30 Fascinating Photos That Tell the Story of 1964
From the Beatles touching down in America and sending fans into a frenzy, to underdog Cassius Clay (soon to be known as Muhammad Ali) shocking the world by defeating Sonny Liston, 1964 was undeniably electric. It was the year that saw a huge win in the fight for equality as President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act into law, while a little show called “Jeopardy!” made its debut on TV. Everywhere you looked, history was being made — and these photos capture it all.
1. ‘My Parents on Their Wedding Day in 1964’
2. Muhammad Ali (Then Known as Cassius Clay) Stands Over Sonny Liston After Knocking Him Out in Their 1964 Heavyweight Title Bout
3. Contestants Face Off During an Early Episode of ‘Jeopardy!,’ With Original Host Art Fleming at the Helm on March 30, 1964
4. A Wrinkly Photo of The Beatles as They Answered Questions From Reporters During Their First US Tour
5. ‘Fremont Street in Las Vegas, 1964’
6. The Beatles Share a Light-Hearted Moment as They Shave Together During Their 1964 US Tour
7. … And Here They Are Going for a Swim Together
8. The Verrazano Bridge Connecting Brooklyn to Staten Island in New York City Under Construction
9. A Futuristic Nighttime View of the 1964 New York World’s Fair That Featured Observation Towers and Inflated Tent Structures
10. The IBM Pavilion’s ‘Egg,’ Designed By Charles and Ray Eames, Drew Visitors From All Over the Country
11. ‘Chrysler Pavilion at the New York World’s Fair, 1964’
12. People Making Their Way to the New York State Fair
13. Student Leader Mario Savio Addresses a Crowd Atop a Car During the Free Speech Movement at UC Berkeley in California
14. ‘US President Lyndon B. Johnson Confronts Sen. Richard Russell, the Leader of the Filibuster Against the Civil Rights Act, 1964’
15. LBJ Choosing a Pen Before Signing the Civil Rights Act of 1964
16. ‘Men March for Their Civil Rights in America’
17. ‘Protestors Outside a Real Estate Office in Seattle, Washington, 1964’
18. The 1964 Tokyo Olympics Required 22 Observers to Determine the Final Results of a Running Watch Before High-Speed Cameras
19. The Japanese Paralympic Team During the Opening Ceremony of the Summer Paralympics in Tokyo, Japan, on November 8th, 1964
20. British Sportsman Michael Shelton Returns to the UK as a Hero After Competing in the Summer Paralympic Games
21. A Police Officer Steps In as Chaos Erupts During a Rolling Stones Concert in San Bernardino, California
22. President Lyndon B. Johnson Addresses the Nation Following the Gulf of Tonkin Incident, Sparking US Involvement in the Vietnam War
23. ‘The Beach Boys Performing on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964’
24. ‘Advertising Still of the 1964 First Generation Ford Mustang’
25. ‘The Rolling Stones in Detroit, 1964’
26. Civil Rights Activists March Peacefully as They Call for an End to Segregation in Public Spaces
27. ‘Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X at the Capitol Listening to the Senate Debate on the Civil Rights Bill’
28. ‘Martin Luther King Being Arrested for Demanding Service at a White-Only Restaurant in St. Augustine, Florida, 1964’
29. US President Lyndon B. Johnson After Signing the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Into Law During a Historic Ceremony at the White House
30. Colorized Image of ‘Beatlemaniacs on the Loose, 1964’
Here’s how to get your ’60s fix:
See more of life in the ’60s with From Woodstock to the Moon: These 30 Photos From 1969 Capture a Generation in Motion and 32 Vintage Photos From 1967 That Will Take You Back in Time. Plus, we think you’ll love 15 Dreamy Photos of 1960s Weddings and 17 Photos of Bold 1960s Living Rooms.