Sun, Dec 31, 2017
It was a year of turmoil, change and revolution. This was 1968, one of the most explosive years of the 20th century. It was a year marked by a number of major historical events, including the assassinations of civil rights leader Martin Luther King and politician Robert F. Kennedy; the tumultuous Democratic National Convention in Chicago; and a series of dramatic developments throughout the world. The touchstone story of 1968, symbolizing this global turmoil, was the Vietnam War, which became increasingly unpopular in the United States.
Sun, Feb 4, 2018
Music has connected people through the decades and that was particularly true in 1968. This hour delves into the artists who made headlines and history that year. From the release of the Beatles White album to Johnny Cash's Folsom Prison concert to such benchmarks as the debut of "Hair" on Broadway, the rise of FM radio, Motown and the arrival of strong female voices in popular music 1968 changed the music landscape forever.
Sun, Apr 1, 2018
1968 marked the end of a long road for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; one that had taken the civil rights icon through remarkable highs and devastating lows. While King had achieved one milestone after another, he had not fully realized his dream when his life was cut short by an assassin's bullet. We look at the life, and the legacy of one of the greatest humanitarians of our time.
Sun, May 6, 2018
1968 was a year of highs and lows in the sports world. This hour takes a look at Peggy Fleming winning Olympic gold, Arthur Ashe winning the U.S. Open, Muhammad Ali's draft induction refusal, a showdown of pitchers in Major League Baseball and the black power salute at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.
Sun, Jun 3, 2018
It was a year of political turmoil as the nation's cities were facing racial unrest and opposition over the war in Vietnam. Convinced he could make a positive change Senator Robert F Kennedy announced his candidacy for President. In June of 1968, a mere three months into his campaign, Kennedy was assassinated following a speech at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. The country, which was still reeling from the assassination of Dr. King, was once again in mourning.
Sun, Jul 1, 2018
Whether by land or air, people were on the move in 1968. Hotrods and muscle cars were all the rage thanks to movies like Bullitt" showing off Mustangs and Chargers. It was a big year in the skies with the debut of the 747. The space race was in full swing as NASA launched Apollo 7, the first Apollo Mission to carry a manned crew into space. Capping off a year that had seen much turmoil and tragedy the nation came to together in December of 1968 and watched history being made as the crew of Apollo 8 orbited the moon.
Sun, Aug 5, 2018
Mayor Richard J, Daley, hoped to showcase the city of Chicago as a place of law and order during the Democratic National Convention of 1968 to the rest of country. But instead the Mayor made headlines for the chaos and violence that consumed the city streets as thousands of Vietnam War protestors clashed with city police. Inside the convention, the politics were no less tumultuous as rogue delegates sought to thwart the nomination Vice President Hubert Humphrey and Senator Edmund Muskie as the Democratic nominees in the wake of President Lyndon Johnson's announcement that he would not seek the presidency again. Decades Presents 1968: The DNC tells the story on the 50th anniversary of the event that changed Democratic Party politics and the country from those who lived it.
Sun, Sep 2, 2018
Television part 1 looks back on the transformative television of the late 1960's, including the bold variety show "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour." and the trailblazing sitcom, Julia," about an African American nurse starring Diahann Carroll. We also remember the debut of the wildly popular science-fiction series with a progressive bent, "Star Trek" and the hit spy show that audiences couldn't get enough of, Mission: Impossible."
Sun, Sep 30, 2018
Television Part Two continues our look back on the transformative television of the late 1960's. We remember the innovative sketch comedy show and pop culture phenomenon, "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In", and then sit down with actress Barbara Eden for a look back on the indelible sitcom, "I Dream of Jeannie". We also profile several soap operas including the unique gothic suspense series, "Dark Shadows", and recall the many escapist television shows of the decade, from rural comedies like "Petticoat Junction" and "The Andy Griffith Show", to the colorful hit series, "Batman". And finally, we look back on the debut of one of the longest running and most successful shows on television, "60 Minutes".
Sun, Nov 4, 2018
Movies continues our look back on the transformative years of the late 1960's. We examine how the dawning of a new era played out for Hollywood. We remember the rise of a young filmmaker named Francis Ford Coppola. We also recall when The Beatles broke into the movie scene. 1968 was also a year when independent filmmakers began to steal the spotlight with films like "Faces" and "Targets." We also take a look back on the Broadway winners who made the cut and were adapted for the silver screen including "The Odd Couple" and "Funny Girl." We also relive how Stanley Kubrick changed the industry with his sci-fi classic "2001: A Space Odyssey." We remember how the low budget films "Night of the Living Dead" and "Rosemary's Baby" became horror classics. Finally, we delve into the action films of 1968 such as "The Thomas Crown Affair" and "Bullitt" and how Clint Eastwood made waves with his western "Hang 'em High."
Sun, Dec 2, 2018
From fashion and fast food, to toys and technology, this hour examines the products, pastimes, and personalities Americans found irresistible in 68 including both those that didn't outlast the year (the Nehru jacket and the Wall Street sweater girl), and those that became a permanent part of the national Zeitgeist- the Big Mac and the ATM.