1966 - What's Up

Top 20 Songs

  1. The Ballad of the Green Berets - Sgt. Barry Sadler
  2. Cherish - Association
  3. You're My Soul and Inspiration - Righteous Brothers
  4. Monday, Monday - The Mama's and the Papa's
  5. 96 Tears - ? and the Mysterians
  6. Last Train to Clarksville - The Monkees
  7. Reach Out I'll Be There - Four Tops
  8. Summer in the City - Lovin' Spoonful
  9. The Poor Side of Town - Johnny Rivers
  10. California Dreamin' - The Mama's and the Papa's
  11. You Can't Hurry Love - Supremes
  12. What Becomes of the Brokenhearted - Jimmy Ruffin
  13. These Boots are Made for Walin' - Nancy Sinatra
  14. Born Free - Roger Williams
  15. Strangers in the Night - Frank Sinatra
  16. We Can Work it Out - The Beatles
  17. When a Man Loves a Woman - Percy Sledge
  18. Winchester Cathedral - New Vaudeville Band
  19. Hanky Panky - Tammy James and the Shrondells
  20. Good Lovin' - Young Rascals

1966 inflation grew as part of the effect to fund the war in Vietnam continued. Both the US and USSR continued in their space race to see who would be the first to land a man on the moon. Race riots continued to increase across cities in America and National Guards were needed to bring back law and order. The fashions in both America and UK came from a small well known street in London ( Carnaby Street ) part of the swinging London scene , both women and men wore patterned pants and flowered shirts and boots, shoes and even caps utilized the plastic and vinyl for a wet shiny look. The most popular groups included The "Beach Boys" with Pet Sounds, The "Rolling Stones" with Under my Thumb and The "Beatles" with Revolver, and Yesterday and Today. 
 

Cost of Living 1966

How Much things cost in 1966
Yearly Inflation Rate USA 3.01%
Yearly Inflation Rate UK 3.8%
Year End Close Dow Jones Industrial Average 785
Average Cost of new house $14,200.00
Average Income per year $6,900.00
Gas per Gallon 32 cents
Average Cost of a new car $2,650.00
Dishwasher$119.95
Parker Pen Set $11.95 

 

Technology 1966

  • Worlds first vertical Jump Jet the Harrier is introduced in UK

  • Hovercraft service begins over the English Channel

  • Pampers create the first disposable Diaper

  • Color Television Sets become popular

  • There are 78 million cars registered in the US
  • Inventions Invented by Inventors and Country ( or attributed to First Use )
    Kevlar USA by Stephanie Kwolek
    Fibre Optics England by Charles Keo and George Hockham
    Moon Landing Russia Luna 9 lands softly on the Moon
    Space Docking USA Gemini VIII docks with an orbiting satellite 
     

    Major World Political Leaders 1966

    Australia Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies Till 26 January
    Australia Prime Minister Harold Holt From 26 January

    Brazil President Castelo Branco

    Canada Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson

    China Chairman of the People's Republic of China Liu Shaoqi

    France President Charles de Gaulle

    Germany Chancellor Ludwig Erhard Till 1 December
    Germany Chancellor Kurt Georg Kiesinger From 1 December

    India Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri Till 11 January
    India Prime Minister Gulzarilal Nanda From 11 January
    India Prime Minister Gulzarilal Nanda Till 24 January
    India Prime Minister Indira Gandhi From 24 January

    Italy Prime Minister Aldo Moro

    Japan Prime Minister Eisaku Sato

    Mexico President Gustavo Díaz Ordaz

    Russia / Soviet Union
    First Secretary of the CPSU Leonid Brezhnev

    South Africa Prime Minister Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd Till 6 September
    South Africa Prime Minister Balthazar Johannes Vorster From 6 September

    United States President Lyndon B. Johnson

    United Kingdom Prime Minister Harold Wilson
     



     

Popular Culture

  • Star Trek first episode of the science fiction television series Star Trek
  • Author Jacqueline Susann has her first novel, Valley of the Dolls published
  • Dr. Seuss' "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" the animated television special adapted from the book is shown for first time on CBS
  • Simon and Garfunkel release Sounds of Silence,

Popular Films

  • Thunderball
  • Dr. Zhivago
  • Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
  • A Man for All Seasons

Popular Musicians

  • The Mamas and the Papas
  • The Beatles
  • The Monkees
  • The Beach Boys
  • The Rolling Stones
  • Simon and Garfunkel 


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