Dating in the 1970s was a world away from today’s swipe-right culture. Without smartphones, social media, or even answering machines, romance had its own set of unwritten rules that would baffle today’s young singles. Here’s a look back at some dating customs from the disco era that would make Generation Z wonder how anyone ever found love.
Table of Contents
- 1 1. Calling the House Phone and Talking to Parents First
- 2 2. Having to Make Actual Plans in Advance
- 3 3. Meeting at School or Through Friends Only
- 4 4. The Drive-By to See If They Were Home
- 5 5. Waiting for Them to Call When They Said They Would
- 6 6. Getting Picked Up at the Door
- 7 7. Meeting the Parents on the First Date
- 8 8. Having a Curfew That Actually Mattered
- 9 9. Writing Actual Love Letters
- 10 10. Going Steady with One Person
- 11 11. Double Dating as a Rule
- 12 12. Asking Permission to “Go Parking”
- 13 13. Formal Dating Attire
- 14 14. Saving Money for Date Night
1. Calling the House Phone and Talking to Parents First
Every call meant potentially navigating a conversation with your date’s parents first. There was no direct line to your crush – you had to charm Mom or Dad before you could even ask if their son or daughter was home. This phone etiquette was essentially your first interview with your date’s family.
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2. Having to Make Actual Plans in Advance
No last-minute texts or instant updates. Plans were set days in advance and you stuck to them. If someone was running late, you waited at the agreed spot, hoping they’d show up. Standing under the movie theater marquee for 30 minutes was just part of dating life.
3. Meeting at School or Through Friends Only
Dating apps? Please. Your social circle was your dating pool. Most couples met at school, church functions, or through mutual friends. The idea of meeting a stranger from the internet would have seemed like science fiction – and dangerous science fiction at that.
4. The Drive-By to See If They Were Home
Before social media status updates, you’d actually drive past someone’s house to see if their car was in the driveway or if their bedroom light was on. This subtle reconnaissance mission was a regular part of teenage life, requiring stealth driving skills and a good knowledge of local back roads.
5. Waiting for Them to Call When They Said They Would
No instant messaging or “read” receipts. If someone said they’d call at 7:00, you sat by that phone from 6:45 to 7:30, hoping no one else in the family would tie up the line. The anticipation of a promised phone call could make minutes feel like hours.
6. Getting Picked Up at the Door
No texting “here” from the driveway. You had to walk up to the door, face the parents, and often endure the ritual of pre-date photos. This meant looking presentable not just for your date, but for the whole family inspection committee.
7. Meeting the Parents on the First Date
First dates often included an impromptu interview with the parents. They wanted to know your family, your plans for the future, and sometimes even your grades. It was like a job interview, except the job was taking their precious child to the movies.
8. Having a Curfew That Actually Mattered
Without cell phones to call ahead, curfew was a strict deadline. Being late meant possibly losing dating privileges altogether. You learned to calculate travel time with military precision, factoring in every possible delay.
9. Writing Actual Love Letters
No emoji-filled texts or DMs – communication meant handwritten letters that took days to arrive. These carefully crafted messages, often passed in school hallways, were physical tokens of affection that could be saved and re-read. The art of expressing feelings in complete sentences was essential.
10. Going Steady with One Person
“Going steady” was a serious commitment that everyone knew about. Wearing someone’s class ring or letter jacket was a public declaration of relationship status long before Facebook made it a clickable option. There was no such thing as “keeping your options open.”
11. Double Dating as a Rule
First dates were often double dates with a more experienced couple. This built-in chaperone system provided both security and social proof. Plus, it made awkward silences less noticeable when you had friends to keep the conversation flowing.
12. Asking Permission to “Go Parking”
The innocent phrase “going parking” required parental permission and usually came with strict time limits. Drive-in movies and lookout points were popular destinations, though parents weren’t naive about what these spots meant for young couples.
13. Formal Dating Attire
Dates meant dressing up – no casual athleisure wear or ripped jeans. Boys wore collared shirts and nice slacks, girls wore dresses or skirts. Even a casual movie date required effort in appearance, showing respect for both your date and the occasion.
14. Saving Money for Date Night
No Venmo or splitting the bill – dates required actual cash, usually earned from after-school jobs. Boys were expected to pay for everything, which meant carefully budgeting for dinner, movies, and maybe some extra for emergencies. Dating taught financial planning whether you liked it or not.
