Our contest so far…
Only 48 entries in the comments, folks, and not every one of those is an actual contest entry. This makes the odds of winning very good, so jump in.
The most surprising entry to me, so far, was miamimami’s Eames chairs. Of course these chairs were and are a part of popular culture, but I never would have considered interior design when I was listing pop culture “things” that qualified.
I am, of course, not qualified to enter (that would be funny). If I was to name my favorite pop culture thing from 1960-62, it would surely be Dr. No, the first James Bond movie. So my joy was great when jess listed it.
The entries that have touched me most in the Aww place have been Etch-a-Sketch and A Wrinkle in Time. How many times did I read that book?
Be sure to enter, and then come back here and tell us, what other entries have been your favorites?
September 7th, 2008 at 9:27 am
Lots of good, iconic stuff from that time. Lots of fluff, too. I’m surprised no one has listed the following:
Johnny Carson debuts on the Tonight Show - 1962.
Motown Records produce their first top 10 hits between 1960 and 1962: Barrett Strong’s Money (That’s What I Want), The Marvellettes’ Please Mr. Postman, and Smokey Robinson and The Miracles’ Shop Around.
The Andy Griffith Show. Sheriff Andy. Aunt Bea. Opie. And Barney Fife. In Mayberry! How could no one list this? Debuted 1960.
The Flintstones, which debuted in 1960, and was the first prime time cartoon. It’s main sponsor in those days was Winston cigarettes, and the opening and closing credits initially featured shout-outs to the brand. A clear indication that the show was geared toward adults.
Bullwinkle and Rocky, another cartoon that appealed to adults, but was broadcast during the typical kiddie programming hours (after school or Saturday mornings). Started briefly in 1959 as Rocky and Friends. Re-tooled and re-launced in 1961 as The Bullwinkle Show.
Beany and Cecil. Yet another cartoon that appealed to adults as well as the kiddies. Started as a puppet show in the 1950s, but morphed to it’s more memorable cartoon form in 1962.
And you can’t mention Saturday morning cartoon shows without giving a mention to Cap’n Crunch cereal, which made its first appearance in 1962.
September 7th, 2008 at 9:36 am
Those chairs are very Art Deco, and of course Art Deco is a very big thing in Miami, so I am not surprised Miamimami likes them.
September 7th, 2008 at 9:43 am
For some reasons I keep thinking that The Captain and Tennile sang “Please Mr. Postman” my mind is stuck in the 70’s right now. Saw the finale of “Swingtown” the other night and jeez, they left a lot of things up in the air. Sure hope they renew, cause it sort of had everything a mess in the end.
They did that in “American Dreams” and it pissed me off royally. If they know they are not going to renew, give us a decent ending and some closure.
September 7th, 2008 at 9:50 am
Slip n slide! 1961.
September 7th, 2008 at 10:00 am
Hi Hullaballo - Looks you missed my input below…
# 2 Peter G Says:
September 4th, 2008 at 11:45 am
On March 27, 1962 Johnny Carson takes over the Tonight Show, starting an amazing 30 year run of 1874 episodes.
Regards,
Peter G
September 7th, 2008 at 11:56 am
my granparents came from cuba in 1955 and settled in key west. my abuelo built houses. i grew up with that influence. always loved 1950-1960s florida homes - not the barrel roof tile, spanish style but more the flat roof, super clean lines, simple design. i bought my house when i was 23 and it was perfect. it fit the style i find to be very Florida. when i met my husband, our appreciation of midcentury design led us to discover Paul Rudolph and Sarasota Modern.
we love the aesthetics of the period. how people lived and where they dwelled comprises so much of that era. it also shows how they viewed modern and futuristic. much of the furniture at the time reflects that and is made for ease of use, practicality in terms of space, how it functions in it environment as well as comfort.
the set design for Mad Men and the furniture pieces are incredible. also, the artwork throughout the office. It is very interesting when you start looking at how each couple’s home is decorated and you juxtaposition it with their personalities……
September 7th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Re: Etch-A-Sketch
The Season 1 DVD extras note that Matt Weiner originally wanted the Draper kids to be playing with one when Betty takes out the bird bath with her car — but the toy would not be introduced until a month or two after the episode took place, so Weiner took it out.
September 7th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Como Esta Miamimami, my hubby came from Cuba in 1999. Aboard a cigarette boat crammed with 35 other Cuban refugees. The only reason they made it was that the Elian Gonzales situation had taken the coast guard away from their direction.
Miami has some great Art Deco. But I love the uses of color, Turquoise and Magenta.
The one reason I love all the set in MadMen is a great use of color. You rarely see just white walls. Peggy’s apartment has those dark walls, with the crown molding and hard wood floors which I love in old building. The offices have the wood panelling, and the houses all have wallpaper. The colors in Don’s house (buttercup yellow). I just love all the color.
Use to have an a apartment on Davis Island, Tampa. It was built in 1910. It had tall ceiling, huge closets and hard wood floors. It had a back stairwell for milk delivery. I would imagine what people lived in the apartment over time.
September 7th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
@ hullaballoo #1
Rocky and Bullwinkle! Why didn’t I think of that? Genius show!
Your mentioning the earliest Motown hits reminded me of the other great pop music force to emerge 1960-62: Phil Spector. His greatest songs didn’t really begin until 1963, but The Crystals’ “He’s A Rebel” was #1 in November 1962.
September 7th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
I didn’t even see the earlier reference to Dr No, when I put mine up there! Well, great minds and all…
September 8th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Fantastic blog, I just found it!
How about the red plaid Skotch Koolers? They began production in the 1950s, but our family was still buying and using them into the ’60s. There were also the matching plaid thermoses and plaid-and-pleather sandwich carriers, one of which I believe Don’s head is resting on at their picnic.
http://www.murketing.com/journal/?p=221
I myself would vote for either the Barbie Doll (classic!) or Telstar (the satellite and the song) entry; that song haunts me to this day, of magical times gone by. :-}
September 8th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
Jannah, welcome. Please put your contest entry in the contest thread (link at the top left of the page). This is just discussion about the contest.