As decade of the 1960's begins
World Population: 3 billion; USA Population: 179 million; Michigan Population 7.8 million
Political Environment: Cold War-Russia/Eastern Europe vs. USA/Western Europe; distrust and fear of communism, bomb shelter plans as a result on nuclear testing
Alaska and Hawaii had just become states in 1959, and National Airlines began first domestic jet service in 1958
What's hot for kids: Local TV Shows:(Black & White) Milky's Party Time, Johnny Ginger Show, Soupy Sales Show, Bozo the Clown, Captain Kangaroo, Leave it to Beaver, Ozzie and Harriet, Lassie, The Lone Ranger, Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Wagon Train, Old Yeller (1957), Walt Disney Presents, Davy Crockett, Twilight Zone premiered October 2, 1959, etc.; Boys: Comic Books, Marbles, Westerns, Cowboys and Indians, Capture The Flag; Girls: Dolls and Fashion Dolls (Barbie in 1959)/playing House/jumping rope/Hopscotch and The Mickey Mouse Club; School and Playground Games: Hide and Seek, 7 Up, Red Rover, Simon Says, Tag, Candyland, Chutes and Ladders, Uncle Wiggley, etc.
What's hot in music: Elvis Presley, Surf Music (Venture's Wipe Out), 45s, transistor radios
What's hot in movies: John Wayne, Jerry Lewis, Doris Day, Peter Sellers, Alfred Hitchcock, etc.
Average Salary: $2,992
Average Cost of a Car: $2,600
A gallon of gas: 25 cents
Average Cost of a Home: $12,700
Life expectancy: Women 71.1, men 65.6
Links:
American Cultural History: Kingswood College
Historical Atlas of the 20th Century
WWW-VL: World Wide Web Virtual Library, European University Institute