Headlines and Key Facts for 1965

On The National Scene

The Vietnam War escalates with over 100,000 troops and an intensive bombing campaign and the first campus protests against the war begin. In June Congress authorizes the use of ground troops.

Black nationalist leader Malcolm X is shot to death in New York.

Race riots in Watts section of Los Angeles result in 34 deaths.

Medicare program for senior citizens medical assistance becomes law.

The Great Archway in St. Louis is completed; it commemorates the Lousiana Purchase in 1808.

The Voting Rights Act becomes law.

Watts Ghetto riot leaves 34 dead.

25,000 march on Washington to protest the Vietnam War.

LBJ stops bombing and offers peace.

UFOs make headlines.

Winston Churhill dies.

Tidbits

The mini-skirt makes its debut in time for 35 million baby boomer women.

Remember the milkman. In 1965 25% of homes had their milk delivered that number would be substantially decreased within a decade.

The ultr-resilient Super Ball is the biggest toy fad since the Hula Hoop. Skateboarding is in the midst of its first wave of national popularity.

The "Hare Krishna" chant is used for the first time by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

The largest blackout in the nation's history from Toronto plant puts the lights out in 80,000 square miles to include New York. Nine months later many post baby boomers were born as a result of the black out.

Bob Dylan "plugs in" at the Newport Folk Festival marking the shift from acoustic folkie to rock 'n' roller.

Folk-rock is ushered in by The Byrds doing a cover of "Mr. Tambourine Man" which help introduce its author Bob Dylan to a wider audience.

Protest-rock follows focusing on such topics as the escalating war in Vietnam with "Eve Of Destruction" by Barry McGuire, to the civil rights battles in America exemplified by "People Get Ready" by the Impressions, to simple anti-authority songs such as the Rolling Stones surly #1 hit "Satisfaction" which was the biggest hit of the year.

Martha & The Vandellas "Dancing In Streets" is used as a rallying cry when racial riots ignite in Watts during the summer and Los Angeles DJ The Magnificent Montague's slogan, "Burn Baby Burn" takes on new meaning as the community goes up in flames.

Blues-rock hits its high point with The Yardbirds, The Who, The Pretty Things and The Paul Butterfield Blues Band turning out acclaimed records in the aggressive style.

Southern soul scores its first major breakthroughs with Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, Solomon Burke and Joe Tex notching huge hits that cut across racial boundaries.

James Brown makes a startling and abrupt shift from pure soul to a rhythm-based new invention of his own making called "funk" with the hits "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag" and "I Got You".

The Beatles and Elvis Presley, the two biggest names in rock history, meet for the only time at Presley's Los Angeles home. While there John Lennon boldly asks his idol why he doesn't record rock 'n' roll anymore.

The first rock concert movie "The T.A.M.I. Show" is filmed in Santa Monica featuring The Beach Boys, Rolling Stones, Supremes, Jan & Dean, Miracles, Marvin Gaye, Chuck Berry and a show stopping performance by James Brown.

Alan Freed, who coined the term "rock 'n' roll" and introduced it to white America a decade earlier, dies broke and forgotten at age 44 of alcoholism.

Sports

Sandy Koufax leads the Los Angeles Dodgers over the Minnesota Twins in the World Series.

Green Bay Packers defeat the Cleveland Browns in the NFL Championship. A year later Jim Brown will retire at the peak of his remarkable career to go into the movies.

Movies and Television

The Sound of Music  with Julie Andrews  wins best picture award as Lee Marvin wins best actor for Cat Ballou. Other box office money makers included Doctor Zhivago, Thunderball and Those Magnificient Men In Their Flying Machines.

Bonanza remains the most popular series, followed by Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., The Lucy Show, The Red Skelton Hour and The Andy Griffith Show. The success of the James Bond movies inspires two successful series, Get Smart and The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

Amos "N Andy is taken off the TV due to protests of racial stereo typing. Ironically black actors are laid off.