Posted on 01/09/2007 9:18:52 AM PST by HungarianGypsy
I am wanting to write a story based on a young adult in the 1960s. Since I was born in 1973 all I really know is what I studied in books. But, I want to get beyond love beads and LSD. I want to be able to write this as it really was. I know it's said if you remember the '60s you weren't really there. But, if anyone does remember I would appreciate reading your stories and facts. Thank you.
How about Canoe men's cologne? "Do you canoe?" :)
Remember High Karate cologne?
I remember black churches burning in Arkansas in the Sixties!
When I was going to school in Arkansas in the 60s, I made a point to ride in the back of the bus with the African-American kids!
Kenton ...... A lot of what you said is FAIRLY accurate, as I recall.
For the early part of the '60s, see "American Graffiti". For the latter part, see "Full Metal Jacket". That was the '60s.
I graduated H.S. in 1964, grew up in Southern California and totally lived the rise of surfing, woodies, the Beach Boys Easter week at Balboa AND at Palm Springs .... the works!
I remember most of the '60s very fondly, they were great times. I am, however, deeply affected by Vietnam. My mom told me that the son she sent there never returned. She says that to this day. While that did change me, I'm proud as hell of my service and wouldn't change going.
Please excuse all the pics, I just learned how to post them recently AND I just discovered and am joining the Swift Boat Sailors Assoc. San Diego reunion in May also ...... I can't wait!
Nam Vet
I was a kid in the 60's and it was safe for me to ride my bike all around my neighborhood without anyone watching over me. I could even go to a neighbors house and accept food without any worries. The world had a lot more love in it than now.
I hope you share your book with us when it's completed.
Best of wishes to you, HungarianGypsy.
hg |
According to the Selective Services draft classification chart, there is no such designation of 2S or 1Y. 2-S is a student deferment. 1-Y meant "Registrant qualified for service only in time of war or national emergency" whatever that means and was abolished in December 1971. Howard Dean and Rush Limbaugh were classified 1-Y. |
Yes, I remember that.
I personally used English Leather. The smell of it absorbed into my suede jacket. The females of the species loved it.
High school students were adults and behaved liked adults. Most were married to their high school sweethearts soon after graduation, got a decent job, and became good citizens at age 18. We did that in 1968 and are still sweethearts!
I was in engineering school in the early sixties and worked 18 hour days. Classes, labs, study study study,
Nose to the grindstone, etc etc.
Then it was Friday and beer , beer, beer.
I wittnessed the civil rights movement up close. Our annual spring riots and march through the streets to the nearby girls school were cancelled. We were forbidden to take to the streets. The blacks on the other hand were given free rein. They marched on the streets and trampled the Governors flowers. Msny were jailed and the singing in the jail could be heard for blocks. The quiet was disturbed and the pigeons and starlings roosting on the jail window cells were didturbed and flew confused by street lights.
I wittnessed the great bicycle rack take over. A group of black students protested at the movie theater down town. A few, 5 0r 6 tough white boys sat on the bicycle rack in front of the theater, occupying the whole length. One got up and was suddenly replaced by a black boy. the white boy next in line was revulsed and moved away, scooting the white boy on the end off the rack. A second black immediately occupied the space on the opposite end. This progression took place until the rack was entirely captured.
At the end of school, marriage was immediate. The bonds of marriage provided a deferrment. I had a double deferrment. I was married and worked for the Navy. I had skills required that the Navy desired enough to provide a draft deferrment.
My contribution to the war effort was administering contrcts for building stuff needed to prosecute the war. I was out of the country for two years. I saw or heard no hippies.
When I returned, Los Angeles and Detroit were burning. The disgruntled racists teamed up with the disgruntled pacifists and burned the place down. Those people just took control of the country. Not one of them is worth the powder to blow them to hell.
Do you remember the freedom we felt before the appearance of Aids? That changed the landscape quite a bit. It used to be 'eight to eighty, blind, crippled, or crazy'. Then we had to be a little more selective.
Hey baby won't you take a chance? Say that you'll let me have this dance Well let's dance, well let's dance We'll do the twist, the stomp, the mashed potato too, Any old dance that you wanna do But let's dance, well let's dance
Da-dum, da-da-da-da-da-da-da Da-dum, da-dum Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da Da-dum, Da-dum Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da Why haven't I told you Oh, baby, I've told every little star Just how sweet I think you are Why haven't I, I told you
"So then, we oughta see you do your stuff!"
LOL,Now If I could just remember what my stuff was!
I reckin you all don't know me at all,
I just got here today...
My home is way down in a little town, its not so far away.
Every body for miles around
Calls me by my name
Now that I am in your fair town,
You must do the same, for I'm a
Chorus 1
Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas
You ought to see me do my stuff.
I'm a clean cut fellow from Homer's Comer You ought to see me strut.
I'm a caper cuttin'cuttie,
Got a gal named Katie,
She's little heavy laden but I call
Her Baby,
I'm a Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas, You ought to see me do my stuff.
You're right, the last Bikini test was in 1958, but testing did continue at other sites in the Pacific until 1962.
In high school, girls could not wear pants or jeans and skirts had to be at the knee (at least in my NJ public school.)
No pants or pantsuits in the early '60s at the office.
Some firms would not allow women to wear long hair down and loose..had to be pinned back.
Ashtrays on everyone's desk at the office...smoking everywhere.
What is considered "the 60's" really didn't start until 1967 and wasn't in full practice until 1969.
My parents were into the whole Ratpack thing, and their kind of 60s democrat was more conservative than today's republican.
I was 8 years old in 1969. Sports were the most important thing at the time. The whole space program thing was kinda cool too. I wore my hair a little longer, but I had no desire to have a ponytail or shoulder length hair.
Since I was only 8, I didn't really care about the music, I never saw any drug usage or protests, and racial issues were not really an issue that I saw much of. IOW, the 60s culture that we remember today is more media hype than reality.
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