1966 - What's Up
Top 20 Songs
- The Ballad of the Green Berets - Sgt. Barry Sadler
- Cherish - Association
- You're My Soul and Inspiration - Righteous Brothers
- Monday, Monday - The Mama's and the Papa's
- 96 Tears - ? and the Mysterians
- Last Train to Clarksville - The Monkees
- Reach Out I'll Be There - Four Tops
- Summer in the City - Lovin' Spoonful
- The Poor Side of Town - Johnny Rivers
- California Dreamin' - The Mama's and the Papa's
- You Can't Hurry Love - Supremes
- What Becomes of the Brokenhearted - Jimmy Ruffin
- These Boots are Made for Walin' - Nancy Sinatra
- Born Free - Roger Williams
- Strangers in the Night - Frank Sinatra
- We Can Work it Out - The Beatles
- When a Man Loves a Woman - Percy Sledge
- Winchester Cathedral - New Vaudeville Band
- Hanky Panky - Tammy James and the Shrondells
- 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