1979 was a different kind of everyday life. Streets were busier, louder, and more personal. Photos from this year capture real moments where people lived to tell the tale. Kids were smiling and adults were just doing whatever was fun at the moment.
In Los Angeles, the streets were wide and sun-faded, packed with cars and oversized billboards. On the Sunset Strip, traffic moved slowly past rock clubs, bright signs, and packed sidewalks. Cars, music, and attitude filled the air. In New York City, the streets felt rougher and more crowded. Yellow taxis, steam from manholes, bold fashion, and nonstop movement made the city feel alive at all hours.
These photos show how the world actually looked in 1979. Cities and towns full of people going about their lives. It was messy, loud, and real; and that’s exactly why these images still grab our attention today.
1
Market Days on the Other Side of the World
Shoppers at a Kabul market, 1979.
2
No Rush to Grow Up
"Playing pinball in a store in the Kensington section of Philadelphia, January 25, 1979."
3
Kodachrome and Coffee Break
"Kodachrome shot of people at a restaurant noticing the waitress’s uniform, September 1979."
4
Laughing Loud, Living Louder
"Girls just wanna have fun, 1979."
5
The Heart of the City
"Street scene of Midtown Manhattan, looking north toward Times Square, New York City, 1979."
6
Childhood Saved
"Posing on the swing set slide, 1979."
7
Chrome, Headlights
Traffic on the Sunset Strip, Los Angeles, 1979.
8
Neon Dreams
Shinjuku District, Tokyo, 1979.
9
When the Theater Screamed as One
Audience reaction to the chestburster scene in Alien, 1979.
10
Before Organic, Before Self-Checkout
An A&P supermarket, circa 1979.
11
Sunshine, Smog, and Big Dreams
Los Angeles, 1979.
12
Rebel Smile
"My mum in 1979. She was part of the “Teddy Boy” trend and danced rock and roll."
13
Midnight in a Northern City
Nighttime in Stavanger, Norway, 1979.
14
First Taste of Adult Life
"My mom working her first job at Dunkin’ Donuts, 1979."
15
Summer Forever
"Summer 1979. Me and the old man sitting down for lunch."
16
The Taste of Childhood
"My cousin eating McDonald’s, 1979."
17
Tokyo Days
"My mom in Tokyo, October 1979."
18
Futures Wide Open
"High school graduation day, 1979."
19
The City That Never Slept
New York City, 1979.
20
Last Call, Loud Laughter, Zero Regrets
"My parents and some of their friends enjoying a wild night out at a bar, November 1979."
