1960s history including Popular Culture, Events, Cost of Living, Technology and Inventions

Cost Of Living, News and Events, Popular Culture, Technology,

Money and Inflation 1960's
To provide an estimate of inflation we have given a guide to the value of $100 US Dollars for the first year in the decade to the equivalent in todays money   

If you have $100  Converted from 1960 to 2005 it would be equivalent to $679.09  today  
  
In 1960 a new house cost $12,700.00 and by 1969 was  $15,500.00  
 
In 1960 the average income per year was  $5,315.00   and by 1969 was  $8,540.00     
 
In 1960 a gallon of gas was  25 cents  and by 1969 was   35 cents    
 
In 1960 the average cost of new car was   $2,600.00   and by 1969 was  $3,270.00    
 
A few more prices from the 60's and how much things cost 
 
Volkswagon beetle			 	$1,769	  From Car Prices in the 60's 
   
Ford Mustang 2 door hardtop 	 	$2368  		
   
Misses Swinging Shifts Skirts			 	$5.00	  From Prices for clothes and fashions in the 60's 
  
Oxford mens Shoes			 	$12.95	 		
  
Automatic Can Opener			 	$8.88	  From Electrical and Electronic Prices in the 60's 
    
Automatic Electric Blanket			 	$9.94	 		
   
Oranges 			 	89 cents for 2 dozen	 		
  
Oven ready Turkeys			 	39 cents per pound	  From Price of Food 60's 
  	 
Modern Walnut Bookcase			 	$29.97	  From Furniture Prices 60's 
    
Coal 			 	$14.95 ton	  From Prices for other stuff  
   
Example of a home from our Property for sale in the 1960's   

1963    New Homes  Lowell    Massachusetts    
    
large tree wooded plots, colored bath and kitchen fixtures, full basement Formica kitchen 3 bedrooms From  $15,500 

You Will find many more prices in dedicated 60's sections

Events 1960's

The 60's were a decade once again dominated by a war ( VIETNAM )not a world war but the effects were still felt throughout the world. It is also the start of showing how the people can effect politics through the power of "peaceful" demonstrations , students were the driving force because with education comes empowerment and with empowerment comes a voice , and in the 60's students learnt how to use that voice.

In the West although politicians would have liked to stopped demonstrations ( and tried ) against their policies, due to "freedom of speech" it was not possible

Many of the conflicts during the 60's could be considered to be part of the ongoing cold war between the East and the West ( Communism -- Capitalism ) , but due to the Nuclear Capabilities of both sides nether wanted to start a full scale war as they realized there could be no winner but both believed their ideology was best, they tried in other ways to influence the politics throughout the world.

Many believe the closest the world has come to a World Wide Nuclear War was in 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis

John F. Kennedy became the 35th President of the United States From January 20, 1961 till his assassination on November 22, 1963 at Dallas, Texas by Lee Harvey Oswald. His presidency although cut short due to his murder is remembered for multiple reasons including his commitment that the United States Of America should commit itself to landing a man on the Moon and returning him back safely to the earth before the end of the decade. The Cuban Crisis and Bay of Pigs Invasion. And creating the Peace Corps to help underdeveloped nations in areas such as education, farming, health care and construction. For such a short term in office his achievements endeared him to the American People.

During the 60's the Charismatic Martin Luther King who was a civil rights advocate and exceptionally gifted speaker , followed other great leaders throughout history by using non-violent means together with the power of speech and managed to create change through his influence created by the strong following he had. He was assassinated on March 10th 1969 By James Earl Ray

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and The Voting Rights Act of 1965 changed the lives of the African Americans minority by ensuring equal rights for all

The Sixties also bought the space race to new heights and ended the race to land a man on the moon and bring him back when America through the Apollo 11 mission on July 20,1969 put Neil Alden Armstrong and Edwin Eugene 'Buzz' Aldrin, Jr. became the first humans to land on the Moon fulfilling the American Dream to place a man on the moon before the Russians ( Space Race ). The words spoken by Neil Armstrong "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind" going into the history books for now and future generations to come.

Both martin Luther King and John F Kennedy were assassinated during the 60's

Popular Culture

This was the Decade of the Smiley Face found on anything and everything around the world including T Shirts , it's popularity was at it's peak in the mid to late 1960's

This decade can also be summed up with a few well chosen phrases which epitomize the decade " The Space Race ", " Cuban Missile Crisis" , " Continuing Cold War", "Kennedy Assassination", " Martin Luther King", "Vietnam", "Civil Rights and Riots", "Hippies and Flower Power" , "The Beatles and Rock and Roll"

This was the start of the skateboarding era which was started by some surfing enthusiasts in California who were frustrated by the weather and put roller skates on the front and back end of wooden planks

Fashion

Early 60's for women wore mini skirts and leather boots and men wore Paisley shirts and velvet trousers Later 60's from 1966 started the introduction of Psychedelic clothes with bright colors for both men and women and the age of the Hippie is born. Men started to wear hair longer and women identified with the hippie look by wearing skirts and dresses longer often known as Maxies and anything and everything had color including the body

More About First Man on The Moon
Some of the Most Well Known Movie Stars of the Sixties
John Wayne
Elizabeth Taylor
Richard Burton
Paul Newman
Elvis Presley
Julie Andrews
Doris Day
Roch Hudson

Music 1960's

Following on from the 50's rock and roll with Bill Hayley and Elvis Presley new groups appear in the 60's who are considered as an alternative music culture but become so popular that they quickly become mainstream, two of the dominant forces being THE BEATLES and THE ROLLING STONES who gain world wide notoriety and popularity

1960's Music page

TV Shows 1960s

Perry Mason 1957 - 1966.
Route 66 1960 - 1964.
Rawhide 1959 - 1966.
The Monkees 1966 - 1968.
The Saint 1966 - 1969.
The Prisoner 1967 - 1968.
Ironside 1967 - 1975. .
Hogan's Heroes 1965 - 1971.
Lassie 1954 - 1973.
Flipper 1964 - 1967.
The Benny Hill Show 1969 - 1989.
Monty Python’s Flying Circus 1969 - 1974.
Bonanza 1959 - 1973.
The Brady Bunch 1969 - 1974.
Peyton Place 1964 - 1969.
The Fugitive 1963 - 1967.
77 Sunset Strip 1958 - 1964.
The Man From Uncle 1964 - 1968.
Doctor Who 1963 - 1989.
Gilligan's Island 1964 - 1967.
Gunsmoke 1955 - 1975.
Columbo 1968 - 2003.
The Virginian 1962 - 1971.
Mr Ed 1961 - 1966.
The Twilight Zone ( Original Series ) 1959 - 1964.
I Dream of Jeannie 1965 - 1970.
Bewitched 1964 - 1972.
Steptoe and Son 1st Series 1962 - 1965. 2nd Series 1970 - 1974
Get Smart 1965 - 1970
Green Acres 1965 - 1971.

Check out our Television Programmes From The 1960s whenever possible we have included a trailer to jog your memory. Series trailers and more information are found on the decade they started.

Toys 1960s

Toys From The 1960s

Technology 60's

Although the USSR appeared to be ahead in the space race in the 50's and 60's the ultimate prize went to the United States in 1969 when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were landed on the moon and returned safely back to earth, many who remember the immortal words " One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind ".

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