Back in Time Today
The 1970s was a golden era for lunchboxes, when kids proudly carried their sandwiches and snacks in metal containers adorned with their favorite TV shows, bands, and movie characters. These portable meal carriers weren’t just practical—they were status symbols in school cafeterias across America. Let’s take a nostalgic trip back to the grooviest decade and celebrate the most iconic lunchboxes that defined childhood in the ’70s.
1. Star Wars: A Galaxy in Your Hands
Released in 1977 after the movie took the world by storm, this galactic treasure featured Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Darth Vader on a striking blue background. Kids fought like Jedi knights to get their hands on this coveted item.
The matching thermos showcased additional characters including C-3PO and R2-D2. For many children, carrying this lunchbox wasn’t just about lunch—it was about bringing a piece of that far, far away galaxy right into the school cafeteria.
2. The Partridge Family: Musical Mealtime
Nothing said “cool” in the early ’70s like carrying your lunch in this psychedelic tribute to TV’s favorite musical family. The vibrant artwork featured David Cassidy front and center, making hearts flutter across school cafeterias nationwide.
Produced in 1971 by King-Seeley Thermos, this lunchbox captured the rainbow aesthetic of the era perfectly. The matching thermos often disappeared as collectors’ items. Many girls would position their box on the lunch table so Cassidy’s face was visible, sparking impromptu singalongs of “I Think I Love You.”
3. Charlie’s Angels: Lunchtime Detectives
Farrah Fawcett’s iconic feathered hair dominated this baby-blue box that celebrated girl power before the term was invented. Released in 1977, when the show was at its popularity peak, this lunchbox let kids bring Hollywood glamour to the cafeteria.
All three Angels appeared in action poses, solving mysteries between math and social studies. The matching thermos featured additional crime-fighting scenes. For many young girls, this wasn’t just a lunchbox—it was a statement that women could be both beautiful and tough, solving crimes while looking fabulous.
4. The Fonz: Lunch with Cool
“Ayyy!” Henry Winkler’s leather-jacketed character from Happy Days made lunchtime exponentially cooler. This box featured the Fonz giving his trademark thumbs-up against a backdrop of Arnold’s Drive-In, the gang’s favorite hangout spot.
Manufactured around 1976, when Fonzie fever was at its height, this lunchbox turned ordinary kids into cafeteria celebrities. The thermos typically showcased other characters from the show. Children would often imitate Fonzie’s signature move, giving a thumbs-up before taking that first bite of lunch.
5. The Six Million Dollar Man: Bionic Lunch Power
Lee Majors’ iconic character sprinted across this red, white, and blue lunchbox that practically screamed America. The artwork showcased Steve Austin performing impossible feats with his bionic implants, making every kid feel superhuman while munching on PB&J.
Manufactured by Aladdin Industries in 1974, this box became an instant hit. The thermos often featured additional action scenes. Many boys would make that famous slow-motion sound while opening their lunch, pretending their sandwich-grabbing arm had bionic strength.
6. The Dukes of Hazzard: Good Ol’ Lunch Box
Bo and Luke Duke slid across the hood of the General Lee on this orange masterpiece that screamed Southern rebellion. Released in 1979 toward the end of the decade, this box became an instant must-have for fans of the CBS hit show.
The artwork captured high-speed chases and Daisy Duke, making it particularly popular with boys. The matching thermos often featured Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane in hot pursuit. Kids would make car engine sounds while opening their lunchboxes, pretending their chocolate milk was moonshine that needed to be delivered past imaginary county lines.
7. The Incredible Hulk: Smashing Lunch
“Don’t make me hungry—you wouldn’t like me when I’m hungry!” This green monster of a lunchbox featured Lou Ferrigno’s painted muscular form mid-transformation. Released in 1978 following the TV show’s success, it became an instant hit with kids who dreamed of superhuman strength.
The artwork showed both Bill Bixby as David Banner and his alter-ego, the Hulk. The matching thermos typically showcased more action scenes. Many children would pretend to transform into the Hulk when opening their lunchbox, flexing small muscles and making growling noises to amuse their friends.
8. KISS: Rock and Roll Lunch All Nite
Possibly the most rebellious lunchbox of the decade, this black beauty featured the face-painted rock gods in all their tongue-wagging glory. Parents were horrified while kids were thrilled to carry lunch in something so deliciously forbidden.
Released in 1977 at the height of KISS-mania, this lunchbox displayed Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss in full makeup and costume. The matching thermos was equally outrageous. Children would often use their lunchboxes as pretend guitars during impromptu cafeteria concerts, much to the annoyance of lunch monitors everywhere.
9. The Muppet Show: Lunch with Kermit
It’s time to play the music, it’s time to light the lights, it’s time to open lunches on the Muppet Show tonight! This colorful creation featured Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, and the whole gang against a red curtain backdrop.
Released in 1978, this lunchbox captured Jim Henson’s beloved characters in their variety show element. The matching thermos usually featured Animal or other popular Muppets. Kids would often perform puppet shows with their sandwiches, giving them Muppet voices before devouring them—Miss Piggy sandwiches were always eaten last, out of respect.
10. Wonder Woman: Lunch of Truth
Lynda Carter’s iconic superhero spin made this patriotic lunchbox a symbol of female empowerment in cafeterias nationwide. Released in 1976 to coincide with the TV show, this red, white, and blue beauty featured Wonder Woman deflecting bullets with her magical bracelets.
The artwork captured the Amazon princess in various action poses. The matching thermos typically showed additional scenes from the show. Girls would strike Wonder Woman poses at lunch tables, crossing their wrists to deflect imaginary bullets before taking a bite of their apple or opening their pudding cup.
11. Scooby-Doo: Mystery Meals
Zoinks! This groovy lunchbox featured the Mystery Machine gang solving crimes between classes. The artwork showed Scooby and Shaggy typically running from a ghost, while Fred, Daphne, and Velma planned their next move.
Produced by Aladdin Industries around 1973, this box captured the Saturday morning cartoon perfectly. The matching thermos usually featured more spooky scenes. Children would often share their snacks “Scooby style,” stacking everything into impossible sandwich towers, or pretending their cookies were Scooby Snacks that gave them courage to face afternoon classes.
12. Evel Knievel: Daredevil Dining
America’s motorcycle-jumping hero soared across this red, white, and blue lunchbox that celebrated audacity and courage. Released during Knievel’s peak popularity around 1974, it showed the stuntman mid-jump over buses, canyons, and other death-defying obstacles.
The artwork captured the star in his signature white jumpsuit with stars and stripes. The matching thermos featured additional stunts. Boys would often launch their lunchboxes across tables, mimicking Knievel’s famous jumps, much to the dismay of teachers who had to clean up the resulting spills.
13. Emergency!: First Aid for Hunger
This action-packed lunchbox featured paramedics Roy DeSoto and Johnny Gage racing to save lives between social studies and science class. Based on the popular NBC drama, this box showed the heroes in their fire department rescue squad vehicle.
Manufactured around 1973 when the show was at its peak, the box featured dramatic rescue scenes. The matching thermos showed additional emergency scenarios. Many kids would make siren noises while carrying their lunchboxes down school hallways, pretending to rush their peanut butter sandwiches to safety before the lunch bell rang.
14. The Brady Bunch: Family-Style Lunch
Here’s the story… of a lovely lunchbox! This family-friendly container featured TV’s favorite blended family in their iconic blue-background grid formation. Produced in the early 1970s, this lunchbox was a status symbol for kids who wanted to bring a piece of suburban perfection to school.
The artwork showed all six Brady kids plus Mike, Carol, and Alice. The matching thermos typically featured additional Brady scenes. Children would often arrange their lunch items in a 3×3 grid, mimicking the show’s opening credits, before deciding which food item to eat first.
15. Welcome Back, Kotter: Sweathog Snacks
Up your nose with a rubber hose! This lunchbox featured Gabe Kaplan and his remedial class of lovable troublemakers, including a young John Travolta as Vinnie Barbarino. Released around 1976 when the show was a hit, it brought Brooklyn cool to suburban cafeterias.
The artwork captured the Sweathogs in their classroom, often making mischief. The matching thermos featured additional scenes or catchphrases from the show. Kids would often greet each other with Freddie’s famous “Hello, how are you?” in that distinctive accent before trading lunch items across the table.
16. Planet of the Apes: Simian Snack Time
This haunting lunchbox featured Cornelius, Dr. Zaius, and other advanced apes from the sci-fi franchise that dominated early ’70s pop culture. Based on the movies and short-lived TV series, it showed apes on horseback patrolling a post-apocalyptic landscape.
Produced around 1974, this lunchbox was darker than most children’s merchandise of the era. The matching thermos featured additional scenes from the ape-ruled future. Kids would often mimic the famous ape speech patterns and movements during lunch, pounding tables and declaring “Human see, human do” before taking a bite.
17. The Bionic Woman: Power Lunch
Jaime Sommers leapt into action on this empowering lunchbox that showed girls could be just as tough as boys. Released in 1976 after the show spun off from The Six Million Dollar Man, it featured Lindsay Wagner using her bionic powers to fight crime and save the day.
The artwork captured her in mid-jump or using her enhanced hearing. The matching thermos showed additional action scenes. Girls would pretend to use bionic hearing to eavesdrop on other lunch tables, or demonstrate “bionic” strength by opening stubborn milk cartons with exaggerated slow-motion movements.