Celebrities at the Airport in the 1970s: The Photos
Until you reach the bar or the Duty Free, the airport is a miserable experience. Air travel is a series of inconveniences and indignities in exchange for the privilege—and it is a privilege after all—to jet off somewhere. And yet celebrities make the airport look glamorous, never more so, perhaps, than in the 1970s, when they made the airport look like the hottest place in town.
Michael Caine, his future wife Shakira Baksh, Ringo Starr, and his wife Maureen at London's Heathrow Airport in 1972. The four are departing for Budapest, where they will be guests at 40th birthday celebrations for actress Elizabeth Taylor.
Margaux Hemingway—actress, model, and granddaughter to Ernest Hemingway—at the José Martí International Airport in Havana, Cuba, in February 1978.
Dolly Parton arrives at London's Heathrow Airport in May 1977.
Jackie Kennedy Onassis at Boston Logan airport in June 1979 after attending John Kennedy Jr.'s prep school graduation.
Burt Reynolds returning from Miami at Los Angeles International Airport in 1972.
Jane Birkin with Serge Gainsbourg at London's Heathrow Airport after arriving from Paris in 1971.
Jamie Lee Curtis and songwriter Johnny Lee Schell at Atlantic City International Airport in November 1978.
Bernadette Peters and Steve Martin at the Aspen Airport Lounge in December 1977.
Sly And The Family Stone—with Sly Stone (Sylvester Stewart) sitting front, right—wait outside Heathrow Airport in London in 1970.
Christopher Reeve with his girlfriend Gae Exton arrive at London's Heathrow Airport in August 1979.
Basketball legend Phil Jackson in a cab outside New York's LaGuardia Airport in April 1973. Jackson, a member of the Knicks at the time, was returning from a 94-78 win over the Celtics in Boston.
Sean Connery lands at Berlin's Tempelhof airport in January 1973.
John Wayne arrives at London's Heathrow Airport in January 1974.
Peter O'Toole at Heathrow Airport after flying in from New York in March 1976.
Paul Newman arriving at Heathrow Airport in 1973.
David Bowie at Heathrow Airport in 1978.
Barbra Streisand and producer Jon Peters at JFK Airport in 1975.
The Jackson Five—Jackie, Marlow, Michael, Tito, Randy and Jermaine—at Heathrow Airport in 1972.
Elvis Presley at JFK Airport in 1975.
Elvis Presley arriving at JFK Airport in 1973.
John Lennon, Yoko Ono, and John's son Julian Lennon at Heathrow Airport in 1970.
John Lennon and Yoko Ono at Heathrow in 1971.
John Lennon hanging out at Heathrow in 1971.
Paul and Linda McCartney with baby Mary McCartney at London's Gatwick Airport on their way to the wedding of Mick Jagger in 1971.
Paul McCartney with his wife, Linda, and daughters Heather, 10, Mary, 3, and Stella, 1, at Heathrow Airport in 1973.
Paul McCartney and his daughters, 5-year-old Stella, and 7-year-old Mary, hurry to board their plane at Heathrow Airport in 1976.
Ringo Starr with his wife Maureen at Gatwick Airport on their way to Mick Jagger's wedding in 1971.
Gregg Allman at JFK Airport in 1977.
Gregg Allman and Cher at JFK Airport in 1977.
Sonny Bono and Cher at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in 1977.
Cher and celebrity manager Sandy Gallin at LAX in 1977.
Jack Nicholson at Dulles Airport in Washington, D.C. in 1977.
Chuck Berry at Heathrow Airport in 1979.
Warren Beatty at Heathrow Airport when he left on the Concorde for New York in 1979.
Keith Richards exits his limousine at an airport in 1979.
Keith Richards and Mick Jagger arriving at the airport in Rome in 1970.
Keith Richards at the airport in Rome in 1970.
Mick Jagger and his wife Bianca Jagger at Heathrow Airport in 1972. She was seeing him off for a U.S. tour.
Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton at Heathrow Airport in 1974.
Michael Caine and his future wife, Shikara Baksa, at Heathrow Airport in 1972.
James Coburn and his wife Beverly Kelly arriving at Heathrow Airport in 1973.
Rod Stewart with his girlfriend Alana Hamilton at Heathrow Airport in 1978.
Rod Stewart arrives at Heathrow Airport with his girlfriend, actress Alana Hamilton, in 1978. They flew in from New York aboard the Concorde.
Telly Savalas at Heathrow Airport in 1976.
Elton John on an airport runway in California during his 1974 US tour.
Twiggy steps from a Rolls Royce at an airport in 1970.
Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier at Heathrow Airport in 1972.
Kris Kristofferson with wife Rita Coolidge and daughter Casey at Heathrow Airport in 1977.
Johnny Nash arriving at Heathrow Airport in 1975.
William Shatner with his wife, Marcie, at Heathrow Airport in 1979.
Jimi Hendrix and his road manager, Eric Barrett, arrive at Heathrow Airport on the way to the Isle of Wight Festival in 1970.
Johnny Rotten at Heathrow Airport in 1978, when he left for Miami with a female companion, who he refused to name.
Kenny Rogers at London's Heathrow airport with his wife, TV star Marianne Gordon, left, and Crystal Gayle.
Steve McQueen leaving Heathrow Airport in 1970.
Sammy Davis Jr is given the Victoria Sporting Club's New Award for Talent from Georgina Warwick on his arrival at Heathrow Airport in 1977.
Tina Turner arrives at Heathrow Airport in 1978.
Marcello Mastroianni at JFK Airport in 1971.
Frank Sinatra at Gatwick Airport in 1970.
Frank Sinatra at Heathrow in 1974.
Sophia Loren at JFK in 1971.
Celebrities at the Airport in the 1970s: The Photos
Until you reach the bar or the Duty Free, the airport is a miserable experience. Air travel is a series of inconveniences and indignities in exchange for the privilege—and it is a privilege after all—to jet off somewhere. And yet celebrities make the airport look glamorous, never more so, perhaps, than in the 1970s, when they made the airport look like the hottest place in town.
The airport wasn't always such a dreary place.
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