The 1960s are poised to turn 50…and to mark the anniversary the LA Conservancy has created a website spotlighting architecture and history of the period in the city, and is also running educational programs through the year.
Their timeline of 1960s events (with a focus on Southern California) is terrific… and a great reminder of the milestone events we often talk about here. Like the release of the movie Gidget! One of the things that the website points out, is that the 50-year mark is generally when properties can be considered for the National Register of Historic Places. But as we’ve also discussed just recently — around the 50-year mark can be a dangerous point for old homes and structures. The mass of the public still may not “get it” when it comes to whether and why to appreciate certain features… homes are switching hands…and a lot of gutting is done that, later, leads to clear outpourings of regret. Time definitely provides perspective — and there is just barely the minimum amount of time behind us to be able to see mid-century homes “clearly.”
LA Conservency’s The Sixties Turn 5o site here.
Frank says
Gavin, the 1960s was an exciting decade! I’ve lived in Los Angeles all my life. Though I was just on a child during the 60s, I recall there was a lot of civic optimism in LA and as some pretty great architecture. Google pictures of Dodger Stadium, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, LA County Museum of Art, Theme Building at LAX, Downtown LA Federal Building and “Disneyland Tomorrow land 1967”–these buildings are beautiful. And in New York you had the Met at Lincoln Center. All of these building exemplify an elegant optimism of the decade. Though Vietnam casts a large shadow over the 1960s, the Civil Rights Act was passed in 1965, and I remember the excitement of July 20, 1969, when I was looking at the moon from our living room window in hopes that I would see Neil Armstrong on the moon. And then there were all kinds of exciting thing in the pop and art world–think Mark Rothko, Andy Warhol, and Mame on Broadway. And don’t get me started on the beautiful cars coming out Detroit. Instead of googling Donna Reed or Jane Mansfield, Google Rowlan and Martin’s Laugh-In and you get this:
http://www.paleycenter.org/assets/perspectives/rowanmartin/laugh-in-ladder.jpg
Shagadelic Baby
Annie B. says
Oh, thank goodness for you, Janet. I was about to pack myself in dry ice. I’m a ’53-er. 100% mid century girl!
pam kueber says
’59, same year as Barbie. The 60s influenced me a lot, but so did the 70s. Oh, and remember, I always say: Those aren’t ‘wrinkles’, that’s ‘patina’: and folks pay extra for that.
Janet Gore says
Well, guys, I guess I am REALLY old … I was born in 47, and graduated in 1965. The 60’s were great! Very different from one end of the decade to the other, but very exciting.
MrsErinD says
Hehe my Mom is still pissed at Ralph Nader for that!
I loved the beginning of the 60’s, when things were still similar to the 50’s and still nice, after the mid 60s things went downhill. Design wise I like the early 60s too but still love all through the 40s-70s.
Although I wasn’t born till 70, that’s just my opinion!
BungalowBILL says
No Barbara you’re not. I entered the union between Gidget and Hawaii. But Good Times wasn’t til the 70’s. Dy-no-mite!
JSPajak says
I too was born in 1961. I grew up in a 1947 2 story colonial style house. The best part of the ’60s for me was the Space Race. When we landed on the Moon it was a big deal for me.
Barbara says
Yipes! Am I the oldest one here? Born in 1961 – good times, good times.
gavin hastings says
Yuck…the 1960’s…they started out so sweetly(sigh). The Peace Corp, Appollo, Pat Nixon in a “Republican” cloth coat. My least favorite decade…so free, yet so defining. Hendrix or the Seekers but rarely both.
If you want to know what the 1960’s were really like: Google an image of Jayne Mansfield or Donna Reed, 1966…both with the exact same false eyelashes and both a bit long in the tooth.
Not pretty.
Shane says
Don’t remind me! Luckily, I was born at the END of the ’60s. My parents, and brothers and sister lived in Alaska when it became a state. How cool is that? Here’s some more trivia: The current 50-state flag was designed by a guy who lived right here in central Ohio. He did the work as a school project in Lancaster, but I believe he went to elementary school just 4 streets over from where I currently live!
If you don’t LOVE history, there’s something wrong with you!!!
Tera says
Unbelievable! I was born in 71 and grew up hearing about the 60’s through my mom who enjoyed them thoroughly. The 60’s and I continued hand and hand and when I read this post I was seriously jolted. I literally did the math on my sticky note, wow…
I do hope the mass gutting of ranch homes and 40’s bungalows comes to an end. It was sad to see what went on in my hood these past few years. The bad economy has slowed it all down but I still see cute homes with for sale signs that say “Land”.