1968 – A Trip Down Memory Lane

I’m finishing the last little bits of editing before handing over to my editor, my second novel, Grave Decisions. I’ve had papers about 1968 pop culture lying around in a file for a while. I thought you would enjoy a walk down Memory Lane, especially if you’re of a certain age, like me.

Since my book is set in 1968, I had to research several things about that era. I remember all too well the fashions of the day. I have a board on my Pinterest page titled The Sizzling 60s. You’ll find all the latest styles of the day over there. Remember Twiggy and Colleen Corby? It seems they graced the covers of most teen magazines back in those days. Who didn’t want to look like Colleen?

Here are a few facts from my files. I do hope you enjoy seeing these. Maybe they will strike up a conversation that will spark memories or make your kids envy the life you once had.

1968 - A Trip Down Memory Lane @DDuPreeWilliams #writing #1968popculture #1968TopTen Share on X

 

BOOKS

Of the top ten books of 1968, number one was Arthur Hailey’s Airport. I don’t know about you, but from the things I’ve read lately about flight delays, getting stuck in hot planes for hours out on the tarmac, lost luggage—one even had a wedding veil and all the bride’s other essentials—I think someone could pen a new version, this one an even bigger nightmare.

I was delighted to see that number nine on this list went to Catherine Marshall’s Christy. This is my all-time favorite Christian fiction book. Did you know it is where the Christy Award, given by the ECPA (Evangelical Christian Publishers Association), got its name? Not a surprise to me, but this novel has sold more than ten million copies since it was first published in 1967.

In non-fiction, Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book claimed the number one spot. But just behind it was The Random House Dictionary of the English Language: College Edition. I’m not sure which dictionary I had, but it was big and thick. If memory serves me, I gave it to one of our boys long ago. And Rod McKuen had two books of poetry in the top ten. I have one or two on my bookshelf.

MOVIES

The top-grossing movie of 1968 was Funny Girl, followed by 2001: A Space Odyssey. I was grown and married before I saw the second one. It wasn’t my taste at all. I only recall a computer called Max or something like that. Sorry, my memory fails me. Rosemary’s Baby was number seven. I remember being scared out of my wits over that one. Gave me nightmares. Now, I know better, all thanks to finally reading God’s Word.  The delightful Finian’s Rainbow filled the eighteenth slot. I still sing some of the songs from that, such as Look to the Rainbow. Fred Astaire and Petula Clark were the stars.

MUSIC

The number one pop hit of the day was none other than The Beatles’ Hey Jude. Yes, I hear you singing all four minutes of the na-nas.  So, all together now, which my hubby tells me is from another song, this one on the White Album. Is he right?

It may not seem odd to you, but this surprised me. Right behind Hey Jude was Harper Valley, P.T.A. by Jeannie C. Riley. Did this strike you as unlikely? Our tastes were all over the place back in those days.

TELEVISION

Okay, I can’t leave without telling you what we watched on television. Back then, there was no cable, no streaming services. We had three networks, ABC, CBS, and NBC. That was it unless you watched PBS. The top-rated show was on NBC and was Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In. I will confess, I wasn’t a fan probably because I didn’t get their sense of humor if one could even call it that. I was pretty naïve and most of what they considered hilarious, I’d never heard of. So why bother?

Other nighttime shows in the top ten included Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., Gunsmoke, Bonanza, and The Beverly Hillbillies. My, how our tastes have changed, and I’m not sure it’s for the better.

1968 was my senior year of high school going into my freshman year of college, so television wasn’t high on my list of priorities. Although, you would find the TV in the dorm lobby surrounded by girls from all class levels every afternoon at three CST for Dark Shadows, a rather goth-style soap opera. But the term goth, didn’t come into popular use until later.

Grave Decisions includes some references, some a bit subtle, to many of the 1968 pop culture shows, books, or songs. Be sure to look for those as you read it. Let me know if you think I got it right or wrong. I’m not sure when it will be out there for you to read, but I will keep you posted. In the meantime, share with us some songs, books, or shows you enjoyed during your childhood or youth.

Blessings, y’all!

 

The graphic for this post is a photo of my memorabilia from 1968. The medal is called the Arion Award, given to the person selected by peers, as the outstanding member of the music department. In this case, it was from the choral department. To this day, I am humbled. It sits on the Bible Mama and Daddy gave me as I left for college. The book of poetry by McKuen is one I’ve had for as long as I can remember from my college days. He was very popular.

The cuff bracelet at the top right on the yearbook is for my Viet Nam POW/MIA. I wore it every day until the day I got married, but it has been a treasured keepsake since the day I got it. I found his name on The Wall when I visited it in DC. The watch below that is made of scarabs. It seemed to be popular in those days. The ring is my class ring.  All these items sit atop the 1968 Memolusia, my high school yearbook, memories of Andalusia High School.

 

You didn’t know you were going to the movies today, did you? Such a sweet movie. I remember watching it in the Martin Theatre in Andalusia, Alabama. Long ago!