How the 1970s Were Weird for Me and Many Other Kids

The 1970s were weird in many ways. Growing up the 1970s was weirder. Everyone has different memories of growing up in the 1970s. Some chose to forget things like the Star Wars Holiday Special, while others cherish those crazy times.

The Star Wars Holiday Special. (Source: Wikipedia; from TV Guide Magazine (November 11–17, 1978 issue), Fair use.)

1) Latchkey Kids

I was probably as young as eight when I started going home before my parents. I would take the school bus home and then walk from the corner to our house. One of my brothers would let me into the house. Then, they would either tease me (sigh) or leave me alone while I watched TV (whether Captain Chesapeake or game shows) or read or went in the backyard.

Captain Chesapeake and Mondy the Sea Monster. (Source: The Magic of Baltimore.)

At first, I didn’t even have my own key. Until that one time my brother was sleeping, so he didn’t hear me ringing the doorbell, and I really had to pee. (I know, I know, too much information!) Luckily, my neighbor saw me and got me cleaned up. My brother got yelled at, and I got my own house key.

2) TV Was Different

You’ve probably heard people joking about how they had three channels growing up. That was close to the truth. We had the three main network channels — ABC, NBC, and CBS. They were…