The ‘70s were a unique era, filled with quirks and trends that seemed perfectly normal at the time. Here’s a look at seven bizarre phenomena from that decade that might surprise you today.
1. The New Adventures of Scooby-Doo
This animated series was the sequel to Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? While the concept of teenagers solving mysteries alongside a (sort-of) talking dog might raise eyebrows now, it was seen as harmless fun back then. What made The New Adventures of Scooby-Doo particularly strange were the celebrity cameos. Before The Simpsons and South Park popularized celebrity appearances in cartoons, this show featured iconic figures, both real and fictional. Guests like The Addams Family, featuring John Astin as Gomez Addams, and numerous appearances by the Harlem Globetrotters made for a truly odd viewing experience. Seriously, have you seen Phyllis Diller’s hair in those episodes?
2. The World of Sid & Marty Krofft
Shows like Sigmund and the Sea Monsters and H.R. Pufnstuf were considered standard Saturday morning fare, but they were undeniably trippy. In Atlanta, Georgia, I remember visiting The World of Sid & Marty Krofft indoor amusement park, which was just as surreal as the TV shows. Imagine ascending the world’s largest escalator to enter a whimsical realm filled with animatronics and funhouse mirrors. Sadly, this bizarre amusement park now exists only in the foggy memories of those who visited, with few photos or videos available to prove it ever existed.
3. King Tut’s Epic Tour
In 1976, King Tut’s exhibit took North America by storm, comparable to a massive pop concert. For three years, the treasures of Tutankhamun drew millions, with over eight million attendees flocking to see artifacts from ancient Egypt. Steve Martin even performed a comedic tribute to King Tut on Saturday Night Live. At the time, it felt perfectly normal to be captivated by ancient history, but looking back, it’s a bit surreal that so many people were so excited about science and culture from another era.
4. Coors and Smokey and the Bandit
In the classic film Smokey and the Bandit, the character Snowman, portrayed by Jerry Reed, undertakes the illegal task of transporting Coors beer from Texas to Georgia, as it was only distributed out West at the time. Coors was considered one of the best beers available. Imagine if today’s films were centered around smuggling craft beers instead. It’s a wild thought when you crack open a local brew from Seattle.
5. The Streaking Craze
Streaking was a widespread phenomenon during the ‘70s, so much so that it became a cultural touchstone. Ray Stevens even topped the charts with a novelty song about it, humorously warning “Don’t look, Ethel!” as streakers ran by. While you may still see the occasional streaker today, the novelty of such antics has faded, and we don’t often see fun songs about them making it to the top of the music charts anymore.
6. Joe Namath and Beauty Mist
Joe Namath was a superstar in the ‘70s, strutting into disco clubs in his fur coat and charming everyone. In a time when athletes rarely endorsed products, Namath shocked many by appearing in a commercial for Beauty Mist pantyhose. While today’s endorsements are commonplace, his ad was groundbreaking. For many young fans, including myself, if Mom liked Joe Namath, that was good enough for us.
7. Pantyhose in an Egg
The final season of Mad Men featured Peggy and Joan discussing the pantyhose craze, particularly focusing on L’Eggs, which came packaged in distinctive plastic eggs. How many of those white eggs cluttered our homes? They were a staple in many households, even inspiring crafty projects during Easter time. Sadly, those little eggs have all but disappeared, much like the Styrofoam Quarter Pounder box and the pop-top soda can. The real question remains: when can we finally say goodbye to pantyhose themselves?
In summary, the ‘70s were filled with eccentricities that seemed normal at the time but appear utterly bizarre when viewed through a modern lens. From animated crossover antics to cultural phenomena like streaking and King Tut’s exhibit, this decade was truly one for the history books.
Keyphrase: 1970s cultural phenomena
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