The 60s Official Site

Time Capsule High School Class of 1966

Key Facts of 1966:

• President: Lyndon B. Johnson
• Vice President:  Hubert Humphrey
• Cost of a gallon of gas:  32 cents
• Cost of a gallon of milk:  99 cents
• Cost of a dozen of eggs: 60 cents
• Cost of a new home:  $23,300
• Cost of a first class postage stamp:  5 cents

Notable Inventions of 1966:

• Electronic Fuel injection for cars
• The Paper Dress

Time Capsule of 1966:

• As the war in Vietnam continues and protests expand, monthly draft call rises ten times the average of 1965.
• A sniper atop the tower of the University of Texas kills 12 and wounds 31. 
• For the second time in two years, there is violent rioting in the Watts section of Los Angeles.
• Increasing use of drugs, especially LSD, is a national concern.
• The first artificial heart transplant in a human is a success.
• Miniskirts are the fashion rage in both England and the U.S.
• Colorful mod clothes for men become fashionable.
• The Green Bay Packers edge the Dallas Cowboys in a classic NFL title game.
• The Baltimore Orioles defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.
• Los Angeles Dodgers ace pitcher, Sandy Koufax retires due to arthritis.
• Bill Russell leads the Boston Celtics to its eighth consecutive NBA championship.
• Jack Nicklaus establishes himself as the world's greatest golfer by winning the Masters and the British Open.
• Movies:  Big at the boxoffice are Hawaii, The Bible, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, A Man For All Seasons and A Man And A Woman.  Raquel Welch becomes Hollywood's hottest sex symbol of the decade.
  Television:  Star Trek debuts in the fall.  Batman is the television phenomenon of the year.  Another new fad series was The Monkees.  Also debuting is Mission: Impossible.  Most popular series include Bonanza, The Red Skelton Hour, The Andy Griffith Show, The Lucy Show and The Jackie Gleason Show.

Top Musical Artists of 1966 Were:

The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones, The Lovin' Spoonful, Simon & Garfunkle, The Righteous Brothers, The Supremes, Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass, Gary Lewis & The Playboys, Nancy Sinatra, The Mamas & The Papas, Johnny Rivers, Petula Clark, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, The Monkees

Top Artist Debuts of 1966:

The Mamas & The Papas,  Sam & Dave, B.J. Thomas, Percy Sledge, Neil Diamond, Tommy James & The Shondells, The Association, Joe Simon, The Grass Roots, The Intruders, The Monkees, Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66, Peaches & Herb

Other Musical Tidbits:

• The Top Song of 1966 was I'm A Believer by the Monkees (written by Neil Diamond) which was number 1 for 7 weeks.
• The Top Recording Artist of 1966 was The Beatles.