Who can tell me some things about Iran's culture before the revolution?

I traveled across southern Asia from Turkey to Pakistan, including Iran, in 1973, when I was 21 years old. The most remarkable thing about it to me, especially in the capital, Teheran, was how easily the traditional Islamic culture seemed at the time to blend with the strong western and especially American cultural and political influence; more so than anywhere else in the region. I easily met and talked with young university students, both male and female, who seemed a lot like me and were eager to practice their English.

But the openness extended well beyond just them. When I sat meditatively in the courtyard of a masjid (mosque) there, several men who appeared to be in their 50s and 60s struck up a “conversation” with me in gestures and sand-drawings, since we didn’t share a spoken language. They were especially intrigued to learn that although I was American (obvious to them), I was not a Christian, but a Jew. That idea took a few minutes to get across, because at first they thought the six-pointed star I drew meant I was Israeli. (Israel and Iran were strong political and military allies at the time.) Finally, when they said the word “Yahud” - Arabic for “Jew,” which I hadn’t known, but recognized anyway - I knew they understood.

We couldn’t get much beyond that in our conversation, but one of them beckoned to me to come with him. I followed, and he turned out to be the muezzin, who took me up the stairs of the minaret, although it was not time for the call to prayer. We just stood there together, looking out over the beautiful view of the city, and glad to be in each other’s company.

I wonder how different or perhaps similar it might be if I visited a Teheran masjid and announced myself as a Yahud now.