I just had a birthday . . . the one that officially signifies that I am old! At the ripe age of sixty-five, I don’t feel old mentally as I still have much I want to accomplish. However, it does make one stop and ponder the past and what influences made you who you are. I am a child of the sixties ― the decade of peace and love.
People today are still living off the table scraps of the sixties. They are still being passed around – the music and the ideas.
― Bob Dylan
When 1960 rolled around I was almost three years old. The overarching sentiment of the decade for me was a spirit of optimism. My parents had lived through the Depression and WWII. My father fought in WWII from 1941 through 1945. Many soldiers came home, got an education, and worked to make a wonderful life for their families. My father was no exception. He went to business college to study accounting, short-hand, and other skills needed in the business world at that time.
My father’s goal was to make life comfortable for his family―which he did. We lived in a ranch-style house, were a two-car household, and we had a nice TV. Mother’s goal was to make the house clean, organized, and comfortable. My parents made sure my sister and I had everything we needed (and wanted). We went on family vacations once or twice every summer. We documented them with our cameras and home movie cameras. Surely our lives were much better than our parents’ lives when they were children. Everyone assumed the economy and the world would continue to prosper and become a better place for everyone.
Life was stable and predictable for me. I went to school and every afternoon I came home to have a snack followed by homework and watching TV at night. I would practice piano when my mother could cajole, bargain, or threaten me into doing it. Mostly, she would sit with me for thirty minutes every day and watch (make) me practice.
Saturday mornings we cleaned house and I watched cartoons. Most Saturday afternoons were reserved for going roller skating. At the end of the skating sessions there was a dance contest. Everyone took their skates off and ran back out onto the rink and danced the twist as hard and best they could. It was there I learned to do the twist to the Chubby Checker’s song, “The Twist.” Someone was chosen as the best, but I don’t recall what the prize was. Saturday night, mother cooked hamburgers and we were allowed our weekly soft drink. We mostly had Coke, but I remember when Tab and Fresca came on the market. Of course, we tried them and I remember the sparkly, fizzy feeling of Fresca when you drank it the first time.
Church on Sunday morning was followed by a lunch of fried chicken with sweet iced tea and banana pudding. There must have been vegetables but I would not eat vegetables, so I do not have a clear memory of what those were. Sunday night we all sat in the den as a family and watched Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color.
The blissful calendar of my life seemed endless. The sixties, in some ways, were an idyllic time filled with simple pleasures and optimism about moving society forward. Peace, love, and equality were seen as viable and important enough to march for, organize sit-ins for, write music about, and even die for.
TV in the Sixties
The first thing I remember from the early sixties is TV shows which were left-over from the fifties―such as Father Knows Best, Bonanza, I Love Lucy, Lassie, and The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet. While many of the TV shows were simple and family oriented, later there were also shows that pushed the envelope of what had been acceptable in middle-class America. Some of this was evidenced in the fashions, hair styles, and music. I remember the first time I saw Cher on TV with her mid-riff top and low-cut bellbottoms. Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-in commented on politicians and made popular such phrases as “Sock it to me.”
One of the first sitcoms to focus on an unmarried woman who lived on her own was That Girl starring Marlo Thomas. She was an aspiring actress who moved to New York to try and make it. Some consider this show to be the forerunner of The Mary Tyler Moore Show. I am sure seeing an independent young woman had an effect on my visions for possibilities in the future.
Some of my favorite shows were the variety shows with all the music and popular musical guests. I watched them all, but my favorites were The Andy Williams Show and American Bandstand with Dick Clark. “It’s got a good beat and you can dance to it” still echoes in my mind!
Even though I was still very much a child and loved simple things like The Mickey Mouse Club and The Andy Griffith Show, television brought sophistication and new (maybe even revolutionary) ideas into our homes each week.
Music In the Sixties
I loved music―all kinds! From the Byrds, the Beatles, to the Rascals . . . it was a fertile decade for folk, rock, and singer-songwriters. I constantly listened to the radio, watched variety shows on TV which featured all the current artists and groups, and often bought 45s and a few albums. I am amazed at how many lyrics I remember from the sixties. It is not that I consciously set out to memorize the songs but they permeated my life and became a natural part. I am sure the music influenced who I am today.
My father listened to country music and watched The Grand Ole Opry on TV. I was exposed to this music, but I was influenced by my mother’s disdain for the topics of drinking and womanizing. I don’t remember any specific impressions except from watching on TV the clothes seemed garish and being “country” was not something I aspired to. Our relatives had farms and worked very hard. That did not seem glamorous to me. My parents had worked diligently to get away from that very difficult life.
Some of the groups I particularly enjoyed during the sixties were The Hollies, Herman’s Hermits, The Monkees, The Association, Blood, Sweat & Tears, The Lettermen, The Lovin’ Spoonful, Peter, Paul & Mary, The Rascals, The Vogues, The Mamas and Papas, The Byrds, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Simon & Garfunkel.
Some of the solo artists I liked were Andy Williams, Tom Jones, Barbra Streisand, Bobby Goldsboro, Dionne Warwick, Dusty Springfield, Judy Collins, Petula Clark and Glenn Campbell.
To read more about my impressions of the music from the sixties check out my blog post: My Top Twenty Favorite Songs of the Sixties.
Peace and love were favorite topics of much of the music. These seemed like worthy goals . . . and, they still do.
Movies in the Sixties
I particularly loved the Disney movies such as The Parent Trap, The Three Lives of Thomasina, The Absent-Minded Professor, Mary Poppins, That Darn Cat!, The Sword in the Stone, Pollyanna, and The Love Bug.
I had a friend who loved the James Bond movies. His parents would take us to see them. We saw Goldfinger, From Russia With Love, You Only Live Twice, and Thunderball. I saw women in these movies being objectified and sexualized and I can’t remember if I saw that as normal or desirable. I probably did not but, I would not have been able to verbalize those thoughts at the time.
One year, while on summer vacation, my sister talked our parents into letting us go see the Beatles’ movie, A Hard Day’s Night.
I also remember seeing The Green Berets, Funny Girl, The Sound of Music, Doctor Zhivago, Shenandoah, Camelot, Hello, Dolly!, and True Grit. And, as a field trip, our entire sixth grade class went to see Gone with the Wind. I must say, when I saw this movie, I was more aware of the romantic escapades of Scarlett O’Hara than the backdrop of the war and its social issues. The movie painted a picture of the South during that period from a particular point of view . . . only later have I realized how some of the facts were distorted or glossed over.
These larger-than-life stories on the big screen showed me other people, places, and experiences. I enjoyed the many lovable characters in the Disney movies — such as Mary Poppins — and also learned about the old South, World War II, the Cold War, the Viet Nam War and current social issues.
Fashion and Hair Styles in the Sixties
Seventeen Magazine was a staple for girls up through high school. It dictated style, fashion, hair styles, dating advice, along with skin and make-up pointers. Models such as Twiggy became household names. We all wanted to look like the girls in those pages. I can still remember many of the clothes pictured on the cover of the magazine. It was all very trendy!
Some of the new fashions were hip-huggers. These pants sat low on the hips and featured wide, bell-shaped legs that flared out at the bottom (bell bottoms). They were often boldly striped or covered in abstract patterns and bright, wild colors. And, of course I had several pairs which made me feel grown-up and stylish!
Another new style was the Nehru jacket and clothes with Nehru collars. Gogo boots were popular as well as colorful fish net stockings.
One particular dress I remember that I wore in the fifth grade was a brightly-colored culotte dress with a Nehru collar. The material was a shiny, orange paisley acetate fabric. I wore it with orange fish net stockings.
Boys began wearing their hair long and straight. It was the “hippie” look. The style was controversial because before that time boys had short hair or buzz cuts. Girls let their hair grow long into a more natural look . . . although, other styles included the Beehive, the Bob, the Mop Top, and the Pixie.
Social Issues During the Sixties
I may not have understood political or larger social issues, but I learned a lot from TV and music. Variety shows such as The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-in often took a jab at politics and current events. Some of the greatest comic relief and more thought-provoking takes on screen would not have been made possible without serious things happening around the world.
Cultural movements for peace and love permeated the themes in the music. I was a little too young to fully appreciate some of the ramifications, but I certainly heard about free love, drugs, love-ins, and hippies. Peace symbols were everywhere and California seemed to be where the latest mod and hip new movements were happening. Anti-war lyrics along with brotherly love themes were important in the sixties―and, became paramount for me as well.
My ideas of feminism took shape first through reading the Nancy Drew book series. She was an amateur sleuth who was talented at most everything―along with being mentally strong, clever, and determined. I desired to have her wit and fearlessness. And, I dreamed of driving a blue roadster one day! Like her, a car would bring me independence and mobility.
Also, in the British TV series The Avengers Diana Rigg’s character, Mrs. Emma Peel, defined the heroine of the sixties―smart, beautiful, witty, a champion fencer, martial arts expert, modern artist, crack shot with a pistol, and fearless secret agent. She wore sleek black leather and chic body stockings.
The TV show Honey West starred Anne Francis who was one of the first female private eyes to appear on television. She drove a Jaguar convertible, carried a gun, was trained in martial arts and had a pet ocelot named Bruce. I remember one scene that showed her working the clutch in her high-heeled pumps while speeding around town in her Jaguar.
Nancy Drew, Honey West, and Emma Peel filled my head with ideas that women could be strong and independent―and be treated equally. That did not happen to be the reality for women in my life. Most did not work outside the home. The only women I knew were teachers, nurses, secretaries, or stay at home moms.
Incidentally, years later (about 2010) I met two young women who attended a local university. They were transferring out because — in their words — the only choices given them were to be a teacher or nurse. I was shocked and appalled that this would still be the case for any woman that many years later.
My experience with the Civil Rights movement was limited. The schools in my city were segregated until about 1969. The summer before the 1969-70 school year some schools were closed and the city redistricted the school lines. That meant that schools had more kids and they were from different areas than before. I do not recall any problems. However, for me, it was hard to be thrown into such a large population of kids who I did not know. The friends who I had known throughout elementary school were suddenly all spread out into various classes.
I remember reading about cross burnings in yards and sit-ins at soda fountains. In fact, we stopped going to a local soda fountain for fear of being involved in some sort of incident. If I remember correctly, the establishment closed the seating area, but you could go in and purchase take-out orders.
We often went to Birmingham for doctor appointments and to shop downtown. I remember one time my father telling my mother to be careful. Looking back, I believe this would have been after the 1963 Birmingham riot and bombings. I knew something was amiss, but my parents did not talk about it. My father had grown up poor in a neighborhood that included both blacks and whites. It is my belief they felt everyone to be equal. They did not express racist ideas, but I am sure people around them did.
On vacations, I went to beach hangouts with my sister (six years older than me) and her friend. There were bands playing loud music and couples danced. When we entered, they stamped our hand with a fluorescent mark that glowed in the dark so we could get back in if we went out. I was too young to participate, but I enjoyed watching the band and listening to the live music. The loud music vibrated in my body.
The Viet Nam war was going strong. The draft was instituted and boys near my sister’s age began to be drafted around 1967. It was very frightening to see boys so young sent to fight in a war.
Jesus People of the Sixties
In 1967, a Christian couple opened a coffee house in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco, ground zero for sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Other Christian coffee houses began opening up and down the West Coast. Long-haired hippies found Jesus and waded into the Pacific Ocean to be baptized. A revival called “The Jesus Movement” was born.
This movement influenced countless young people along with the new Christian music. The Christian coffeehouses of the late sixties had Christian music that sounded like folk music and current music. The music and the non-threatening atmosphere spoke to kids without hitting them over the head with a Bible.
Look and Time magazines wrote cover stories about “the Jesus People.” Young people brought their guitars, formed bands, wrote songs, and birthed a new wave of worship music. Many of today’s church leaders came to Christ during “the Jesus Movement.” Thousands of college students were discipled by Campus Crusade for Christ, the Navigators, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, and other campus ministries. Many of those students joined the staffs of those organizations, multiplying their impact.
My sister attended Campus Crusade for Christ meetings. I attended with her sometimes. It put a different light on Christianity—one we never heard about in our church. The emphasis was on having a personal relationship with Jesus and on evangelism.
In the Catholic church, a Folk Mass tradition began in the mid-sixties. In fact, Ray Repp whose 1966 Mass For Young Americans, generally considered the first folk mass recording, predated the Jesus Movement by half a decade. When I took a job as an organist in 1974 in a Catholic church, they had a Folk Mass on Sunday mornings. I played for the Saturday afternoon service and the early Sunday morning Mass.
Protests during the Sixties
Protest marches to fight segregation, poverty, and unemployment took place during the sixties. There were also freedom riders along with drug store and bus sit-ins. The most famous march was probably the march in Selma, Alabama. Oddly enough, I don’t think I heard anything about it at the time. Youth on college campuses were protesting the war in Vietnam.
The sixties held an odd juxtaposition between stable, simple family life while all around, society (the status quo) was tested and challenged. As a child I witnessed all this but was unable to join in or completely understand. Still, deep down it made an impression on me and later guided my thoughts about war, race, and humanity.
No story is a straight line. The geometry of a human life is too imperfect and complex, too distorted by the laughter of time and the bewildering intricacies of fate to admit the straight line into its system of laws.
― Pat Conroy, Beach Music
Perhaps there is not a straight line, but threads from the sixties remain woven throughout my life. I recently spent a morning in a staff development session. We were given a page with a huge list of core values. We were asked to circle the ones that resonated with us. Then we were asked to narrow them down to ten and then to two. I ended up with three―the top one was integrity with the two lower, but equal, ones being compassion and creativity.
I see those themes in what I experienced growing up in the sixties. Andy Griffith showed me simplicity tempered with common sense and respect/compassion for others. Many Disney movies reflected on seeing people in various circumstances and letting us “walk in their shoes.” Strong women characters gave me heroines and a vision of equality. Music showed me that in creative ways we could react to society, war, or injustices. Through music we could not only confront unfairness but we may promote healing and love.
Yes, this was all very idealistic. I was a child who innately preferred idealism but also wanted ways to do something in the world to push forward ideas of equality, understanding, and peace.
The thing the sixties did was to show us the possibilities and the responsibility that we all had. It wasn’t the answer. It just gave us a glimpse of the possibility.
― John Lennon
Beyond the Sixties
In the fall of 1969 I entered the seventh grade. The optimistic idealism of the sixties carried me through my teenage years into college and beyond. I feel fortunate to have grown up during that decade. People were changing, challenging, and reaching for possibilities.
On my birthday this year―the two year anniversary of the Pandemic―I remain idealistic and optimistic. I simply have to―because the opposite is too hard to bear. Sadly, we still experience the same problems as a society that we did in the sixties.
Admittedly, these two years have revealed a deep rift in our society and world. From the police shootings, the race issues, the divisive political discourse, the selfishness and stupidity of many people around us, to the denial of science, and lack of compassion for others. Now, we may even perch on the edge of World War III.
We need (I need) to recall these words from the song “Get Together” sung by the Youngbloods (1967) and written by Chet Powers (also known as Dino Valenti).
Love is but a song we sing
Fear’s the way we die
You can make the mountains ring
Or make the angels cry
Though the bird is on the wing
And you may not know why
Come on, people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another right now
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