Nostalgia: A look back at 1965

Published on: February 23, 2025

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Nostalgia: A look back at 1965

As we approach our 60th anniversary, What’s NU? thought it would be fun to take a look back at America in 1965. It was the year of the Beatles and Stones in music, Lee Marvin and Julie Christie in movies (Google them), and eggs for 53 cents a dozen at the grocery store.

1965 Prices

  • $100 in 1965 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $1,000 today.
  • $6,900 = yearly household income
  • $21,500 = cost of a new home
  • $2,650 = price of a new car (a VW Bug was just $1,595)
  • $0.53 = cost of a dozen eggs
  • $0.35 = cost of a cup of coffee
  • $0.31 = cost of a gallon of regular gas
  • $0.05 = first-class postage

1965 Culture

Movies: The Sound of Music (Best Picture), Cat Ballou (Lee Marvin, Best Actor), and Darling (Julie Christie, Best Actress)

Memorable Music: Yesterday and Help (Beatles), Satisfaction (Rolling Stones), I Got You Babe (Sonny and Cher) and Turn, Turn, Turn (Byrds)

Popular TV: Bonanza, The Lucy Show, The Red Skelton Hour, and Bewitched

Most popular baby names: Lisa and Michael

Politics: The Voting Rights Act becomes law.

World Series: LA Dodgers beat the Minnesota Twins

NFL: Green Bay 23-Cleveland 12 in a pre-Super Bowl title game (Editor’s note: The Eagles have three of these in addition to their two Super Bowl wins.)

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