Omaha North High School
Class of 1968
What a Year
Add a story of your own!
1968 What a Year

1968 was a year of political protests, assassinations, and the beginning of a global economy. The music scene was once again set by the "Beatles" and the "Rolling Stones". Fashion flirted with see through blouses and midis and maxis skirts joined the mini skirt as part of the fashion trends.The Soviet Union invaded and arrested President Dubcek

  • Olympic medalists show black power salute during medal ceremony in Mexico City,
  • Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy were assassinated.
  • Anti Vietnam War protests were staged throughout the western world
  • Japanese imported cars and other goods became more popular and we began to worry about how this would affect American jobs.  

How Much Things Cost in 1968
Yearly inflation rate -4.27%
Average cost of a new house -$14,950.00
Average Income per year -$7,850.00
Average monthly rent -$130.00
Gas per gallon -34 cents 

Popular Movies

The Graduate

Bonnie and Clyde

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner

Rosemary’s Baby

Planet of the Apes

  

The Top Ten Music Hits

Sittin on the Dock of the Bay - Otis Redding

Dance to the Music - Sly and the Family Stone

Mony Mony - Tommy James and the Shondells

I Heard it on the Grapevine - Marvin Gaye

Born to be Wild - Steppenwolf

La La Means I Love You - the Delphonics

Hey Jude - Beatles

Jumpin' Jack Flash - Rolling Stones

Nobody But Me - Human Beinz

Magic Carpet Ride - Steppenwolf

Music 50 Years Ago
According to the Smithsonian Institute

Johnny Cash performed at Folsom Prison on January 13, 1968. The performance was recorded and released in May under the album title, At Folsom Prison. On February 22 Johnny Cash proposed publicly at a performance in Canada, he and June Carter married in March 1968. 

Martin Luther King, Jr., a major leader in the civil rights movement, was assassinated on April 4, 1968. While not a musical event in its own right, King's leadership and death had repercussions throughout the country and the civil rights movement, influencing the music of the time.

  • James Brown was scheduled to perform in Boston on April 5, the night after King's death. The city leadership, including Mayor Kevin White and Council Member Tom Atkins, persuaded Brown and the local television networks to broadcast the performance live, in an effort to prevent the rioting and unrest brought the night before by the news of King's death. The broadcast kept people at home, and Boston was one of the few cities that remained quiet that night. 
  • The Poor People's Campaign organized a protest and extended occupation of the National Mall, beginning with the arrival of the first protesters on May 12, 1968. Before his death, King helped organize the protest; in his absence Reverend Ralph Abernathy lead the campaign. For more information on the Smithsonian's documentation of the campaign, visit the Smithsonian Archives website

On April 29, 1968, the rock musical Hair opened on Broadway. Hair brought sex, drugs, nudity, and rock music to a Broadway stage, and included the song "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In," which became popular in its own right, topping charts in 1969. 

In May, the rock band The Beatles began recording their album titled The Beatles, which was more commonly known as The White Album for it's nearly blank cover. It was released on November 22, 1968 and 

In November, "Love Child" by Diana Ross and the Supremes replaced "Hey Jude" by The Beatles in the number one spot at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. 

Elvis Presley filmed a television special that aired on December 3, 1968, often referred to as the "'68 Comeback Special." Elvis was drafted into the army in 1957 and served until 1960. After his service, Elvis transitioned to a film career. The '68 Comeback Special was Presley's reemergence as a musical performer. The footage is availble for viewing online.

What a Difference 50 Years Make


Long hair
Longing for hair

KEG
EKG

 Acid rock
 Acid reflux

Moving to California because it's 'cool'
Moving to Arizona because it's warm

Trying to look like Marlon Brando or Liz Taylor
Trying NOT to look like Marlon Brando or Liz Taylor

Seeds and stems
Roughage

Hoping for a BMW
Hoping for a BM

Going to a new, hip joint
Receiving a new hip joint

Rolling Stones
Kidney Stones

Screw the system
Upgrade the system

Disco
Costco

Passing the drivers' test
Passing the vision test



MICKEY D'S

WHEN HAMBURGERS WERE A DIME AND CHEESEBURGERS WERE 12 CENT WITH 25 CENT SHAKES.

Richard Buzbee
Dollars

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index, prices in 2018 are 624.16% higher than prices in 1968. The dollar experienced an average inflation rate of 2.95% per year during this period.

In other words, $1.60 in 1968 is equivalent in purchasing power to $11.59 in 2018, a difference of $9.99 over 50 years.

 

More Trivia

More movies...Yours, Mine and Ours...Odd Couple....Oliver....Night of the Living Dead...The Boston Strangler...Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Music...Young Girl...Yummy yummy,yummy....I gotta get a message to you...Grazing in the Grass...Green Tamborine...Chain of Fools...

2 OF MY BROTHERS WERE IN VIET NAM.  ANOTHER WAS IN THE AIR FORCE

I was working as a car hop at A&W for 50c an hour

Nancy Stenzel (Dokulil)