1. Keep on Truckin'

 

Trucking was all the rage, from 18-wheeler TV shows like B.J. and the Bear to the CB radio craze. Robert Crumb's iconic Keep on Truckin' cartoon originally had nothing to do with hauling freight on highways — it was more about struttin' your hippie stuff — but it was appropriated into the fad nonetheless. 

Image: blackmarketpop / Etsy

2. Smiley Face

 

It's weird to think that something so common as the smiley face had an inventor, and not that long ago. Harvey Ball, of Worcester, Massachusetts, came up with the yellow grin that wished everyone, "Have a nice day." The T-shirt sold like gangbusters, and had nothing to do with Forrest Gump wiping mud off his face. We hope Ball gets a little bit of that emoji money.

Image: AP Photo/Paul Connors

3. I'm a Pepper

 

Wouldn't you like to be a Pepper, too? Who didn't have that Dr. Pepper jingle stuck in their head for years? The TV commercials helped launch the career of actor David Naughton, and soon everyone was promoting the cola.

4. New York City souvenir shirt

 

In 1974, photographer Bob Gruen snapped John Lennon on the roof of his East 52nd Street penthouse. The black & white image became the iconic image of the ex-Beatle. Gruen had purchased the NYC shirt for $5 on the street before the shoot. 

5. The Spirit of '76

 

Bicentennial fever sent a wave of patriotism around the country 40 years ago. 

SEE ALSO: 17 VINTAGE ADS THAT PROVE EVERYTHING WAS PATRIOTIC IN THE SUMMER OF '76

Image: Campstamp / Etsy

6. The Fonz

 

Aaaayyyyy! If you wanted to look like the coolest cat on television, this was far cheaper than a leather jacket.

Image: darwinscans

7. The Rolling Stones "Hot Lips"

 

Mick Jagger hit up the Royal College of Art in London for a young designer to design a band logo. John Pasche, 24 at the time, created the now iconic "Hot Lips" image, which made its debut in 1971. If you were a rock 'n' roller, odds are you picked up one of these at a concert in a stadium near you.

Image: eBay

8. Rolling Stone

 

Let's not forget that other Rolling Stone, the magazine. The vintage ad and order form shows off some of the cover images you could purchase, including Bob Dylan and Greg Allman. One of those men just won a Nobel Prize! Hint: It's not Greg Allman. 

Image: jbcurio / Flickr

9. Pinball Wizard

 

While we're on the topic of arena rock, we should mention that the Who inspired several designs of "Pinball Wizard" shirts. If you wore one of these in an arcade, you had better been able to play.

Image: Vintage USA

10. Disco Sucks

 

Disclaimer: We do not agree with this sentiment! We love disco. However, the T-shirt crowd was more into guitars. This vintage design by Roach Studios recently popped up in the new movie The Accountant. Roach was a major player in 1970s tees, as we shall see…

Image: Roach Studios

11. I'm with Stupid

 

Another Roach Studios creation, from 1975, this classic gag made sure all your friends stood on your left.

Image: Roach Designs

12. Roach Studios iron-ons

 

Of course, you could make your own Roach shirts at home, thanks to the company's nifty iron-ons. The order forms were in just about every comic book of the era, like this one. You'll see the "I'm with Stupid" in the middle here, along with "Keep on Truckin'."

Image: Random Acts of Geekery

13. Animal House

 

Movie merchandising took off at the end of the decade, after Jaws and Star Wars ushered in the era of the blockbuster. Also surprisingly popular: Animal House, the frat-house comedy that burst on the scene like a zit. (That's a reference. We're not just being gross.)

Image: Tim Cameresi / Pinterest

FIND DOZENS OF VINTAGE TEES IN THE METV STORE!

 

Make every day a "throwback" with T-shirts featuring your favorite classic TV shows, candies, bands, cars and more. SHOP NOW