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Things You May Have Forgotten About the 60s
Or maybe it’s stuff you never knew.
I became a teenager during the 60s, but wasn’t really involved in the turmoil of that decade. I was aware of some of the stuff going on, however. It really was a time of transition and change.
With that in mind, I decided to delve into some of the relics of that era. Here’s what I came up with. Depending on your age and how you spent that decade, you may remember some of this stuff.
1: A potential date for Barbie came into existence on this date on March 11, 1961.
The Barbie world welcomed Ken on that day. Barbie and Ken have been involved in a pseudo-relationship for over 60 years now. Talk about your failure to launch! Look for Geriatric Ken on his parents’ couch.
2: The first star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was placed on February 9, 1960.
The first star went to Joanne Woodward and I have no idea why. I’m not knocking her as an actress, but really? How she got a star before Paul Newman is beyond me.
3: Helen Gurley Brown’s blockbuster book, “Sex and the Single Girl” came out in 1962.
Kind of ironic that a woman who writes that type of book was named, ‘Gurley.” I suspect if a man called a woman at the office “Gurley” now, he would be subject to sensitivity training.
4: Johnny Carson hosted the Tonight Show for the first time on Oct 1, 1962.
He was actually introduced by Groucho Marx, not Ed McMahon. Carson remains the gold standard for TV talk show hosts to this day. Chevy Chase remains the fool’s gold standard.
5: Alcatraz shut down on March 21, 1963.
After its retirement as a penal institution, the facility began a second career in the movies, being featured in such films as, “The Rock” and “The Enforcer.”
