Oct 16
Harold Wilson Becomes PM
Labour won the general election with a tiny majority. Harold Wilson, the grammar school boy from Huddersfield, promised the 'white heat of technology.' After 13 years of Conservative rule, Britain had a new direction.
🇬🇧United Kingdom · 60s
Swinging Britain
Harold Wilson moved into Downing Street, the Beatles conquered America, and the sixties started swinging.
What happened
5 milestones of 1964
Feb 9
Beatlemania Conquers America
The Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show. 73 million Americans watched. The British Invasion had begun. Within weeks, they held the top 5 positions on the US Billboard chart simultaneously.
Apr 20
BBC Two Launches
Britain's third TV channel launched — on 625-line UHF, not the old 405-line system. A power cut delayed the opening night. When it worked, it brought culture, documentaries and innovation.
May 18
Mods and Rockers Clash
Running battles between Mods and Rockers erupted on beaches in Brighton, Margate and other seaside towns. The media created a 'moral panic.' Deckchairs were thrown. Magistrates were appalled.
Jan 1
Top of the Pops Debuts
BBC's Top of the Pops launched from a converted church in Manchester. Jimmy Savile presented. The Rolling Stones performed. For 42 years it would define pop music on British television.
Acknowledge the programme's legacy separately from presenter controversies
What was playing
70% local · 30% international
What was in cinemas
A Hard Day's Night
Richard Lester — The Beatles on screen. Black and white. Utterly joyful.
Goldfinger
Guy Hamilton — Connery's best Bond. Oddjob's hat. 'No, Mr Bond, I expect you to die.'
Zulu
Cy Endfield — Michael Caine's breakthrough. Rorke's Drift. 'Men of Harlech.'
Mary Poppins
Robert Stevenson — Julie Andrews. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. Disney does London.
Dr. Strangelove
Stanley Kubrick — Peter Sellers x3. Nuclear satire. 'Mein Fuhrer, I can walk!'
What was on TV
Top of the Pops
1964-2006 — Pop music on TV every Thursday. Defined British pop culture for decades.
BBC Two
1964-present — Third channel launched. Power cut on opening night.
Match of the Day
1964-present — Football highlights. Liverpool 3-2 Arsenal was the first match shown.
Crossroads
1964-1988 — ITV's wobbly-set soap from Birmingham. Loved despite everything.
Doctor Who
1963-present — In its second year. The Daleks were now a national obsession.
How much things cost
Currency: GBP
Pint of milk6d
Loaf of bread8½d
Pint of bitter1s 9d
Average house£3,360
Gallon of petrol4s 10d
LP record32s 6d
Inflation: 3.3%
Balance of payments crisis looming. Wilson inherited economic problems. But consumers were spending freely.
Then vs. Now
Inflation-adjusted values
Pint of milkONS
1964 (GBP)
6d
→
Today's value (£)
--
Loaf of breadONS
1964 (GBP)
8½d
→
Today's value (£)
--
Pint of bitterBBPA
1964 (GBP)
1s 9d
→
Today's value (£)
--
Average houseONS
1964 (GBP)
£3,360
→
Today's value (£)
--
Gallon of petrolAA
1964 (GBP)
4s 10d
→
Today's value (£)
--
LP recordMelody Maker
1964 (GBP)
32s 6d
→
Today's value (£)
--
Technology
BBC Two
625-line UHF television — sharper pictures, colour TV coming.
Compact cassette
Philips' cassette tape format launched — portable music recording.
Multi-track recording
Abbey Road Studios pushing recording technology for the Beatles.
Hovercraft
SRN4 hovercraft entering commercial Channel service.
Computers
ICT and English Electric making mainframe computers for British business.
Pop Culture
Fashion
Mod fashion at its peak — parkas, target symbols, Chelsea bootsMary Quant's mini skirt revolution beginningCarnaby Street becoming the centre of fashion
Slang
Fab— Fabulous — the Beatles' word
Gear— Excellent, cool (Beatles' Liverpool slang)
Grotty— Ugly, unpleasant (Beatles-coined)
Behavior
- Beatlemania was a mass phenomenon — screaming fans, fan worship
- Mods and Rockers created Britain's first teen 'moral panic'
- Pop music became the dominant cultural force
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