These 31 Photos Perfectly Capture Life in 1972

Written by Rachel Schneider on
On the left, a woman in a blue dress sits on a curb and holds a notebook. On the right, two men stand close together, one with a beard and folded arms, and both smiling at the camera in front of a brick wall.

From bold hairstyles to bolder personalities, 1972 was a year that knew how to make an entrance and stay in the frame. People wore funky patterns on homemade outfits, painted bold colors on houses, and injected plenty of volume in their hair. These snapshots offer a time-capsule tour through backyards, bar mitzvahs, smoky bars, and historic milestones. 

1. A Woman Voting for the First Time in Indiana, Pennsylvania 

A young woman smiles as she places a ballot into a box labeled "Indiana," with several people standing in line behind her in a polling station. The photo is in black and white.
jokesbyjo / Reddit.com

2. Debbie Reynolds With Daughter Carrie Fisher

Two women stand in front of pink curtains. The younger woman wears a short white lace dress and holds a small clutch. The older woman wears a floral dress with a pink belt and strappy shoes. Both are smiling.
amethodicalmadness / Reddit.com

3. A Woman Bartending in the Coolest ‘Fit

A woman with blonde hair stands behind a bar, wearing a navy, red, and white outfit with long sleeves and high-waisted shorts. Bottles and bar equipment surround her in the dimly lit setting.
NakedKittyAlucard / Reddit.com

4. One Heck of a Bar Mitzvah Gift 

A young man sitting and smiling while holding an open Playboy magazine, surrounded by three adults in vintage 1970s attire; one woman and two men, all looking at him with varied expressions. Beige curtains hang in the background.
UserDeleted / Reddit.com

5. George Carlin Getting Arrested After Performing the “Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television” Routine

A bearded man in a denim outfit is escorted by four uniformed police officers at night. The man walks with a confident expression while the officers flank him closely on both sides. The image is black and white.
Sleeeepy_Hollow / Reddit.com

6. Uncle Bernie Painting the House

A shirtless man in shorts stands on the lawn in front of a house painted with large, colorful abstract shapes in red, yellow, blue, and purple. Bushes, flowers, a green chair, and a parked car are also visible.
Imgur

7. Handmade Outfits

Five people stand outside in a yard, dressed in colorful, patterned outfits. Four girls wear vibrant plaid jackets and knee-high socks, while an adult in the center wears a light pink checked suit. Trees and a house are in the background.
ThickBeardSanchez / Reddit.com

8. The Inspo for Anchorman?

A group of eight men, some seated and some standing, pose behind a curved news desk labeled "pro news" in a retro TV studio with orange and yellow tones.
Imgur

9. The Drill Sergeant Came to Party

A group of young men in military uniforms pose for a formal outdoor photo in front of a white building at Fort Polk, Louisiana, with a sign reading "B13 AIT Platoon 4, Fort Polk, Louisiana, 22 June 72" at the front.
GirlWhoPoops / Reddit.com

10. Nights in Los Angeles

Three young people relax on and beside a classic white car parked at night. Two women lean against the driver's side, while a man sits barefoot on the hood. Bright streetlights and cars are visible in the background.
drteq / Reddit.com

11. The Beehive!

A smiling woman with styled dark hair, wearing a necklace and patterned clothing, rests her chin on her hand against a softly blurred background.
jeraldthunder / Reddit.com

12. Raquel Welch on a Talk Show 

A woman in a blue floral dress and a man in a blue suit sit facing each other on a talk show set with brown chairs, a small table, and a box of tissues between them.
valuecolor / Reddit.com

13. Paul Newman and Clint Eastwood

Two men stand side by side against a brick wall. The man on the left has a beard, wears a zip-up shirt, and smiles with his arms crossed. The man on the right, clean-shaven, wears a jacket and rests his arm on the other’s shoulder.
ahtisham-ahmed / Reddit.com

14. 59-Cent Chips in a Box

Three people stand talking in a grocery store aisle lined with paper products. Two women are by a shopping cart, one with her arms crossed, while a man in a striped shirt gestures and holds a shopping list.
I_Only_Have_One_Hand / Reddit.com

15. Where’s Your Mustache, Sam Elliot?

A man with neatly styled brown hair and sideburns wears a dark pinstripe suit, white shirt, and tie, looking slightly to the side with a serious expression. The background is softly blurred greenery.
RaveConnoisseur / Reddit.com

16. Cooling Off at the Grand Canyon 

A shirtless man with curly hair stands confidently on a rocky outcrop in front of a canyon landscape, wearing shorts and boots. The scene appears sunlit and vintage, with desert cliffs in the background.
Source98 / Reddit.com

17. First Gay Pride Rally in Philadelphia 

A large crowd gathers outdoors, many smiling and looking excited. One person stands out holding a sign that says, "HI MOM GUESS WHAT!" Trees and houses are visible in the background.
ketchup_dinosaur / Reddit.com

18. Southwest Airlines Stewardess

A flight attendant in a retro uniform with a short skirt, scarf, and knee-high boots serves a passenger on an airplane, while another attendant walks down the aisle in the background.
statman13 / Reddit.com

19. Muhammad Ali Play Fighting with Police

Two police officers in uniform restrain a man beside a police car. One officer is holding the man's arms while the other holds a baton near his shoulder. The scene appears tense and outdoors.
nonoman12 / Reddit.com

20. Sir, This Is a Wendy’s 

Two smiling Wendy’s employees in blue-and-white striped uniforms hold trays with burgers, fries, chili, a drink, and a bag of food, standing in front of the restaurant counter and menu boards.
browncharlie1922 / Reddit.com

21. Bruce Lee vs. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in ‘Game of Death’

Two men spar in a martial arts dojo; one wears a yellow jumpsuit and blocks a high kick from the other, who is much taller, wearing white shorts and sunglasses.
Xamrock4 / Reddit.com

22. John Wayne Dressed as the Easter Bunny 

A man in a large bunny costume stands smiling while a woman in shorts and heels, standing on a chair, adjusts his costume on a brightly lit stage.
Some-Cut8453 / Reddit.com

23. Little Girl as Raggedy Ann for Halloween

A child in a Raggedy Ann costume and mask holds a white trick-or-treat bag with Halloween graphics, standing in a living room with a brown couch and books on a side table.
idestroycat / Reddit.com

24. Muscles on a Muscle Car

Two young men pose with a vintage yellow car outdoors; one stands shirtless in denim shorts and the other sits shirtless on the hood wearing brown pants, with trees in the background.
Present-Arm-6023 / Reddit.com

25. That Iconic Wallpaper Though

A young boy wearing a tall paper crown sits at a table with a birthday cake topped with lit candles. He is also holding a toy tricycle. The background features retro floral wallpaper in orange, yellow, and white.
DopeGrandpa / Reddit.com

26. Backyard Barbecue

A group of people gather around a table in a sunny backyard, enjoying a meal. A man stands by a black grill, and there’s a basketball hoop and patio furniture nearby. The scene is relaxed and summery.
AxlCobainVedder / Reddit.com

27. Taco Bell Menu Complete with Pronunciation

A vintage Taco Bell menu shows photos and descriptions of six items: taco, burrito, enchirito, bellburger, tostada, and frijoles, along with a drink list featuring Pepsi, orange, and root beer.
Quick_Presentation11 / Reddit.com

28. Downtown Toronto

A vintage streetcar travels down a busy city street lined with shops, cars, and billboards. Pedestrians walk along the sidewalks, and tall apartment buildings are visible in the background under a clear sky.
sussoutthemoon / Reddit.com

29. The Volume in the Bartender’s Hair Is Commendable

Two women sit at a wooden bar while a smiling bartender with long hair hands them drinks. The bar is rustic, with log beams, dim lighting, and drinks and glasses visible in the background.
AxlCobainVedder / Reddit.com

30. Burger King Birthday

A woman serves cake to a smiling young girl wearing a colorful party hat at a table set with plates and drinks during a birthday party. Other children are visible in the background. The photo has a vintage tone.
karmicnegotiations / Reddit.com

31. Taking a Break in Memphis

A woman with blond hair in a navy blue dress sits on a yellow curb, holding an open book in her lap, with trees and houses in the background on a quiet suburban street.
UserDeleted / Reddit.com

Want more ’70s content?

Take a look at 15 Defining Moments That Shaped the 1970s to get a sense of what was going on in that decade. You might also be interested in 18 Yearbook Photos That Are Peak 1970s and 15 Retro Treasures From the 1970s That Are Now Worth Thousands.