America 1960

Only 15 years after WWII 5 years before the Vietnam War Civil Rights Movement is only beginning Sen. John F. Kennedy has just become President.

The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, and Dr. No were tops at the box office. Top two were musicals – Escapism, big

specatacles Dr. No was the first James Bond movie

Gunsmoke and Wagon Train were the top TV shows. Four of the top 10 were Westerns. Many of the

top shows today are Police shows – related? The Flintstones was a huge hit among

kids and adults

What were people watching?

1960 Prices

Price of gas today: $3.59….1960- $0.31 Price of a home in the midwest:

$126,000…..1960 - $16,500 Loaf of bread- $.30 A movie ticket cost - $.35 Sirloin Steak - $.89/lb.

Fashion

Women’s hairstyles: flips, wavy bobs, and big, big hair

Men’s hair: Kept short, often using thick products to keep in place.

Clothes

Mostly conservative for men and women, with the exception of the “greasers” or “hoods” and their girlfriends.

Music

Big hits of 1960: “Now or Never” –Elvis “Twist” – Chubby Checker “Chain Gang” –Sam Cooke “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot

Bikini”-Brian Hyland Music was more innocent, more subtle

Sports

Football – The Dallas Cowboys entered the 12 team NFL and 22 members of the Cal Poly team died in a plane crash

Basketball- Celtics were dominant, but St. Louis Hawks won the championship

Baseball- Ted Williams retires and Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris rise to greatness.

Cars

The 1960's saw the American automobile industry consolidating into the Big Three: (General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler) and American Motors.

And in Castle Rock, Maine…

Four boys head out to find a dead body