In my mind:

the 50's, it's: ufos and the nuclear fallout shelters

the 60's, it's: the french riviera, the sun, California

I was born in '59 and I thought the fallout shelters were already a thing of the past by the Bay of pigs.

I think the show is right on the money...I can hardly wait for the Beatles invasion!

Well, first, we don't see much of the kids at school so I wouldn't expect to see "duck and cover" even mentioned. It really was a mid to late 50s phenomenon, maybe 1960, 1961 at its latest. I'm trying to remember what grade I was inwhen we last had drills - 3rd, I think, which would put it around 1959/60 for me. YMMV.

Sputnik launched in 1957, the height of the Cold War though it simmered for years afterwards. The Army-McCarthy hearings were back in 1954, and bless Joseph Welch for calling out Joe McCarthy on Fred Fisher and others:

"Until this moment, Senator, I think I never gauged your cruelty or recklessness...."

When McCarthy resumed his attack, Welch cut him short:

"Let us not assassinate this lad [Fisher] further, Senator.... You've done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?"

The Red Scare was real to most post-WWII adults (see reactions to the missile presentation in California and the Cuban missile crisis as late as 1962); kids picked up on their parents' anxiety without having the same frame of reference to understand it. I also remember more reference to atomic rather than nuclear bombs.

By the way, if you have ever seen the movie "Anatomy of a Murder" with Jimmy Stewart, Eve Arden, George C Scott, Lee Remick, Arthur O'Connell and Ben Gazzara, note the substitute judge brought in for the murder trial - that's the same Joseph Welch. He took the part "because it looked like that was the only way I'd ever get to be a judge" (it was.) He later served as a partner in a Boston law firm for 30 years.

What are they missing?!? Good lord, a whole world of stuff!

Just from the world of pop culture:
great TV shows. I mean, really great shows as a matter of course, both comedy and drama. The Rat Pack, the cool, swingin' sounds of that era, cool, really great singers, like Eddie Fisher, Nat King Cole, Steve Lawrence and especially Edye Gorme, one after the other...Broadway!! The Music Man, My Fair Lady! And some guy named Robert Morse in, "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"!! A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf?
Oy! So much!

And great movies, Ben-Hur, The Apartment, Elmer Gantry, Days of Wine and Roses, James Bond! Breakfast at Tiffany's, on and on. . .

And in NY Sports: the Yankees lose to the Pirates in the 7th Game of the World Series on Mazeroski's home run! (still hurts).. . Maris' 61 in 61...

and so on, and so forth. . .

I'm baby Gene's age and we had Civil Defense, what you call "duck and cover "drills all through elementary school, I didn't even start K until 1968.

What are they missing?

An AVON lady.

Shouldn't they have milk delivered in bottles by milkmen?

The kids toys seem to be minimal...other than that pathetic brunette Barbie Betty gave Sally (why she wouldn't buy a blonde one to resemble the family's genes is strange). I was more of a 70s child, but surely some Tinkertoys or Wendy Walkers should have been around.

Oooh - the milkman! Glass bottles with the cream rising to the top, little paper caps.

Anyway ... there are a TON of cultural references which we will never see/hear in MM because it's not meant as a time trip really; the everyday stuff varies depending on geography and year. Local TV shows were just that, local and usually short-lived. Anyone else here familiar with The Magic Toyshop? Merrilee and Eddie Flumnum, The Play Lady, Mr Trolley?

What odds n sods they do show are a gift. As I'm typing this Entertainment Tonight is on, interviewing the remaining Beatles re their last 45 years since their records hit the air, complete with clips from the Sullivan show. Can't wait to see Roger's dismissal of them and Jane's interest, lol. Bet she swoons over Paul (the cute Beatle.)

I think I am about the same age as Sally and grew up in upstate NY. The first thing that struck me was the telephone at the Drapers' looked like it was from a later period. And because most people had a "party line" you could rarely pick up your phone and just make your call. You had to wait until the line was clear and anyone in your "party" could listen in. You had to be really careful about what you said and you didn't know who or how many people were on your party line. That fits this show perfectly with both Don and Sally's secrets.

Also, fallout shelter signs were everywhere, not just at schools. The Space Race and The Ruskies or Commies was big cocktail talk. Buffets and smorgasboargs were king! And don't forget fondue! Along with the milk man we had the bread man, the Fuller Brush man and grocery delivery.

Auburn Annie, "Anatomy of a Murder" is one of my favorite movies. Great cast, great story, and wonderful acting. Thanks for reminding me of it. Hope to see it again soon on TCM.

The guys should go to a Playboy Club. Very big in those times.