Okay, so besides the Watergate scandal and a gas shortage that created extra long lines at the pumps, 1973 seemed like a great time for most Americans. The Vietnam war had finally ended, so the nation could finally breathe that sigh of relief, and the very first hip-hop show went down in The Bronx, so everyone had a fun new sound to dance to.
Wikipedia searches of 1973 aside, a look back to the early 1970s made us feel like Marty McFly-style plunking ourselves into it for a little taste of the simpler life. Sadly, all we can do is binge some great ‘70s movies and shows (The Exorcist and The Six Million Dollar Man both dropped in 1973, by the way), and peruse these great sepia-toned photos.
You’ll have to rewatch the movies and shows on your own time, but for now, here are 21 photos of the sweet life in 1973.
1
A man shows off a great view of San Francisco in 1973.
2
A happy couple on their wedding day in 1973.
3
A Redditor on the day she bought her classic Mercedes - 1973
4
Lieutenant Colonel Robert L. Stirm being reunited with his family after 5½ years of being a POW in Vietnam - 1973
5
Down by the river in 1973
6
A photo from South Side Chicago - 1973
7
Electric Cars in 1973?!
Here, a man charges his electric AMC Gremlin in Seattle.
8
Summer Jam at Watkins Glen, NY - 1973
A broken arm couldn’t stop this woman from attending the festival of the summer.
9
A woman getting a tattoo in 1973.
10
In 1973, Marlon Brando rejected his Oscar for The Godfather to allow Sacheen Littlefeather to protest Hollywood's portrayal of Native Americans.
11
Goldie Hawn plays with the Harlem Globetrotters in 1973.
12
A Redditor’s parents in 1973.
They apparently ran away to get married when he was 17 and she was 15 years old and are still happily married today.
13
A Classic McDonald's Menu in 1973.
15
Baby Eminen (Marshall Mathers) with his parents - 1973.
16
A long summer dress in 1973
17
Elvis and Priscilla Presley leaving the courthouse after finalizing their divorce.
18
Cher at the 1973 Golden Globes.
19
Gary Sinise (middle) with his high school band, “Half Day Road.”
Highland Park High School in 1973.
20
A high school couple in 1973.
21
A dad with his kids in 1973.