Here's what the world was like 40 years ago

You think this year is crazy? Let's not forget about 1976.

If you think this year is a crazy one, then you must not remember 1976! The Olympics, the bicentennial, the election, John Travolta — the year was jam packed with important events, bombshell stories, and entertaining TV shows and specials. 

With two months left this year, let's take a minute to pause and look back at the magazine covers to see what life was like 40 years ago, in November '76. 

People 

People

People went the way of Tiger Beat in November 1976 and put John "Vinnie Barbarino" Travolta on the cover. The publication even took the bold step as to say the Fonz was overrated! Side note: Only in the 1970s could a magazine have a headline proclaiming, "Cocaine: the perils & glamor." 

People

Jimmy Carter beat Gerald Ford in November 1976 to become the 39th president of the United States. That also meant a new first lady took the reigns. Although Betty Ford is better remembered today, particularly for bringing attention to major social issues like breast cancer and alcoholism, Rosalynn Carter was also politically involved. She served as her husband's advisor and advocated for mental health research. 


Time 

TIME

We're one week away from one of our nation's most historic presidential elections, but 1976 was a historic one, as well. Gerald Ford's narrow defeat meant that he was the only president who was never elected by the people, as he took the position after Nixon's resignation. 

With the election over, magazines decided to focus on more lighthearted stories. The year's biggest hit on television was Charlie's Angels, so the cast made the leap from TV Guide all the way to the cover of Time.  

TV Guide 

TV Guide

Hey, remember when Netflix, On-Demand, DVDs and even VCRs weren't a thing? You had to wait to watch the biggest movies when they ran on television, like Gone with the Wind did in November 1976. 

TV Guide

Dorothy Hamill won the gold medal at the Winter Olympics, subsequently retired and then became a hair icon in 1976. So it's only fitting she got a one-off variety special in November of that year. It was the 1970s; everyone was doing it. 


Rolling Stone 

Rolling Stone

Even though Janis Joplin died in 1970, her popularity endured, landing her a spot on the cover of Rolling Stone six years after her death. 


Tiger Beat 

Tiger Beat

No wonder so many teen idols had issues adjusting to the spotlight. They appeared under headlines like, "Today's Stars: Will They Be Forgotten Tomorrow?" Take a look at the six celebrities featured on the cover. How many do you remember?

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