1) Politics
Cuban Missile Crisis
A military confrontation between the US and the Soviet Union regarding the presence of Soviet missiles in Cuba lasted for a very tense 13 days
2) Music
Return to Sender: Elvis Presley
I Can’t Stop Loving You: Ray Charles
Telstar: The Tornados
Big Girls Don’t Cry: The Four Seasons
Breaking Up is Hard to Do: Neil Sedaka
Duke of Earl: Gene Chandler
Green Onions: Booker T and The MG’s
He’s a Rebel: The Crystals
Hey Baby: Bruce Channel
Let’s Dance: Chris Montez
The Loco-Motion: Little Eva
Palisade Park: Freddy Cannon
Surfin’ Safari: The Beach Boys
Up on The Roof: The Drifters
You Belong to Me: The Duprees
3) Major Events
John Glenn would orbit the Earth during this year.
Wilt Chamberlain would set the single-game scoring record in the NBA by scoring 100 points for the Philadelphia Warriors for a 169-147 win over the New York Knicks on March 2, 1961.
World’s Fair would be held in Seattle in 1962 at the Century 21 Exposition from April-October. 10 million people attended to the fair.
Andy Warhol
Warhol was an American artist who was a leading figure in the pop art movement. When Warhol first exhibited these Campbell’s Soup Cans in 1962, they were displayed together on shelves, like products in a grocery aisle.
The Death of an Icon: Marilyn Monroe died
On August 5, 1962, Marilyn Monroe died of a drug overdose in Los Angeles. She was one of the most popular Hollywood stars and a top-billed actress with films grossing over $200 million by the time of her death.
4) Books
“Silent Spring” by Rachel Carson
The book detailed how damaging pesticides were to the environment and especially the birds. Silent Spring brought environmental concerns to the American public. Silent Spring was met with fierce opposition by chemical companies, but it spurred a reversal in national pesticide policy and would lead to a nationwide ban on DDT for agricultural usage. It also inspired the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
5) Films
James Bond, Dr. No
1962 saw the introduction of the James Bond films with Dr. No . This 1962 British spy film starred Sean Connery, Ursula Andress and Joseph Wiseman.
Lawrence of Arabia
This film is based on the life of T.E. Lawrence and is considered an epic historical drama. It starred Peter O’Toole. It is considered one of the most influential films in the history of cinema. The film was nominated for ten Academy Awards and won seven in total including Best Director, Best Sound Editing, Best Film Editing, and Best Picture.
6) Television
Johnny Carson
Johnny Carson began appearing on the Tonight Show in 1962. This talk show would go on for many years.