The original 747-100 /was/ spacious on international flights, the upper deck had a lounge and a piano. This wasn't due to some bygone era where passengers weren't treated like cattle, it was due to the underpowered JT9D-3A engines.
Without sufficient power, the airlines lowered the amount of allowed weight on allowed on international flights and thus the seats had better spacing. Later models starting form the -200 model had more powerful engines so they crammed in more passengers - both in coach and in first class.
Without sufficient power, the airlines lowered the amount of allowed weight on allowed on international flights and thus the seats had better spacing. Later models starting form the -200 model had more powerful engines so they crammed in more passengers - both in coach and in first class.