Blast to the past! The 60's

The 60's were a time of change and turmoil, many different people all over the US had many different view points about the events of the 60's. I got to do several interviews with different relatives that were alive in the 60's, I have the viewpoints from a 10 year old girl to a guy in his 20's who served in the Navy. Major events in the 60's were the JFK assassination, African Americans getting the right to vote, the cold war, Vietnam War, and the ever growing space programs. There were people like the Beatles starting out, and Johnny Cash known as the golden throat. TV was starting to grow in popularity, and if you could afford one you had it. Many popular and well know TV shows that we watch today were started in the 1960's. The Flintstones (started in 1960) is a very popular show that I grew up watching, probably around 2005. Another grand show started then was Doctor Who (started in 1963) which is the longest running Sci-Fi show ever, which just celebrated their 50th anniversary, and continues showing today.

The first person I interviewed is my adopted aunt Liz, who was in collage at the time in Minnesota. "I went to college for three years. After that I decided I didn't like my major, (music) and quit college and went to LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) school. After that, I transferred my credits to Bethel University and went to school another two years, and graduated with a B.A. in social work. I couldn't get a job in social work, so I decided to be a LPN. I was also nuts about guys and dated a lot. I don't remember much about the 60's except going to school and working at the same time to pay my way. Sometimes I worked over nights and went to school during the day. I worked as an LPN at the Midway Hospital in the ICU unit, getting off work at 7:30am and having a class at 8:00am. Sleep deprived all the time I didn't really have a life outside of work and school. My parents had no money, and they wouldn't allow me to get loans from the government or "gifts from the tax payers, so I had to work as I did school, but I graduated with no debt. I always managed to squeeze in boys in between work and school. My brother Dick and I made up our minds to never be poor again, we believed that education was the answer.

My other brother Paul was in Vietnam at the time, I remember being very worried for him. My parents never spoke about it, but I'm sure they were worried sick. We had a neighbor die in Vietnam, plus the guy I bought my first car from, it was a 49 old coupe. I remember the day we went to the cemetery, and those guns went off. Must have broken his mother's heart.

Everyone remembers where they were when our beloved president died. I have vivid memories of that three day ordeal. Back in those days it didn't matter if you were a Democrat or Republican. You voted, and got over it if your guy didn't get in. Your president was your president. The assassination of John Kennedy was very painful for me. I was glued to the TV for three days, and cried the whole time. It was very similar to the 9/11 event. My brother Dick was at Northwestern Collage, waiting for a friend to go to lunch. He was in the teletype room, when all of a sudden, news that the president had been shot came over the teletype machine. He called me and I turned the TV on. I had to go pick up my other brother Paul who was at Vocational school. On the drive through the center of downtown the two most prominent stores, Dayton's and Donaldson's had immediately  placed a huge photo the size of a store window up. Crowds were gathering, staring and crying. Just saying all this is making me cry right now. I remember it being a dark and misty sort of day. We didn't have the internet in those days, only TV if you could afford one. Most of the time we didn't because we were so poor, so the newspaper was where we got our info from. When the JFK Assassination happened we had a TV, it was a Blonde Wood with a round hole like a port-hole. I've never cried for so long and so hard as that weekend. The death of my precious brother Dick was and still is painful, but he was in so much pain, and I know I will see him in heaven with Jesus one day.

One of my best friends in high school was black. I never much thought about the color of one's skin. We were taught that God created us all equal. My high school was white, black, and American Indian. I never thought a thing of African Americans getting the right to vote, not even sure I was aware of it. I do think some of my older relatives may have been somewhat prejudice, although they would have never admitted it to themselves or others.

The Cold War? Yes, as a small kid it was our biggest fear. We would have drills at school learning how to hide under our desks and hold our hands behind our heads, and other things like that. We would do them like kids do fire drill today. Looking back, it was nothing compared to what the world is facing today. But we must try to learn from history. It doesn't look like we have done a very good job of that."

The next person I interviewed was my cousin Janet. She was a little kid during the 60's.
"In 1965 I was a 10 year old. I was a pretty normal but sassy kid. We were outside playing all the time without adult supervision. Compared to today, things then were very tame, safe, and innocent as far as my own life. I liked school and had a good group of friends. We rode our bikes everywhere, sometimes in groups, sometimes on our own. We were very independent. One thing that stands out to me now about daily life was the news shows were changing. Vietnam was happening and the war was televised daily in the news, that along with the civil rights issues the world outside of my reality looked a bit scary to me. Politically it was a volatile era and overwhelming through the eyes of a kid.

I was all about my barbies and my bike. My favorite band was The Monkees, and I loved to watch shows like Bewitched and Mannix. Mannix was a fun one because it was a detective show that my dad would let me stay up late on Friday nights to watch it with him. I remember that we all wanted to look like Lori Partridge (Susan Day) of the show The Partridge Family."

A very interesting point of view I received from my grandfather, who began the 60's by joining the Navy. "I graduated in 1960 and in October of 1960 joined the Navy. In November of 1963 when the JFK assassination happened I was in Long Beach California on the USS O'Brian DD275. There were some others that weren't actually surprised about Kennedy in the Navy station where I was at, while I was very shocked. Then in 1964 I was on the G-PA, going up the Sygonr river in Vietnam. After that I left the Navy. I then went and worked for the North American Aviation Rocketdyne. I was put to work build rockets F1 and J2 of one of the Apollo space crafts.

When African Americans got the right to vote I felt no different, they were were entitled to vote.

Then in 1965 I married your grandmother. From there we moved to Wisconsin, then Colorado, and then all over the place."

My grandmother was pretty cool, she was a working lady as she put it.
 "My first job was in a Pacific mail room, I remember there was the switch board for boats to tell us when they would arrive. Another job I had was working at a CPA firm as an accountant. The next job was something with assurance. I was mostly a working girl in San Francisco.

When I heard that Kennedy had been assassinated, I was somewhere in California. I was in shock, just filled with a sad shock. I don't think any president since President Lincoln had been assassinated. When we found out, nobody cared what he had done, we were all just in a sad shock.

When African Americans got the right to vote, we were all fine with it, they deserved the right to vote.

We felt like the Cold War was just a sarcastic comment by the late 60's. Most of the fear was in the 50's when you didn't know if tomorrow was going to happen.

I was introduced to your grandfather because my friend and his friend knew each other and introduced us. In 1965 I married him."

The next person who I interviewed was my "Church Grandma" Marie.
"In the 60's I was living first in a trailer house, then apartment, then we built a house. I was married to my husband Vic, and we both had teaching jobs. We had two sons, one adopted. We basically lived on one income so we always had to watch what we did. In the morning I always got up and made a hot breakfast, got the kids going, checked and made the house clean, washed clothes, baked, and decided what to make for dinner. I would go to and help a kids Bible study around once a week, a ladies Bible study for mothers around once a week, and a youth group at our house at night once a week. At night Vic and I would help the kids with their homework.

We had fear about the cold war, Vic was in the National Guard and during the Cuba invasion he was told to get ready. I remember his duffle bag by the door. In the end he didn't have to go.

We knew several African American people, some were students, we didn't have any fear of them. They maybe showed their anger in a wrong way but they were short chained in so many ways. They desired the right to vote as much as anyone, and they deserved it. They worked, paid taxes, lived in our towns along side of us. Most people we knew felt that it was the right thing to do.

When I found out about the JFK assassination I was teaching. A little boy who had went home for lunch came running back crying because he heard that JFK had been shot. I ran to the office and turned the radio on with other teachers and heard it. We didn't know until after school that he had died. The school was closed the rest of the week. No matter where you went there was a deep sadness and quiet somber. Vic and I watched everything on TV and it brought us an empty feeling. Not only had JFK been shot but that it could happen here was a shock. It was something the kids in class talked about for many weeks, sadness and some fear. Most people we knew had the question why."

A few weeks later a couple of others contacted me with amazing information about their lives in the 60's.  One of them was friend Colleen. " Since my parents were missionaries and lived by the faith, our daily lives were like none others! Our 'Living by faith' meant that no one supported us, we trusted in God and lived off people's generosity in letting us stay in their homes and churches and others that gave free-will offerings! I'm still amazed what faith dad had in God, how we traveled all over, never went hungry and are still alive, Thank you Jesus!

I was in Cuba when Castro took over and that is one of my earliest travels out of USA that we went to. Like I said, a day in my life was one of prayer, learning to read and write from the Bible and never knowing where we would be off to the next day or what God had in store for us! Dad kept us very sheltered from the outside world, no radios, no TV's, no newspapers, so basically unless we witnessed it, in the midst of it, we were basically unaware of it happening!

After Cuba, we traveled in a car pulling a trailer. Usually down south because of the weather. We got caught up in the whites versus the blacks because we treated everybody the same! Dad got thrown in jail because we associated with black people, we'd been run out of town, had crosses burnt on homes we stayed at, but boy did I enjoy the black churches and they way they worshiped God! You could really feel God's presence there!!! To this day, no matter the color of their skin, where they live, what church they go to, whatever, there are good and bad everywhere!

We happened to be in the airport, don't recall where we were headed, that I heard and saw on TV that JFK had been shot! I recall people around me hysterical and I couldn't believe that was happening here in our country! See, I'd seen it in other countries but not here. I was taken aback! 

I recall losing friends, neighbors and others in the Vietnam war. horrific! Again, I could understand both sides, those that fought for freedom of others and the "hippies", peace loving people who didn't believe in fighting. It was a tough time! I saw results of those who lost their loved ones, results of the soldiers who came back only to freak out at every lil noise or just lost it all together. praying when my brother went to fight in Vietnam. Thank God he came home, but was really messed up with the hell he witnessed and survived. In 1967 or so, we flew into Berlin, took the train in surrounding countries. So much unrest, soldiers with their guns or rifles, constantly in the alert, makes you really watch your step. We passed from West to East Berlin, very scary! 

Oh yes, we were in Haiti when the son was trying to overthrow his dad, the president. Barrels of gasoline were being dropped like bombs around us. Through it all, God has protected us and brought us home! Again, we NEVER knew where dad was taking us next as he always told us that "the Holy Spirit" would lead and guide us."



Castro.



a group of hippie dancing.

A photo of the band The Monkees.

A bicycle with a banana seat and basket popular at the time.


























A photo of Lori Partridge played by Susan Day



Down below is a Teletype machine.

A Barbie doll from the 60's

 

A Blonde Wood TV

Communists

 In the movie Kommunist or Communist we start out hearing a story a boy's mother used to tell him every once and awhile. It follows a man named Gubanov. He with thousands of others traveled to Zagora so that one of the many power stations in Russia could be built. He finds room with a couple named Anyuta and Fedor, plus the other's they are boarding. everything is going smoothly until Gubanov says that he's a Communist, then the entire room is completely silent.

Anyuta is a very controversial character. At the end of the movie she falls in love with Gubanov, but that wasn't always the case. She was actually married, and when they first started to fall in love she denied him and said that she was married and this was a sin. Then when her husband finds out he kidnaps her and beats her up. I think she stopped loving her husband then, I know I would. She then confessed her undying love to Gubanov.

Fedor, Anyuta's husband, was actually a good guy. He left his wife to go get more food like lard and bread. He even had all the men clear out of his house so that none of them would hurt her. The only time he became a jerk was when he decided that he was going to kill his wife because she had gone with Gubanov to the power station. She had still been loyal up until that point but when he kidnapped her and drunkenly almost beat her to death, i was quick to leave his side of the argument.

Communism is the 1960's was focused on building up Russia. Meanwhile the US was sure that Russia was trying to destroy them. The US sent a U-2 spy plane over Russia, which the Russian shot down. The Russian's demanded an apology, which America refused to do. In 1961 Russia also got the first man in orbital flight.

When Gubanov dies in the end he doesn't die quietly, he dies hardcore style. He gets shot about 3 times and continues to walk towards the guy shooting him. By this point everyone is kinda shocked he hasn't cried out or died yet, they let him go after he yells at them. The man then shoots him another 5 times, while Gubanov just slowly walks towards him. Finally he gets shot in the heart and falls over backwards.


A photo of Anyuta


A movie poster for Kommunist


A photo of Gubanov

The Invasion of the Body Snatchers

People in the 1950's were afraid of the bombs being produced and tested during this time. This was why American's were fixated on monster and Sci-fi movies. At one point when Becky asked Miles what could the pods holding the body snatchers were, he replied with it's probably radiation. The only place the radiation could come from would be one of the hydrogen bombs. They focused a lot on the effects of what could happen because that were visualizing everyone's fears.

Another American fear that was placed into this movie was about space. The unknown is always scary to man. Everyone probably had a least a small fear that there were some sorts of creatures that were ready to come destroy man. In the end of the film we find out that the pods are actually from space. This was the American fear, that maybe we shouldn't have left earth.

 During the invasion it was hard to kill the body snatchers because they looked like your friends and loved ones. When Miles finds four of them, one looking like him, one looking like his love, and the other two his friends, he was going to kill them, the only trouble was that they looked so much like his friends. He started to kill Becky's body snatcher, the only problem was that it looked too much like her, so he only killed his body snatcher. After WWII where Hitler tried to only have people that were the same, I think this sparked a fear that everyone wanted to hold on to their individuality.

I personally did not like Becky at all. She was a flirty wimp who we all knew wouldn't make it in the end. At one point She tells Miles that she just can't go on and basically made him half drag, half carry the rest of the way to the mines. Now I must give her the excuse that she was wearing heals the entire time, while I think she should have ditched. In the end she selfishly said I have to sleep and did so, making her a pod person.

Poor Doctor Miles, didn't listen to his gut when things were just starting out weird. Instead of trying delve into trying to solve the mystery he just sat back and let it happen. Even he admits this when telling his story to the doctors. He was the last one of his town to make it out alive, everyone else was a pod person. I think that would be very hard, everyone you know and love was not them, void of true emotion.

When I was looking for pictures of this movie I found out that at first instead of the doctor's believing his story about the body snatchers when a pod was found they were going to have it be very different. In the end they were going to have truck loads of pods just pass Miles as he screamed his head off. The studio did not like the pessimistic view they gave the movie so instead he had them add the doctor scene, making the story more of a flashback. This made the movie way more relieving in the end instead of freaking you out like the body snatchers are coming for you next. I have to admit though when the doctors exchanged glances after the end of his story I thought they were pod people.





A photo of Becky Dristoll (Dana Wynter) Left, and Doctor Miles Bennell (Kevin McCarthy) Right.







A photo of the pods that would make the body snatchers.



The cover for Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

Carnival Night

During New Year's Eve the employees of an economic institute get ready to put on a New Year's party. They set up performers of jazz, dancing, and even magic tricks. Unfortunately the new director has arrived, and he wants everything to be serious. His name was Comrade Ogustsov. When he is shown the entire show he disapproves of everything, and it seems like the show is going to be a disaster!  Comrade Ogustsov wants the show having speakers reading reports on the company, and some serious calm music, played by the Veteran's Orchestra. 

everyone was in a panic, it was only a couple of hours before the show and the new director wanted to change everything and make it boring. They then have to work together to make sure that Comrade Ogustsov doesn't get on the stage and start to read his speech. They work together to trap the Comrade, and while he's busy getting un-trapped the scheduled performances go on.

This film is a representation of the artistic environment under the Kruschev Thaw. When Stalin was alive he was very strict about film, and the arts. One time when Stalin was watching a French film, the actors passionately french kissed. This made Stalin so mad that he banned kissing in all Soviet movies. Kissing was a part of this movie, but it's quick and startling that it's in public.

You see a huge difference in the views of the people in this movie. Comrade Ogustsov was wanting the party to be serious, while the younger people in their 20's wanted to have fun. This was probably because the man had lived through WWII, while the others were just children when it happened. WWII made people like Comrade Ogustsov think that the world had no hope, or a future. Luckily the employees prevailed in making it a grand evening.

A new permission the youths were given in this film was basically overriding authority, and doing what they want to with no bad consequences. They would do things like disregard what the director wanted and manipulated into what they wanted. Once when Comrade tried to stop the musical number, they lowered the stage lift he was on so that he was stuck below stage. At the end when it showed him trying to report their behavior, it ended with him asking the secretary what was the last thing on the letter, and her reply was, "That they found out you were a fool." They made the Comrade a fool, even though he wasn't.

The employees must find a way to save the New Year's Party from the new director.

Comrade Ogustsov (Eldar Ryazanov) tells the employees that they should have a castle like in the fairy tales and out comes, not Santa or an ice princess, but a lecturer, who will give a short two hour speech. 

You can see the horror written on her face at the very idea. He's kidding, right?!?



Oh dear, he's very serious.

The poster for the movie Carnival Night.

American Abroad

In the years of 1945 - 1950's America was going through a big change. WWII had just ended and everyone had trust issues, especially between the US and the USSR. This was because both nations wanted to be the leading nation of the world. The US began to worry about communism taking over Europe, so using the Marshall plan they gave away 13 billion dollars to different countries in Europe who worked together and were able to recover from the war.

In 1950 North Korea invaded South Korea claiming they wanted to be joined together once more. Because the US had made a containment policy protecting several little countries they decided to come help. The United Nations felt they needed to prove themselves better than the League of Nations so they decided to send troops to help the US. At first North Korea captured almost all of South Korea, but then the US and UN showed up gaining most of North Korea. Then China, supplied with weapons from the USSR decided that they would help get North Korea back. After millions were killed, China and the US decided to leave the border.

America in the 1950's was also booming in pop culture. They had many fads that everyone was doing. One of these things was the Hula hoop. Another fad in the 1950's involved hair. Woman would style their hair to look like the fur of a poodle dog. Families also had a TV. One of their favorite shows was I Love Lucy featuring Lucile Ball. More people watched the feature of Lucy give birth then the inauguration of president Dwight D. Eisenhower.

After WWII in America something called the baby boom began. It was said that almost exactly 9 months after WWII ended you could hear the cry of a baby across the land. In 1946 more than 3.4 billion babies were born, 20% more then the previous year. The average American women married at age 20 and had children as soon as possible. This was probably because the depression of war was over and the comfort and hope of the future looked bright.

The American perfect society was a dream, until the magical suburbs made it a reality. It was a tempting pace to move to, considering they could get out of the stuffed cities, and have a safe place to raise their kids. With the suburbs women started feeling oppressed and buried as the idea came back that they should be taking up the role as mother and wife. This was hard for them because during the war they had been doing the men's jobs while the men were off at war. This was the start of Women's rights campaigns.

In the movie The Secret of the Incas Harry Steele makes a living by giving tours as a tourist guide in Peru, but he plans to steal the Inca treasure the sunburst to make a fortune. He brings along a girl named Elena Antonescu who is a survivor of the iron curtain. They race to Machupichu where they find a archaeological dig. The race is on to find the sunburst when his nemesis Ed Morgan arrives also searching the sunburst. While Ed is sleeping Harry slips away to the temple to find the sunburst. which is hidden in a column. Ed then shows up and grabs the sunburst, shooting his way out of the temple. All of the Incas and Harry fast on his trail. Harry then corners him on a cliff, and when Ed falls to his death Harry realizes that he doesn't want to be like Ed and returns the sunburst the the Incas.

Mother and children going to church on a Sunday, you can see the Coca-Cola sign being advertised in the pizza shop window behind them



An advertisement for the suburb life.

Baby booming began in early 1946 


Lucile Ball  with the latest fashion of the 1950's the poodle cut.


A photo of  Harry Steele (Left) and Elena Antonescu (Right)