The 1970s was a captivating era that bore an unmistakable aura, a vibe that simply refused to be ignored. These spectacular photographs from the 70s are bursting with the decade’s exhilarating spirit, compelling you to stop and savor their beauty. They take you on a journey, revealing a world vastly different from ours today, yet only a few decades away in the rearview mirror. Discovering these timeless gems for the first time could offer a remarkable shift in perspective.
Every snapshot here has a hidden detail, a concealed nuance you’d miss casually. A seemingly standard photograph of Lynda Carter, for instance, possesses far more depth and detail than initially apparent – you just need to know where to cast your gaze.
A seldom-seen photograph of Lynda Carter from 1976
By the time 1976 rolled around, Lynda Carter had become a teenage boy’s dream, gracing the walls of countless bedrooms thanks to her unforgettable performance in Wonder Woman. Starting as a beauty pageant winner and singer, Carter seamlessly transitioned into her role as the crime-fighting Amazonian princess. She once elaborated on the nuances behind her character’s wardrobe choices during the 70s, hinting that there was more than what met the eye.
She said: “I never really thought of Wonder Woman as a super-racy character. She wasn’t out there being predatory. She was saying: ‘You have a problem with a strong woman? I am who I am; get over it.’ I never played her as mousy. I played her as being for women, not against men. For fair play and fair pay.”
Do you recall Susan Sarandon’s portrayal of Hattie in the 1978 classic Pretty Baby?
Susan Sarandon’s diverse acting journey has seen her play romantic leads, menacing villains, and characters teetering on the edge of crisis, like Hattie in Pretty Baby. She attributes some of her remarkable intensity in the movie to the unique environment at the time – a supposedly haunted house.
“I got pneumonia, also, in New Orleans. When filming Pretty Baby, we worked in an old house on St. Charles Street named the Columns Hotel. They said it was haunted. They were gonna tear it down, but we fixed it for the movie, and they saved it. I loved the wallpaper. Everybody said it was haunted. It had real big bathtubs you could float full-length in,” she said.
Unseen picture of Madonna at 21, in 1979
A young Madonna dreamt of nothing but performing in front of massive crowds. Initially aspiring to be a dancer, she also dabbled in acting in her friends’ films. Being the oldest of eight children, she was often tasked with caring for her younger siblings while her parents were at work.
This responsibility involved cooking, cleaning, and ensuring her siblings had everything necessary for their well-being. Despite taking on these adult roles, she harbored resentment for being thrust into such mature duties.
Tanya Roberts exhibited a unique talent for donning strategically positioned loincloths
While Tanya Roberts may not have achieved mainstream stardom, she enjoys a cult following thanks to her roles in the 007 series, Tourist Trap, and the original Beastmaster film. In a conversation with Fangoria, she elucidated why she opted for a role in a fantasy movie about a barbarian who can command animals.
She said: “I chose The Beastmaster because it allowed me to slip into movies without getting the book thrown at me. The movie wasn’t built around me. I was just an actor in it, and it was a good chance to be seen.”
Eerie snapshot of Charles Bronson with his wife, English actress Jill Ireland, taken in 1971 in Santa Monica, California
Could there have been a more gorgeous pair than Charles Bronson and Jill Ireland? These trendy actors were a perfect fit for each other, both on-screen and off. After pairing up, Bronson ensured that Ireland was always his on-screen love interest, aiming to keep his family close-knit.
The couple stayed together in 1968 until Ireland’s untimely demise in 1990 in Malibu, California. Bronson held onto her ashes, placed them in a cane he always kept close to, and was eventually buried in 2003.
Farrah Fawcett and Jaclyn Smith photographed on the Charlie’s Angels set in the 1970s
The cultural impact of Charlie’s Angels, which debuted in 1976, took everyone by surprise. The original trio – Farrah Fawcett, Jaclyn Smith, and Kate Jackson – catapulted to fame overnight. Even though the cast changes, the actresses maintain close friendships. Smith revealed in a documentary that their on and off-screen camaraderie was a key driver for the series.
Smith said: “In my mind, what Charlie’s Angels was about was the bond of the girls… That’s what’s interesting about friendship—once somebody is in your heart, you can go all these different ways. Still, when you come back together…we came together really strongly at the end of [Fawcett’s] life.”
Vintage snapshot of Christie Brinkley, from 1978
The timeless supermodel, Christie Brinkley, turned heads across the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s. Even during her early years in the modeling scene as a sun-kissed surfer girl, there was an undeniable allure about her. She believes her curvaceous figure played a significant role in her successful career.
“The fact that I wasn’t skinny or sophisticated made my career. I was a California surfer girl. When I first got out on the set, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, nobody here has hips like mine; let me move my hips to the side like this,’ and the photographer was like, ‘Oh my God, you move so well,'” she told in an interview.
Fearless Ann-Margret striking a pose for the camera in the 1970s
Despite her peak years being in the late ’50s and 1960s, Ann-Margret never sat back on her accomplishments. This Swedish-born sensation followed her heart’s desires – singing, motorcycling through the desert, or sharing the screen with Elvis.
While her appearances in blockbuster films dwindled during the 1970s, her role in Carnal Knowledge earned her critical acclaim. Astonishingly, it took so long for the world to recognize the immense talent that is Ann-Margret.
Lynda Carter in the thick of the action on TV’s Battle of the Network Stars in 1976
Did you join the legion of viewers riveted to their television screens for the Battle of the Network Stars? This primetime competition show, featuring actors from the three extensive networks in Olympic-style games, was a resounding hit, mainly due to the beloved Carter – audiences couldn’t get enough of Wonder Woman in action.
Carter’s team, boasting the likes of Farrah Fawcett, Penny Marshall, and Ron Howard, dominated the games. As for Carter, she breezed through her swimming relay – hardly surprising given her on-screen superpowers.
Cavett in conversation with Raquel Welch on his show in 1972
Cavett was predominantly known for his interviews with artsy intellectuals and rock icons. Still, one actor who frequented his show was Raquel Welch. Her appearances provided a refreshing break from the Lennons and Bowies, and she always held a fascinating conversation.
Her 1972 appearance on Cavett’s show was initially intended to promote her film Myra Breckinridge, an unusual project compared to her other works. But she also had a personal motive – she wanted to meet Janis Joplin. Welch confessed to being a big fan of the singer and hoped to get a chance to exchange greetings.
Jacqueline Bisset on the set of The Deep, 1977
While Jacqueline Bisset has graced many films and is often regarded as a cinematic beauty, she is someone who places immense value on her work. As she expressed in a 1982 interview, her job is paramount when on set.
In an interview, she said, “I work hard and tend to play hard. I very seldom rest hard. When I am working on a movie, I only want to talk about the movie. All I want to be with are the movie people. It’s like a clan. If I’m asked to people’s houses for dinner, I hate to go, because they’ll talk about other things . . . and all I want to talk about is the movie: how a shot was shot, whether it worked. It must sound to other people a lot like somebody discussing golf putts. It’s hard to be interested in a golf putt if it wasn’t yours.”
Brigitte Bardot turning a towel into a fashion statement
Between the 1950s and 1960s, Brigitte Bardot was the global epitome of beauty and charm. From her memorable roles in European cinema to her American career, Bardot’s persona has influenced actresses even today. However, she retired from the film industry in the 1970s after starring in 47 films and recording 60 songs.
Her retirement marked her move to St. Tropez and the establishment of the Foundation for the Protection of Distressed Animals. Ever since she has used her iconic status to amplify the work of her foundation.
Hugh Hefner and his companions at The Mansion, 1977
Arguably, no one had a better time in the 1970s than Hefner. This was the era when he ran his own magazine, hosted Saturday Night Live, and traversed the globe with a host of bunnies. He purchased a Gothic Tudor Revival-style property in the 1970s, which served as his home, workplace, and party venue until his passing in 2017.
Doesn’t his lifestyle make you wish you were lounging in a silk robe, ready to plunge into your grotto? Perhaps we could all afford to embrace a little more of the Hefner spirit.
Cheryl Tiegs poster from 1977
Cheryl Tiegs was ubiquitous in the 1970s, appearing on Sports Illustrated covers, posters, and television. She aspired to become a librarian, but her appearance in Seventeen Magazine instantly launched her to superstardom.
“Glamour magazine called and said, ‘We want that girl on a plane to St. Thomas.’ I did my own hair and makeup then. Today it’s all different…,” she told in an interview once.
The stunning Sharon Tate wearing a Betsey Johnson dress
Tate was a radiant beauty whose promising career was cut short by a tragic event that marked a somber phase in the groovy era. Born in Dallas in 1943, she was an Army brat who lived in places like Texas, Washington, and Verona, Italy.
After conquering the pageant world, she married Roman Polanski following her role in the Fearless Vampire Killers. The couple mingled with actors, including Peter Sellers, Yul Brynner, and Warren Beatty. Friends recall that Tate and Polanski were deeply in love, making her untimely passing even more regrettable.
Raquel Welch in a promotional photo for the movie Hannie Caulder (1971)
Raquel Welch’s career has been full of diverse roles. Welch has done everything from mythical creatures to tempting Ringo Starr, starring in the revenge western classic Hannie Caulder.
In Hannie Caulder, she portrays a woman seeking revenge on a group of villains in the old west. This film is a must-watch for Western fans or those who appreciate gritty revenge stories.
Morgan Fairchild in the 1970s as Jennifer Pace
Morgan Fairchild is renowned for portraying compelling characters in 1970s soap operas. Interestingly, her initial reason for acting was her aversion to schoolwork.
“I got involved in theater because I was too shy to make a “fifth-grade” book report. My mother started making me take drama classes to bring me out, never knowing she’d be stuck with actors. My sister and I both started taking acting classes, she wanted to go, but I would throw up every Saturday before the classes. But we really liked it… Afterward, I started auditioning for local theater and getting parts. Because I was doing a lot of theater work, people started asking me to do commercials.”
The charming Dawn Wells in 1970
Dawn Wells, best known for her role as Mary Ann in Gilligan’s Island, starred in iconic genre films in the 1970s like The Town That Dreaded Sundown and Return to Boggy Creek. She later reprised her role on Gilligan’s Island in Rescue from Gilligan’s Island. Wells once commented that Gilligan’s Island could not have maintained its wholesomeness if it were set in the ’70s.
She said: “They couldn’t even show my navel. We’ve come a long way. If we were doing the show today, we’d all live in the same hut.”
Farrah Fawcett photographed on her bike in 1977
At 29, Farrah Fawcett took on a lead role in Charlie’s Angels as one of three female detectives, transforming the television landscape and inspiring young women everywhere. Her iconic blonde hair, emulated for decades, was as famous as Fawcett herself.
She said in an interview: “It changed the way women wore their hair because it was a new soft hairstyle and worked on everyone in some shape or form. It was definitely a time of the late ’70s, disco, shiny, wide-legged pants – it all worked together.”
Jamie Lee Curtis in the 1970s
Jamie Lee Curtis emerged on the scene in the late ’70s, appearing in Quincy, M.E. and Columbo in 1977 and then landing her breakthrough role in John Carpenter’s Halloween in 1978. She became a staple on television after her starring role in one of the most influential horror movies ever made. Curtis later admitted that the 1970s were challenging due to what she perceived as a gloomy period in America.
“Growing up in the’70s was tough. Our role models were pictures like Saturday Night Fever. It was a sleepy and boring time in fashion, music, and movies. It was all so unfocused. There was no protest. So maybe, in that environment, all you have is your own body to develop. It’s sort of sad.”
Madonna in 1974
Even in her youth, Madonna was a star in the making. In high school, she featured in a student film titled Egg, in which she acted as a human frying pan.
The bizarre film showed an egg cracked on her stomach on a hot sidewalk, giving the illusion of cooking on her skin. This peculiar act indicates that Madonna has always been keen on stirring controversy and shock.