31 Throwback Photos From 1966 That’ll Hit You Right in the Feels
In 1966, the Beatles were bigger than ever, skirts were getting shorter, and the youth of America was shaking off the last traces of the ’50s in favor of a new wave of music, fashion, and politics. Teenagers flocked to record stores as rock ‘n’ roll hit full throttle, everyone ate TV dinners under the glow of “Star Trek,” and protests for civil rights and against the Vietnam War grew louder by the day. Whether you lived through the ’60s or are just feeling nostalgic, here are 31 vintage photos that capture all the highs and lows of 1966.
1. ‘Elvis Presley Getting Some Surfing Tips From Director Mickey Moore on the Set of ‘Paradise, Hawaiian Style’
2. Civil Rights Activists Bobby Seale and Huey Percy Newton Founded the Black Panther Party in October 1966
3. ‘Women Use Compact Mirrors in Packed Crowd To Catch Sight of the Queen in London’
4. ‘Me and My Older Brother in Massachusetts, July 1966’
5. ‘Batman,’ Starring Adam West and Burt Ward, Premiered on TV
6. ‘US President Lyndon B. Johnson Greeting American Troops in South Vietnam During the Vietnam War, 1966’
7. John Lennon of the Beatles Boarding a Plane as Fans Look On
8. ‘On January 1, 1966, Simon and Garfunkel Scored Their First #1 Song in the US With a Remix of ‘The Sound of Silence”
9. A Billboard Looms Over Times Square
10. Just Enjoying a Drink While Riding a Horse, No Biggie
11. A Kid Points at Two Australian Officers on Horseback
12. ‘Christmas 1966 in Arlington, Virginia’
13. Huey Percy Newton, Co-Founder of the Black Panthers, Sending a Strong Message With This Snap
14. A Sea of People at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne, Australia
15. A Glamorous Woman Pictured in the Streets of London
16. Ernesto Miranda’s Arrest Led to the Creation of ‘Miranda Rights’ in June 1966. The Law States That All Suspects Must Be Informed of Their Rights During Arrest and Before Police Questioning
17. Anti-Vietnam War Protestors Take to the Streets in New South Whales, Australia
18. The 1966 Baltimore Orioles, Led By Coach Frank Robinson, Would Go On to Sweep the Dodgers and Win the Franchise’s First World Series
19. Beatlemania Continues: A Sea of Screaming Fans Awaiting the Band at Shea Stadium in New York
20. The Beatles and Their Manager Brian Epstein Arrive Back in London After Their Tour of Germany, Japan, and the Philippines
21. Chinese Red Guards Burn Religious Books Outside Jokhang Temple in Tibet During the Start of Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution
22. Presley, the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Poses for a Snap With Fellow Musician and Friend Jackie Wilson
23. Colorized Image of US President Lyndon B. Johnson Meeting With Civil Rights Leader Whitney Young at the White House, June 28, 1966
24. ‘Swanson Fried Shrimp TV Dinner, 1966’
25. The OG Cast of ‘Star Trek’
26. Indira Gandhi Meets With President Lyndon B. Johnson. In January 1966, Gandhi Became the First Female Prime Minister of India
27. ‘Jacqueline Kennedy and Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco, 1966’
28. A Clipping From a TV Guide Featuring the Series Debut of ‘Star Trek’ on NBC, September 8, 1966
29. Queen Elizabeth II Presents the Jules Rimet Trophy to Captain Bobby Moore After England Defeated West Germany in the FIFA World Cup
30. ‘Behind the Scenes of ‘Batman’
31. First Picture Ever Taken of the Moon’s Surface. In February 1966, the Soviet Union’s Luna 9 Became the First Spacecraft To Achieve This Feat
Want to take a deeper dive into the ’60s?
Start with 30 Powerful Photos That Capture the True Spirit of 1963, then move on to 24 Retro Photos That Capture the Spirit of 1965. You might also enjoy These 30 Vintage Photos From the Late ’60s Show Us What Life Was Like Back Then.