The 60s Official Site

Time Capsule High School Class of 1962

Key Facts of 1962:

• President:  John F. Kennedy
• Vice President:  Lyndon B. Johnson
• Cost of a gallon of gas:  31 cents
• Cost of a gallon of milk:  49 cents
• Cost of a dozen of eggs: 54 cents
• Cost of a new home:  $18,200
• Cost of a first class postage stamp:  4 cents
• Unemployment:  6.7%

Notable Inventions of 1962:

• The audio cassette
•  The fiber-tip pen invented by Yukio Horie
•  Spacewar, the first computer video game invented
•  Dow Corp invents silicone breast implants

Time Capsule for 1962:

• Following the placement of Soviet ballistic missiles in Cuba, President Kennedy orders a blockade: Khruschev's agreement to dismantle and remove the missiles ends the world's gravest nuclear confrontation.
• Adolf Eichmann is hanged in Israel for his role in the Nazi extermination of six million Jews.
• John Glenn becomes the first American to orbit the earth.
• The U.S. Supreme Court rules that officially-sponsored prayer in public schools is unconstitutional.
• James Meredith is the first black to enroll in the University of Mississippi following federal intervention and white mob violence.
• Sonny Liston knocks out Floyd Patterson to win the world heavyweight boxing championship.
• Green Bay Packers beats the New York Giants in the NFL championship game.
• Wilt Chamberlain scores 100 points in a game for Philadelphia and averages 50 points a game for the season.
• Boston Celtics win their 6th consecutive NBA crown.
• Movies:  Marilyn Monroe dies at age 36 of a barbituate overdose.  Lawrence of Arabia, To Kill A Mockingbird, How The West Was Won, The Longest Day, In Search Of The Castaways and The Music Man are box office winners.
  Television:  Walter Cronkite succeeds Douglas Edwards as anchorman of the CBS Evening News.  Johnny Carson begins his reign as host of The Tonight Show.  The season's most popular shows are The Beverly Hillbillies, Candid Camera, The Red Skelton Show, Bonanza, and The Lucy Show.

Top Musical Artists of 1962 Were:

Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, Chubby Checker, Brenda Lee, Connie Francis, Dion, Joey Dee & The Starlighters, Bobby Darin, Dee Dee Sharp, The 4 Seasons, Jimmy Dean, Neil Sedaka, The Shirelles, Brook Benton, Sam Cooke, Gene Pitney, Johnny Tillotson, Bobby Vinton, The Crystals, Burl Ives

Top Musical Artist Debuts:

Paul Simon, Gene Chandler, The Beach Boys, Jack Jones, Dee Dee Sharp, Jay & The Americans, Peter, Paul & Mary, Bobby Vinton, The Orlons, Tommy Roe, The Supremes, Booker T. & The MG's, Carole King, Marvin Gaye, Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass, Dionne Warwick, Bobby Goldsboro, The Dells

Other Musical Tidbits:

• The Top Song for 1962 was I Can't Stop Loving You by Ray Charles which was number 1 for 5 weeks.
• The Top Recording Artist for 1962 Elvis Presley