12 Outrageous Reader Letters from the 1960s and 70s Magazines
The 1960s and ’70s were a time of cultural upheaval, filled with bold fashion choices, groundbreaking music, and societal shifts that left some people utterly bewildered. As young people embraced change, many others clung to the familiar, resulting in some of the most bizarre reader letters ever.
These letters capture a moment in time when the world seemed to be spinning out of control for some, and their reactions were nothing short of dramatic, humorous, and occasionally downright ridiculous.
1. Bell-Bottoms Will Be the End of Civilization
A furious reader of a 1972 fashion magazine wrote in to declare that bell-bottoms were proof of moral decay. According to them, wide-legged pants were a sign of laziness, rebellion, and possibly the devil’s work.
They were convinced that, if society didn’t return to “proper” trousers immediately, we’d be living in a lawless wasteland by 1980. Spoiler: That did not happen.
2. Ban the Beatles Before It’s Too Late!
A deeply concerned parent wrote to a 1964 issue of a teen magazine, demanding that the Beatles be removed from all media. Their reasoning? The band’s “wild hair” and “noisy racket” were corrupting the youth and leading them down a path of certain ruin.
Imagine their reaction when they saw punk rock a decade later.
3. My Neighbor’s Microwave Will Destroy the Neighborhood
In the late ’60s, microwaves were a terrifying new technology, and one letter writer was convinced their neighbor’s appliance was emitting dangerous radiation. They insisted that microwave ovens could cause brain damage, sterilize men, and potentially summon alien forces.
Science, thankfully, proved them wrong—but not before a wave of mass hysteria over kitchen appliances.
4. Why Won’t Men Wear Hats Anymore?
A distraught reader of a 1969 men’s magazine lamented that hat culture had all but vanished. They accused younger men of being “too lazy” to wear fedoras and worried that without hats, society would crumble into anarchy.
Today, that same person would probably freak out over the lack of ties in office dress codes.
5. A Woman Drove My Car and Now It Feels… Off
A particularly bizarre letter appeared in a 1973 auto magazine, where a man claimed that after letting his wife drive his car, something felt “different” about it.
He theorized that “women’s energy” might affect the engine, asking if mechanics had a way to “reset the masculine balance” of his vehicle. The response? A very sarcastic “No.”
6. TV Remotes Are Making People Lazy and Ruining America
When television remotes became common in the ’70s, one angry reader wrote that not having to get up to change the channel was a sign of America’s decline.
They warned that by the year 2000, people would be so lazy they’d expect machines to do everything for them. Little did they know—they were kind of right.
7. Disco Music Is a Government Conspiracy
A 1978 music magazine received a letter from a reader who believed disco was not just bad music, but a government mind-control program.
They argued that the repetitive beats were designed to “hypnotize” the youth and make them obedient drones. If only they had lived long enough to hear EDM.
8. Kids Should Stop Reading Comic Books and Learn Morse Code
A particularly old-fashioned reader wrote to a 1965 magazine to demand that kids stop wasting time on comics and start learning Morse code, as it was “the future of communication.”
Imagine their shock if they saw today’s texting abbreviations and emojis.
9. Why Is Every Movie About Space Now?
After 2001: A Space Odyssey and Star Wars, one movie fan wrote in to complain that Hollywood was obsessed with space travel and ignoring “realistic” storytelling.
Their proposed solution? A ban on sci-fi movies before “things got out of hand.” That aged well.
10. My Husband Grows a Mustache Every Winter and I Hate It
A disgruntled wife wrote to a 1974 advice column about her husband’s seasonal mustache-growing habit. She described it as “a living creature that takes over his face” and wondered if she could convince him to shave it off while he was sleeping.
The magazine recommended couples therapy instead.
11. Why Can’t I Buy a Brand-New Car Without Seatbelts?
One letter writer was furious in 1968 when car manufacturers started including seatbelts as standard. They claimed it was “government overreach” and that if they wanted to fly through their windshield, that was their right as an American.
Fortunately, the world ignored them, and seatbelts saved millions of lives.
12. Women’s Jeans Have Pockets? Outrageous!
In the early ’70s, a reader wrote to a fashion magazine furious that women’s jeans had started including real pockets. They believed that women didn’t need pockets and should rely on purses like they always had.
Fast forward to today: women are still complaining about pocket sizes, but for a very different reason.