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. :-}

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.

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.

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.

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.

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……

# 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