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Born in 1966? Here's the world you arrived into

In 1966, "California Dreamin'" topped the charts, Hawaii packed theaters, a stamp cost 5¢, the average home went for about $21,400.

What things cost in 1966

A $0.32 gallon of gas in 1966 has the buying power of roughly $3.10 in 2024 dollars. A 5¢ stamp is around 48¢ today, and a $1.09 movie ticket is about $10.55.

The biggest moments of 1966

• Batman premiered in January 1966, and "Batmania" swept the country in a POW! and a BAM!
• Star Trek debuted on September 8, 1966, launching the voyages of the starship Enterprise.
• Miniskirts and go-go boots defined the year's mod fashion look.

• The Supreme Court's Miranda decision in June 1966 required police to read suspects their rights — "You have the right to remain silent."
• Bill Russell was named player-coach of the Boston Celtics, becoming the first Black head coach in major U.S. pro sports.
• Medicare went into effect on July 1, 1966, and millions of older Americans used their new cards for the first time.

Toys, TV & trends of 1966

• The new game Twister became a sensation after Johnny Carson played it on The Tonight Show.
• The Monkees premiered on NBC, and their records soon rivaled the Beatles on the charts.
• Batman lunchboxes, capes, and toy Batmobiles flew off store shelves during Batmania.

• The gothic soap opera Dark Shadows crept onto afternoon TV in June 1966.
• It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown first aired in October, sending Linus to the pumpkin patch forever after.
• Topper's Suzy Homemaker line of working toy ovens and appliances was one of the year's hottest gifts.

The music scene

Brian Wilson spent months and a then-record sum crafting the Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations," his "pocket symphony," which hit #1 in December 1966. The Beatles released Revolver and then quit touring for good after an August 29 concert at San Francisco's Candlestick Park. Yet the year's biggest-selling single belonged to neither — it was Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler's "The Ballad of the Green Berets."

At the movies

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? was nominated in every Oscar category it was eligible for and helped push Hollywood past its old Production Code toward a modern ratings system. A Man for All Seasons would win six Academy Awards including Best Picture, while at the spring 1966 ceremony The Sound of Music took home the top prize.

Cartoons kids loved

• Space Ghost
• The New Adventures of Superman
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas (first aired December 1966)

Saturday mornings went superhero in 1966, led by Space Ghost, whose sleek look came from legendary comic artist Alex Toth. And the Grinch special had a secret weapon: horror icon Boris Karloff narrated, Looney Tunes great Chuck Jones directed, and Thurl Ravenscroft — the voice of Tony the Tiger — sang "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" without on-screen credit.

The world in 1966

• World population: about 3.4 billion
• U.S. President: Lyndon B. Johnson
• England won the FIFA World Cup at Wembley Stadium, defeating West Germany 4-2.

• Indira Gandhi became India's first female prime minister in January 1966.
• Devastating floods struck Florence, Italy, in November, and volunteer "Mud Angels" from around the world helped rescue priceless art.
• Australia switched from pounds to decimal dollars and cents on February 14, 1966.

1966 birthday questions

Want it on paper? The same 1966 front page prints as a greeting card, poster or framed keepsake.

Anyone born in 1966 turns 60 this year — see 60th birthday gift ideas.

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