1964 History

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1964 as the war in Vietnam and US Congress Authorities war against N Vietnam more American servicemen were dying, and after three civil rights workers were murdered in Mississippi the president signed the Civil Rights act of 1964 but this did not stop the violence as it continued to increase in many American Cities. Lyndon Johnson was also returned to power after a landslide victory. This was also the year The Beatles took the world and America by storm and Beatlemania went into overdrive as they released a series of number one hits including "I want to hold your hand" , "All my Loving" . Other British groups also found success including The Rolling Stones and The Animals and together with the American Talent of The Supremes and Bob Dylan many say this was one of the greatest years for music in the last century. Also one young loud talented boxer by the name of Cassius Clay won the Boxing World heavyweight championship from Sonny Liston.

Cost of Living 1964

How Much things cost in 1964
Yearly Inflation Rate USA 1.28%
Year End Close Dow Jones Industrial Average 874
Average Cost of new house $13,050.00
Average Income per year $6,000.00
Gas per Gallon 30 cents
Average Cost of a new car $3,500.00
Loaf of bread 21 cents
United States Postage Stamp 5 cents
Average Monthly Rent $115.00
Ticket to the movies $1.25

What Events Happened in 1964

  • The abolition of the death penalty in UK
  • US Congress authorizes war against N Vietnam
  • President Lyndon Johnson declares a War On Poverty Campaign.
  • Malta gains independence from the UK
  • Cassius Clay Beats Sonny Liston for World Heavyweight championship
  • The Boston Strangler is captured
  • Work Begins on The Aswan Dam by diverting the Nile to a manmade canal.
  • The British and French Governments announce commitment to build a tunnel under the English Channel
  • The first Ford Mustang from Ford Motor Company is made.
  • The most powerful earthquake in U.S. history at a magnitude of 9.2, strikes South Central Alaska
  • Race Riots in Harlem New York
  • The Poll Tax becomes illegal in all US states as it been used as a blunt tool for barring poverty-stricken African-Americans and whites from participating in the electoral process.
  • The so called BRAIN DRAIN of UK Scientists from UK to USA
  • Easter and Whitsun outbreak of Mods and Rockers Fights and disturbances on British Seaside Resorts
  • Nelson Mandela and seven others are sentenced to life imprisonment in South Africa
  • Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr receives the Nobel Peace Prize,
  • The PLO Palistinian Liberation Organisation is established with Yasser Arafat as the head
  • The UK Interest Rate is Raised to 7%
  • UK Report expects population to explode over next 20 years and plans for 3 new towns including Milton Keynes
  • James Hoffa is found guilty and sentenced to eight years on bribery charges
  • World's Fair held in New York
  • U.S. Surgeon General repotrs that smoking may lead lung cancer
  • Civil War breaks out in Cyprus between Greeks and Turks
  • Tanzania Gains Independence From Great Britain and combines the former Tanganika and the Island of Zanzibar
  • Malawi Gains Independence From Great Britain
  • A riot during a soccer match between Peru and Argentina ends with the loss of 300 fans dead.
  • Great Train Robbers get 30 years each
  • Malta Gains Independence From Great Britain
  • Jack Ruby is convicted of the murder of Lee Harvey Oswald, the alleged assassin of President Kennedy
  • The Summer Olympics are held in Tokyo, Japan
  • The Winter Olympic Games are held in Innsbruck, Austria


Popular Culture 1964

  • Sidney Poitier becomes the first black actor to win the "best actor" Oscar
  • "Hello Dolly," "Funny Girl," and "Fiddler on the Roof" premier on Broadway in New York.
  • The Rolling Stones release debut album, "The Rolling Stones"
  • The Beatles make their first appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show.
  • The Beatles have 13 singles Billboard's Hot 100 at the same time
  • The first pirate radio station, Radio Caroline, is established
  • The Beatles hold the top five positions in the Billboard Top 40 singles in America
  • Bob Dylan releases "The Times They Are a-Changin"
  • BBC2 starts broadcasting in the UK.
  • Pablo Picasso painted his fourth Head of a Bearded Man
  • The Sun Newspaper is first published in the United Kingdom
  • Charlie and the Chocolate Factory from Roald Dahl
  • Top of the Pops premieres on BBC television.

Popular Films

  • The Carpetbaggers
  • It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
  • The Unsinkable Molly Brown
  • My Fair Lady
  • Mary Poppins

Popular Musicians

  • The Beatles
  • Roy Orbison
  • Ella Fitzgerald
  • Simon and Garfunkel

Technology 1964

  • BASIC (Beginners' All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code), an easy to learn high level programming language is introduced.
  • IBM announces the System/360.
  • The worlds first high speed rail network opens in Japan
  • First Ford Mustang is manufactured
  • Sony introduces the first VCR Home Video Recorder History of Video Recorders
  • The first driver less train runs on London Underground
  • China explodes its first Nuclear bomb

Inventions Invented by Inventors and Country ( or attributed to First Use )

  • Computer Mouse USA by Douglas Engelbart
  • Bubble Wrap USA by Marc A Chavannes


Research for this year is provided by The People History.
See History By Year and Decade for more prices and information.
Find out more about the 60s at ThePeopleHistory.com.