In 1970, "Bridge Over Troubled Water" topped the charts, Love Story packed theaters, a stamp cost 6¢, the average home went for about $26,600.
🎵 Top songs of 1970
"Bridge Over Troubled Water" — Simon & Garfunkel
"I'll Be There" — The Jackson 5
"(They Long to Be) Close to You" — Carpenters
🎬 In theaters
Love Story
Patton
M*A*S*H
What things cost in 1970
$0.36
Gallon of gas
6¢
Postage stamp
$1.55
Movie ticket
$1.32
Gallon of milk
$26,600
Average home
$3,542
New car
$9,867
Household income
A $0.36 gallon of gas in 1970 has the buying power of roughly $2.95 in 2024 dollars. A 6¢ stamp is around 49¢ today, and a $1.55 movie ticket is about $12.70.
The biggest moments of 1970
Apollo 13 made its dramatic return to Earth in April.
The Beatles announced their breakup.
The first Earth Day was observed on April 22.
Four Kent State University students were shot dead by Ohio National Guardsmen on May 4 during anti-Vietnam War protests.
The Boeing 747 entered commercial service in January with Pan Am.
The Concorde supersonic jet first reached Mach 2 (twice the speed of sound) on November 4 during a test flight.
Toys, TV & trends of 1970
Monday Night Football debuted on ABC on September 21 with Cleveland vs. the New York Jets.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show premiered on CBS on September 19 and ran for seven seasons.
Garry Trudeau's Doonesbury comic strip began national syndication on October 26.
The Partridge Family debuted on ABC on September 25 — its first season song "I Think I Love You" became a #1 hit.
Lava lamps and beanbag chairs filled groovy living rooms.
"Hot pants" became the fashion craze of late 1970 — short shorts worn with tall boots.
The music scene
1970 marked the end of one era and the start of another. Simon & Garfunkel's Bridge Over Troubled Water ruled the charts for six weeks. The Beatles released Let It Be in May (their last album). Motown stayed strong with the Jackson 5, and singer-songwriters (James Taylor, Carole King) were on the rise.
At the movies
Patton won the 1970 Best Picture Oscar — George C. Scott famously refused the award. Love Story was the year's box-office champion. M*A*S*H launched a film franchise that became a hugely popular TV series. Airport spawned the entire disaster-movie genre.
Cartoons kids loved
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!
The Pink Panther Show
Looney Tunes (heavy rotation)
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! continued its Saturday-morning reign in its second season. The Pink Panther Show was peaking on NBC. Looney Tunes still owned weekday afternoons. Hong Kong Phooey and Hanna-Barbera's wave of hits were a few years away.
The world in 1970
World population: about 3.7 billion
U.S. President: Richard Nixon
Bell-bottom jeans and tie-dye defined fashion
President Richard Nixon ordered U.S. ground forces into Cambodia on April 30, expanding the Vietnam War.
The 1970 FIFA World Cup in Mexico was the first to be broadcast in color — Brazil won its third title behind Pelé.
A massive earthquake in Peru on May 31 killed an estimated 70,000 people — one of the deadliest natural disasters of the 20th century.
1970 birthday questions
How old is someone born in 1970?
Someone born in 1970 turns 56 in 2026 (55 if their birthday has not come round yet).
What was the number one song in 1970?
"Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Simon & Garfunkel was among the biggest hits of 1970.
What movie came out in 1970?
Love Story was one of the films packing theaters in 1970.
How much did gas cost in 1970?
A gallon of gas ran about $0.36 in 1970, and a postage stamp cost 6¢.
How much did a house cost in 1970?
The average home went for roughly $26,600 in 1970, against a typical household income of about $9,867.