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1962 the cars continued to evolve as more compacts appeared and sold well in the US. The Cold War continued to worsen when the Russians placed Ballistic Missiles on Cuban land just 90 miles away from the coast of Florida in and JFK called the bluff by threatening war unless they were removed which they were but for a short time the world was on the brink of nuclear war and self destruction. The president then set a goal of landing a man on the moon before the end of the decade and became more involved in politics in Southeast Asia by training South Vietnamese pilots. Folk music was evolving into protest music thanks to young artists like Bob Dylan and the birth of Surfing music by the beach boys grew in popularity meanwhile in England the Beatles record the single "Love Me Do". The new hit on TV for that year was "The Beverly Hillbillies" and the first of the James Bond movies "Dr No" was an instant success, some of the other movies released included "Spartacus" and "El Cid".



Cost of Living 1962

How Much things cost in 1962
Yearly Inflation Rate USA 1.20%
Yearly Inflation Rate UK 3.6%
Year End Close Dow Jones Industrial Average 652
Average Cost of new house $12,500.00
Average Income per year $5,556.00
Average monthly rent $110.00 per month
Tuition to Harvard University $1,520.00
All Wheel Drive Scout off road $2,150.00
Renault Imported car $1,395.00
Average Cost of a new car $3,125.00
Eggs per dozen 32 cents
Gas per Gallon 28 cents

Factory Workers Average Take Home Pay with 3 dependents $94.87
Below are some Prices for UK guides in Pounds Stirling

Average House Price 2,950
New Ford Cortina 591


What Events Happened in 1962

  • Cuban Missile Crisis when USSR plans to deploy Missiles in Cuba brings the world to the brink of world war, the US blockades Cuba and the USSR agrees to dismantle Soviet Silos Begins On October 15th ends on November 20th
  • Heavy storm flood on Germany's North Sea coast, mainly around Hamburg, more than 300 people die, thousands losing their homes
  • A U.S. embargo ordered by President Kennedy goes into effect on all imports from Cuba including tobacco, seafood, fruits and vegetables
  • Brazil beat Czechoslovakia 3-1 to win the 1962 World Cup
  • The first US rocket Ranger IV lands on the moon on April 26th
  • First Ever Flavored Crisps / Chips sold Salt and Vinegar
  • Marilyn Monroe is found dead on August 5th after apparently overdosing on sleeping pills
  • The First Wal-Mart discount store is opened by by Sam Walton in Bentonville Arkansas
  • The United Nations General Assembly passes a resolution condemning South Africa's racist apartheid policies and calls for all UN member states to cease military and economic relations with the nation
  • Burundi Gains Independence From Belgium
  • East German Border Guards shoot attempted escaper Peter Fechter and leave him to die on the Berlin Wall
  • The first Kmart department store opens in Garden City, Michigan
  • The Columbus Day Storm ( 12th October ) strikes Northern California, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia
  • Air France Boeing 707 crashes on take-off at Orly Airport in Paris
  • John H. Glenn, Jr., becomes first American to orbit the earth during Friendship 7 orbit.
  • Oral Polio Vaccine developed by Albert Sabin given to millions of children to combat Polio
  • Rioting on University of Mississippi campus following Black student James Meredith attempting to enroll ending when federal troops and U.S. marshals take control.
  • Algeria Gains Independence From France
  • Jamaica Gains Independence From Great Britain
  • Brazil wins the 1962 World Cup in Chili




Popular Culture

  • Beatles Turned Down By Decca Records
  • Release of first Beatles recording: the single "Love Me Do"
  • Andy Warhol's famous painting of a can of soup
  • Beverly Hill Billies is on TV
  • The Dick Van Dyke show on TV
  • Johnny Carson begins as presenter for The Tonight Show

    • Popular Films

    • West Side Story
    • Spartacus
    • El Cid
    • Lawrence of Arabia
    • To Kill a Mockingbird

    Popular Singers

    • The Beatles
    • Bob Dylan
    • Chubby Checker
    • Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
    • Neil Sedaka
    • Roy Orbison
    • Shirley Bassey

    Check out our Television Programmes From The 60s whenever possible we have included a trailer to jog your memory. Series trailers and more information are found on the decade they started.




    Technology 1962

    • 12 European countries form European Space Agency


    • Telstar relays the first live trans-Atlantic television signal


    • US Airforce investigates using lasers to intercept missiles


    • 90% of US households own a Television Set


    • Britain and France agree to develop the Concorde


    • The first use of silicone breast implants by Houston plastic surgeons




    Inventions Invented by Inventors and Country ( or attributed to First Use )
    Communication Satellite USA Telstar
    Venus Probe USA Mariner 2 - the first planetary probe
    LEDs USA Light Emitting Diodes - used for displays




    Major World Political Leaders 1962

    Australia Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies

    Brazil President João Goulart

    Canada Prime Minister John Diefenbaker

    China Chairman of the People's Republic of China Liu Shaoqi

    France President Charles de Gaulle

    Germany Chancellor Konrad Adenauer

    India Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru

    Italy Prime Minister Amintore Fanfani

    Japan Prime Minister Hayato Ikeda

    Mexico President Adolfo López Mateos

    Russia / Soviet Union
    First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Nikita Khrushchev

    South Africa Prime Minister Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd

    United States President John F. Kennedy

    United Kingdom Prime Minister Harold Macmillan


    Political Elections 1962


    Canadian Federal Election 1962 John Diefenbaker ( Progressive Conservatives ) defeats Lester B. Pearson ( Liberal )


    The Information above is taken from our new page that gives world leaders from 1920 to current.
    WorldLeaders