Does anyone here remember the 1950s or 60s were like? If so, what was it like?

[Skyros]

[Bluemax]

I was two years old when the 60s ended, and although I have a good memory of my childhood (I could describe the layout of my first house in greater detail than my older brother and sister, and I have a memory of being given a bath in the sink, being given a bottle, and being on the changing table), I couldn't tell you much about the sixties.

The 60s did leave fingerprints which I remember though. I do remember populux designs still being a thing (you can still see some buildings of that design even today, but most have been demolished). I remember populuxe cars, radios, coffee shops.

Mind you, all this was on its way out when I was a toddler. But it still persisted even into the early 70s. Since this was what the world looked like in the cartoon the Jetsons, I thought this style was the wave of the future! As I was just a toddler, I couldn't comment about the socio-political atmosphere of the day, but I do remember some things from the early 70s, in particular Watergate and the Patty Hearst abduction. Later on, when I read American Heiress by Jeffrey Toobin, he described the early 70s as the 60s gone sour. I think he was right.

[FunkyMonkee]

It had lots of turmoil but it was the best time to live!! Only the early to mid `80's comes close.
Best t.. v. shows, movies, music, etc.. If you can ever get hold of the original "Wonder Years" series, that'll give you a great idea of what it was like! I've not seen the new one, yet so, I can't speak on that. Another way to find out is to watch some of the movies and t. v. shows from back then. "I Dream Of Jeanie", "Bewitched", "Rowen & Martin's Laugh-In", "The Monkees" (That'd be your best example), "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour", stuff like that. For the `50's, try, "Leave It To Beaver", "The Dick Van Dyke Show", "Father Knows Best", "The Donna Reed Show", "Dobie Gillis", "77 Sunset Strip", "Ozzy & Harriet", etc.. Early `50's, try, "Happy Days" (at least the first 2 to 4 years), "Laverne & Shirley" (probably the first year or two), "I Love Lucy", "The Honeymooners", etc..

[lovedejj_xo]

Well I mean the boycotts we’re going on during that era for my culture ….

[andreasderjuengere]

I was about 7 when the 60's ended.
Germany: Things were a lot simpler, much more ''local'' - and slower.
People had more time to do things right, and were not driven and rushed so much as it's the case presently.
One was -overall- not as world-smart as meanwhile; but I see (now) that there had been more mental energy to experiment, to innovate and to 'take risks'.
(Hippie 'movement', psychedelic music, sexual 'revolution', beginnings of ''green thinking'', cars with fins, political protest, etc.)
''We'' (the world's population) knew less; but ''we'' acted more intelligent and considerate.
Greed had been an exception, not the rule. Social integrity and helpfulness were still ''values''.

[OlderAndWiser]

I was 14 years old in 1969 and I remember it well.

If you compare 1960 and 1970, you will get an idea of how much the world changed in those 10 years. The culture of 1960 was dominated by conformity and tradition. By 1970. hippies charted our direction and the popular experession was to "tune in, turn on, drop out." You cannot imagine ow much happened and how much changed in that decade unless you lived through it.

[Skyros]

For starters, thanks a lot for answering. You’ve sparked my interest with the difference between 1960 and 1970. What is your biggest take away from the 60s and is it a time in your life you wish you could revisit?

[Bluemax]

Jeffrey Toobin wrote that the early 70s were the 60s gone sour. Do you agree with this, olderandwiser? Do you remember the Patty Hearst abduction and the whole Symbianese Liberation Army thing? Do you remember Helter Skelter and the Manson murders? Do you remember Watergate and Nixon's resignation?

I remember all those things except Helter Skelter. However, Helter Skelter saw a resurgence of interest after the book was published and they turned it into a made for TV movie... which SCARED THE DAYLIGHTS OUT OF ME!!! The guy they got to play Manson was TERRIFYING!!!

And remind me to ask you about Apollo 11. It's something I always ask people who were old enough to remember it about.

[OlderAndWiser]

There was much violence in the 1960's, especially in the poitical arena. They were scary times. And during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, schools had us young kids actually practicing nclear bomb drills, just like fire drills. More scary stuff. There were mass shootings such as the UT bell tower and the Chicago nurses cases. And, every night on the national news, we heard the daily body count from the war in Vietnam.

[OlderAndWiser]

@Bluemax I think the 1970's was a time to rebounding from revolution back towards the mainstream. The most extreme parts o the 1960's went underground but the cultural revolution was embraced.

[Bluemax]

Ah yes, the "duck and cover" era!

[Bluemax]

Do you remember the Patty Hearst abduction?

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

I slightly remember the early 70s and after that a little, I was born in 1968 so I just turned 3 years old in the year 1971 and got ready for Kindergarten in the year 1973 at 5 years old

[TommyMountainFigure]

No idea, but that Abbey Road Zebra Crossing in the photo still looks the same now as it did then.

[MTC29]

I was bornin in 1960, so I missed the 50's, but I do remember the late 60's.

[Rockstarrrrr]

I asked my grandma before.. She told me life was simple and the world wasn't so overpopulated everyone had it easy...

[OddBeMe]

Funny that your pic is from the very very end of 1960s…

But just imagine now, less tech, less rights for homos, women, and blacks.

[Skyros]

I really wasn’t sure what picture to pick honestly. I just knew the Beatles were big at that time.

[OddBeMe]

I mean it’s correct. Just literally 1969. But the 70s weren’t better either really.

[AFretiredTXn]

I was born in '51 and graduated HS in '69 and drafted in 71

It didn't take a paycheck to fill your car with gas, but back then it possibly did.

It was a great time.

[Selene_94]

Yeah it’s all in black and white like in the videos.

[LeftHappy]

The 70's were split, on the one hand you had the war in Vietnam which was unpopular and then you had this peaceful side like country music and pretty good Tv shows.

[Likes2drive]

I remember very little of the 60s but it seemed like very poor times , the cars were cool though

[JoyGirl]

I was not even conceived. 😂😂😂