit.com
u/Tony_Tanna78 via Reddit.com

14. Western Hills Mall (1979)

A vintage-style poster for Western Hills Mall events: Square dancing on Friday at 6:30 p.m. with the "Wheels 'n Deals" and a chess exhibition on Saturday 1-5 p.m. hosted by the Birmingham Chess Club. Illustration of dancing couple and chess knight.
u/RetroMan70s via Reddit.com
u/RetroMan70s via Reddit.com
Author
Alina Wang

From Queens, New York, Alina has a Bachelors degree in Corporate Communications from CUNY Baruch and enjoys writing and creating content on a variety of topics, including lifestyle, politics, and, of course, wealth trends. Find her on X @atlasseventeen