1970s Books, Films And TV: The Decade Guide
Three channels, sitcoms everyone watched at once, blockbuster cinema and a golden run of children's books.
Below: the books worth reading from the 1970s, then the films and television year by year from 1970 to 1979.
Useful for a themed night, a reading list, a reminiscence session or working out what someone grew up with.
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Years covered in the 1970s
- 1970 - England defended the World Cup, the Beatles ended and eighteen-year-olds got the vote. Full year: /blogs/news/look-back-to-1970
- 1971 - Decimal Day, the first Glastonbury as we know it and Slade on the way up. Full year: /blogs/news/look-back-to-1971
- 1972 - Miners' strikes and power cuts, Ziggy Stardust and a very good year for glam. Full year: /blogs/news/look-back-to-1972
- 1973 - Britain joined the EEC, the oil crisis hit and Slade wrote Christmas. Full year: /blogs/news/look-back-to-1973
- 1974 - Two general elections, the three-day week and Abba winning Eurovision. Full year: /blogs/news/look-back-to-1974
- 1975 - Bohemian Rhapsody, the EEC referendum and Fawlty Towers. Full year: /blogs/news/look-back-to-1975
- 1976 - The heatwave, the drought and the first stirrings of punk. Full year: /blogs/news/look-back-to-1976
- 1977 - Silver Jubilee street parties, Star Wars and the summer punk went overground. Full year: /blogs/news/look-back-to-1977
- 1978 - Grease, the first test-tube baby and the start of the winter of discontent. Full year: /blogs/news/look-back-to-1978
- 1979 - The winter of discontent, the first woman Prime Minister and the last year of the seventies. Full year: /blogs/news/look-back-to-1979
- That is every 1970s year we have written up so far: 1970 to 1979.
Books of the 1970s
- Richard Adams, Watership Down (1972).
- Roald Dahl, Danny the Champion of the World (1975) and The Enormous Crocodile (1978).
- Raymond Briggs, Father Christmas (1973) and The Snowman (1978).
- Judith Kerr, The Tiger Who Came to Tea (1968) stays everywhere; Mog books run right through the decade.
- Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1979).
- Stephen King, Carrie (1974) and The Shining (1977).
- Shirley Hughes, Dogger (1977).
- James Herriot, All Creatures Great and Small (1972).
- Susan Cooper, The Dark Is Rising (1973).
Film and television, year by year
- 1970 - Colour television licences were still new and most viewing was in black and white.
- 1971 - The Two Ronnies began on BBC One.
- 1972 - Are You Being Served? and Emmerdale Farm both began.
- 1973 - Last of the Summer Wine began; Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em followed in 1973.
- 1974 - Tiswas began on ATV; Porridge began on BBC One.
- 1975 - Fawlty Towers began in September; The Good Life also started.
- 1976 - The Muppet Show began on ITV.
- 1977 - Star Wars opened in the UK in December.
- 1978 - Grange Hill began in February.
- 1979 - Life of Brian was released and banned by several local councils.
More from the screen
- 1970 - Monty Python's Flying Circus was in its second series.
- 1971 - Diamonds Are Forever brought Sean Connery back as Bond.
- 1972 - The Godfather was the film of the year.
- 1973 - The Wicker Man and Live and Let Die were released.
- 1974 - The Morecambe and Wise Christmas show was the television event of the year.
- 1975 - Jaws was the film of the year.
- 1976 - Rocky and Taxi Driver were released.
- 1977 - Saturday Night Fever was released and disco went mainstream.
- 1978 - Grease and Superman filled cinemas.
- 1979 - Antiques Roadshow and Question Time both began.
How to use this
- Themed night: one film from the decade, the matching party playlist, and a quiz round from the trivia page.
- Reading list: pick one book from the decade someone was born in and one from the decade they turned eighteen.
- Reminiscence session: read the television lines out and let people finish the theme tunes.
- Anyone born in 1970 turns 50 in 2020, 60 in 2030 and 70 in 2040.
Found your words? Now find the card
Shop cards Look back to 1970 Look back to 1971 Look back to 1972
How to write it so it lands
- Pair one film and one playlist from the same decade for an easy themed night.
- For a card, name the book or programme they grew up with rather than the decade.
- Charity shops are still the cheapest place to find the older titles on this list.
Where to shop next
- Look back to 1970
- Look back to 1971
- Look back to 1972
- Look back to 1973
- Look back to 1974
- Look back to 1975
- Look back to 1976
- Look back to 1977
- Look back to 1978
- Look back to 1979
- 1970s history: events, politics and culture
- 1970s calendar: year by year
- 1970s timeline: key dates and events
- 1970s music: songs, genres and trends
- 1970s films and directors
- 1970s books: novels and authors
- 1970s art: artists and styles
- 1970s fashion: styles, designers and trends
- 1970s food: dishes, restaurants and trends
- 1970s travel: destinations and holidays
- 1970s technology: gadgets and computers
- 1970s shopping guide: what to buy
- 1970s games: board, card and video
- 1970s trivia: fun facts
- 1970s quiz: questions and answers
- 1970s party playlist
- The 1970s: the whole decade
- Retro gift guide: the 1970s
- The decade before: the 1960s
- The decade after: the 1980s
- All decade guides in one place
- Card messages by occasion: every guide in one place
- Card hub: cards, badges and messages by occasion
- Decade history by era
- Decade calendars: every year from 1920
- Decade timelines: key dates and events by era
- Decade music: songs, genres and trends
- Decade films: best movies and directors
- Decade books: novels, authors and reading trends
- Decade art: artists, styles and trends
- Decade fashion: styles, designers and trends
- Decade food: dishes, restaurants and eating trends
- Decade travel: destinations and holidays
- Decade technology: gadgets and computers
- Decade shopping guides
- Decade games: board, card and video games by era
- Decade trivia: fun facts by era
- Decade quizzes: questions and answers by era
- Decade trivia game: play for points
- Decade quiz: test your memory
- Shop art prints and posters
- Shop greetings cards
- Shop birthday cards
- Shop funny cards
- Milestone birthday cards
- Nostalgia gift shop
- Retro party supplies
- 70s kids' TV shows
- 70s quiz questions
- British Bulldog rules
- Kerby rules
- Sweets that disappeared
- Test card, Ceefax and three channels
- Decade guides: books, films and TV by era
- Guess the year quiz
- Care home reminiscence quiz
- Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
- How to make a balloon arch
- Photo booth prop ideas
- Birthday cards for kids
- Pin badges
- All guides
Frequently asked questions
What are the best books of the 1970s?
The list above names real titles published between 1970 and 1979, with their years - a mix of the novels that defined the decade and the children's books that have stayed in print since.
What films and TV shows were popular in the 1970s?
The year-by-year list above gives the screen highlights for each year of the decade. For the full picture of any single year, open that year's page.
Where do these come from?
The film and television lines use the same checked facts as our year pages. The book lists are our own picks - real titles with real publication years, nothing invented.
Do you sell books or films?
No. We make greeting cards, art prints and pin badges in the UK. This page is free to read and free to copy.