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The 60s ... What did like best about the 60s?

The 60s were deemed to be some of the best times ever! What did you like best about the 60s? Share your memories here...


Created By on 24/02/2014

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irenem0705
16th Nov 2016 22:12:50
0
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I had a very happy Childhood in the sixties, to this day I think it was the best dacade for everything, I was born in Liverpool, my only regret was I wasn't old enough to go to the Cavern, and see the Beatles, but a few years ago I got to see Paul McCartney, and I could not discribe What that was like! I've loved The Fab Four since I was 7yrs old, and still do ! And it's an added bonus to say their Our Boys from Liverpool.May I also add that Paul, still has connections with the city, and goes there frequently!
Andre
28th Oct 2016 14:56:04 (Last activity: 28th Oct 2016 16:02:38)
1
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Re The Beatles in the sixties….Let me tell you a true story.

In 1962 I was working at The Rialto ballroom in Liverpool as assistant general manager after being transferred from the Majestic Ballroom Newcastle. Every Thursday night I was the relief manager at The Majestic ballroom Birkenhead where we put on all the local groups.

I spent most lunchtimes at the Cavern. One day I met my friend Bob Wooler DJ of the Cavern Club and we went around to Nems music store to see Brian Epstein. A little later we all went to The Cavern Club as Bob wanted Brian to see a group called The Beatles who were not long back from Germany. They were great and of course the rest is history.

After being in Liverpool for some months I contacted Mr Neilson Manager of The Majestic Ballroom Newcastle and told him that there were many great groups in Liverpool such as The Big Three, The Beatles, Lee Curtiss and The All Stars, Gerry and The Pacemakers, Billy J Kramer, Freddie Star and the Midnighters and Derry Wilkie and The Pressmen. There were others and that he should book them, which he did.

Sometime later I was involved in a car smash after getting a lift from a drunken doctor from the Blue Angel club, ending up in hospital. Bob Wooler came to visit me and he was sporting a black eye. He told me that John Lennon had thumped him after he made a comment about Lennon's holiday in Spain with Brian Epstein. You have to realise that Bob was the type of guy who would not lift a finger to defend himself.
After recovering I asked for and got a transfer back to the Majestic Newcastle where in 1963 The Beatles were booked to play. I remember that day well as I was looking forward to seeing the band again. When they arrived with their gear I let them in where they commenced to set up their gear for that nights show. They started to rehearse a song, which turned out to be She Loves You, Paul doing the arrangement. The song was rehearsed and polished off on that afternoon BEFORE the gig and not after as many have suggested.. That’s a fact because I sat at the back of the ballroom and listened to it all. I let them out of the ballroom and they went to their hotel, which was The Turks Head. Later that night we had the gig, I introduced them to the stage and all hell was let loose, you could hardly hear the band for the screaming kids. In fact John Lennon told me in the dressing room that it was ok to play their records now ( I did DJ-ing as well) as they would not be heard over the screaming when on stage.

It is my understanding that the band booked into the Turks Head then came to the ballroom to set the gear up and have a rehearsal at about 3pm. I just don't see how they would have the time to write the song at the Turks Head before coming to the Majestic to set the gear up. So as far as I am concerned "She Loves You" was written in Liverpool at Paul McCartneys home. I witnessed its arrangement (which was the same arrangement that ended up on the record) on the afternoon before the gig at The Majestic Ballroom, Newcastle in 1963. My opinion is there was only one musical genius in The Beatles and that was and is Paul McCartney. He was also the best drummer in The Beatles.


By the way, Oriole records made The Merseybeat albums at The Rialto Ballroom Liverpool when I was there. Yes the early 1960’s were a great time to be around.
Ken Black.
Response from Andre made on 28th Oct 2016 16:02:38
They were indeed Little Minx. We booked most of the bands that were in the charts at that time. It seemed to me that the sixties were by far a better time all round to be alive.
Carri
28th Oct 2016 08:27:41
4
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Ah, the 60's...... Heavens! was it that long ago? It seems like yesterday. Wonderful memories of youth. The world was our oyster.

The music, the clothes (although I have to admit having recently seen some photos of mens fashions of the time I did find it a bit "cringeworthy").

College and friends, coffee bars, clubs and pubs. I was in the Manchester area, and it was humming and alive. Perhaps that was just youthful emotions, but I like to think the former.

We were very lucky to have our youth in those years. We were not "taken over" by technology. We still talked to each other and children were taught good manners and still "played outside" without a "paedophile" lurking around every corner. We got dirty and wet, and skinned our knees. We went to school to learn, respected others and had pride in ourselves.

When we sat down at the dinner table we ate what we were served and were thankful for it. We had conversations about the day and shared our experiences. The television, if you had one was turned off, and did not rule supreme. What happened??

If we could bring back those days perhaps we could eradicate some of the worlds ills, but perhaps that's just wishful thinking and being too optimistic, but I like to look on the bright side.
Hateehc
27th Oct 2016 21:27:24
0
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jeanymay
23rd Oct 2016 11:26:58 (Last activity: 23rd Oct 2016 17:53:46)
3
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Being young (I was born in Dec 56) and getting excited about doing new things. Music, dance, boys, and just life in general was good.

Perhaps we should try to rekindle some of the passion we had for life.
Response from jeanymay made on 23rd Oct 2016 15:22:55
I still like being daft at times. Fun is not just for the young, and helps to keep you young.
Response from jeanymay made on 23rd Oct 2016 17:11:11
It sure does !
Response from jeanymay made on 23rd Oct 2016 17:53:46
the days when fashion came before comfort eh !
Hateehc
15th Oct 2016 01:13:10 (Last activity: 23rd Oct 2016 11:08:43)
2
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mini skirts
Response from ecarg made on 23rd Oct 2016 11:08:43
Yes and rolling over the waist band of our school skirts as soon as we left the school grounds, black tights with white knee length socks over the top ,we thought we were so trendy!
ecarg
22nd Oct 2016 14:38:22
1
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A great trip down memory lane reading "what did you like best about the60's" even the ice on the windows brought back drawing pictures on the glass. This year I have been to Liverpool on the Beatles tour and to a Beatles tribute band night - brilliant. The excitement and sense of optimism ,the freedom to walk miles over the fields as a child providing you were home by tea time, recording the top 40 on a cassette player and listening to it back when you should be asleep. Leaving school at 15 and becoming a nanny to children aged 2.4.6.and 8 taking the youngest for walks and explaining to people, no they are not mine! Would parents employ someone so young to look after their children today? I was not academic but I'm sure I had a lot more pratical skills than people leaving school now . We were educated in cookery and, sewing . and were less mollycoddled than children today, we were allowed to take risks and learn from our mistakes. I expect the current generation will look back on there childhoods like us with a mixture of emotions but we can't change history just hope for a better tomorrow.
deffay
27th Jun 2016 09:32:40 (Last activity: 22nd Oct 2016 11:45:58)
2
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Newcastle on Tyne was the place to be in the 60's. The clubs were The Marimba, The New Orleans Jazz, The Muscle In, The Downbeat where the Animals started, and the Club aGo-go was the best, to name but a few. Anyone remember the Newcastle clubs? - have a look at the Club aGo-go website which also has memories and old photos of other clubs, memories from musicians and of club go-ers. - All of the 60's.
Response from Vantodder made on 22nd Oct 2016 11:45:58
The La Strada, just down the road at South Shields was my favourite
Lenas Boy
16th Oct 2016 21:29:53
0
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So much to like about the sixties. The music
Del Shannon Elvis Small Faces. Four Seasons and so many more.Maybe falling in so called love. Leyton Orient getting promoted to the old first division for the only time in their history .Living life to the full .Oh what great days don't really remember much about it though?
wilberry
14th Oct 2016 23:15:09
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During the sixties I was a member of a youth club in South Ockendon Essex called All Saints youth club, to this day several of us meet regularly all over the county for a Sunday lunch there has been as many as 16 of us, we call ourselves the last of the summer wineos, I don't know why. My first job was as a page boy in Bucks club in the west end of London in 1961 I was earning £3/10 shillings a week. Married my lovely wife Joan 1n 1966 when we won the world cup, she sadly passed away in August this year and I am now learning how to manage without her, its hard for an undomesticated fellow.
[deleted]
14th Oct 2016 21:22:28 (Last activity: 14th Oct 2016 22:07:47)
1
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[deleted]
Response from jeanymay made on 14th Oct 2016 22:07:47
Exciting times when your young and trying things out. Happy days
Capricorn
3rd Sep 2016 20:14:30 (Last activity: 11th Sep 2016 06:02:11)
2
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When you see the way "Society "has changed the sixties can never be replaced for surplus jobs, no wars , the Beatles, innovation, "credit", allowing us to buy on the never never, Computers, T.V.'s.
I can remember my Friends' Father was always in the shed makig a T.V.!!!!!!! We watched it on the T.V.
Report of the Royal Wedding , the colour of the picture was green and the Horses' legs filled the 9 in screen , you couldn't see the Carriage.LOL
Response from Jessica10 made on 9th Sep 2016 16:57:43
Much better times than today - in my opinion!
Response from Capricorn made on 9th Sep 2016 17:33:14
I can distinctly remember one of the Flatmates, Scottish who was alays playing a record of a Female singer, can't remember her name but two lines from the Song were "Ah the apple trees, sunlit memories.....only last July, when the World was young "

Funny how that has stuck in my mind all these years. Another episode that has stuck in my mind , this Flatmate was quite Bossy and you didn't argue with her. One Saturday Morning I was with her when we did our weekly shop and this guy was selling Nylons for a low price, needless to say E said we should buy them for the three of us. I was dubious because it would affect our budget , but you didn't argue with her. When we opened the pack the three pair of nylons had three legs each LOL
Response from anf1408 made on 9th Sep 2016 18:50:13
Hi Capricorn, I believe the song you're thinking of is called "When the World was Young". There have been various versions made, but the one I know was sung by Anita O'Day so perhaps that is who you are thinking of
Response from Capricorn made on 11th Sep 2016 06:02:11
Thanks anf1408.......strange isn't it that we can remember what was happening 50 years ago is still so vivid , yet some of us can't remember what we went in the kitchen for LOL. My Flatmates and I got a job in the evenings selling photographs at dinner dances in all the best Hotels in London. There was no colour photographs then so black and white photos made it hard to distinguish people.

This is funny......the Flatmate who bought 3 legged tights with our grocery money was trying to sell photos of a small convention of Indians with their Turbans on. One guy said he was right at the back and could hardly be seen, our Flatmate said if he bought the Banquet size he would be at the front LOL. Needless to say he complained and she almost got the sack for mis-selling. LOL
[deleted]
2nd Sep 2016 22:46:14 (Last activity: 10th Sep 2016 10:23:34)
4
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[deleted]
Response from Jessica10 made on 9th Sep 2016 16:54:28
Loved that song, was it Mary someone who sang it?
Response from Jessica10 made on 10th Sep 2016 10:23:34
Yes, of course it was her, it's all coming back to me - lol. Loved those days, if only I could turn the clock back!
celtwitch
28th Jun 2016 13:21:31 (Last activity: 9th Sep 2016 16:55:55)
3
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What I didn't like about the 60's was, being caned at school (the teachers would be frogmarched out of the profession these days!) black and white pictures on our 9 inch telly box. Hard toilet paper, ouch! Stork margarine, bread and jam for tea, thuggish teachers, cold sheets and heavy blankets on my bed. Waking up to a freezing cold house with ice coated windows on a winters morning.
Can you think of any more?
Response from Jessica10 made on 9th Sep 2016 16:55:55
But we knew no different did we
Capricorn
5th Sep 2016 18:33:31
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In those days you could leave one job in the morning and start a new job by the after noon.. I remember jiving with my Flat Mate to rock and roll music. Worked for Monsanto Chemicals all day ....really good Company. Do you remember the severe cold one Winter which froze pipes? Monsanto delivered huge plastic Containers of Water to every Employee. Had an evening job at night selling Photographs at Dinner Dances in all the best Hotels in London........yes, those were the days my friend, we thought they'd never end.LOL
celtwitch
3rd Sep 2016 20:48:14 (Last activity: 3rd Sep 2016 21:29:43)
1
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I remember coffee bars, Cherry B, Babycham, hipster trousers, Mary Quant, CND, London To Aldermaston Marches, dance halls, fish and chip shops open till 11pm, the mobile shop that sold paraffin for our heater, flagons of Woodpecker cider. Playing 'postmans knock' at parties, doing a paper round for 15/- per week. The 6/5 Special, Radio Luxembourg, Radio Caroline, the Top 20 on Sunday evening radio.
The Black and White Minstrels (how very un PC that would be today) Simon Dee, Charles Atlas bodybuilding adverts in the papers. Public Information films on the telly box. Popeye the Sailor.
Malcolm Muggeridge, Richard Dimbleby, The Brains Trust, waiting for the voice that reminded us 'don't forget to turn your set off' at the end of the evenings viewing.
Response from Alan247 made on 3rd Sep 2016 21:29:43
And, Horis Bachelor with his prediction on how to win £75000 on the Pools. He lived in Keynsham Bristol, he used to say ...spelt K-E-Y-N-S-H-A-M. My sister aged 17 went to a CND march and was picked up by the Fuzz, she said it was painful, but grew back
Iancw12
26th Aug 2016 19:33:53
0
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Linoleum and no central heating. Yuk.
Alan247
19th Aug 2016 00:47:01
1
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My Sister was 17 at the time, she attended a CND march in London, things got out of hand, she said was got picked up by the fuzz, she said at the time it hurt, but it soon grew back
Alan247
7th Aug 2016 14:38:09 (Last activity: 17th Aug 2016 17:40:49)
4
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The best thing for me was....my Lambretta. Today at the age of 66, I still own one and, wear the Parka
Response from georgesmum made on 7th Aug 2016 17:14:16
I always wanted a Lambretta but my dad said I couldn't have one because I was a girl! I got my own back by having my hair cut really short like Twiggy and Julie Driscoll.....
Response from georgesmum made on 8th Aug 2016 12:05:47
Yes I was a mod...complete with parka but alas no scooter!
I was scared of rockers. Had he been old enough my young brother would have become a rocker.....he's now in his 50's wears leathers, has a ponytail and at the last count had 14 motorbikes.......most of us grow out of these phases.....not my brother!
Response from Capricorn made on 17th Aug 2016 16:26:06
I was going out with a Polish Guy studying Architecture and when we were out riding on his scooting. We stopped at the lights and I stood up to stretch my legs and he started off without me LOL
Response from celtwitch made on 17th Aug 2016 17:40:49
My dad bought me a scooter, it was a Vespa, Italian for Wasp, it was green and the gears were so stiff I couldn't change without stopping to wrestle with the twist thingy.
Fully comprehensive insurance, for a learner rider, was...$4.00!
I don't know why he bought it because I was never keen on 2 wheels, I just sort of gave up on it and then my dad sold it.
celtwitch
29th Jun 2016 11:31:14 (Last activity: 17th Aug 2016 16:12:06)
2
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You had it easy then...we had ice on our loo seat! We had to get up at 4am to start chipping the ice off our front door so that dad could get out to go to work. Then we had to walk 2 miles to the forest to chop down a tree, drag it back home, and then chop it up into logs before mum could light the fire and cook us some gruel.
Then we had to do a paper round, help the milkman, and clear the snow from old people's paths before trudging 5 miles to school. We were always late, so the headmaster would beat us black and blue with a bull whip, then hang us upside down till hometime.
On Saturdays we had to do a 14 hour shift at the sewage works, we had to stand waist deep in the muck trying to sort out anything recyclable.The gaffer would push us under the surface if we made a mistake, then dock our wages.
On Sunday we got a lie in till 5am then went off to clean factory chimneys all day until it got dark.. When we couldn't afford coal grannie would suck a Victory V and we could warm ourselves on her tongue!
By eck, they were wonderful days!
Response from Wilf made on 29th Jun 2016 14:13:49
You joke here but when I was 10 I used to do a paper round in the freezing winter, in the dark and pouring rain. It was tough! My brother did a milk round as an assistant when he was 9...unbelievable nowadays!!!
Response from Theseeker made on 15th Aug 2016 13:08:57
That sounds suspiciously like a plot from Monty Python. lol
Response from Capricorn made on 17th Aug 2016 16:12:06
Hi celtwitch, I well remember breaking an Icicle off a lampost and sucking it all the way to school.Holding out my hand for the cane after secretly taking a hair from my head and placing it on my Mount of Venus...the swelling bit at the thumb....it didn't work. LOL

There was loads going on.
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