Going Back In Time

In a fast-paced society, slowing down and reminiscing can be an overlooked past-time. But every so often we have a reason to do exactly that and if you are getting together for a 50-year class reunion, or celebrating 50 years of anything, really, here are a few forgotten facts to entertain you.

In 1966 Lyndon B. Johnson was president of the United States and signed the Freedom of Information Act in October; who could've guessed the magnitude that would have years later!

All across the nation, and around the world for that matter, people were protesting the Vietnam War and according to Gallup Polls, American public support for the war dropped from 52 percent to 37 percent. The Miranda Rights came to be this year, cigarette packs had their first mandated health warning, and the U.S. Department of Transportation was formed.

If you wanted to take in a movie, that would've been about $1.09 per ticket and maybe you would've seen "A Man for All Seasons", which won the Academy Award that year. Myself? I would've been spending my money to see (KAPOW!) you guessed it, the original "Batman" movie starring Adam West.

To send someone Good Vibrations (The Beach Boys) via post, a first-class stamp would've run $.05. Swanson added blueberry muffin desserts to their pre-made dinners this year, and I'm sure that families across the country settled in with their TV dinners for an episode of "Green Acres," "Bewitched," or "The Andy Griffith Show". Perhaps they even settled in to watch the initial airing of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas".

On the fashion front, skirts were on the rise. Literally, mini-skirts were everywhere, but women's pants suits were picking up popularity, too. More women than ever before owned 'Falls' or half-wigs to add length to their hair and I'm a Believer (The Monkees), as are many others, that the sixties changed fashion forever.

The 1966 Ford Mustang was one of the first cars marketed towards women, being advertised as 'The Sweetheart of the Supermarket.' It was quite the stylish ride to pick up bread at $.22 a loaf or hamburger at $.45/lb.

The average income was $6,899.00 per year and every Monday, Monday (The Mamas & the Papas) about 36% of women were off to work; the National Organization for Women (NOW) was also formed that year.

But all this groovy stuff aside, my personal vote for the single best fact of 1966 is that Pampers introduced the very first disposable diaper! Sure the 1960's race-to-space riveted the nation, but never having to wash, dry, and fold diapers again? That's really something to get excited about!