“My Mom And Dad In 1973”: 30 Striking Pics From People’s Lives In The 70s

But life is not all about monumental events. It’s the little things, too – the picnics with friends, the self-expression throughfashion, the fandom of up-and-coming artists, and so much more. That’s what we’re focusing on today – all sorts of moments from people’s lives back in 1973 that show just how different—or maybe similar?—life was back then. If you’re curious to compare the now and then, scroll down to find the pictures on the list below, and make sure to upvote your favorites.

Below, you will also findBored Panda’sinterview with Associate Professor ofArtHistory at Western University in London, Ontario,Dr. John Hatch, who was kind enough to answer a few of our questions about life in the 70s and some of its influences at the time.

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Woman in 1973 fashion cutting a cake in a living room.

Couple enjoying a day out in 1973, capturing a moment of 1970s fashion and style in the world.

Man with sunglasses on a vintage motorcycle by a lake, capturing 1973 world in pictures vibe.

Every day, there is something big happening, and that year was no exception. But what is considered a “big” thing differs from person to person—people who are not that interested in sports, for instance, would argue whether the Miami Dolphins’s win was that big of a deal.

Smiling woman in floral dress standing outdoors, 1973, world-in-pictures theme.

Family in 1973 wearing colorful 70s fashion, posing outdoors in a park setting.

For some people, the “big” things are the personal ones—like the birth of a child or a wedding, for instance. Well, can you guess how many people were born in 1973?

You are right if you guessed somewhere around 120,000,000. According toDatabase.Earth, 123,563,931 babies were born around the world in that year (25,032,563 males and 22,540,713 females).

A woman with two children in winter clothing and sunglasses, walking in the snow, representing 1973 world fashion trends.

1973 retro scene: Young man carrying woman playfully indoors, both smiling warmly.

A smiling couple in wedding attire waves in front of a vintage car, showcasing a 1973 world moment.

As for weddings, according to Statista’sdata, the number of couples who got married in 1973 was roughly 46 million. If the love birds who said “yes” back then are still together, they should be celebrating their 52nd anniversary right about now. Congratulations to them!

Woman sitting on a vintage bed in a 1973 room, with a retro radio and patterned bedspread, capturing a moment from the 1973 world.

1973 musicians performing; woman playing saxophone, man with a bass guitar, capturing vintage concert vibe.

Child with a rotary phone, 1973 world scene, wearing a dress, showcasing vintage communication.

Man sitting under a tree in 1973, wearing a hat, drinking from a bottle, resting in a rural setting.

Traffic jam in 1973, depicting a man with a lawn mower amidst vintage cars.

Couple in 1973 fashion, holding hands outside a brick building, reflecting World-In-Pictures theme.

“The music tended to be more hedonistic due to the right-wing political backlash of the early 1970s and when disco came on board you were looking at an even more escapist musical scene,” said Dr. John Hatch, Associate Professor ofArtHistoryat Western University in London, Ontario, when discussing the role music played back in the 70s.“I would make one exception, and that is the rise of African American pop music on the mainstream with bands like Sly and the Family Stone and Funkadelic, let alone singers such as Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder,” he added. “They tended to be more culturally meaningful and more critically engaged with issues of the time than their white counterparts.”

“I would make one exception, and that is the rise of African American pop music on the mainstream with bands like Sly and the Family Stone and Funkadelic, let alone singers such as Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder,” he added. “They tended to be more culturally meaningful and more critically engaged with issues of the time than their white counterparts.”

A woman in a 1973 store with shelves of products and an old-style red scale.

1973 McDonald’s menu board with vintage prices and people waiting in line.

People shopping outside an antique store in 1973, surrounded by litter and holding bags in a busy street scene.

Continuing his discussion on the role music plays in people’s lives—both then and now—Dr. Hatch noted that the music we tend to revere is usually that of our teenage years, as that seems to be the time music has the most impact on us.

Aerial view of the World Trade Center towers in 1973 with the cityscape and ocean in the background.

1973 scene in a grocery store with a cashier and a woman at the checkout counter.

Person sitting on a vintage car in a 1973 parking lot scene, capturing a retro atmosphere.

Those who care for sports more than they do for music know that, back in 1973, there were way more attention-worthy events in the sports world than just the Miami Dolphins winning the Super Bowl.In 1973, John Newcombe and Margaret Court won the Tennis Australia Open in men’s singles and women’s singles, respectively (and later the same year, won the US Open, too); the Spanish road racing cyclist Luis Ocaña was #1 in the iconic Tour de France; and the American golfer Jack Nicklaus took 1st place at the PGA Golf Championship (and was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame just a year later, in 1974).

Those who care for sports more than they do for music know that, back in 1973, there were way more attention-worthy events in the sports world than just the Miami Dolphins winning the Super Bowl.

In 1973, John Newcombe and Margaret Court won the Tennis Australia Open in men’s singles and women’s singles, respectively (and later the same year, won the US Open, too); the Spanish road racing cyclist Luis Ocaña was #1 in the iconic Tour de France; and the American golfer Jack Nicklaus took 1st place at the PGA Golf Championship (and was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame just a year later, in 1974).

Couple in 1973, wearing turtlenecks and flared pants, on a promenade with a misty backdrop.

Person in 1973 leaning on a classic car on a sunny street, wearing a striped shirt and sunglasses.

Children playing with a toy car on a busy street in 1973.

As they do every day of every year, many important things happened in 1973. Plenty of seemingly insignificant things did, too. But even the most mundane of moments could become important in their own ways, especially when looking at them in hindsight.Talking about why some people romanticize the past, Dr. Hatch suggested that it might just be the way our memory works. “We tend to bury the negative aspects, and hold on to the more pleasurable experiences,” he said. “The simpler times of the past are in part a result of the fact that we simply can’t remember everything from our past, so our brain edits, simplifies, and holds on to what is worth holding on.”

Talking about why some people romanticize the past, Dr. Hatch suggested that it might just be the way our memory works. “We tend to bury the negative aspects, and hold on to the more pleasurable experiences,” he said. “The simpler times of the past are in part a result of the fact that we simply can’t remember everything from our past, so our brain edits, simplifies, and holds on to what is worth holding on.”

A couple in 1973 posing by a bridge, both in vintage attire.

1973 vintage car in a suburban driveway with houses and trees in the background.

Person posing in front of misty mountains, wearing vintage 1970s hiking attire, with another person in the background.

Historic Hiroshima dome site with 1973 signage, including a Pepsi ad, surrounded by greenery.

Person using a sun reflector on a grassy field, capturing a moment from 1973 world events in pictures.

People relaxing in a plaza during 1973, surrounded by iconic buildings and a bright sky.

A vibrant 1973 street scene with vintage cars and neon signs, capturing the essence of a bustling urban environment.

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Vintage 1973 image of four men in suits, posing together, with documents on the wall in the background.

Crowded market scene from 1973 with people shopping for fruits and vegetables.

Pilots in helmets communicate inside a cockpit, 1973 world in pictures.

Man in a suit and sunglasses standing on steps in front of a large ornate door, capturing 1973 style.

Two girls in 1973 fashion, standing outside a rustic building, wearing shorts and casual tops.

Women working outdoors, preparing food, illustrating daily life in 1973.

1973 street scene with people gathered around cars near Westbourne Antique Arcade.

Man in 1973 lounging outdoors, wearing sunglasses, with a palm plant in the background.

Two people walking in a 1973 village landscape, with hillside homes and trees in the background, depicting world history.

Black and white group photo from 1973, showcasing students and a teacher in front of a building.

Vintage 1973 car with a woman and children, capturing a nostalgic moment on a countryside road.

Three men in suits and ties sharing drinks at a dinner table, capturing a moment from 1973 with dishes and chopsticks present.

Couple in 1973 fashion, woman in polka-dot dress, man in striped pants, standing outdoors by a rock in a forest setting.

People playing hockey on a frozen pond under a bridge, reminiscent of 1973 world scenes.

People enjoying outdoor dining at a cafe in 1973, with tables and chairs on a sunlit sidewalk.

1973 street scene with shops and a tall building, capturing everyday life and architecture from that era.

Cityscape from 1973 with a prominent tower and urban buildings, capturing a historical view in pictures.

A children’s softball team in 1973, wearing matching uniforms, posing with a sign and equipment outdoors.

Sailboat on water with city skyline in the background, reflecting 1973 world in pictures.

People walking on a roadside in 1973, holding bags for collecting trash, with trees and a billboard in the background.

Aerial view of a 1973 ocean liner cruising through calm blue waters.

1973 city street scene with vintage cars, elevated highway, and urban landscape in the background.

Man in 1973 standing outside a building, wearing glasses and a casual outfit, with a door open behind him.

Man working in a lush garden, surrounded by green plants, captured in a nostalgic 1973 world setting.

Two skyscrapers in 1973, with distinct architecture against a clear sky.

Busy street market scene from 1973 with watermelons, flowers, and vendors under a highway.

People walking towards a statue in a park, with tall buildings in the background, capturing a 1973 world scene.

1973 World in Pictures: vibrant flower market scene in front of a historic brick building.