33 Retro Snapshots From 1979
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 photos from 1979 capture the fashion, the faces, and the quiet chaos of a world on the verge of change.
1. On March 28, the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant in Pennsylvania Suffered a Partial Meltdown, Sparking Mass Evacuations and Panic
2. Carrie Fisher Getting Some Last-Minute Touch-Ups on the Set of ‘Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back’
3. Soviet President Leonid Brezhnev Plants a Kiss on US President Jimmy Carter After Signing the SALT II Treaty in Vienna, Austria
4. Magic Johnson and Larry Bird Face Off in the 1979 NCAA Final, Launching an Epic Rivalry That Would Define Basketball for Decades
5. Iranian Protesters Storm the US Embassy in Tehran During the Hostage Crisis
6. Margaret Thatcher Becomes the First Female Prime Minister in the UK After Winning the General Election
7. The Police at a Record Store in Berkeley, California
8. ‘Traffic on the Sunset Strip, Los Angeles, 1979’
9. ‘The Doorway Climber, 1979.’ Not Sure If We Should Be Impressed or Terrified
10. An Ad for the Sony Walkman, Advertising Music on the Go
11. Then-President of Iraq Saddam Hussein (Left) Pictured With Raul Castro (Fidel’s Brother) at the Non-Aligned Countries Summit in Cuba
12. ‘Shooting ‘Apocalypse Now’ on Location in the Philippines, 1979′
13. Debbie Harry of Blondie and Lemmy Kilmister of Motörhead Share a Moment at a Party in London, England
14. The Seattle Supersonic After Winning the 1979 NBA Championship
15. Massive Crowds Gather in Tehran to Welcome Ayatollah Khomeini During the Iranian Revolution
16. ‘Iranian Women During the Revolution Celebrating the News of the Shah Leaving Iran Into Exile, 1979’
17. US President Jimmy Carter Signs the Bill Establishing the Department of Education on Oct. 17, 1979
18. An Itty Bitty Angelina Jolie With Her Mother Marcheline
19. Blondie Poses for a Snap at the Height of Their Fame
20. ABBA Strikes a Pose in Peak Disco Glam … and What Appears To Be a Lightsaber?
21. Good Luck Trying To Hail a Cab
22. ‘A Road Worker Rests Between Classic Midtown Storefronts and Traffic in New York City, 1979’
23. ‘The Gang on the Stoop at West 47th Street in Hells Kitchen, 1979’
24. ‘People Enjoying the Beach in Paignton, England, 1979’
25. Sun’s Out, Abs Out: Hanging Out in Hermosa Beach, California
26. ‘The Beach Boys and Bobby Figueroa in 1979’
27. Bob Marley Performing at the Waikiki Shell in Honolulu, Hawaii
28. ‘My Parents’ Wedding in 1979’
29. ‘My Uncle Back in 79′ (Check Out Those Gas Prices)’
30. The King of Pop, Michael Jackson
31. Jane Fonda Wins Best Actress for Her Role in ‘Coming Home’ at the 1979 Academy Awards
32. ‘My Mom in 1979.’ Face Card: Insane
33. The Cast of ‘Star Wars’ on Set
More ’70s content, right this way:
- 15 Vintage Photos of Record Shops in the 1970s — Here are 15 snapshots of 1970s record shops that’ll take you right back in time.
- 18 Yearbook Photos That Are Peak 1970s — Take a look at these 1970s yearbook photos that truly capture the decade, from feathered bangs and oversized collars to plaid dresses and tinted shades.
- 10 Photos That Take You Inside a Typical Friday Night Out in the 1970s — These photos bring that unapologetic energy to life, capturing what it looked like to clock out and turn up — 1970s style.