Oct 16-28
Cuban Missile Crisis
For 13 days, the world stood on the brink of nuclear war. Soviet missiles in Cuba, a US naval blockade, and backroom negotiations. Humanity's closest brush with annihilation ended with a deal.
nuclear crisis
🇺🇸United States · 60s
On the Brink
Cuban Missile Crisis, John Glenn orbits Earth, and Marilyn Monroe dies.
What happened
5 milestones of 1962
Feb 20
John Glenn Orbits Earth
John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth aboard Friendship 7. Three orbits in five hours. He returned a hero. Schools stopped so children could watch on TV.
Aug 5
Marilyn Monroe Dies
Marilyn Monroe was found dead at 36 from a barbiturate overdose. She had sung 'Happy Birthday' to JFK just months earlier. America lost its most iconic star.
Oct 1
James Meredith Integrates Ole Miss
James Meredith became the first Black student at the University of Mississippi. It took 500 US Marshals and Army troops. Two people died in the riots. Meredith enrolled and graduated.
civil rights
Sep 27
Rachel Carson Publishes Silent Spring
Rachel Carson's Silent Spring exposed the dangers of pesticides like DDT. The chemical industry attacked her. The public listened. The modern environmental movement was born.
What was playing
70% local · 30% international
What was in cinemas
Lawrence of Arabia
David Lean — Peter O'Toole in the desert. One of the greatest epic films ever made.
To Kill a Mockingbird
Robert Mulligan — Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch. Justice and injustice in the Deep South.
Dr. No
Terence Young — 'Bond. James Bond.' Sean Connery launched the greatest franchise.
The Manchurian Candidate
John Frankenheimer — Cold War paranoia as political thriller. Sinatra's finest dramatic turn.
The Longest Day
Ken Annakin & others — D-Day with an all-star cast. The biggest WWII film until Saving Private Ryan.
What was on TV
The Beverly Hillbillies
1962-1971 — Jed Clampett struck oil. The highest-rated half-hour show in TV history.
The Jetsons
1962-1963 — The future as imagined in 1962 — flying cars and robot maids.
The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson
1962-1992 — Carson became king of late night. 'Heeere's Johnny!'
The Dick Van Dyke Show
1961-1966 — The best comedy writing on television.
Ben Casey / Dr. Kildare
1961-1966 — Medical dramas dominated. Doctors became TV heroes.
How much things cost
Currency: USD
Gallon of milk$1.04
Gallon of gas$0.31
New house (median)$12,500
New car (average)$2,500
Loaf of bread$0.21
Movie ticket$0.70
Inflation: 1.0%
Rock-stable prices and a booming stock market. The Kennedy economy hummed along.
Then vs. Now
Inflation-adjusted values
Gallon of milkBLS
1962 (USD)
$1.04
→
Today's value ($)
--
Gallon of gasEIA
1962 (USD)
$0.31
→
Today's value ($)
--
New house (median)Census Bureau
1962 (USD)
$12,500
→
Today's value ($)
--
New car (average)BLS
1962 (USD)
$2,500
→
Today's value ($)
--
Loaf of breadBLS
1962 (USD)
$0.21
→
Today's value ($)
--
Movie ticketNATO
1962 (USD)
$0.70
→
Today's value ($)
--
Technology
Telstar satellite
The first communications satellite relayed live TV across the Atlantic.
John Glenn's orbit
Friendship 7 proved America could match the Soviets in space.
LED invented
Nick Holonyak Jr. at GE demonstrated the first visible LED.
Spacewar!
MIT students created Spacewar!, one of the first video games.
Audio cassette
Philips developed the compact audio cassette — music would go portable.
Pop Culture
Fashion
Jackie Kennedy's Chanel suitsSurfing culture and Hawaiian shirtsGo-go boots emerging
Slang
Far out— Amazing, mind-blowing
Hairy— Dangerous, scary
Pad— Home, apartment
Behavior
- The Twist became the first modern dance craze — no partner needed
- Surfing culture spread from California to the national consciousness
- Fallout shelter hysteria peaked during the Cuban Missile Crisis
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