The Stories Behind the Most Iconic Photos of the 1970s

The 1970s were a turbulent time for many who lived through them. Political scandals, military action across the globe and a shifting media landscape created many iconic images.

Here are the stories behind some of the most memorable photos from this chapter of recent human history.

Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier (1971)

Dubbed “The Fight of the Century,” the iconic clash on March 8, 1971, between two undefeated heavyweight boxing champs, Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali, was a sensation.

Before the fight, Ali called Frazier a “dumb tool of the white establishment.” The 15-round bout that followed is remembered as one of the most significant events in sporting history.

Bruce Lee in ‘Enter the Dragon’ (1973)

The rise of Bruce Lee was more than just a reinvention of action cinema. Lee’s raw physicality was a new form of masculinity that Western audiences hasn’t seen. It dispelled centuries of Asian stereotypes and dehumanization in Western culture.

“Enter the Dragon” premiered in the U.S. on Aug. 19, 1973, a month after Lee’s death. It’s his most iconic film.

Mann’s Chinese Theater, ‘Star Wars’ Opening Night (1977)

On May 25, 1977, popular culture changed forever. Those who attended Mann’s Chinese Theatre for the opening night of “Star Wars” describe an electric buzz that filled the air.

This new sci-fi movie was like nothing audiences had ever seen before, and everyone wanted to be among the first to see it. The era of the Hollywood blockbuster had officially arrived.

Three Mile Island’s Nuclear Meltdown (1979)

On March 28, 1979, a partial failure of a nuclear reactor on Three Mile Island resulted in the largest radioactive disaster in US commercial history. Fallout from the reactor continues to impact the surrounding area to this day.

It’s worth remembering just how scary nuclear power was during its early days (and still is, for that matter), and how the danger of radiation cast a shadow over the entirety of the ’70s.