The Year was 1962.
The world is at the brink of war. It has been just a few months from when the Soviets are setting missiles into Cuba and President Kennedy calls them on the action.
The Soviets also put a satellite into orbit. Navy SEALS are created as the U.S. Navy’s principal special operations force, and Walmart opened its first store. The Beatles released their first hit single, Love Me Do, and Johnny began as the Tonight Show host.
The Space Needle opened.
The Boston Strangler begins to prey on women, killing 8 in less than one year. Murdered are Mary Mullen, 85, Nina Nichols, 68, Helen Blake, 65, Ida Irga, 75, Jane Sullivan, 67, Sophie Clark, 20 and Patricia Bissette, 23
Politics
The President was John F. Kennedy.
Population
The US population was about 186,000,000 and our life expectancy was about 69.6 years.
Crime
The murder rate was just 4.6 murders per 100,000.
Money
Inflation in the US was at just 1.20 percent.
A new home would cost you about $12,500 and if you were renting a place the cost was about 110 dollars a month for 2 bedrooms.
The Median Household Income was about $4,291 for the average laborer and the average income was about $5,500.
The Minimum Wage in 1962 was $1.15 per hour, the equivalent of $9.56 per hour in 2018 dollars.
Cost of Living
Bacon was 67 cents a pound and eggs cost 31 cents for a dozen. A gallon of milk cost about 1.04 cents and a loaf of bread was approximately 29 cents. A pound of burger was 59 cents.
Sending a letter across the country would cost you $.05 in postage.
A gallon of gas cost about 29 cents.
The top selling car in the United States was the Chevy and it cost about $2,950 dollars for a brand new model.
Major News Stories:
In major news for the year, Marilyn Monroe is found dead under suspicious circumstances.
The Cuban Missile Crisis takes place and is over about November. when USSR plans to deploy Missiles in Cuba brings the world to the brink of world war, the US blockades Cuba and the USSR agrees to dismantle Soviet Silos.
1962 Music, Television and Movies
Music – The Top 5 Songs of 1962
1. Stranger On The Shore – Mr. Acker Bilk (Atco)
2. I Can’t Stop Loving You – Ray Charles (ABC-Paramount)
3. Mashed Potato Time – Dee Dee Sharp (Cameo)
4. Roses Are Red – Bobby Vinton (Epic)
5. The Stripper – David Rose (MGM)
1962 Television
Gunsmoke – The Origin of Festus Haggen
The Beverly Hillbillies – Season 1, Episode 1. The Clampetts Strike Oil
Buddy Ebsen – Jed Clampett, Irene Ryan – Daisy May “Granny” Moses, Donna Douglas – Elly May Clampett, Max Baer Jr. – Jethro Bodine, Raymond Bailey – Milburn Drysdale, Nancy Kulp – Jane Hathaway
The Dick Van Dyke Show: Season 1, Episode 1
1962 Movies
The most popular movies of the year were