They say it was the decade that fashion forgot, but for some the 1970s would have been peak era Glasgow.
It was the era disco clashed with punk, and the wallpaper in people's homes clashed with everything else. Britain's music and culture seemed to be an escape - or a reaction - to hard-times, which saw endless strikes and the 'winter of discontent' in 1979.
It was also the decade which witnessed the release of some of the biggest movies of all time, including Star Wars (1977), Grease (1978 ), and Jaws (1975). And then there were the fashions, with long hair for men and flared trousers becoming the standard - while massive collars, hot pants and platform shoes also had their moment in the sun.
Here in Glasgow, there was great change in the city. The historic St Enoch Station and Hotel was demolished, the shipyards were winding down, Buchanan Street and Argyle Street we partially pedestrianised, and smokers could still happily puff away - not just in bars - but on public transport. Utter madness.
Everything from the way shopped, dressed and what we did for entertainment in the '70s was different. Sadly, some of the city's most fondly remembered places and attractions we enjoyed back then are now just a distant memory.
To celebrate Glasgow in the 1970s, we've put together a list of 20-things you could do back then but can't do now. Of course, this isn't meant to be a complete list, but if you feel there is something we missed that needs to be included, let us know in the comments.
1. Shop till you dropped at Krazy House
In the 1970s - or any decade for that matter - there was no store in Glasgow quite like the Krazy House. Occupying the Merchant building at the Trongate, Krazy House was a favourite for a whole generation of local clothes shoppers.
Inside there were all kinds of mad exhibits like dancing babies in cages, laughing clowns, and a track with cars running round it. The shop even featured scantily-clad go-go dancers for a spell.
2. Meet your pals at Dino Ferrari
In the 1970s, Italian eatery Dino Ferrari opened their huge new restaurant within the ground level of Empire House at Sauchiehall Street. Serving up the best Italian grub and situated slap bang in the city centre, Dino's soon became a rites of passage for a whole generation of Glaswegians and a great place to hang out and meet pals.
3. Enjoy a smorgasbord of delights at the Danish Food Centre
Famous for its smoked mackarel and its 'Smorgasbord' buffet, the much-loved Danish Food Centre, based on St Vincent Street, also had a take-away and home catering service. Opening in 1969, it introduced Glaswegians to a wide range of the best Danish grub.
4. Travel on one of Glasgow's 'tricolour' Corpy buses
Many will recall that Glasgow's old double-deckers of the 1970s were brightly painted in Verona Green and Sunglow Yellow, with a flash of white in the middle. The Glasgow Corporation classic 'tricolour' look was replaced by an all-orange paintjob in the early 1980s when they newly-created Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive (SPTE) took control of the buses.
Strathclyde's orange buses endured until 1997, when the handling of the city's bus services was taken over by First Group. Buses since then have primarily been painted in the company colours: FirstGroup Blue and Rubine Red.
5. Browse the latest LPs at Listen Records
If spending hours perusing records was your kind of thing, it’s more than likely you visited Listen Records at Renfield Street. The record store had rows and rows of vinyls covering all genres and was particularly popular in the 1970s.
6. Gamble the night away at the Chevalier
In the 1970s the top end of Buchanan Street was home to Reo Stakis's Chevalier Casino, which operated from the old NAAFI building. The swanky establishment's roulette tables were forever packed with hopeful locals on the weekends.
7. Visit the carnival at Kelvin Hall
For those of a certain age, the Kelvin Hall still evokes fun-filled memories of the days when the Christmas carnival used to be held there. Children loved the vibrant mix of bright lights, sweet smells and, of course, the array of amazing fairground rides.
8. Catch a punk gig at the Mars Bar
Lying just off St Enoch Square on Howard Street, The Mars Bar was the place of pilgrimage for the city’s young punks in the late 1970s.
A place with a strong connection to the history of Simple Minds - who were the Sunday house band, it apparently changed its name to ‘The Countdown’ after threats from the chocolate bar makers.
9. Pop in for a pint at the Rubaiyat
Glasgow has lost many great pubs down the years, but few as fondly recalled as the Rubaiyat on Byres Road. Opened in the early 1950s as a fashionable cocktail bar on the site of Drummond's Tea Room, the West End watering hole was seldom quiet during its 1970s and 1980s heyday.
10. Buy a Texan chocolate bar
A striking American-inspired chocolate was the Texan Bar, with the US colours emblazoned within each letter on the packaging. Once you opened the wrapper, you were met with a nougat and toffee bar covered with chocolate.
It was manufactured during the ‘70s and ‘80s before being withdrawn from sale. It was withdrawn in 1984 but made a brief return as a limited edition in 2005.
11. Drinking Scotsmac at a Hogmanay Party
No New Year's first footing in the 1970s was complete without a bottle of Scotsmac under your arm. The vile-tasting tonic, which was a mixture of wine and whisky, was probably about as good for your insides as drinking paint thinner, but it was cheap and got you sozzled quickly.
The infamous beverage continued being sold until 2018 when it was discontinued due to lack of demand. We can't think why...
12. Boogied the night away at Clouds with DJ Tiger Tim
Just round the corner from the Apollo was Clouds disco on Renfrew Street. Arguably Glasgow's most popular nightclub of the era, punters boogied their socks off to all the latest tunes spun by resident DJ, the legendary Tiger Tim.
13. Filling bags with sweets at Woolworths' pick 'n' mix
Many people will automatically imagine pick 'n' mix whenever Woolworths is mentioned, with the adored high street chain being famous for having rows of sweets that people filled their paper bags with.
14. Go clothes shopping at Chelsea Girl
The mere mention of ladies' clothing store Chelsea Girl is sure to spark pangs of nostalgia among Glasgow ladies of a certain age. In the 1970s and '80s, the much-loved fashion chain, which had a shop on Argyle Street, was very much the place to be and to be seen on a Saturday.
15. Play to your heart's content in a tenement back court
Glasgow's tenements back 'greens' were filled with the din of children at play in the 1970s - and the more derelict the back court the better as far as the kids were concerned.
16. Tuck into a Wimpy burger
It's been many years since a Wimpy fast food restaurant last graced a high street Glasgow, but back in its 1970s heyday, you could find outlets all over the city.
For years, Wimpy was the go-to burger joint in the UK, long before the big chains such as McDonald's, Five Guys and Burger King began to dominate our high streets.
17. Attend a match at Hampden in a 100,000+ crowd
In the early 1970s, Scotland's national football stadium Hampden Park was a 100,000-capacity ground that held - and indeed still holds - an impressively long list of UK, European and world attendance records.
The 100k crowds came to an end, however, following the 1971 Ibrox Disaster, which forced the authorities to rethink safety in all Scottish grounds and Hampden was reduced to a 85,000 capacity by the middle of the decade.
The 1973 Scottish Cup Final at Hampden between Rangers and Celtic (attendance 122,714) was the last time a crowd of over 100,000 would assemble for a football match in the United Kingdom.
18. Bring a cairry-oot into Hampden
Back in the '70s, it was still common for fans to bring in cans of lager and bottles of spirits into Hampden Park and other stadia - but this wouldn't last much longer.
An alcohol ban infamously came into force following the shameful scenes that marred the end of the 1980 Scottish Cup Final between Celtic and Rangers. Mounted police were required as rioting fans from both sides spilled on to the pitch and battled one another.
Today, Hampden Park continues to observe a strict no-alcohol policy.
19. Attend a gig at the Apollo
Formerly Green's Playhouse, Glasgow's Apollo Theatre was regarded as THE venue in the 1970s and played host to some of the biggest names in rock and pop.
Famous for its ridiculously high stage and bouncy balcony, the Renfield Street venue was adored by fans and artists alike.
20. Watch the latest movies at the Odeon
In 1970, the Odeon on Renfield Street reopened as a triple-screen cinema and there really was nowhere better to watch all the latest films coming out of Hollywood.
We can't believe it's been nearly 20 years since we last watched a film at the old Odeon.
Do you have memories of things you could once do in Glasgow you can't anymore? Let us know in the comments section below.
