RMT
ROCK MUSIC TIMELINERock • Pop • Soul • History
Back to 1971

1971 Context: News, Entertainment, Lifestyle

1 / 24Called the "fight of the century", Heavyweight boxing champion Joe Frazier defeats Muhammed Ali in 15 rounds at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

News

Called the "fight of the century", Heavyweight boxing champion Joe Frazier defeats Muhammed Ali in 15 rounds at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

2 / 24Apollo 15, NASA's fourth moon landing, includes a lunar rover so astronauts can cover more ground. The Soviets put the first space station Salyut 1 into orbit. Nasa also launches the unmanned Mariner 9 mission, which becomes the first spacecraft to orbit Mars.

News

Apollo 15, NASA's fourth moon landing, includes a lunar rover so astronauts can cover more ground. The Soviets put the first space station Salyut 1 into orbit. Nasa also launches the unmanned Mariner 9 mission, which becomes the first spacecraft to orbit Mars.

3 / 24Young people register to vote as the US voting age is moved from 21 to 18 with the passage of the 26th Amendment. In the UK, the voting age is also reduced to 18.

News

Young people register to vote as the US voting age is moved from 21 to 18 with the passage of the 26th Amendment. In the UK, the voting age is also reduced to 18.

4 / 24Norman Lear creates a new kind of family sitcom, combining laughs with social commentary. All In The Family debuts on CBS covering topics including racism, antisemitism and more in it's eight seasons.

Television

Norman Lear creates a new kind of family sitcom, combining laughs with social commentary. All In The Family debuts on CBS covering topics including racism, antisemitism and more in it's eight seasons.

5 / 24The second Walt Disney theme park, Disney World opens near Orlando, Florida.

News

The second Walt Disney theme park, Disney World opens near Orlando, Florida.

6 / 24Detail from 1971 advertisement for the Chevrolet Camaro SS.

Advertising

Detail from 1971 advertisement for the Chevrolet Camaro SS.

7 / 24Catalog photo showing strings of beads used as both a room divider and a window treatment. This low budget decorating fad emerged from the hippie movement.

Advertising

Catalog photo showing strings of beads used as both a room divider and a window treatment. This low budget decorating fad emerged from the hippie movement.

8 / 24Vinyl chairs in lime green and lemon yellow highlight color trends in this 1971 advertisement.

Advertising

Vinyl chairs in lime green and lemon yellow highlight color trends in this 1971 advertisement.

9 / 24Flared and striped pants, white belts are highlighted in this detail from Eaton's Summer Catalog.

Fashion

Flared and striped pants, white belts are highlighted in this detail from Eaton's Summer Catalog.

10 / 24Hot pants are the new name for the "short shorts" popular in the early 70's.

Fashion

Hot pants are the new name for the "short shorts" popular in the early 70's.

11 / 24Detail from Montgomery Ward catalog.

Fashion

Detail from Montgomery Ward catalog.

12 / 24Men's vest suits, belted with matching slacks, as shown in this 1971 catalog detail.

Fashion

Men's vest suits, belted with matching slacks, as shown in this 1971 catalog detail.

13 / 24Stanley Kubrick's film adaptation of A Clockwork Orange, the 1962 novel by Anthony Burgess about a dystopian near future, is criticized for graphic violence and nudity. Despite this, the film is nominated for four Academy Awards including Best Picture.

Movies

Stanley Kubrick's film adaptation of A Clockwork Orange, the 1962 novel by Anthony Burgess about a dystopian near future, is criticized for graphic violence and nudity. Despite this, the film is nominated for four Academy Awards including Best Picture.

14 / 24Gene Hackman stars as a New York City narcotics detective in the gritty film The French Connection. The film is directed by William Friedkin, part of the so called "New Hollywood" movement that emerged in the early 70's.

Movies

Gene Hackman stars as a New York City narcotics detective in the gritty film The French Connection. The film is directed by William Friedkin, part of the so called "New Hollywood" movement that emerged in the early 70's.

15 / 24The low budget film The Last Picture Show, starring an ensemble cast including Timothy Bottoms, Jeff Bridges, Ellen Burstyn, Ben Johnson, Cloris Leachman and Cybill Shepherd, is made for $1.3 million, but grosses $29 million. Directed by Peter Bogdanovich, the coming of age story is shot in black & white and goes on to win two Academy Awards.

Movies

The low budget film The Last Picture Show, starring an ensemble cast including Timothy Bottoms, Jeff Bridges, Ellen Burstyn, Ben Johnson, Cloris Leachman and Cybill Shepherd, is made for $1.3 million, but grosses $29 million. Directed by Peter Bogdanovich, the coming of age story is shot in black & white and goes on to win two Academy Awards.

16 / 24The noir influenced thriller Dirty Harry is released in December 1971 and is loosely based on the Zodiac Killer. With Clint Eastwood in the lead role as Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan, the film leads to four sequels.

Movies

The noir influenced thriller Dirty Harry is released in December 1971 and is loosely based on the Zodiac Killer. With Clint Eastwood in the lead role as Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan, the film leads to four sequels.

17 / 24American high school couple in a yearbook photo.

Lifestyle

American high school couple in a yearbook photo.

18 / 24A group of college girls, possibly a sorority.

Lifestyle

A group of college girls, possibly a sorority.

19 / 24Hippie girl in California.

Lifestyle

Hippie girl in California.

20 / 24American high school dance shot from a yearbook.

Lifestyle

American high school dance shot from a yearbook.

21 / 24Thousands converge on Washington DC in the 1971 May Day Protest against the Vietnam War. Police and National Guard troops make over 12,000 arrests. A Harris Poll shows over 60% of Americans oppose the war.

News

Thousands converge on Washington DC in the 1971 May Day Protest against the Vietnam War. Police and National Guard troops make over 12,000 arrests. A Harris Poll shows over 60% of Americans oppose the war.

22 / 24London's Post Office Tower is heavily damaged in a bombing by the IRA (Irish Republican Army).

News

London's Post Office Tower is heavily damaged in a bombing by the IRA (Irish Republican Army).

23 / 24Army analyst Daniel Ellsberg leaks the Department of Defense's report on the history of the Vietnam War. Published in the New York Times the papers show the White House under Lyndon Johnson systematically lied to the public and Congress about expanding the Vietnam War.

News

Army analyst Daniel Ellsberg leaks the Department of Defense's report on the history of the Vietnam War. Published in the New York Times the papers show the White House under Lyndon Johnson systematically lied to the public and Congress about expanding the Vietnam War.

24 / 24In July activist and journalist Gloria Steinem delivers her "Address To The Women Of America" in Washington DC. The speech includes the line "This is no simple reform. It really is a revolution" and addresses sexism, misogyny, racism and social class.

News

In July activist and journalist Gloria Steinem delivers her "Address To The Women Of America" in Washington DC. The speech includes the line "This is no simple reform. It really is a revolution" and addresses sexism, misogyny, racism and social class.