Image: Cletus Hunnicutt via YouTube
About This Quiz
These days, we're always looking for the next best thing to help us in our day-to-day lives. We want better technology, easier cooking and even more free time.
It wasn't much different in the '60s. Many products were marketed as "space aged" and "futuristic," but we look back on them and wonder how anyone functioned with such archaic devices. That's not to say that these items weren't important and sometimes even necessary. If you lived in the 1960s, you know that innovation was more than just a thought. Several items were being brought into homes to give people more freedom from their daily workload. These inventions helped people cut their cooking times in half, delivered forms of entertainment that were not yet heard of and allowed people to design their homes how they saw fit.
If you grew up in the '60s, you probably watched your parents attempt to try out these new technologies, giving them more free time and changing their lifestyles completely. But do you think you remember what those items called? Take this quiz to see just how much you know about the things that could be found in nearly every household in the 1960s.
Kool-Aid
Weilers
Juicy Juice
Tang
Tang was marketed as the drink the astronauts took to the moon, but it was also considered a go-to for parents across the country. It was said to have vitamins and minerals that children needed, but it was basically just citric acid and sugar.
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Circle phone
Hash phone
Mic phone
Rotary phone
Although the first push-button phone made it to market in 1963, the most common phone throughout the decade was a rotary phone, which required users to spin a dial to get a single number (which is why we still refer to making a phone call as "dialing a phone number").
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Blender
The blender was invented in 1922, and models have changed over the years. While many of us see a Vitamix and get excited, most households in the '60s didn't have such great options, and they had to depend on a few bottom blades in hopes that their food was processed properly.
Popcorn machine
Juicer
Stand mixer
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Space sitters
Little tulip chair
Little tulip chairs could be found in offices, salons and homes across the United States in the 1960s. In the home, these chairs were often used at breakfast bars because they were comfortable and stylish.
Captain's chairs
Spin diamonds
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Screen radio
Color television
Televisions have come a long way since the 1960s. These days, nearly everyone has a flat screen television with smart capabilities, but back then, you were the most popular person on the block if you had a color TV.
Old school iPad
Channel changer
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FM
Two-way
Transistor
The majority of large radios in the 1960s used vacuum tubes as circuits. However, transistor radios used transistors in their circuits, making them lighter, smaller and portable for everyone.
Ham
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Triple Stand
KitchenAid stand mixer
North American blender
Sunbeam Mixmaster
While KitchenAid has the market nearly cornered these days with its stand mixer, the majority of homes in the '60s had a Sunbeam Mixmaster, as it was the most state of the art appliance of its time.
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Pifco Princess
The Pifco Princess was a woman's way of getting the hairstyle she wanted without having to go to the salon several times a week. It gave them the bouffant hairstyle that we all know and love from the time period.
Tecco Tart
Beauty Bouffant
The Maximizer
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Trip pot
Percolator
For those who don't know how a percolator works, it is very much like a drip coffee pot, except the coffee is continuously sent up through the grounds. This is why coffee tended to have a burnt taste to it. If you didn't make it right, it would come out of the percolator like mud.
They didn't make coffee.
Thermos
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Sally doll
Betsy Wetsy
Barbie doll
Barbie changed the game in 1959, and by the 1960s, nearly every little girl had at least one of them. They were beautiful and allowed little girls to play grown up without having to take care of babies.
My Baby Surprise
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Ant farm
If you were lucky enough to own an ant farm as a child, you know that the joy was in watching the little buggers work. Of course, some kids gave their farms a little shake after the ants did so much work.
Beetle bard
House bugs
Little diggers
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Betsy Wetsy
Chatty Cathy
Any household that included a young girl would most definitely have a Chatty Cathy doll. Though it rivaled Barbie in sales, chances are young girls owned both of these toys because they were so popular.
Speaking Sue
Bobbi Sue Lu
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Reel to reel recorder
Market Maker
Cassette tape recorder
Cassette tape recorders were released in 1963, and people soon became obsessed with them. They could record their voices, music and sounds and play them back for others to hear. It was innovative, and it led to many great inventions down the road.
Portable stereo
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Fleece blanket
Synthetic blanket
Paper blanket
Electric blanket
Electric blankets were a great way to solve household temperature disputes. If someone was cold, they could simply get under the electric blanket. If someone was too hot, they could stay away from it.
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Shag
Shag rugs and shag carpeting were great to welcome friends into your home. The carpet was soft and generally in a warm color. However, it was very difficult to clean. It required raking, sweeping and avoiding the vacuum.
Flip
Area
Mix
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Bean bag
Pod chair
They may have looked like eggs, but these sleek and "futuristic" chairs gave you the comfort you needed when you just wanted to relax. In the '60s, these chairs were often found, not in living rooms, but in bedrooms and sitting rooms.
Mixer chair
Heppa chair
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Space lamp
Microlamp
Lava lamp
Lava lamps were a huge part of the decor in the 1960s, and you didn't have to be a strung-out teenager to own one. These lamps were made with wax, and when the lamp was on, the wax heated and moved around, giving out a psychedelic vibe.
Well lamp
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Couch tables
End tables
Tea tables
TV trays
With more and more families enjoying TV time during dinner time, TV trays became a great way to avoid a mess while enjoying your favorite show. Additionally, TV dinners were made popular around this time, giving home cooks a little break from just about everything from preparation to clean-up.
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Beaded curtains
Beaded curtains were a great way to let people know there was a doorway somewhere, but it was totally cool if they went through it. These curtains didn't allow much privacy, but the sound the beads made when someone walked through the curtain was like a built-in warning system to those on the other side of the doorway.
Room dividers
Slip sheets
Curtain sheets
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Rear worker
Belt massager
Belt massagers were a popular piece of exercise equipment that helped women shape their bodies without actually partaking in physical activity. They generally came in black and enamel finishes, and they did nothing of what they claimed to do.
Mix master
Fill buster
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Star clock
Intricate mirror clock
Sunburst clock
Sunburst clocks are named after their appearance. Some were made out of mirror, but most were made out of brass to give a great shine. They attracted the eye as a piece of artwork, but they also had the practical use of telling time.
Mirrored time
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Taxi lamps
Dancer lamps
Strip lamps
Pole lamps
Pole lamps were considered the highest quality lamps of the time period. They came in different colors and patterns to fit whatever decor options you were particular to. Some even had flat surfaces and ashtrays attached.
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Electric cooker
Electric cookers are now called electric skillets. Though the design is similar to the ones made today, the electric cooker of the '60s was marketed as a hot server and breakfast cooker.
Buffet tray
Buffet warmer
Heat pan
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Portable fridge
Portable dishwasher
Portable dishwashers were all the rage in the 1960s. They were priced at around $250, which was quite a bit of money back then, but those who had them appreciated them more and more every day.
Portable wine cooler
Portable trash compactor
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Electric steam cleaner
Electric duster
Upright vacuum
If you're old enough to remember vacuum cleaners that looked like miniature cars with long hoses, you probably remember how cool it was to see an upright vacuum. These were an excellent way to keep your home clean in a fraction of the time and using a fraction of the energy.
Mighty broom
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Electric bottle opener
Electric mixer
Hand mixer
Electric can opener
Canned food ruled the world in the 1960s. It didn't spoil, it tasted fine, and it made for easy cooking. Creating an electric can opener was a genius plan to get more electronic devices into kitchens across America.
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Record player
Though 8-track players were invented in 1965, the majority of homes in the '60s still had record players available. The crisp sound of vinyl was irreplaceable. However, people later moved toward 8-tracks and cassettes because they took up less space.
Phonoplayer
Vinyl spinner
Slip skinner
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Bottom freezer refrigerator
Side-by-side refrigerator
Side-by-side refrigerators were all the rage in the 1960s. They required less work to find the items you were looking for, and they gave you more freezer space as well. They were also easier to clean, as they didn't require you to reach far to clean them.
French fridge
Ice dispenser fridge
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Pizza oven
Brick oven
Front-loading toaster oven
Front-loading toaster ovens were a great way for home cooks to get the toasted taste they wanted on most of their meals. They were also excellent for making hor d'oeuvres for parties.
Slip oven
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G.I. Joe
G.I. Joe was a household staple for all boys who had any kind of toys. Though parents of the time period worried about giving their boys dolls to play with, G.I. Joe assured them that they were action figures.
American Heroes
War Dolls
Viet Namers
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Stroller
Walker
These days, walkers are made almost completely out of plastic or metal covered in plastic or silicone. In the '60s, it was just metal and cloth, but if you were lucky, there was a plastic tray on it.
High chair
Jumper
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Top hat
Topper
Tall crown hat
Women wearing fashionable hats was a big rage in the 1960s. Though this trend ended shortly after the decade, stylish hats like the tall crown hat were signs of status and social heirachy.
Felt shopper tall hat
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Draws
Slides
Flaps
Drapes
In the 1960s, drapes were made of incredibly heavy material like velvet and suede. They were considered a gorgeous addition to home decor, and they could help you frame an entire room.
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Electric shaver
Electric shavers are not a new thing. Though the design has changed quite a bit, both men's and women's electric shavers were available on the market throughout the 1960s. They were advertised as convenient and essential.
Electric tooth brush
Electric hair brush
Electric shampooer
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Ovaltine
Instant coffee
Because brewing coffee was a royal pain in the 1960s, instant coffee was marketed as a time-saving and flavor-saving must-have. Even those who boasted making the best brewed coffee had a little bit of instant coffee on hand, in case of an emergency.
Juicy juice
Instant tea
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Large cushion
Bean cush
Bean bag chair
Bean bag chairs were perfect for a child's play area or a teenager's room. They were soft and comfortable, but it was hard to remain graceful when you tried to get up from one.
Ball pillow
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Wall stick
Paint stencils
Trip stickers
Wallpaper
If you didn't use wallpaper in the 1960s, you were not in the groove. This was a housing essential during the decade, and it had to have intricate floral designs to keep the wall busy and avoid the plain paint alternatives.
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Padded portable bar
Portable bars came in several styles in the 1960s, but most had a padded leather or patent leather design on the front and matching stools. It was a great way to keep things away from the kids while entertaining your adult friends.
Portable bridge table
Portable chairs
Milk dispenser
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Pea coat
Ruffled jacket
Flare swing coat
Flare swing coats were made during a time when a coat had to be both fashionable and practical. These coats were very much like a dress to go over your dress in the winter. They were high fashion, and even Barbie had one.
Pillbox
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Impressionist jewelry
Post-modern jewelry
Whitewashed jewelry
Pop art jewelry
Jewelry in the 1960s was nothing short of fantastic. From stained glass jewelry to the pop art jewelry of the time, women loved adding it on. The layers of jewelry received a lot of attention.
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