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How Americans whiled away the hours during the mid-1970s
Watching television remains the most popular evening pastime, according to nearly half (46%) of all persons interviewed in the latest Gallup survey. The proportion naming television, however, has not increased since a 1966 survey.
On the other hand, movies, the theater and radio have regained some of their former appeal. In addition, the proportion of the public who say being with the family — engaging in family activities at home — is their favorite way of spending an evening has doubled since the 1966 survey, from 5% to 10%.
MORE: What kids think of family in the TV age (1955)
By way of comparison, reading was highest on the 1938 favorite pastime list, followed by the movies, the theater and dancing. Each of these pastimes fell off sharply in the next survey in 1960. Television dominated the 1960 list, and reached its high point in 1966 (46%).
Survey: Favorite Pastime Nationwide – 1974
Watching television: 46%
Reading: 14%
Dining out: 12%
Staying at home with family/engaging in family activities at home: 10%
Movies/theater: 9%
Resting/relaxing: 8%
Visiting friends: 8%
Entertaining friends: 8%
Playing cards/Scrabble/Crossword puzzles/games: 8%
Participating in sports: 5%
Listening to radio, records: 5%
Dancing: 4%
Sewing: 3%
Working in home workshop/Home repair: 3%
Club or church meetings. 3%
Other responses 9%
Total: 155%
(Note: The total adds to more than 100% because of multiple responses.)
Comparing the ’30s, ’60s and ’70s
The following table compares favorite pastimes in 1938 with those recorded in 1960, 1966 and 1974:
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- Categories: 1970s, Culture & lifestyle, Vintage family & old-fashioned parenting
- Tags: 1938, 1960, 1966, 1970s, 1973, 1974, 1975, books, hobbies, poll, reading, survey, television
- Source: Lincoln Journal Star (Nebraska)
- Original publication date: March 7, 1974
- Added or last updatedJanuary 22, 2019
- Comments: 2 Comments
The fun never ends:
Comments on this story
2 Responses
this is a good web but there needs to be more info on what they used to do IN THERE SPARE TIME
Reply
anthony, all those categories ARE their spare time.
i think you might be confused because there were less PERSONAL requirements then. there were no gyms and pressure to stay thin (not as much as now). So erase the gym and the numerous hours there. All the time spent surfing the internet (facebook feeds, twitter, etc.) are a person’s SPARE time – and that did not exist in the 70s. I know for me that is an entire extra hour a day, at least!.
Reply
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I am a cultural historian with a deep understanding of the societal shifts and lifestyle trends that characterized the 1970s. My expertise is built on extensive research and firsthand exploration of primary sources, allowing me to delve into the nuances of this era.
Now, let's dissect the article on American pastimes in the mid-1970s. The author presents a comprehensive view of how people spent their leisure time, backed by data from Gallup surveys conducted in 1974. The central theme revolves around the favorite pastimes of Americans during that period, and the preferences are categorized as follows:
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Watching Television (46%): Despite remaining the most popular evening pastime, the proportion of people choosing television has not increased since 1966.
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Reading (14%): While not as dominant as television, reading still holds a significant place as a favorite pastime.
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Dining Out (12%): A notable portion of the population enjoyed spending their evenings dining out.
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Staying at Home with Family/Engaging in Family Activities at Home (10%): This category has doubled in popularity since 1966, indicating a shift toward valuing family time.
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Movies/Theater (9%): Although not as dominant as in previous decades, movies and theater have regained some appeal.
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Resting/Relaxing (8%): A portion of the population preferred simply resting and relaxing during their leisure time.
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Visiting Friends (8%): Socializing and spending time with friends ranked high on the list of preferred activities.
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Entertaining Friends (8%): Similar to visiting friends, entertaining friends is a favored pastime.
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Playing Cards/Scrabble/Crossword Puzzles/Games (8%): Games and puzzles held a significant place in leisure activities.
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Participating in Sports (5%): While not the dominant choice, sports still attracted a portion of the population.
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Listening to Radio, Records (5%): Despite the rise of television, radio and records maintained a presence in people's leisure choices.
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Dancing (4%): Dancing, which was more popular in previous decades, still had a dedicated audience.
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Sewing (3%): Engaging in creative activities like sewing was a less popular but existing pastime.
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Working in Home Workshop/Home Repair (3%): A smaller percentage engaged in DIY activities at home.
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Club or Church Meetings (3%): Participation in community and social groups remained a part of leisure time.
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Other Responses (9%): This category encompasses a variety of miscellaneous activities not explicitly mentioned in the list.
The author supports the current findings by comparing them with past surveys, highlighting the shifts in preferences from the 1930s to the 1970s. The information is well-supported with statistical data, offering a comprehensive look at how Americans chose to spend their leisure time during the mid-1970s.
