Since Season 3 is around the corner, I decided to repost this topic from November 30, 2008 per Dry Manahattan's suggestion. The presidential election and the belief that Season 3 would start in 1964 were the inspirations.
2008 will represent one of America's great transition years for many reasons: the election of Barack Obama with an all time turn out of previously disengaged voters; the collapse of the banking system; the Big Three possibly becoming the Big One (or even the Big None); despite recent drops in prices, serious change in consumer behavior about energy; withdrawal plans for the Iraq war; the realization that so many of our institutions are broken down and need to be fixed: government, health care, social security/retirement, banking/real estate, our infrastructure.
I believe 1964 will be the year where we get to see the Tsunami of change hit the shores of Sterling Cooper. While 1968 was the most eventful and important year of the 60's, the events of 1964 laid down the foundation of this decade. I have categorized some of the events of this year to provide a context for the expected Season 3 of Mad Men.
Please comment on your experiences if you lived through this time or are interested in their historical significance. How do you think the show and/or the characters will be affected by the change that will be thrust upon them in 1964? Which of these events will affect the individual characters? Will Sterling Cooper be an agent of change or meekly watch as the world transforms before their eyes? How will the story line of Mad Men provide us with prism to look at 2008/2009? What other events or developments would you add to this list? We have a lot of time before Season 3 so feel free to expand your comments.
Political
LBJ declares the War on Poverty/Great Society
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 out laws segregation
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution passed
The Warren Commission Report is released
The greatest/most infamous political ad "Daisy" is aired once and helps LBJ get re-elected
Civil Rights/Racial
MLK awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
Malcolm X abandons the Nation of Islam
The murder trial of Medgar Evers ends in mistrial
Three civil rights activists (James Chaney, Andrew Goldman and Michael Scherner) are murdered by police in Mississippi
Nelson Mandela sentenced to life in prison
The Harlem race riots
Freedom of Speech
Mario Savio starts the Free Speech Movement after the UC Regents ban protests of US involvement in Viet Nam
Lenny Bruce sentence to prison on obscenity charges
Science/Technology
BASIC computer language developed
Ford unveils the Mustang
Cultural/Entertainment
The 1964 Worlds Fair in NY
The British Invasion: the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the Kinks arrive on America's shores
Dr. Strangelove, Mary Poppins, From Russia with Love and Goldfinger released
Jeopardy and Rudolf the Red nosed Reindeer debut on TV
Hello Dolly opens on Broadway
Sports
Cassius Clay defeats Sonny Liston to become the new heavy weight champion of the world
Yankees lose to St. Louis in the World Series ending the Yankee Dynasty
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