1962 Cars continued to evolve as more compacts
appeared and sold well in the US. The Cold War continued to worsen when
the Russians placed Ballistic Missiles on Cuban land just 90 miles away
from the coast of Florida and JFK called the bluff by threatening war
unless they were removed which they were but for a short time the world
was on the brink of nuclear war and self destruction. The president then
set a goal of landing a man on the moon before the end of the decade and
became more involved in politics in Southeast Asia by training South Vietnamese
pilots. Folk music was evolving into protest music thanks to young artists
like Bob Dylan and the birth of Surfing music by the beach boys grew in
popularity meanwhile in England the Beatles record the single "Love
Me Do". The new hit on TV for that year was "The Beverly Hillbillies"
and the first of the James Bond movies "Dr No" was an instant
success, some of the other movies released included "Spartacus"
and "El Cid".
Cost of Living 1962
How Much things cost in
1962
Yearly Inflation Rate USA 1.20%
Year End Close Dow Jones Industrial Average 652
Average Cost of new house $12,500.00
Average Income per year $5,556.00
Average monthly rent $110.00 per month
Tuition to Harvard University $1,520.00
All Wheel Drive Scout off road $2,150.00
Renault Imported car $1,395.00
Average Cost of a new car $3,125.00
Eggs per dozen 32 cents
Gas per Gallon 28 cents
New Ford Cortina $591.00
What Events Happened in 1962
Cuban Missile Crisis
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 Soviet Silos
Heavy storm flood on Germany's
North Sea coast, mainly around Hamburg, more than 300 people die,
thousands losing their homes
A U.S. embargo ordered
by President Kennedy goes into effect on all imports from Cuba
including tobacco, seafood, fruits and vegetables
Brazil beat Czechoslovakia
3-1 to win the 1962 World Cup
The first US rocket Ranger
IV lands on the moon
First ever flavored Chips
sold Salt and Vinegar
Marilyn Monroe is found
dead after apparently overdosing on sleeping pills
The First Wal-Mart discount
store is opened by by Sam Walton in Bentonville Arkansas
The United Nations
General Assembly passes a resolution condemning South Africa's racist
apartheid policies and calls for all UN member states to cease military
and economic relations with the nation
Burundi Gains Independence
From Belgium
Oral Polio Vaccine developed
by Albert Sabin given to millions of children to combat Polio
Algeria Gains Independence
From France
Jamaica Gains Independence
From Great Britain
Brazil wins the 1962 World
Cup in Chile
Popular Culture 1962
Beatles Turned Down By Decca Records
Release of first Beatles recording: the single "Love Me Do"
Andy Warhol's famous painting of a can of
soup
Beverly Hillbillies is on TV
The Dick Van Dyke show on TV
Popular Films
West Side Story
Spartacus
El Cid
Lawrence of Arabia
To Kill a Mockingbird
Popular Singers
The Beatles
Bob Dylan
Chubby Checker
Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
Neil Sedaka
Roy Orbison
Shirley Bassey
Technology 1962
12 European countries form European Space
Agency
Telstar relays the first live trans-Atlantic
television signal
US Airforce investigates using lasers to intercept
missiles
90% of US households own a Television Set
Britain and France agree to develop the Concorde
The first use of silicone breast implants
by Houston plastic surgeons
Inventions Invented by Inventors and Country
( or attributed to First Use )
Communication Satellite USA Telstar
Venus Probe USA Mariner 2 - the first
planetary probe
LEDs USA Light Emitting Diodes - used
for displays