Flares, funk, and fun: How to have a 70s date night
Step into a time of disco balls, bell-bottoms, and groovy vibes with this guide on how to have a 70s date night.
The 70s is an important decade for me as it marks the decade of my (and my husband’s) birth.
It kind of blows my cookies that there’s as much time between 1924 and 1974 as there is between 1974 and 2024. The decades don’t seem to have as much definition when you’re rapidly aging through them.
My journey began in the womb of 1973, and by the decade’s end, I was rocking it at school.
Although I don’t personally remember much about those years, apart from learning to write my name by copying it on a card, and that one awful day that I inexplicably went to school without underwear on, there was much about the 70s that made a mark on the world.
We’re talking getting down to the dazzling lights of the discotheque, bell-bottom pants, and a shifting cultural landscape.
There’s no denying the 70s exuded a unique charm to all those who experienced it.
Whether you’re eager to revisit the decade’s essence or simply curious about a time defined by disco glamour and free-spirited vibes, this 70s date night for you.
Get ready to slip into those bell-bottoms, and let the aura of the 70s sweep you away.
Contents
Far our fun: Ideas for your 70s date night
Kick off your 70s-themed evening with a bang!
From fun fondue to grooving to the rhythm, these activities will whisk you and your partner to an era teeming with endless possibilities.
- Whip up a 70s-inspired fondue feast. Check out these fondue recipes for both cheesy fondue and sweet goodness
- Craft a playlist that captures the essence of the 70s: Compile a groovy playlist brimming with hits from the 70s, setting the tone for your memorable night (see my music suggestions below).
- Dance the night away: Host a dazzling disco dance-off right in your living room, complete with dazzling lights and a mirror ball. Unleash your inner John Travolta as you boogie down to iconic 70s hits. Check out this tutorial for some sweet moves:
- Unearth treasures from yesteryears: Explore thrift stores or vintage boutiques to uncover genuine 70s fashion, accessories, and memorabilia. Challenge each other to find the quirkiest or most authentic items from the era
- Dive into 70s fashion: Step into the shoes of the 70s with bell-bottoms, tie-dye shirts, and wide collars that you sourced above. Capture the spirit of the era in fun pics
- Play a game of Connect 4 – born the same year I was:
- Seek out vintage arcades featuring the classic Pong or go wild playing Pong on your device
- Embark on a retro movie marathon: Immerse yourself in the magic of the 70s with a movie lineup featuring classics like “Saturday Night Fever,” “Star Wars,” “Jaws,” and “Grease” (check out my extended list below)
- Get experimental. The iconic The Joy of S*x was published in 1972. I remember my fascination / horror when I discovered a copy in my mother’s bedside drawer. You know where I’m going with this
- Challenge your knowledge with 70s trivia: Put your knowledge of 70s pop culture to the test with a trivia night dedicated to disco, rock, and all things seventies. Discover who among you is the ultimate time-traveling trivia master (you can find some questions below)
Hilarious to horrifying: Iconic 70s movies to watch
As mentioned above, the 70s heralded some now classic films -some funny and some frightening.
I was perhaps forever scarred by a class trip to watch “Watership Down” (and somehow, despite the fact I was traumatized by THAT scene, my mom thought it would be good to buy me the illustrated book so I could look at the pictures of it some more).
Including the ones mentioned previously, here’s the top 15 films for your 70s date night that will help you get deep into the cultural milieu:
- “A Clockwork Orange” (1971)
- “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” (1971)
- “The Godfather” (1972)
- “The Exorcist” (1973)
- “Jaws” (1975)
- “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” (1975)
- “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” (1975)
- “A Star is Born” (1976)
- “Taxi Driver” (1976)
- “Rocky” (1976)
- “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” (1977)
- “Grease” (1978)
- “Apocalypse Now” (1979)
- “Alien” (1979)
- “Monty Python’s Life of Brian” (1979)
You should be dancing: 70s tunes to groove to
The 70s transported us to an era where groovy tunes resonated across the airwaves and iconic melodies set dance floors ablaze, making 70s music an essential ingredient for your retro date night.
Of course, with a decade as rich as the 70s, there’s a lot of choice.
Here’s the number 1 song in the USA on the week I was born for each year of the 70s (check out Birthday jams to see what was number one on your birthday).
1970: “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” – B.J Thomas
1971: “Knock Three Times” – Dawn
1972: “American Pie” – Don McLean
1973: “You’re so vain,” Carly Simon
1974: “Show and Tell” – Al Wilson
1975: “Please Mr. Postman” – The Carpenters
1976: “Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going To) – Diana Ross
1977: “I Wish” – Stevie Wonder
1978: “Baby come back” – Player
1979: “Le Freak” – Chic
70s pop culture trivia
While it took until the 80s to get super popular, Trivial Pursuit was in fact released in 1979.
In honor of this, I present 30 1970s trivia questions you can play on your 70s date night.
- Who crooned the classic hit “Stayin’ Alive” in 1977?
Answer: Bee Gees - What iconic space-themed movie was released in 1977, captivating audiences around the world?
Answer: Star Wars (I’ll also accept Close Encounters of the Third Kind). - Who was the voice the titular character in the TV series “Charlie’s Angels” during the 70s?
Answer: John Forsythe - Which musical group had a massive hit with the song “Bohemian Rhapsody” in 1975?
Answer: Queen - What was the name of the disco dance phenomenon starting with “h” that became popular in the mid-70s?
Answer: The Hustle - Which legendary rock band performed the hit “Hotel California” in 1976?
Answer: Eagles - What groundbreaking video game, often considered the precursor to modern video gaming, was introduced in arcades during the 70s?
Answer: Pong - Who was the famous martial artist and actor who starred in films like “Enter the Dragon” during the 70s?
Answer: Bruce Lee - Which 1978 musical movie tells the story of a good girl who falls in love with a bad boy?
Answer: Grease - What television sitcom, centered around a quirky suburban family, aired from 1974 to 1984 and was known for its catchphrase “Dy-no-mite!”?
Answer: Good Times - Who was the lead vocalist of the rock band Led Zeppelin, known for hits like “Stairway to Heaven”?
Answer: Robert Plant - What book published in 1974, later made into a famous disaster film, depicted the events following a tragic airplane crash in the Andes?
Answer: Alive - Which novel by Stephen King, published in 1974, tells the story of a telekinetic teenage girl with a troubled life?
Answer: Carrie - What disco anthem, performed by Gloria Gaynor, became an empowering symbol and dance floor sensation in the late 70s?
Answer: “I Will Survive” - Who was the renowned fashion designer who invented the wrap dress in the 1974?
Answer: Diane von Fürstenberg - What event took place in 1977 that captured the world’s attention and marked the beginning of a new era in space exploration?
Answer: Launch of Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft - What popular TV show, set in the 1950s, aired during the 70s and revolved around the Cunninghams and their friends?
Answer: Happy Days - What rock band wrote the song” Smoke on the Water,” which was about a tragic fire during a 1971 Frank Zappa concert?
Answer: Deep Purple - What iconic album by Michael Jackson, released in 1979, featured hits like “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” and “Rock with You”?
Answer: “Off the Wall” - Which 1975 film directed by Steven Spielberg became the first summer blockbuster and featured a giant mechanical shark?
Answer: Jaws - What was the name of the character played by John Travolta in the 1977 movie “Saturday Night Fever”?
Answer: Tony Manero - What famous science fiction film directed by George Lucas was released in 1977 and became a cultural phenomenon?
Answer: Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope - Who portrayed the iconic character Rocky Balboa in the film “Rocky,” released in 1976?
Answer: Sylvester Stallone - What pants style is best associated with the 1970s?
Answer: Flares / bell bottoms - What was the name of Davod Bowie’s 1970s alter ego?
Ziggy Stardust - What famous TV series, set in the 1970s, followed the lives of a quirky family led by Archie Bunker?
Answer: All in the Family - What was the name of the supersonic jet developed in the 1970s by England and France?
The Concorde - What popular children’s television show, featuring characters like Big Bird and Cookie Monster, debuted in 1969 and continued to capture hearts in the 70s?
Answer: Sesame Street - What film, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and released in 1972, depicted the rise and fall of a powerful mafia family?
Answer: The Godfather - The final album by The Beatles, featuring Hey Jude and Let it Be, was released in what year?
Answer: 1970
The 70s were a decade of boogie, self-discovery, and a whole lot of fun. So, slip into those bell-bottoms, feel the vibes, and groove your way into an unforgettable 70s date night!
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