Memory Lane: 1966

Vietnam WarInflation grew as part of the effect to fund the war in Vietnam continued.

Both the US and USSR continued in their space race to see who would be the first to land a man on the moon.

Race riots continued to increase across cities in America and National Guards were needed to bring back law and order.

The fashions in both America and UK came from a small well known street in London (Carnaby Street) part of the swinging London scene, both women and men wore patterned pants and flowered shirts and boots, shoes and even caps utilized the plastic and vinyl History of HiFi and Music Players and Media for a wet shiny look.

The most popular groups included The “Beach Boys” with Pet Sounds, The “Rolling Stones” with Under my Thumb and The “Beatles” with Revolver, and Yesterday and Today.

In The News

Miranda Rights / Miranda warning becomes law

World’s first vertical Jump Jet the Harrier is introduced

English Channel Hovercraft service begins

China’s Cultural Revolution begins

Subway strike in New York brings the City to a stop

Miniskirts are in fashion

Charles Whitman kills 14 and injures 31 on a killing spree at the University Of Texas

US has nearly 500,000 troops in Vietnam

Aberfan disaster in South Wales

Vietnam War international days of protest


Population/Economy

Population:

  • Wake County (1960 census): 169,082
  • NC: 4,896,000
  • USA: 196,600,000

National Debt:

  • $319,907,087,795 (1966)
  • $18,152,809,942,589 (2015)

Value of a Dollar: $1 in 1966 is $7.38 in 2015

Cost Of Living 1966:

  • Yearly Inflation Rate USA: 3.01%
  • Year End Close Dow Jones Industrial Average: 785
  • Average Cost of new house: $14,200
  • Average Yearly Wages: $6,900
  • Average Cost of a new car: $2,650
  • Cost of a gallon of Gas: $0.32
  • Dishwasher: $119.95
  • Parker Pen set: $11.95
  • Cheeseburger at McDonald’s: $0.15
  • Ticket to Disneyland:
    Adult: $4.00 ($6.20 value)
    Junior (12 thru 17): $3.50 ($5.40 value)
    Child (3 thru 11): $3.00 ($4.50 value)

Ounce of Gold Price:

  • The cost of an ounce of gold was $35.13
  • The inflation-adjusted price of an ounce of gold was $260.22


Going to the Movies

Cost of a movie ticket: $1.09

Inflation-adjusted price of a movie ticket: $8.07

The cost of a movie ticket in 2015: $7.92

Top 5 Movies:

  1. The Bible: In the Beginning… 
  2.  Hawaii 
  3. Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? 
  4. The Sand Pebbles 
  5. A Man for All Seasons 


39th Academy Awards

  • Best Picture: A Man for All Seasons
  • Best Director: Fred Zinnemann – A Man for All Seasons
  • Best Actor: Paul Scofield – A Man for All Seasons
  • Best Actress: Elizabeth Taylor – Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
  • Best Supporting Actor: Walter Matthau – The Fortune Cookie
  • Best Supporting Actress: Sandy Dennis – Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?


Top 10 TV Shows

  1. Bonanza – NBC – 16,042,830
  2. The Red Skelton Show – CBS – 15,546,660
  3. The Andy Griffith Show – CBS – 15,105,620
  4. The Lucy Show – CBS – 14,444,060
  5. The Jackie Gleason Show – CBS – 13,947,890
  6. Green Acres – CBS – 13,561,980
  7. Daktari – CBS – 12,900,420
  8. Bewitched – ABC – 12,900,420
  9. The Beverly Hillbillies – CBS – 12,900,420
  10. Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. – CBS – 12,569,640

Top 20 Pop Songs

  1. Sgt. Barry Sadler – The Ballad Of The Green Berets
  2. Association – Cherish
  3. Righteous Brothers – (You’re My) Soul And Inspiration
  4. Four Tops – Reach Out I’ll Be There
  5. Question Mark and The Mysterians – 96 Tears
  6. Monkees – Last Train To Clarksville
  7. Mama’s and The Papa’s – Monday, Monday
  8. Supremes -You Can’t Hurry Love
  9. Johnny Rivers – Poor Side Of Town
  10. Mama’s and The Papa’s – California Dreamin’
  11. Lovin’ Spoonful – Summer In The City
  12. Roger Williams – Born Free
  13. Nancy Sinatra – These Boots Are Made For Walkin’
  14. Jimmy Ruffin – What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted
  15. Frank Sinatra – Strangers In The Night
  16. Beatles – We Can Work It Out
  17. Young Rascals – Good Lovin’
  18. New Vaudeville Band – Winchester Cathedral
  19. Tommy James and The Shondells – Hanky Panky
  20. Percy Sledge – When A Man Loves A Woman


Top 10 Country Songs

  1. Giddyup Go – Red Sovine
  2. Waiting In Your Welfare Line – Buck Owens
  3. I Want To Go With You – Eddy Arnold
  4. Distant Drums – Jim Reeves
  5. Take Good Care Of Her – Sonny James
  6. Think Of Me – Buck Owens
  7. Almost Persuaded – David Houston
  8. Blue Side OF Lonesome – Jim Reeves
  9. Open Up Your Heart – Buck Owens
  10. I Get The Fever – Bill Anderson


This Year in Sports

ACC Football Champ: Clemson

ACC Basketball Champs: Duke (Duke 71 – NC State 66)

World Series Winner: Baltimore Orioles over the LA Dodgers

Heavyweight Boxing Champs: Muhammad Ali / Cassius Clay (WBC) – Ernie Terrell (WBA & NYSAC)

NFL Championship Game: Green Bay Packers (Green Bay 34 – Dallas Cowboys 27)

NASCAR Season Winner: David Pearson

Masters Winner: Jack Nicklaus (even – won $20,000)

Wimbledon Winners:

  • Men’s Singles: Spain Manolo Santana defeated United States Dennis Ralston 6–4, 11–9, 6–4
  • Women’s Singles: United States Billie Jean King defeated Brazil Maria Bueno 6–3, 3–6, 6–1
  • Men’s Doubles: Australia Ken Fletcher / Australia John Newcombe defeated Australia William Bowrey / Australia Owen Davidson 6–3, 6–4, 3–6, 6–3
  • Women’s Doubles: Brazil Maria Bueno / United States Nancy Richey defeated Australia Margaret Smith Court / Australia Judy Tegart Dalton 6–3, 4–6, 6–4
  • Mixed Doubles: Australia Margaret Smith Court / Australia Ken Fletcher defeated United States Billie Jean King / United States Dennis Ralston 4–6, 6–3, 6–3

Image courtesy State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory