Year 1960 Fun Facts, Trivia, and History

Author:
Gregory DeVictor
Updated:
Feb 21, 2024 11:10 PM EST

This article teaches you fun facts, trivia, and history events from the year 1960.

What Happened During the Year 1960?

What are some fun facts, trivia, and history events from the year 1960? What were the top news stories in the U.S. and around the world, and what major events took place in the business and financial sectors? How much did a gallon of gas cost, and what happened in science, technology, sports, and in the entertainment industry?

Back in 1960, what were the biggest food and fashion trends, and what were the most popular baby names and Christmas gifts? Likewise, who won the Nobel Peace Prize, and how much did a first-class stamp or a gallon of milk cost? What about famous birthdays and deaths that year, and what were the best-selling books?

From world leaders to pioneers to innovators, who were the most influential people in 1960? What was the median household income, the average life expectancy, and how much did a new house or car cost? Finally, what was 1960 best known for, and was it a good or bad year overall? Let's find out.

Here is a summary of the top news stories and history events that happened in 1960:

John F. Kennedy was elected president of the United States by defeating Richard Nixon. JFK was also the first Roman Catholic and youngest person ever to be elected U.S. president.
Hurricane Donna battered the eastern U.S. from late August until mid-September. HurricaneScience.org tells us that Donna is the only hurricane on record to produce hurricane-force winds in Florida, the Mid-Atlantic States, and New England. Donna roamed the Atlantic for a total of 17 days, and also holds the record for retaining major hurricane status in the Atlantic Basin for nine days.
The USS Enterprise—the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier—was launched.
The FDA approved the world’s first commercially produced birth control pill.
The 10 millionth copyright registration was made at the U.S. Copyright Office.
In the year 1960, General Motors was America’s biggest company, followed by U.S. Steel, General Electric, Chrysler, and Standard Oil of New Jersey.
OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) was created, and its 12 members are Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela.
In 1960, the words AAA battery, arcade game, cruise control, discotheque, fast food, golden oldie, hair gel, mayo, new wave, plant-based, pre-approved, reality check, rock star, soul food, theme park, valet parking, wide receiver, wigged out, and yeesh all appeared in print for the first time.
The starting salary for a teacher was $5,135. It was $4,400 for a police officer and $9,400 for an engineer.
Farmers made up 8.3% of the U.S. labor force. There were about 3,711,000 American farms in 1960, averaging about 303 acres apiece.
In New York City, monthly rents averaged around $200, but you could still find housing for $100 or less.
Back in the year 1960, there were 53 million households in the United States, and the average household had 3.29 people.
Over 90% of American households had at least one TV, and about 65% of Americans were churchgoers.
The average family income was $5,600, an increase of $200—or four percent—over 1959. For households headed by individuals 65 years and over, the average annual income was only $2,900.
Pete Rozelle became the NFL Commissioner after serving as the acting president of the NFL following Bert Bell’s death in October 1959.
Demolition began on Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field, which had been the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team from 1913 to 1957.
Here is a sports fact from 1960: The Pittsburgh Pirates won the World Series by defeating the New York Yankees in seven games.
The 1960 Summer Olympics were held in August with Rome as the host city. For the first time, the games were televised live in 18 European countries, the United States, Canada, and Japan to the delight of millions of viewers.
Gunsmoke (CBS) was the top TV show, the last episode of The Howdy Doody Show (NBC) aired, and The Flintstones (ABC) premiered.
Ben-Hur won 11 Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Original Music Score, and Best Costume Design.
Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel—To Kill a Mockingbird—was published.
The last episode of the radio sitcom Amos ‘n’ Andy aired. Set in Harlem with black characters, Amos ‘n’ Andy premiered on March 19, 1928.
The theme from the film A Summer Place was number one on the charts for nine weeks.
The minimum wage was $1.00, the average family income was $5,600, and a new house cost $16,500.
A slice of pizza cost 15 cents, a McDonald's hamburger was also 15 cents, and candy bars were five cents apiece.

This article teaches you fun facts, trivia, and history events from the year 1960. Find out about popular TV shows and movies, best-selling books, food and fashion trends, sports facts, pop music artists and songs, famous birthdays, economic and tech news, as well as unusual news events to get the right mix of questions and answers for your 1960s-themed trivia quiz.

In 1960, General Motors was America’s largest corporation.

Here is a sneak preview of what this article is about:

Grocery Prices in the Year 1960
Other Retail Prices for the Year
History Facts and Events From the USA
International News Events
Sports Facts and Trivia
Entertainment News
Miscellaneous Fun Facts, Trivia, and Pop Culture Trends
70+ Words That First Appeared in Print During 1960
Computer News
Best-Selling Books
Highest-Grossing Films
Most Popular Television Shows From 1960-61
Cool Pop Music Artists
Number One Music Hits for the Year
Food and Beverage Trivia
Famous People Who Were Born in 1960
Well-Known People Who Died
America’s Largest Corporations
American Companies Founded
How Much Did a New Car Cost in 1960?

Here are three trivia facts from the 1960 grocery industry: Apples were 16 cents a pound, sugar was 38 cents for a five-pound bag, and two cans of Campbell’s tomato soup cost 25 cents.

1. Grocery Prices in the Year 1960

These 1960 grocery prices have been made available courtesy of the Morris County Public Library in Whippany, NJ.

Apples: $0.16 per pound
Bananas: $0.10 per pound
Cabbage: $0.10 per pound
Calf Liver: $0.79 per pound
Campbell’s Pork & Beans: $0.15 for a 16-ounce can
Canned corn: $0.15 for a 15-ounce can
Canned orange juice: $0.43 for a 46-ounce can
Carrots: $0.05 for a one-pound bag
Chewing gum: $0.05 per pack
Chicken fryers: $0.37 per pound
Coffee: $0.75 per pound
Corn syrup: $0.27 for 24 ounces
Del Monte Sliced Yellow Cling Peaches: $0.29 for a 16-ounce can
Eggs: $0.53 per dozen
Flour: $0.49 for a five-pound bag
Fresh corn: Six ears for $0.25
Frozen French fried potatoes: $0.10 for eight ounces
Frozen turkey: $0.39 per pound
Gerber’s Baby Food: $0.25 for three jars
Grape jelly: $0.29 for 12 ounces
Ground beef: $0.33 per pound
Hershey Bar: $0.05 for a one-ounce bar
Heinz Ketchup: $0.22 for a 14-ounce bottle
Hickory smoked ham: $0.49 per pound
Iceberg lettuce: $0.17 per head
Ice cream: $0.79 per half gallon
Jello: $0.35 for four packages
Kraft Miracle Whip: $0.51 for a quart jar
Land O'Lakes Butter: $0.67 per pound
Margarine: $0.27 per pound
Milk: $0.95 per gallon
Nilla Wafers: $0.25 for a 12-ounce box
Onions: $0.09 per pound
Oranges: Two dozen for $0.89
Peanut butter: $0.29 for a one-pound jar
Pepsi: Six-pack for $0.59
Pillsbury Cake Mix: $0.25 per box
Pork chops: $0.59 per pound
Potatoes: $0.72 for a 10-pound bag
Rice: $0.45 for a three-pound bag
Shortening (hydrogenated): $0.82 for a three-pound can
Sirloin steak: $0.89 per pound
Skippy Peanut Butter: $0.79 for a 16-ounce jar
Sliced bacon: $0.79 per pound
Sliced pickles: $0.26 for 15 ounces
Soda crackers: $0.23 for a one-pound box
Sugar: $0.38 for a five-pound bag
Starkist Tuna: $0.31 for a six-ounce can
Sweet potatoes: $0.14 per pound
Tea bags: $0.24 for 16 bags
T-bone steak: $0.85 per pound
Tomato soup: Two cans for $0.25
Watermelon: 2½ cents per pound
Wesson Oil: $0.47 per quart
White bread: $0.20 per loaf

2. Other Retail Prices for the Year

1,000 kWh of electricity: $0.25
45 rpm single record: $1.00
A gallon of gas: $0.31
Budweiser: $0.99 for a six-pack
Buster Brown shoes: $3.00
Can of Aqua Net hairspray: $0.47
Can of shaving cream: $0.59
Cup of restaurant coffee: $0.10 - $0.15
Daily newspaper: $0.10
Dining set (table and six chairs): $158.95
Doctor’s office visit: $5.00
Full-size mattress and box-spring set: $69.99
Kenmore washing machine: $158.00
McDonald’s Coca-Cola: $0.10
McDonald’s French fries: $0.10
McDonald’s cheeseburger: $0.19
McDonald’s coffee: $0.10
McDonald’s hamburger: $0.15
McDonald’s malt shake: $0.20
McDonald’s orangeade: $0.10
McDonald’s root beer: $0.10
Men’s electric shaver: $20.30
Men’s Oxford shoes: $12.95
Movie ticket: $0.69
New car: $2,600.00
New home: $12,700.00
Pair of men’s Levi’s jeans: $5.00
Payphone (local call): $0.10
Polaroid Land Camera: $93.45
Popcorn at the movie: $0.20
Postage stamp: $0.04
Record album: $3.00
Sofa set (two lounges, one with a table and one without): $174.95
Sunburst clock: $27.50
23-inch television: $219.95
Tennis shoes: $5.00
Tuition at Columbia: $1,460
Tuition at Harvard: $1,520
Tuition at MIT: $1,200
Tuition at Northwestern: $1,200
Tuition at Penn State: $480
Tuition at UC Berkeley: $0.00
Women’s swinging shift skirt: $5.00

In 1960, The Flintstones—an animated cartoon series—premiered on ABC television.

3. History Facts and Events From the USA

In 1960, Dwight D. Eisenhower was president of the United States, and Richard M. Nixon was vice president.
Based on 1960 U.S. Census data, the population of the United States was 179,32,175. (The 1950 U.S. population was 151,325,798.)
The ten most populated U.S. cities were New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Detroit, Baltimore, Houston, Cleveland, Washington (DC), and St. Louis.
The most populated states were New York, California, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Ohio. The least populous ones were Alaska, Nevada, Wyoming, Vermont, and Delaware.
There were 53 million households in the United States, and the average household had 3.29 people.
The rate of inflation jumped from 0.69% to 1.72%, primarily because of increases in housing and energy costs. According to In2013Dollars.com, “Purchasing power decreased by 1.72% in 1960 compared to 1959. On average, you would have to spend 1.72% more money in 1960 than in 1959 for the same item. In other words, $1 in 1959 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $1.02 in 1960.”
The average family income was $5,600, an increase of $200—or four percent—over 1959. For households headed by individuals 65 years and over, the average annual income was only $2,900.
The top marginal tax rate was 91%. TaxFoundation.org explains that the tax rate “applied to income over $200,000 (for single filers) or $400,000 (for married filers) – thresholds which correspond to approximately $1.5 million and $3 million, respectively, in today's dollars. Approximately 0.00235% of households had income taxed at the top rate.”
In 1960, the cost of a new home in the U.S. was $16,500. Comparatively, the median home value was $11,900, which is equivalent to around $100,000 in today’s dollars.
In New York City, monthly rents averaged around $200, but you could still find housing for $100 or less. NY.Curbed.com tells us that “On East 92nd Street, a three-and-a-half room apartment was going for $95 in October 1960, while the following year, you could get an air-conditioned studio with a fireplace in the West Village for $110.”
A new car cost about $2,750, a first-class stamp was four cents, and the retail price for a gallon of gas averaged 31 cents.
Potatoes cost 72 cents for a 10-pound bag, white bread was 20 cents for a one-pound loaf, and two dozen oranges were 89 cents. Five pounds of sugar cost 38 cents, a gallon of whole milk was 95 cents, and a dozen eggs were 53 cents.
1,000 kWh of electricity cost 25 cents, a daily newspaper was 10 cents, and tennis shoes were $5.00 a pair.
In 1960, a slice of pizza cost 15 cents, a McDonald’s hamburger was also 15 cents, and candy bars were five cents apiece.
Median annual tuition at public law schools was $204, and $475 at private institutions.
The minimum wage was $1.00, which is equivalent to $8.55 in 2019 dollars. On the other hand, the average hourly manufacturing wage was $2.32.
Gold was $36.50 per ounce.
The prime rate held steady at 4.5%.
The Dow Jones high for the year was 685, and the low was 566.
In 1960, the mysterious Black Knight satellite led U.S. authorities to believe that an alien satellite was orbiting the earth. Grunge.com reports that “By the end of the 1950s, the space race was in full swing and both the U.S. and USSR had managed to put satellites in orbit. But on February 11, 1960, a radar used by the U.S. Navy picked up the presence of a strange ‘dark, tumbling object’ that didn't belong to either country. . . . The sudden possibility that the Soviets had quietly launched a satellite, possibly a spy satellite, freaked out plenty of Americans. It didn't help that this new object was in polar orbit, when all the known satellites were circling the equator.”
On January 2, Massachusetts Senator John F. Kennedy announced that he was running for U.S. president.
On January 7, the Polaris Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) was successfully test launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
On January 26, Pete Rozelle became the NFL Commissioner, after serving as the acting president of the NFL following Bert Bell’s death in October 1959. Britannica.com points out that as commissioner of the National Football League (NFL) from 1960 to 1989, Rozelle “oversaw a period of enormous growth for professional gridiron football. He negotiated lucrative deals with the television networks, doubled the size of the league, and helped to create the Super Bowl.”
From February 18-28, the Winter Olympics were held in Squaw Valley, California. A total of 665 athletes participated in the sporting events.
On February 23, demolition began on Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field, which had been the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team from 1913 to 1957.
On February 29, the first Playboy Club opened in Chicago.
On March 3, New York City had the ninth biggest snowfall (14.5”) on record.
On April 14, the American record company Motown—founded by Berry Gordy Jr.—was incorporated as Motown Record Corporation.
On April 15, black college students formed the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) at Shaw University in North Carolina.
On May 6, the Civil Rights Act of 1960 was signed into law by President Eisenhower. PatriotPost.us explains that the bill “established federal inspection of local voter registration polls and introduced penalties for anyone who obstructed someone's attempt to register to vote.”
On May 9, the FDA approved the world’s first commercially-produced birth control pill.
On June 23, the first contraceptive went on sale in the U.S. Case,edu points out that “The Pill became the symbol of the so-called ‘sexual revolution’ of the 1960s-70s. Many blamed it for the events of these years — a rise in single motherhood, unmarried couples living together or in communes, open marriage and wife swapping, women's liberation, and increased visibility of sex in the media. Scholars now recognize that these cultural shifts began well before the advent of the Pill.”
On July 11, Harper Lee’s popular novel—To Kill a Mockingbird—was published. Britannica.com tells us that this American classic “was translated into 40 languages and sold more than 30 million copies worldwide. In 1961 it won a Pulitzer Prize. The novel was praised for its sensitive treatment of a child’s awakening to racism and prejudice in the American South.”
On July 27, Richard Nixon was nominated for president at the Republican National Convention in Chicago.
Hurricane Donna battered the Caribbean and eastern United States from late August until mid-September. HurricaneScience.org tells us that Donna is the only hurricane on record to produce hurricane-force winds in Florida, the Mid-Atlantic States, and New England. Donna roamed the Atlantic for a total of 17 days, and also holds the record for retaining major hurricane status in the Atlantic Basin for nine days.
On September 19, Life magazine recognized the 100th birthday of artist Grandma Moses by putting her on the front cover.
On September 24, the United States launched the USS Enterprise, the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. Wired.com explains that “With nuclear power to propel it, the Enterprise does not need to carry its own fuel oil and has more room for aircraft and weapons. It routinely carries 70 to 90 planes. The ship measures in at 1,120 feet (about 100 feet longer than the USS Saratoga), with a 250-foot-wide flight deck. . . . It relies on a crew of 5,700.”
On November 8, John F. Kennedy was elected President of the United States by defeating Richard Nixon. JFK was also the first Roman Catholic and youngest person ever to be elected U.S. President.
On November 18, the 10 millionth copyright registration was made at the U.S. Copyright Office.
On November 23, NASA launched TIROS, the first weather satellite.
In 1960, the U.S. census was mailed out for the first time. Census.gov points out that "Earlier censuses had used self-enumeration on a limited scale, but 1960 was the debut for this technique as a primary method for the collection of population and residential data. The postal service delivered questionnaires to every occupied housing unit. Householders were asked to complete the questionnaire and hold it for an enumerator to pick up."
Zip codes were first introduced in 1960, and the USPS used a mascot named Mr. Zip to help Americans through the transition.
American engineer Wilson Greatbatch developed the heart pacemaker.
American engineer and physicist Theodore Maiman built the first laser at Hughes Research Laboratories.
In 1960, about 65% of Americans were churchgoers, compared to about 40% in 1940.

4. International News Events

In 1960, an estimated 20 million people died in China after swarms of locusts destroyed much of the country’s crops. This catastrophe could have been prevented if sparrows, the natural predator of locusts, were not deliberately killed two years earlier to alleviate a “pest problem.”
On January 1, France issued le nouveau franc—”a revaluation of the currency with 100 existing francs equalling 1 new franc.” Blog.ContinentalCurrency.ca reports that “Despite the revaluation, inflation continued to hamper the French currency, and by the time the euro was adopted on the first of January 1999, the franc was worth less than 12.5% of its 1960 value.”
On January 4, the European Free Trade Association was formed in Stockholm.
On January 9, construction began on the Aswan High Dam in Egypt, and was completed on July 21, 1970. History.com tells us that “More than two miles long at its crest, the massive $1 billion dam ended the cycle of flood and drought in the Nile River region, and exploited a tremendous source of renewable energy.”
On January 19, U.S. Secretary of State Christian Herter and Japanese Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi signed the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security Between the United States and Japan. ForeignAffairs.com explains that the treaty “committed the United States to help defend Japan if Japan came under attack, and it provided bases and ports for U.S. armed forces in Japan.”
On May 24, the one millionth telephone was installed in the Netherlands.
On July 22, Fidel Castro nationalized all U.S. sugar interests in Cuba in defense of “economy and sovereignty."
The 1960 Summer Olympics were held in August with Rome as the host city. A total of 83 countries and 5,338 athletes participated in the 150 sporting events. For the first time, the games were televised live in 18 European countries, the United States, Canada, and Japan to the delight of millions of viewers.
On September 10-14, OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) was created at the Baghdad Conference by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela. Today, OPEC’s 12 members are Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela.
In November, several witnesses reported seeing a “phantom army” on a road near Otterburn, a village in Northumberland, England. Otterburn was “the site of the famous Battle of Otterburn in 1388 when the English army suffered a bloody defeat by the Scots led by the Earl of Douglas.”
Le Duan replaced Ho Chi Minh as head of North Vietnam’s ruling Communist party.
North Vietnam escalated military operations against the South Vietnamese.

In 1960, the Pittsburgh Pirates won the World Series by defeating the New York Yankees.

5. Sports Facts and Trivia

Generally suitable for all age groups, sports trivia questions and answers are a welcome addition to any party game.

World Series Champions: Pittsburgh Pirates
Stanley Cup Champs: Montreal Canadiens
AFL Champions: Houston Oilers
NFL Champions: Philadelphia Eagles
NBA Champions: Boston Celtics
NCAA Basketball Champions: Ohio State
NCAA Football Champions: Minnesota & Mississippi
Orange Bowl: Georgia over Missouri
Rose Bowl: Washington over Wisconsin
Sugar Bowl: Ole Miss over LSU
U.S. Open Golf: Arnold Palmer
U.S. Tennis (men/women): Neale Fraser/Darlene R. Hard
Wimbledon (men/women): Neale Fraser/Maria Bueno
Kentucky Derby: Venetian Way
On January 12, Dolph Schayes became the first NBA player to score 15,000 points.
On January 22, in the first world title fight of the decade, Paul Pender beat Sugar Ray Robinson in a fifteen-round split decision.
On January 25, Wilt Chamberlain scored 58 points, the most ever by an NBA rookie.
On January 26, Pete Rozelle became the NFL Commissioner, after serving as the acting president of the NFL following Bert Bell’s death in October 1959. Britannica.com points out that as commissioner of the National Football League (NFL) from 1960 to 1989, Rozelle “oversaw a period of enormous growth for professional gridiron football. He negotiated lucrative deals with the television networks, doubled the size of the league, and helped to create the Super Bowl.”
On January 28, the Dallas Cowboys became the newest NFL franchise.
On February 4, the San Francisco Giants moved from Seals Stadium to Candlestick Park. They played there until 1999 when they moved to Pacific Bell Park, now known as Oracle Park.
On March 13, the Chicago Cardinals moved to St. Louis.
On April 18, Paavo Kotila of Finland won the 64th Boston Marathon.
On May 30, Jim Rathmann won the Indianapolis 500.
On July 4, Yankees outfielder Mickey Mantle became the 18th MLB player to hit 300 home runs.
On July 17, Gastone Nencini of Italy won the 47th Tour de France.
The 1960 Summer Olympics were held in August with Rome as the host city. A total of 83 countries and 5,338 athletes participated in the 150 sporting events.
On September 15, ice hockey player Maurice Richard announced his retirement. He finished his career with 544 goals, which was an NHL record at the time.
On September 25, for the first time since 1927, the Pittsburgh Pirates clinched the National League pennant.
On September 25, the New York Yankees clinched the American League pennant.
On December 14, the Washington Senators joined the American League.

6. Entertainment News

At the 32th Academy Awards—which honored the best films of 1959—Ben-Hur won an Oscar for Best Picture, and William Wyler (Ben-Hur) won an Oscar for Best Director. Likewise, Charlton Heston (Ben-Hur) won an Oscar for Best Actor, and Simone Signoret (Room at the Top) won an Oscar for Best Actress. (By the way, Ben-Hur won 11 Oscars.)
At the 12th Primetime Emmy Awards, the Art Carney Special (NBC) won an Emmy for Outstanding Program Achievement in the Field of Humor, and Playhouse 90 won an Emmy for Outstanding Program Achievement in the Field of Drama. Likewise, Robert Stack (The Untouchables) won an Emmy for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Series, and Jane Wyatt (Father Knows Best) won an Emmy for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Series.
At the 3rd Annual Grammy Awards, The Theme From A Summer Place (Percy Faith) won a Grammy for Record of the Year, the Theme From Exodus (Ernest Gold, songwriter) won an award for Song of the Year, and The Button-Down Mind Of Bob Newhart (Bob Newhart) won an award for Album of the Year. (By the way, the 3rd Annual Grammy Awards were made at private ceremonies with no television component.)
Horror movies released in 1960 include 13 Ghosts, Black Sunday, Blood and Roses, Circus of Horrors, Eyes Without a Face, Horrors of Spider Island, House of Usher, The Brides of Dracula, The City of the Dead, The Hypnotic Eye, The Little Shop of Horrors, The Tell-Tale Heart, The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll, The Vampire and the Ballerina, Tormented, and Village of the Damned.
Were there video games back in 1960? UnrealityMag.org tells us that “In the 1960s video games were very different than they are today. Video game systems were much simpler and the games for them were less complex. The first video game that was made popular in the 1960s was Pong.”
On February 3, La Dolce Vita—directed by Federico Fellini and starring Marcello Mastroianni and Anita Ekberg—premiered in Italy.
On February 11, Jack Parr walked off The Tonight Show.
On February 19, Bill Keane’s Family Circus cartoon strip debuted.
On February 26, Vera Miles starred in the famous "Mirror Image" episode of the CBS series The Twilight Zone.
On June 6, the last Steve Allen Show aired on NBC.
On June 15, The Apartment—directed by Billy Wilder and starring Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine—debuted in New York. In 1961, The Apartment won an Academy Award for Best Picture.
On June 16, Psycho—a psychological horror film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Janet Leigh, Anthony Perkins, and Vera Miles—opened in New York City.
On August 6, Chubby Checker performed "The Twist" on The Dick Clark Show, and started a worldwide dance craze. StereoGum.com remarks that “‘The Twist’ had different goals to accomplish than most pop songs. It didn’t have to tell a story or speak to the vagaries of young love or pile harmonies on top of each other in arresting ways. It just had to pound hard and communicate excitement. It had to get people out on the floor. It had to have a good beat, and you had to be able to dance to it. ‘The Twist’ did exactly what it was supposed to do.”
On August 10, Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho opened in Los Angeles.
On September 28, the popular game show Queen For A Day moved to ABC.
On September 28, the final episode of The Millionaire aired on CBS.
On September 30, The Flintstones premiered on ABC television. IMDB.com reports that “This popular animated television cartoon featured two Stone Age families, the Flintstones and their neighbors, the Rubbles. Much of the humor was based on its comic portrayals of modern conveniences, reinterpreted using Stone Age 'technology.' Most notably were their cars, complete with absence of floorboards to allow them to be 'foot-powered.'”
On September 29, the western drama Outlaws debuted on NBC.
On September 30, the final episode of the children’s show Howdy Doody was broadcast.
On October 3, the sitcom The Andy Griffith Show premiered on CBS.
On October 6, Spartacus—directed by Stanley Kubrick and starring Kirk Douglas and Laurence Olivier—opened in New York City.
On October 7, the drama Route 66 premiered on CBS.
On November 25, CBS Radio aired the final episodes of the last network soap operas: Ma Perkins, Young Doctor Malone, The Right to Happiness, The Second Mrs. Burton, The Couple Next Door, and Whispering Secrets.
On November 25, the last episode of the radio sitcom Amos ‘n’ Andy aired. Set in Harlem with black characters, Amos ‘n’ Andy premiered on March 19, 1928.
In 1960, actress Lana Turner married civic leader Frederick May, actress Vera Miles wed actor Keith Larsen, and actor Yul Brynner tied the knot with fashion house executive Doris Kleiner.

In 1960, Swedish meatballs were all the rage.

7. Miscellaneous Fun Facts, Trivia, and Pop Culture Trends

PBS.org explains that pop culture is that loose blend of books, music, fashion and other daily ephemera that contributes to the identity of a society at a particular point in time. In the 1960s, radio, film, television, and books defined the essence of American pop culture.

In 1960, the most popular baby names were Mary, Susan, Linda, Karen, Donna, David, Michael, James, John, and Robert.
The average life expectancy at birth in the United States was 52 years.
Popular holiday gifts for kids included Chatty Cathy, the Ken Doll, Barbie's Dream House, the Wham-O Super Ball, Suzy Homemaker, the Easy-Bake Oven, Hot Wheels, the G.I. Joe Doll, and Lite-Brite.
Fashion trends included deep, darker colors, plaids of all sizes, furs and hats, exaggerated makeup, short hair, mini skirts, culottes, and go-go boots.
Heartthrobs and fashion icons in 1960 were Brigitte Bardot, Claudia Cardinale, Doris Day, Angie Dickinson, Annette Funicello, Audrey Hepburn, Gina Lollobrigida, Sophia Loren, Marilyn Monroe, Kim Novak, Elizabeth Taylor, and Tina Turner.
Lynda Mead (Natchez, MS) won the Miss America crown.
Linda Bement (Utah) became Miss USA.
Time Magazine’s “Men of the Year” included the following U.S. scientists: George Beadle, Charles Draper, John Enders, Donald A. Glaser, Joshua Lederberg, Willard Libby, Linus Pauling, Edward Purcell, Isidor Rabi, Emilio Segrè, William Shockley, Edward Teller, Charles Townes, James Van Allen, and Robert Woodward.
In 1960, the starting salary for a teacher was $5,135. It was $4,400 for a police officer, and $9,400 for an engineer.
Farmers made up 8.3% of the U.S. labor force. There were about 3,711,000 American farms in 1960, averaging about 303 acres apiece.
There were 45 million television sets in the U.S., and over 90% of American households had at least one TV.
The term paparazzi originated. Paparazzi “are independent photographers who take pictures of high-profile people, such as actors, athletes, politicians, and other celebrities, typically while subjects go about their usual life routines.” The word was taken from Federico Fellini’s 1960 film La Dolce Vita. FT.com tells us that “Fellini created a character called Paparazzo, played by Walter Santesso, as an intrusive photographer. He was the sidekick of the film’s star, Marcello Mastroianni, a pathetic but likeable gossip journalist.”
According to U.S. Census data, Detroit was the wealthiest per capita city in America.
In 1960, frozen bagels were introduced into the marketplace. The New York Times explains that until the 1960s, “bagels were little known outside large Jewish communities in major cities. The frozen bagels marketed by Lender’s, a family bakery in New Haven, were crucial in the birth of bagel nation.”
Coffee Rich—the first frozen, non-dairy coffee creamer—was also invented.
Little Debbie Oatmeal Cream Pies first appeared on grocery store shelves. At LittleDebbie.com, these delectable pastries are described as "Two soft, chewy oatmeal cookies baked with whole grain oats and molasses, then layered with creme."
The Hawaiian Pineapple Company was renamed the Dole Corporation.
Granny Smith apples first appeared in American grocery stores.
Aluminum cans were used commercially for the first time.
The theme from the film A Summer Place—by artist Percy Faith—was a number one song for nine weeks. Percy Faith received a Grammy Award for Record of the Year.
Peg Bracken’s I Hate to Cook Book was published.
Golf Magazine began publication.
In 1960, brothers Tom and James Monaghan bought a pizza restaurant in Ypsilanti, Michigan for $500. The restaurant, originally called DomiNick’s, was renamed Domino’s in 1965. Over the next 10 years, Domino’s would open 200 more locations.
Hardee’s—the fast food chain—was also founded. FoodReference.com tells us that Wilbur Hardee opened the first Hardee's restaurant in Greenville, North Carolina on September 3, 1960. It had no tables and only a few items on the menu, but the drive-thru restaurant was an immediate success. The main attraction was a 15-cent lean-beef burger that was made to order on a custom-built charcoal broiler.
The Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts chain was also launched.

8. 70+ Words That First Appeared in Print During 1960

Courtesy of Merriam-Webster.com, here are 70+ words that appeared in print for the first time during 1960.

AAA battery, aerospace plane, a-go-go, anti-pesticide, and arcade game
Bermuda bag, bi-level, biomedical engineering, bionics, blindside, brain drain, and brittle bone disease
Carbon fiber, coin-op, computerese, cordon bleu, and cruise control
Deboard, dial-up, discotheque, dreadlock, and dullsville
Elder care and Eurodollar
Fast food
Golden oldie and guest worker
Hair gel, hardnose, hate crime, health spa, and hygge
Immunocytochemistry, immunofluorescence, and indexation
Kippah and kook
Lexis
Mayo, meet and greet, mini, monkeypox, and Montezuma's revenge
New Journalism, new wave, and nonmainstream
Ob-gyn and OED
Peace corps, plant-based, potassium sorbate, and pre-approved
Radar detector, reality check, retinol, and rock star
S corporation, scroungy, sod off, soul food, and square one
Teleprocessing, theme park, thunder lizard, tokenism, touch-tone, trinocular, and twin double
Valet parking
Wide receiver and wigged out
Yeesh

9. Computer News

In 1960, there were 2,000 computers in use in the United States.
The first integrated circuits (ICs) were sold for $120.00 apiece. ComputerHope.com teaches us that “The IC is a package containing many circuits, logic gates, pathways, transistors, and other components all working together to perform a particular function or a series of functions. Integrated circuits are the building blocks of computer hardware.”
IBM opened the first mass-production facility for transistors in New York.
IBM began to market the IBM 1400 series of transistor computers to businesses.
NASA launched TIROS, the first weather satellite.
Bob Bemer introduced the backslash ( \ ), alternatively known as the backward slash. During his career, Bemer also created the escape character and curly bracket.
Hewlett-Packard stock was being traded on the New York Stock Exchange for the first time.
General Motors installed the first industrial robot on an assembly line at a die casting plant in Trenton, NJ. HistoryOfInformation.com explains that “The 4000 pound robotic arm transported die castings from an assembly line and welded these parts on auto bodies, a dangerous task for workers, who could be poisoned by exhaust gas or lose a limb if they were not careful.”
Physicist Theodore Maiman created the first laser.
AT&T introduced the dataphone and first known modem.
Digital launched the PDP-1, the world’s first minicomputer.
In 1960, computer pioneers Will Wright, Brad Templeton, Jaron Lanier, Mochio Umeda, Reed Hastings, Randy Pausch, Tim Cook, and Anders Hejlsberg were born. On the other hand, computer pioneers Samuel Caldwell and Harry Goode passed away.