20 Things From the ’70s Few Floridians Remember
If you ever drank Tang on a hot Florida summer day or stuck to a plastic-covered couch in your grandma’s living room, you probably grew up in the 1970s.
It was a colorful, quirky time when kids played outside until the streetlights came on, and nobody ever heard the word “Wi-Fi.” While a lot has changed since then, the little details of daily life back in that groovy decade still live on in memory.
Here are some of the things from the ’70s that have quietly vanished from modern-day memory but are impossible to totally forget for those who lived through the decade.
Banana Seat Bicycles
No kid in the neighborhood was cooler than the one riding a Schwinn Sting-Ray with a glittery banana seat. Those long, cushy seats were perfect for doubling up with a friend—or sneaking your little brother on the back without telling Mom.
And if the bike had high-rise handlebars and maybe even a sissy bar?
Forget it—you were basically Evel Knievel on wheels.
These bikes weren’t just for riding; they were for showing off. Kids would race each other down the block, do tricks at the park, and personalize their bikes with spoke beads, handlebar streamers, and even playing cards clipped to the frame to make that clickety-clack motorcycle sound.
You could hear the whole crew coming from a block away.
By the early ’80s, banana seat bikes were being pushed aside for BMX bikes. They were sturdier and better for dirt ramps, but they just didn’t have that same groovy charm.
Still, every now and then, you can find one in an attic or a yard sale, and the memories come flooding back.
Metal Lunchboxes with Cartoon Characters
Opening your metal lunchbox in the cafeteria was kind of like opening a window into your soul. Were you a Fat Albert kid? Did you rock The Bionic Woman? Maybe Star Wars, if you were lucky enough to get one after 1977.
These weren’t just lunchboxes—they were identity badges.
Each one came with a matching Thermos that rattled around inside, often filled with warm SpaghettiOs or chocolate milk. Sometimes the Thermos cracked, but that didn’t stop anyone from using it.
The paint on the box would chip over time, and a big dent on the corner meant you were a veteran of the playground.
By the late ’70s, concerns about sharp edges and heavy materials started to push manufacturers toward plastic. And by the ’80s, many schools banned metal lunchboxes altogether.
But for kids who spent years flipping that metal latch open and digging into a PB&J while staring at The Dukes of Hazzard, it’s hard to forget.
TV Antennas and Rabbit Ears
Before remote controls and digital everything, there were rabbit ears.
Every living room had a television set—usually in a massive wooden cabinet—and on top sat a pair of thin metal antennas you had to constantly adjust.
Watching CHiPs or Happy Days often meant someone standing by the TV, holding the rabbit ears just right while someone else yelled, “Hold it there! It’s clear now!”
Sometimes people wrapped the ends in tinfoil or propped one antenna against the window for better reception. Getting Channel 4 to come in clearly was practically an Olympic sport.
Saturday mornings were the most important time to get it right—nobody wanted to miss Josie and the Pussycats or Schoolhouse Rock because of static.
Eventually, cable TV started creeping in, and those rabbit ears got tossed aside. But for families who spent evenings gathered around a glowing screen, squinting through fuzz just to catch the opening credits of The Carol Burnett Show, the memory is still sharp.
Drive-In Movie Theaters
Pile into the station wagon, throw on your pajamas, and bring a blanket—that’s how families in the ’70s went to the movies.
Drive-ins were still going strong then, with double features and glowing snack bar ads that promised hot dogs and icy root beer. It didn’t matter if you were watching Jaws, Grease, or a cheesy sci-fi flick—just being there was the fun part.
Each car had its own metal speaker you’d hang on the window, and half the time, it crackled so bad you couldn’t hear the movie.
But nobody minded. The real joy was being outside under the stars, sharing popcorn in the back seat, and sneaking peeks at the other screens in the distance.
By the end of the decade, many drive-ins were shutting down, replaced by malls or parking lots.
But for those who remember falling asleep halfway through a movie in the back of a Dodge Dart while your parents watched the second feature, it’s a memory as warm as a summer night.
Mood Rings
At some point in the mid-’70s, mood rings showed up in every drugstore and gift shop. They had these mysterious stones that changed color, supposedly based on your feelings.
Blue meant calm. Green meant relaxed. Black? Better give that person some space.
Kids wore them to school and checked them constantly. “It’s purple! That means I’m in love!” someone would squeal.
Were they accurate?
Not really—they were just reacting to the heat of your skin.
But no one cared. They felt magical, like a secret emotional radar on your finger.
Mood rings faded out by the early ’80s, but now and then you’ll spot one in a novelty shop. Anyone who had one remembers that rush of excitement every time the colors shifted. It was the ultimate ’70s fashion-meets-feelings accessory.
Record Changers on Turntables
Every living room had a stereo system, and it usually came with a turntable that could stack five or six records at once. These weren’t high-end DJ setups—they were often big wooden cabinets with built-in speakers and a smoky plastic lid that smelled like the ’70s when you opened it.
You’d pile on albums—maybe Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours, Eagles’ Hotel California, and a little Donna Summer—and the changer would drop them one at a time.
No skipping tracks, no playlists. You listened to the whole album, just like the artist intended.
These changers disappeared along with 8-track tapes and lava lamps. Today’s turntables are sleek and single-record only.
But there was something deeply satisfying about watching that next record drop into place with a soft “thunk.”
Waterbeds
Waterbeds were the ultimate grown-up luxury in the 1970s. If your parents had one, it meant they were cool.
These giant, sloshy beds were filled with heated water and felt like sleeping on an ocean. Some even had wave settings—gentle ripple or full storm mode.
Ads promised they’d cure back pain and help you sleep like a baby. But kids just saw them as awesome playgrounds. Sneaking into your parents’ room to bounce around was like riding a water buffalo in slow motion.
Of course, if you bounced too hard and sprang a leak, you were in huge trouble.
They faded fast in the ’80s, mostly because they were hard to move and even harder to repair.
But for anyone who’s ever heard the low glug-glug of a shifting waterbed, it’s a sound—and a feeling—you never forget.
Green Stamps
Long before reward points and punch cards, families collected S&H Green Stamps.
Grocery stores, gas stations, and even department stores gave them out with purchases. Mom would bring home wads of them and hand the kids the stamp books.
Lick, stick, repeat.
The stamp catalog was like a wish book full of dreams. Toasters, fondue sets, patio furniture—you name it. Families would save for months to get that one special thing.
Sometimes, you’d even visit a Green Stamp redemption center, which felt like a cross between a bank and a magic shop.
By the late ’70s, Green Stamps started to disappear as newer rewards programs popped up. But if you ever licked your way through a stack of stamps just to earn a new blender, you know how sweet those little green squares really were.
Pop Rocks and Soda Warnings
When Pop Rocks hit the shelves, they felt like candy from another planet. Tiny sugar crystals that exploded in your mouth felt weird, exciting, and just the right amount of dangerous.
Kids everywhere couldn’t get enough of that fizzy, crackly sensation.
Then came the rumor—thanks to a wild story involving “Little Mikey” from the Life cereal ads. Word spread that if you ate Pop Rocks and drank a can of soda, your stomach would explode.
No one had proof, but that didn’t stop kids from daring each other to try it—and watching nervously just in case.
Pop Rocks disappeared for a while, partly due to the panic, but they eventually came back.
Still, for anyone who remembers opening a pouch with sweaty hands, pouring the whole thing in their mouth, and waiting for the fireworks—it was pure ’70s fun.
Rotary Phones
If someone needed to make a call in the ’70s, they’d head to the kitchen and dial on the family’s rotary phone. The heavy handset had a cord long enough to stretch across the room, and the circular dial made you really think about every digit you entered.
Phones came in classic colors like harvest gold, avocado green, and princess pink.
And forget about texting. If you called someone and they weren’t home, you had to call again later—or leave a message with their mom.
Rotary phones stuck around into the early ’80s, but they couldn’t keep up with touch-tone dialing.
Still, there’s something deeply comforting about the soft click-click-click of that spinning dial—and the way it made making a phone call feel like a little event.
Tang in the Pantry
Before there were endless sports drinks and fancy flavored waters, there was Tang. The bright orange powder came in a giant plastic jar with a pop-off lid, and all it took was a couple of spoonfuls in a glass of water to turn it into “space juice.”
Why space juice?
Because NASA astronauts drank it—or at least that’s what every kid believed.
Tang wasn’t just for breakfast. Some kids drank it after school, others had it with lunch, and more than a few tried mixing it way too strong just to see what would happen. The taste was tangy, sweet, and a little fake—but in a good way.
It was part drink, part science experiment.
While it’s still around today, Tang has mostly faded from kitchen shelves. But for any kid who grew up with Saturday morning cartoons and a cold glass of Tang, it brings back memories of simpler—and sweeter—times.
Avon Calling
In the ’70s, the phrase “Avon calling!” meant someone was at your door with a suitcase full of beauty magic.
Avon ladies were part salespeople, part neighborhood stars. They brought lipstick samples, tiny perfume bottles, and catalogs so thick they looked like novels.
Moms, grandmas, and even teenage girls would gather around the kitchen table flipping through pages while sipping instant coffee. Whether it was Skin So Soft, bubble bath in a bottle shaped like a poodle, or a gold lipstick case shaped like a rose, Avon always had something fun.
Door-to-door sales have pretty much disappeared, but back then, it was exciting to see the Avon lady show up.
And if you were lucky, she’d let you try a glittery lip gloss or hand you a sticker from the back of her sample book.
Holly Hobbie Everything
Holly Hobbie was the unofficial mascot of the soft and sweet side of the ’70s.
She wore a big bonnet, a patchwork dress, and always seemed to be holding flowers or writing letters. She wasn’t loud or flashy—just quietly adorable, like a paper doll come to life.
Her image was everywhere—on lunchboxes, bedspreads, stationery sets, and birthday cards. Girls collected Holly Hobbie dolls, wore pajamas with her face on them, and even decorated their rooms with her smiling softly from the wallpaper.
She faded out in the ’80s as things got flashier and louder, but for kids who grew up with Holly’s gentle charm, she remains a peaceful little piece of the past.
Polyester Everything
Back in the ’70s, polyester was king. It was used for shirts, pants, suits, dresses—you name it. People wore it to school, to work, to church, and to the disco.
It was shiny, stretchy, and didn’t wrinkle. The louder the pattern, the better.
Boys wore polyester leisure suits with big collars and flared pants. Girls had matching skirt sets in bright oranges, yellows, and avocado greens. And don’t forget those zip-up tracksuits in electric blue or fire-engine red.
Bonus points if you had white piping on the sleeves.
Sure, it didn’t breathe all that well and could get a little sweaty, but nobody cared. Polyester was futuristic, fabulous, and fantastic.
Today, people laugh about it. But secretly?
They kind of miss it.
Clackers
Clackers were one of the simplest toys around—two heavy plastic balls on a string that you swung up and down until they smacked together in a loud clack-clack-clack. If you could keep them going without smacking your knuckles, you were a legend on the playground.
They came in bright colors like neon green, cherry red, and electric blue. Sometimes they even had glitter inside. The trick was to get them clacking above and below your hand in a perfect rhythm.
It was loud, it was tricky, and it drove teachers and parents absolutely nuts.
Eventually, they were banned in a lot of places because they could break—or break you.
But for a short time in the ’70s, clackers ruled lunch breaks and after-school hangouts like nothing else.
Shrinky Dinks
Shrinky Dinks were pure magic. You’d get a sheet of thin plastic with outlines of superheroes, animals, or funky patterns.
You’d color them in with markers or colored pencils, cut them out, and then—here’s the fun part—you’d pop them in the oven and watch them shrink before your eyes.
They’d curl up, twist, and then flatten into a mini version of whatever you drew. You could turn them into keychains, pins, or just keep them as little treasures.
Watching through the oven window as they transformed was half the fun.
Shrinky Dinks still exist, but they were everywhere in the ’70s. Kids begged for new sets every holiday and spent rainy afternoons turning art projects into tiny works of plastic art.
Wacky Packages
Wacky Packages were goofy sticker cards that made fun of popular products. Instead of Cap’n Crunch, you got “Cap’n Crud.” Instead of Crest toothpaste, there was “Crust.”
Kids cracked up over them—and traded them like baseball cards.
They came in waxy little packs, like trading cards, with a few stickers and a piece of stale gum that you still chewed anyway. The art was wild, and the jokes were just the right level of gross for an eight-year-old.
Some kids stuck them on their notebooks, lockers, or bedroom walls.
They came and went over the years, but their golden age was definitely the mid-’70s. Kids couldn’t get enough of their goofy parodies and offbeat humor.
If you had a full collection?
You were basically a comedy king or queen.
Jell-O Salads
It’s hard to explain to today’s kids, but in the ’70s, people put everything in Jell-O. Veggies, ham, cottage cheese—nothing was safe.
It wasn’t just dessert. It was dinner, too.
Moms made “salads” that jiggled, wiggled, and had things like celery or olives floating inside.
There were Jell-O molds in every shape—rings, towers, and even fish. Popular recipes included lime Jell-O with shredded carrots, or orange Jell-O with mini marshmallows and pineapple chunks.
By the 1980s, the Jell-O salad craze died down.
But for anyone who ever watched a relative proudly serve up a wobbly tower of green goo, it’s a memory that sticks—like gelatin to a plate.
Fisher-Price Movie Viewer
Before VHS tapes or DVDs, there was the Fisher-Price Movie Viewer. It looked like a little handheld projector, and it played mini movie reels featuring Disney characters or Sesame Street clips.
You didn’t need batteries—just crank the side, and the film rolled inside.
Kids would sit on the shag carpet and watch Mickey and the Beanstalk or Donald Duck over and over, cranking forward, backward, and sometimes too fast.
It wasn’t high-tech, but it was your movie, and that felt like a big deal.
Every 1970s kid who had one remembers the sound of that plastic crank and the grainy film images. It was portable entertainment before anyone had ever heard of a tablet.
Plastic Furniture Covers
Every grandma’s house in the ’70s had at least one couch covered in thick, squeaky plastic. It was meant to protect the “nice” furniture—but sitting on it in shorts during a hot summer afternoon?
That was a whole experience.
The plastic covers were shiny, sticky, and loud. Every time you sat down or shifted, it sounded like a balloon being rubbed. And forget about taking a nap—you’d slide right off.
Still, those couches stayed looking brand-new for decades.
It might’ve seemed weird, but it was normal back then. Keeping the good stuff clean was serious business.
And if you ever got stuck to one of those covers during a July heat wave, you earned your place in ’70s history.
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