How Well Do You Remember the '70s?

HISTORY

3 PLAYS

By: Lenore Brown

5 Min Quiz

Image: Shutterstock

About This Quiz

The trends, the music, the politics - the '70s is a memorable decade for a multitude of reasons and a pivotal time in American history and throughout the world. 

For half the decade, the Vietnam War raged on with the Cold War in the backdrop WHILE the Second-Wave Feminist Movement carried over from the '60s. Meanwhile, the music of that era introduced modern-day icons like Elton John and James Taylor but was also marked by the breakup of the most iconic boy band of all - The Beatles. Each member did, however, release their own album at that time and popular bands from the '60s continued to achieve success including Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, The Grateful Dead, and Eric Clapton. 

The film and TV scene was just as groovy with movies like The Godfather and The Godfather II and Saturday Night Fever making waves and shows like  The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Soul Train, and All in the Family reflecting the culture of that time. Do you think you can name some of the major players of the decade in music and politics?  Can you identify a mood ring and the most popular colors used during that time? Do you remember the family car everyone was driving?

It's time for you to give us the skinny on how much you know about the '70s by taking this quiz! 





Which '70s blockbuster featured a huge killer shark?

"Jaws"was one of the most successful movies of the '70s and featured the memorable line about needing a bigger boat.

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What type of carpet provided a cozy place for '70s kids to watch TV?

Shag carpeting was all the rage in the '70s, and it provided a comfy place for kids to sprawl across while watching TV. This carpeting came in a variety of colors, even the brightest of oranges which were actually pretty popular at that time.

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This piece of jewelry supposedly portrayed your mood based on the reflected color.

Mood rings were all the rage, and the changing color was supposed to correlate to a particular mood though it's actually related to your body temperature.

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The '70s introduced us to a new kind of pet. What was it?

The pet rock was developed in 1975 featuring smooth stones from Rosarito Beach in Mexico. It was marketed like a real pet including breathing holes and straw in the packaging.

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Which singing couple had their own comedy hour during the first few years of the 1970s?

Sonny and Cher had their own comedy hour in which they would sing, tell stories, and do funny skits. "The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour" ran from 1971 to 1974 when they divorced but they reunited for "The Sonny & Cher Show" for a year in 1976.

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'70s kids might have piled in the back of this type of vehicle.

'70s kids might remember piling into the back of their parents' station wagon for family road trips. These vehicles provided lots of room in the back so they were ideal for families.

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This popular bar game was present in a lawn variety.

Lawn darts were a popular, yet dangerous game, through the '70s and into the '80s. Over the years, numerous hospital visits happened as a result of accidents while playing this game which led to lawn darts being banned in the U.S.

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What type of message would not have been found on toys in the '70s?

Choking hazard warnings were not present on toy packages until after 1978 when a child choked to death on a small piece of a toy. Now, though it may seem obvious, the warnings are present so companies can protect themselves and warn consumers.

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Which famous rock band split up in the early '70s?

In 1970, The Beatles split up for various reasons including creative issues and the sudden death of their manager.

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Margaret Thatcher became an important political leader in 1979 in which country?

Margaret Thatcher became the first woman to take on the role of Prime Minister in the United Kingdom in 1979.

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Which Swedish pop band made it to the top of the charts throughout the '70s?

ABBA was a Swedish pop band known for hits such as "Dancing Queen," "Mamma Mia," and "Knowing Me Knowing You." Their music has remained popular throughout the years partly thanks to the "Mamma Mia!" films.

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Which rock star passed away in 1977?

Elvis Presley died suddenly in 1977, leaving many fans devastated as he was only 42. He left behind his wife, Priscilla, and their young daughter, Lisa Marie. There was controversy surrounding his cause of death but part of the reason for his passing was attributed to a toxic reaction to codeine.

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What two colors were the height of fashion and home decor in the '70s?

Brown and orange were everywhere in the '70s. From matching wallpaper and bedspreads to socks and collars, many color palettes revolved around brown and orange, even down to the carpet.

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Which film from 1971 portrayed a chocolate factory and an eccentric candy maker?

"Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" was based on Roald Dahl's book "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and was released in 1971 starring comedic actor Gene Wilder. Though Dahl was displeased with the film, it remains a classic and is included in the United States National Film Registry .

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What space movie saga began in 1977?

"Star Wars" debuted with Episode IV in 1977 and birthed a huge legacy of fans, comic cons, and battles over what is better: "Star Wars" or "Star Trek." It is one of the most successful movie franchises of all time and in 2019 Disneyland debuted an entire area in the park devoted to the film.

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This 1978 movie musical had kids singing, "You're the One That I Want."

"Grease" was released in 1978 starring John Travolta and Olivie Newton-John as greaser Danny Zuko and the girl-next-door type Sandy Olsson. The soundtrack was the second-best selling album of the year in the U.S.

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What character-driven theme park opened in 1971 to the pleasure of kids worldwide?

Disney World opened in 1971 and the cost of admission was only $3.50 per person. It has become the most visited vacation resort in the world, though the ticket price is now in the hundreds.

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What '70s mobster movie taught us how to make an offer that can't be refused?

"The Godfather" was a massive cultural success, spawning numerous quotable moments as well as two sequels. Marlon Brando and Al Pacino are still remembered for their roles in this movie.

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If you were a '70s kid out riding your bike, what was missing from the picture?

In the '70s it wasn't popular to wear a helmet when riding a bike since there wasn't as much awareness about safety. Many states didn't adopt laws on wearing helmets until 1987.

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Which horse won the triple crown in 1973, becoming the first to do so in 30 years?

Secretariat was the first horse to win the Triple Crown since 1948, meaning he won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. The thoroughbred racehorse is considered one of the greatest horses in racing history. He was added to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1974.

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