15 TV Guide covers from the 1970s that will take you down memory lane

This was the decade when Mary Tyler Moore reigned supreme.

There was a time when people relied on TV Guide to figure out what they were going to watch. Because so many people received it every week, the cover was coveted real estate to promote a show. We've gathered some of the most iconic covers of the 1970s to sum up the decade in which television got a little bigger and a little edgier. 

It's funny Tiger gets the top spot on the Brady's pyramid. Soon after this issue ran in April 1970, he disappeared completely from the show.

TV Guide

Tony Randall and Jack Klugman hilariously pose for the cover in February 1971.

TV Guide

This July 1971 cover boasted The Mod Squad's Michael Cole, Peggy Lipton and Clarence Williams III.

TV Guide

While The Mary Tyler Moore Show was riding high, its star was front and center on the cover to TV Guide in February 1972.

TV Guide

Just like Moore posed for her eponymous TV show, Carol Burnett did the same in July 1972.

TV Guide

Before she was one of TV's premier journalists, Walters was an anchor on the TODAY show. She appeared on this December 1972 cover, a full year before she was named the first female co-host of TODAY.

TV Guide

Twenty years after his birth captivated the entire country, Desi Arnaz, Jr. posed with him mom, Lucille Ball, for this March 1973 cover.

TV Guide

Remember child star Mason Reese? He appeared on this December 1973 cover.

TV Guide

Two years into M*A*S*H's 10-year run, TV Guide drew up this cartoon of the show's characters in February 1974. They appeared in a similar cover later that year.

TV Guide

Valerie Harper appeared on the October 12, 1974 cover of TV Guide, two weeks before her character Rhoda got married and smashed almost every television record in the 1970s. When it aired, the episode was watched by 52 million people, second only to Little Ricky's birth on I Love Lucy in 1953.

TV Guide

Here's Telly Sevalas appearing on this February 1975 cover to promote Kojak.

TV Guide

Cloris Leachman got the spotlight in October 1975 when she premiered in her own spin-off, Phyllis.

TV Guide

When The Fonz's popularity started to pick up on Happy Days, he was promoted to a main cast member and appeared alongside Richie Cunningham in this January 1976 issue.

TV Guide

To ring in 1977, John Travolta ditched his Welcome Back, Kotter costars to appear solo on this January issue.

TV Guide

The Incredible Hulk broke through to become a smash hit in 1979. Stars Lou Ferrigno and Bill Bixby appeared on this July cover.

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2 Comments

NZGrant4angels 48 months ago
Can't believe you did a 1970s decade retrospective and didn't mention Charlie's Angels or Farrah Fawcett or show any of their TV Guide covers!!
RedSamRackham 48 months ago
Mason Reese was an odd looking youngster able to laugh at himself! * As an SIU professor Bucky Fuller lived in a Geodesic (sp?) dome in Carbondale IL. * ☺
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