Category Archives: 1960s

The Beach Boys make first appearance on ‘Shindig!’ 50 years ago this hour (Dec 23 1964)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s, Television 1960s


Video: 'The Beach Boys - Dance, Dance, Dance (Shindig - 1964)'

(Wednesday, December 23, 1964, 8:30 p.m. EST) — Only hours after Brian Wilson suffered a nervous breakdown on a flight from Los Angeles to Houston, The Beach Boys made their first appearance on ABC-TV’s musical variety series Shindig! tonight (taped Dec. 14, 1964), performing “Dance, Dance, Dance,” “Little Saint Nick,” “Monster Mash,” “Papa Oom Mow Mow,” “Johnny B. Goode,” and “We Three Kings of Orient Are” at ABC Studios in Los Angeles. Continue reading The Beach Boys make first appearance on ‘Shindig!’ 50 years ago this hour (Dec 23 1964) →

Beach Boy Brian Wilson has a nervous breakdown on a flight 50 years ago today (Dec 23 1964)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s


Video: 'SUMMER DREAMS 1990 DVDrip' (Dec. 23, 1964, at 42:29)

(Wednesday, December 23, 1964) — Singer Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys had a nervous breakdown today on a flight between Houston and Los Angeles. It eventually led to his decision to drop from touring with the Beach Boys.

Singer-songwriter Sam Cooke eulogized in Chicago 50 years ago today (Dec 17 1964)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s


Video: 'Sam Cooke - Legend (The Life, The Legend, The Legacy) DVD (Title 3)' (Dec. 17, 1964, at 1:01:59)

(Thursday, December 17, 1964, evening) — A crowd estimated at 15,000 flocked to the Tabernacle Baptist Church on Chicago’s South Side today to pay last respects to the late Sam Cooke, who was shot and killed in Los Angeles on Dec. 11, 1964 (a second funeral and burial was held Dec. 19, 1964, in Los Angeles).

‘Zorba the Greek’ released in Greece 50 years ago today (Dec 14 1964)

1960s, Movies 1960s

Video: 'Zorba the Greek' trailer

(Monday, December 14, 1964) — Zorba the Greek, a drama film about an amoral Greek peasant who teaches a British student the meaning of life, was released today in Greece (it opened in New York and Los Angeles on Dec. 17, 1964).

Directed by Michael Cacoyannis, the film starred Anthony Quinn, Alan Bates, Irene Papas, Lila Kedrova, Sotiris Moustakas and Anna Kyriakou.

Argentine revolutionary Che Guevara addresses United Nations 50 years ago today (Dec 11 1964)

1960s, Cold War


Video: 'Che Guevara speech at UN 1964 (English subtitles!!)'

(Friday, December 11, 1964; during the Cold War) — Argentine revolutionary Che Guevara addressed the United Nations today, declaring that “the final hour of colonialism has struck.” Continue reading Argentine revolutionary Che Guevara addresses United Nations 50 years ago today (Dec 11 1964) →

Dr. King receives Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo 50 years ago today (Dec 10 1964)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights


Video: 'Martin Luther King Jr. Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech'

(Thursday, December 10, 1964) — The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. accepted the Nobel Peace Prize today on behalf of the civil rights movement and “all men who love peace and brotherhood.”

The Baptist minister, in a ceremony at Oslo University, said the award came “at a moment when 22 million Negroes of the United States are engaged in a creative battle to end the long night of racial injustice.”

800 arrested at Berkeley, students paralyze campus 50 years ago today (Dec 3 1964)

1960s


Video: 'Mario Savio: Sproul Hall Steps, December 2, 1964'

(Thursday, December 3, 1964, 3:45 a.m. PST; during the Free Speech Movement (FSM)) — Police arrested about 800 students today at the University of California, Berkeley, following their takeover of and massive sit-in at the Sproul Hall administration building. Continue reading 800 arrested at Berkeley, students paralyze campus 50 years ago today (Dec 3 1964) →

New Saigon riots by Buddhists bring crackdown in South Vietnam 50 years ago today (Nov 25 1964)

1960s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History - LBJ Goes to War [3/11]' (November 1964 at 28:25)

(Wednesday, November 25, 1964; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Measures based on martial law were imposed on Saigon, South Vietnam, tonight after rioting that spread across the capital.

Hoover calls King a ‘notorious liar’ 50 years ago today (Nov 18 1964)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights

(Wednesday, November 18, 1964; during the African-American Civil Rights Movement (1955–68)) — FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover today described civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. as “the most notorious liar in the country” for allegedly accusing FBI agents in Georgia of failing to act on complaints filed by blacks.

King, who denied making such a claim, replied, “I cannot conceive of Mr. Hoover making a statement like this without being under extreme pressure.”

Peter and Gordon appear on ‘Ed Sullivan’ 50 years ago this hour (Nov 15 1964)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s, Television 1960s, The Beatles 1960s


Video: 'Peter & Gordon I Don't Want To See You Again' (click here to watch)

(Sunday, November 15, 1964, 8 p.m. EST) — Peter and Gordon appeared on the live CBS television variety series The Ed Sullivan Show tonight, performing “I Don’t Want to See You Again” (written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney of The Beatles) and “500 Miles.” Continue reading Peter and Gordon appear on ‘Ed Sullivan’ 50 years ago this hour (Nov 15 1964) →