This cartoon ran last week, and it got a lot of interest - from people who remember this and from those who think it's an exaggeration.
Unfortunately, it was a thing - when we were kids, we had orange shag carpet all over the house. Our next door neighbors had red. I can also remember houses having green. Weird.
And kitchens were harvest gold or green - green appliances, etc. We had harvest gold. The odd part is that our house was built from scratch, and my parents chose the styles and colors - so that was what was chosen - that was the style.
The house was redone after Hurricane Andrew's wrath in 1992 and it's being renovated right now. My two brothers are contractors, and they are handling the job. I've seen photos and it seems like they knocked the whole inside of the house down - kitchens, bathrooms, walls, and so much more.
I haven't been by, because I want to be surprised at the finished product. I've seen the work they do, so I know it will be a modern (for today) white kitchen, all open concept, with a large island in the middle, which of course will be old and haggard in 20 years and of course, out of style; but it will be the utmost in fashion today.
The 1970s were a unique decade in terms of cultural, technological, and social change. Some things that were common then are either obsolete, outdated, or have evolved in some way.
Here are a few things from the '70s that are no longer around or have been replaced along with brightly colored shag carpet:
8-Track Tapes
The 8-track was a popular way to listen to music on the go. They were large, clunky, and prone to malfunction, and they were eventually overtaken by cassettes and later, CDs and digital formats. I read recently that cassettes are making a comeback.
Wood Paneling in Homes
In the '70s, wood paneling was a dominant feature in homes, especially in living rooms and basements. It was considered stylish at the time, but it quickly fell out of favor, giving way to lighter, more neutral colors and modern finishes.
Bell-Bottom Pants
These pants, which flared out from the knee downward, were a major fashion statement in the '70s. Though they’ve had minor comebacks, they aren’t the mainstream trend they once were.
Polaroid Instant Cameras
While Polaroid cameras still exist, the instant cameras of the 1970s are far different. Today, we have digital cameras and smartphones with instant printing options that are more advanced, and Polaroid’s original models are now considered nostalgic.
Pong (and Early Arcade Games)
The first commercially successful video game, Pong, was released in the '70s, and it set the stage for modern video games. But the original hardware and arcade game style have long been replaced by more advanced gaming systems and consoles.
Cigarette Ads on TV
Cigarette advertisements were common everywhere - on billboards, newspapers, magazine ads and so much more, so many ads ran on TV in the '70s, but by the early 80s, health concerns and government regulations led to a ban on tobacco ads.
VHS Tapes (Early Video Tape Formats)
The VHS was a major home entertainment format, but digital media like DVDs, Blu-rays, and streaming have rendered it nearly obsolete.
Soda in Glass Bottles (Like Coca-Cola in CONTAINERS)
While glass bottles for soda still exist, they’ve largely been replaced by cans and plastic bottles, mainly because they’re easier to manufacture, transport, and store.
The CB Radio Craze
The CB (Citizens Band) radio was a big thing in the '70s, especially among truckers, and it even sparked a pop culture moment with songs like “Convoy.” I remember one of my cousins had a CB radio in her car and so did her friends. I drove into the city one time with them and they were on the CB discussing the traffic on the upper level of the 59th street bridge in Manhattan with other CB radio enthusiasts who were stuck in traffic as well.
Some of these items are still fondly remembered in pop culture, while others are almost completely forgotten.
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One of my chores was to rake that damned shag. Every week, I would spend what seemed like hours putting careful patterns into the orange fibers. And, then, someone would walk through to get to the couch.