31 Snapshots From 1979 That Show a World About To Change

Written by Alina Wang on June 26, 2025

Split image: left side shows two basketball players in action on the court, one in dark and one in light uniforms; right side shows four people posing indoors in formal and stylish outfits, likely from the 1970s or 1980s.

In 1979, the world was on the precipice of change. It was the year that the Walkman made listening to your favorite tunes on the go possible, Margaret Thatcher took office, and “Apocalypse Now” sold out in minutes. Teenagers were trading Star Wars cards, Blondie was dominating the charts, and everyone was learning how to rock neon colors and big hair. These snapshots from 1979 capture the fashion, the faces, and the quiet chaos of a world on the verge of change.

1. Iranian Protesters Storm the US Embassy in Tehran During the Hostage Crisis

A black-and-white photo shows a crowd gathered at a brick wall, with some people climbing over it. Many in the crowd wear headscarves and hold a large portrait of a man with a beard and turban. Trees are visible in the background. — Mike9386/Reddit.com

2. Margaret Thatcher Becomes the First Female Prime Minister in the UK After Winning the General Election

A woman in a bright blue suit stands at a podium with arms outstretched, smiling, as a group of men in suits behind her clap and cheer. The atmosphere is celebratory. — ChamaraS/Reddit.com

3. ‘The Doorway Climber, 1979.’ Not Sure If We Should Be Impressed or Terrified

A young girl in a dress uses her arms and legs to brace herself between a doorway, appearing suspended in the air. Cards and framed art hang on the surrounding walls. — Slow-moving-sloth/Reddit.com

4. An Ad for the Sony Walkman, Advertising Music on the Go

Two teenagers roller skate together outdoors, sharing headphones connected to a portable Sony Walkman cassette player. Both are smiling and dressed in colorful 1980s athletic wear. The Walkman is displayed in the foreground. — Slow-moving-sloth/Reddit.com

5. On March 28, the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant in Pennsylvania Suffered a Partial Meltdown, Sparking Mass Evacuations and Panic

Aerial view of a nuclear power plant with four large cooling towers, two of which emit steam, surrounded by water and trees, with a river and buildings visible in the background. — UserDeleted/Reddit.com

6. Soviet President Leonid Brezhnev Plants a Kiss on US President Jimmy Carter After Signing the SALT II Treaty in Vienna, Austria

Two men in suits greet each other with a kiss on the cheek while shaking hands. Several men in military uniforms and suits watch and applaud in the background. The setting appears formal and official. — Bettmann/Getty Images

7. Then-President of Iraq Saddam Hussein (Left) Pictured With Raul Castro (Fidel’s Brother) at the Non-Aligned Countries Summit in Cuba

A black-and-white photo shows several men in suits and military uniforms gathered together, talking and smiling, in what appears to be a formal meeting or conference room with desks and papers in the background. — Bettmann/Getty Images

8. Magic Johnson and Larry Bird Face Off in the 1979 NCAA Final, Launching an Epic Rivalry That Would Define Basketball for Decades

Two college basketball players face off during a game, one in a white and green “State” uniform and the other in a light blue uniform, holding a basketball surrounded by a lively crowd in an indoor arena. — TommyFX/Reddit.com

9. The Seattle Supersonic After Winning the 1979 NBA Championship

Seattle SuperSonics basketball players in green and yellow uniforms celebrate on the court, hugging and smiling after a game, with a cheering crowd in the background. — DifferentMaize9794/Reddit.com

10. ‘Traffic on the Sunset Strip, Los Angeles, 1979’

Busy street scene with many vintage cars, billboards featuring Cher and Judy Collins, palm trees, and buildings under a clear sky, evoking a lively 1970s urban atmosphere. — countrylewis/Reddit.com

11. Massive Crowds Gather in Tehran to Welcome Ayatollah Khomeini During the Iranian Revolution

A large crowd gathers in a square near a tall monument, with a man holding a large portrait of a bearded figure wearing a turban. The scene appears to be a public demonstration or rally. — R2J4/Reddit.com

12. ‘Iranian Women During the Revolution Celebrating the News of the Shah Leaving Iran Into Exile, 1979’

A group of people, mostly women, stand behind a barrier outdoors, raising their arms and shouting passionately. Leafless trees are visible in the background, suggesting a cold season. The image is in black and white. — bush-/Reddit.com

13. US President Jimmy Carter Signs the Bill Establishing the Department of Education on Oct. 17, 1979

A group of six men in suits stand around a wooden desk as another man, also in a suit, sits and signs a document. They are in an ornate room with gold curtains and a candelabra on the wall. — thescrubbythug/Reddit.com

14. An Itty Bitty Angelina Jolie With Her Mother Marcheline

A woman with long brown hair, wearing a blue sleeveless top, smiles while holding a young child dressed in a dark shirt and diaper. They are standing outdoors in front of a light-colored wall. — ua-stena/Reddit.com

15. ‘Shooting ‘Apocalypse Now’ on Location in the Philippines, 1979′

A film crew works on a city sidewalk; one man points ahead, while others operate a camera on a dolly track. Buildings and people line the street, and some crew members are shirtless. — NomadSound/Reddit.com

16. Debbie Harry of Blondie and Lemmy Kilmister of Motörhead Share a Moment at a Party in London, England

A man in a leather jacket holding a drink stands beside a smiling woman with short blonde hair. They are at a festive indoor event with tinsel decorations in the background. — j3434/Reddit.com

17. Blondie Poses for a Snap at the Height of Their Fame

Six people stand together in a dimly lit setting, wearing casual and leather jackets. The group appears relaxed, with some facing the camera directly and others looking to the side. — BestDayEvah/Reddit.com

18. ABBA Strikes a Pose in Peak Disco Glam … and What Appears To Be a Lightsaber?

Four people stand together posing for a photo, dressed in formal and stylish 1970s clothing. Two men are on the left, and two women are on the right, all wearing metallic belts and standing in front of mirrored walls. — Sunny64888/Reddit.com

19. Good Luck Trying To Hail a Cab

A busy city street scene with numerous yellow taxis, pedestrians on the sidewalks, and tall buildings. An elevated roadway crosses between buildings above the street. The atmosphere is lively and urban. — UserDeleted/Reddit.com

20. ‘A Road Worker Rests Between Classic Midtown Storefronts and Traffic in New York City, 1979’

City street scene with construction barriers and red flags in the foreground, a worker sitting on sandbags, and people walking past storefronts, including a grocery and the Blarney Stone bar, in the background. — Christoryman/Reddit.com

21. ‘The Gang on the Stoop at West 47th Street in Hells Kitchen, 1979’

A group of seven young people in casual clothes pose together on the steps of a weathered building, some sitting and others standing or leaning, striking playful and expressive poses. — AxlCobainVedder/Reddit.com

22. ‘People Enjoying the Beach in Paignton, England, 1979’

A crowded beach scene with many people sunbathing, relaxing, and playing on the sand and promenade. There is a long pier extending over the water and buildings in the background under a clear sky. — MyDogGoldi/Reddit.com

23. Sun’s Out, Abs Out: Hanging Out in Hermosa Beach, California

Three young adults stand near an old, worn car in a sunny urban setting. Two men are shirtless and in jeans, and a woman is in a bikini, all appearing relaxed. Palm trees and storefronts are visible in the background. — zoltan1958/Reddit.com

24. ‘The Beach Boys and Bobby Figueroa in 1979’

A group of men with luggage stand on an airport tarmac near a vintage airplane labeled "Foreigner," while several others descend the stairs from the plane in the background. — UserDeleted/Reddit.com

25. Bob Marley Performing at the Waikiki Shell in Honolulu, Hawaii

Three musicians perform on stage: the frontman with dreadlocks and a colorful striped shirt, a guitarist in a gray shirt, and a drummer in a yellow shirt playing congas, with microphones and equipment visible. — Academic-Low-2765/Reddit.com

26. ‘My Parents’ Wedding in 1979’

A bride and groom stand smiling in the center of a church with four older adults, likely their parents, on either side. Everyone is dressed formally; the setting features candles, flowers, and wood-paneled walls. — MidCenturyMarzipan/Reddit.com

27. ‘My Uncle Back in 79′ (Check Out Those Gas Prices)’

A man in jeans and a white shirt climbs a metal structure next to a large yellow gas price sign under a clear blue sky. One visible price reads 83 and 9/10 cents. — toastypeanut/Reddit.com

28. The King of Pop, Michael Jackson

A young man with a short afro hairstyle smiles at the camera. He wears a gray textured jacket over a dark, partially unbuttoned shirt, and a pin shaped like a chili pepper on his lapel. The background is plain and light-colored. — UserDeleted/Reddit.com

29. Jane Fonda Wins Best Actress for Her Role in ‘Coming Home’ at the 1979 Academy Awards

A woman in a lavender, patterned dress stands smiling and holding an Oscar statuette in front of a pink curtain and a large gold Oscar statue. — Conscious-Dingo4463/Reddit.com

30. ‘My Mom in 1979.’ Face Card: Insane

A woman with long, wavy blonde hair wearing a baseball-style shirt that says "I ♥ Raleigh" in stylized letters. The photo is black and white and she is looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression. — Keakonu/Reddit.com

31. The Cast of ‘Star Wars’ on Set

Black and white photo of actors and crew on a film set, including two men sitting on chairs and others standing around, with equipment, costumes, and director's chairs visible in the background. — Joe34___/Reddit.com

More ’70s content, right this way:

Vinyl fans, you’ll want to check out 15 Vintage Photos of Record Shops in the 1970s for plenty of nostalgia. And if you grew up in the ’70s, you might like 18 Yearbook Photos That Are Peak 1970s and 10 Photos That Take You Inside a Typical Friday Night Out in the 1970s.