A Very Pregnant Year--by Bryan F.
It’s surreal to be sitting here in 2019, at my laptop and contemplating the events from fifty years ago. At the ages of 14 and 15 during that calendar year 1969, I can clearly recall many of the events of that time. The sixties were a decade pregnant with social, scientific and cultural changes. 1969 was perhaps the busiest of those years.
It would be impossible to do justice to the year in this short essay so, I’ll present an overview of 1969 from my perspective. A year that was as transformative for me personally as it was for the country.
1969 is the year I completed 9th grade at my junior high school in June. Middle school was three years then and referred to then as "junior high school". I was in my ninth school by that time. Six elementary schools some in different school districts and three junior high schools. You may remember that I referenced the fact that my family moved around a lot in my past blog posts. Fortunately, in November of 1967, my eighth-grade year, we moved to a home in the north end of San Bernardino on the slopes of the San Bernardino Mountain foothills. This area would remain our home for the remainder of my school years as well as those of my siblings. By 1969 we were still in the same house and it was beginning to feel like home. That was good because with the turmoil of the time I needed something that resembled stability. I began to make some friends by 1969 and was invited by the father of my only childhood friend to join a fraternal organization for boys, the DeMolays.
I also started high school that September and enrolled in the band class at Pacific High School. When I did so I had no idea that I would be marching in a huge stadium during half-time. The high schools played football, at the Orange Show Fair Grounds stadium and raceway. I think this was because of all the high school remodeling and construction that year that caused my high school that year and San Bernardino High to share the same campus for a quarter, them in the morning and us in the afternoon and early evening. A cooperative effort that went off without a hitch when the other campuses, San Gorgonio HS and JHS's were experiencing riots.
I should mention my friend. He and I were born seven days apart, I was the oldest. Our mothers, both transplants to California, his from Illinois and mine from Missouri became friends on a school bus at age ten in 1946 and would remain so until my mother's death in 2016. My friend and I drifted apart after high school though. Our paths were very different, but the support of a friend that was always there when everything else in my childhood was in constant upheaval was perhaps, life-saving.
His name is Kirby, Joey when we were little. He doesn’t really care to talk about the past, at least he didn’t when he attended my Mom’s memorial in 2016. I’ve only seen him for funerals and one time in 1981 when I tried to resurrect our friendship at a dinner at his parent's house. But in 1969 we were fully engulfed in and together, experienced the rich cultural experience of the time.
Our shared experiences mostly revolved around the music of the time which inarguably was the most diverse and prolific ever experienced by humankind. Am I exaggerating? Well, just imagine that the Archies, “Sugar, Sugar’ number one was juxtaposition against the next – Top Ten Songs of 1969.
- SUGAR, SUGAR – The Archies.
- AQUARIUS / LET THE SUNSHINE IN – The Fifth Dimension
- I CAN’T GET NEXT TO YOU – The Temptations.
- HONKY TONK WOMEN – The Rolling Stones.
- EVERYDAY PEOPLE – Sly & The Family Stone.
- DIZZY – Tommy Roe.
- HOT FUN IN THE SUMMERTIME – Sly & The Family Stone.
8. I’ll Never Fall In Love Again- Tom Jones
9. Build Me Up Buttercup_ The Foundations
10. Crimson And Clover_ Tommy James and The Shondells
Number one albums of 1969:
Chart history
Kirby had a stereo and some albums. We wore out The Beatles, Abbey Road album. Even before he had his own stereo, when we had the living room to ourselves we listened to music on his Mom's stereo constantly, well except when we were watching The Blob or Petticoat Junction, on their color TV. The Everly Brothers; The Tijuana Brass; Louis Armstrong and Bobby Darin singing, Mack The Knife. Those were his parent's albums.
Chart history
| Issue date | Album | Artist(s) |
|---|---|---|
| January 4 | The Beatles (The White Album) | The Beatles |
| January 11 | ||
| January 18 | ||
| January 25 | ||
| February 1 | ||
| February 8 | TCB | Diana Ross & The Supremes and The Temptations / Soundtrack |
| February 15 | The Beatles (The White Album) | The Beatles |
| February 22 | ||
| March 1 | ||
| March 8 | Wichita Lineman | Glen Campbell |
| March 15 | ||
| March 22 | ||
| March 29 | Blood, Sweat & Tears | Blood, Sweat & Tears |
| April 5 | Wichita Lineman | Glen Campbell |
| April 12 | Blood, Sweat & Tears | Blood, Sweat & Tears |
| April 19 | ||
| April 26 | Hair | Original Cast |
| May 3 | ||
| May 10 | ||
| May 17 | ||
| May 24 | ||
| May 31 | ||
| June 7 | ||
| June 14 | ||
| June 21 | ||
| June 28 | ||
| July 5 | ||
| July 12 | ||
| July 19 | ||
| July 26 | Blood, Sweat & Tears | Blood, Sweat & Tears |
| August 2 | ||
| August 9 | ||
| August 16 | ||
| August 23 | Johnny Cash At San Quentin | Johnny Cash |
| August 30 | ||
| September 6 | ||
| September 13 | ||
| September 20 | Blind Faith | Blind Faith |
| September 27 | ||
| October 4 | Green River | Creedence Clearwater Revival |
| October 11 | ||
| October 18 | ||
| October 25 | ||
| November 1 | Abbey Road | The Beatles |
| November 8 | ||
| November 15 | ||
| November 22 | ||
| November 29 | ||
| December 6 | ||
| December 13 | ||
| December 20 | ||
| December 27 | Led Zeppelin II | Led Zeppelin |
Kirby had a stereo and some albums. We wore out The Beatles, Abbey Road album. Even before he had his own stereo, when we had the living room to ourselves we listened to music on his Mom's stereo constantly, well except when we were watching The Blob or Petticoat Junction, on their color TV. The Everly Brothers; The Tijuana Brass; Louis Armstrong and Bobby Darin singing, Mack The Knife. Those were his parent's albums.
Number One songs of 1969:
| No. | Issue Date | Song | Artist(s) | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 210 | January 4 | "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" | Marvin Gaye | |
| January 11 | ||||
| January 18 | ||||
| January 25 | ||||
| 211 | February 1 | "Crimson and Clover" | Tommy James and the Shondells | |
| February 8 | ||||
| 212 | February 15 | "Everyday People" | Sly & the Family Stone | |
| February 22 | ||||
| March 1 | ||||
| March 8 | ||||
| 213 | March 15 | "Dizzy" | Tommy Roe | |
| March 22 | ||||
| March 29 | ||||
| April 5 | ||||
| 214 | April 12 | "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" | The 5th Dimension | |
| April 19 | ||||
| April 26 | ||||
| May 3 | ||||
| May 10 | ||||
| May 17 | ||||
| 215 | May 24 | "Get Back" | The Beatles with Billy Preston | |
| May 31 | ||||
| June 7 | ||||
| June 14 | ||||
| June 21 | ||||
| 216 | June 28 | "Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet" | Henry Mancini | |
| July 5 | ||||
| 217 | July 12 | "In the Year 2525" | Zager and Evans | |
| July 19 | ||||
| July 26 | ||||
| August 2 | ||||
| August 9 | ||||
| August 16 | ||||
| 218 | August 23 | "Honky Tonk Women" | The Rolling Stones | |
| August 30 | ||||
| September 6 | ||||
| September 13 | ||||
| 219 | September 20 | "Sugar, Sugar" | The Archies | |
| September 27 | ||||
| October 4 | ||||
| October 11 | ||||
| 220 | October 18 | "I Can't Get Next to You" | The Temptations | |
| October 25 | ||||
| 221 | November 1 | "Suspicious Minds" | Elvis Presley | |
| 222 | November 8 | "Wedding Bell Blues" | The 5th Dimension | |
| November 15 | ||||
| November 22 | ||||
| 223 | November 29 | "Come Together" / "Something" | The Beatles | |
| 224 | December 6 | "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" | Steam | |
| December 13 | ||||
| 225 | December 20 | "Leaving on a Jet Plane" | Peter, Paul and Mary | |
| 226 | December 27 | "Someday We'll Be Together" | Diana Ross & the Supremes |
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| Stonewall Riots 1969 |
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| Woodstock 1969 |
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| Moon Landing 1969 |
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| August 9, 1969, Manson Murders Victims. Wojciech Frykowski, Abigail Folger's lover; Sharon Tate, actress, and wife of Roman Polanski: Steven Parent (at the gate after trying to return a radio to the groundkeeper; Jay Sebring, (famous Hollywood hairstylist); Abigail Folger (coffee heiress). |
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| Leno and Rosemary LaBianca murdered by the Manson family the following night. The murderer's images will not be shown here and the victims only for purpose of memorialization. |
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| Woodstock |
The year 1969 was also a time of great social upheaval. The hippy movement was still a thing, although some say that was the year it died thanks to Charlie Manson. The Gay rights movement gained national attention with the Stonewall Riots, on which I will do a future post. Drug use had been normalized. Science made great strides with the Moon Landing. The war in Viet Nam raged on with pictures of the dead on the front pages of local and national newspapers and magazines. Anti-War protest was amping up and one million people peacefully gathered in a farmers field for the greatest music festival of all time, Woodstock. It was also the year of The Stones Altamont concert, best known for the violence and one death, as a result of hiring Hells Angels as security. Some say this event ended the energy of the sixties, some say it was the Manson Murders. My guess is they both did their work.
For much of my life before 1969, I was most of the time anxious and depressed. As far back as the age of five anxiety was my default setting. I survived a very personal incident in 1968 though, that led me to believe that life was worth living and I began to more fully embrace life. The year 1969 was a good time to be in that state of mind. Many thought the world was falling apart but mine was beginning to come together. Don’t get me wrong, not everything was perfect. A year later I received my draft card. I had to carry it on me and yes, the war terrified me. I could not even make sense of the idea of purposefully killing someone, or dying in a war that wasn't about securing our freedoms and safety. A neighbor down the street by the name of Rosar lost their son that year in Viet Nam. It was all so sad and meaningless, but it did not cause me to lose hope.
Something awakened in me that year. I even got a job at a fast-food restaurant that summer, at the age of 14, I would turn 15 in August. I cleaned up the lot, sprayed the hot sauce off the outdoor tables and emptied the trash cans. I had my transistor radio to keep me company on those mornings. Eli’s Coming, In The Year 2525, Aquarius and hundreds more songs directly into my single earphone from the KMEN radio station that was located in the middle of a cow pasture in San Bernardino. If you won a contest on the radio you had to drive down a dirt road in the pasture to pick it up.
When school started I got up at 5 am and walked the ten blocks to my job so that I could buy some school clothes that would not embarrass me. I was a man. I was now taking ownership of my life.
I also realized that I was gay, and yes, I had no idea how that was going to work. The entire social structure not only didn’t fit but also worked against me. I never once thought myself a sinner for being gay and I began to let go of religious indoctrination that year, as well.
I did not at the time fully understand the implications of the Stonewall riots and news coverage was sketchy on the west coast. It was Harvey Milk's murder about nine years later that would awaken the activist in me.
Many things happened that year and Charlie Manson and the Manson Family were responsible for the most chilling. The Manson Murders changed the culture of Los Angeles overnight. Before that time you could wander into a party at Dennis Wilson’s (Beach Boys drummer) house in the Hollywood Hills and mingle and get high. No one locked their doors. Everything that was so open, closed down after that terrible August night, the midnight hour after my fifteenth birthday that ended the lives of Sharon Tate and her friends and a friend of the groundskeeper, as well. The groundskeeper survived that night by staying inside his cottage. Manson wasn’t even targeting Tate, who was pregnant. He thought Jerry Melcher still lived in the house, a music producer and son of Doris Day that had rejected Manson’s music when Manson tried to get him to produce it when Manson met him at one of those open Hollywood Hills parties months before. The Manson Murders left a mark that I still carry to this day. It was just so close to my home and so brutal.
I did not at the time fully understand the implications of the Stonewall riots and news coverage was sketchy on the west coast. It was Harvey Milk's murder about nine years later that would awaken the activist in me.
Many things happened that year and Charlie Manson and the Manson Family were responsible for the most chilling. The Manson Murders changed the culture of Los Angeles overnight. Before that time you could wander into a party at Dennis Wilson’s (Beach Boys drummer) house in the Hollywood Hills and mingle and get high. No one locked their doors. Everything that was so open, closed down after that terrible August night, the midnight hour after my fifteenth birthday that ended the lives of Sharon Tate and her friends and a friend of the groundskeeper, as well. The groundskeeper survived that night by staying inside his cottage. Manson wasn’t even targeting Tate, who was pregnant. He thought Jerry Melcher still lived in the house, a music producer and son of Doris Day that had rejected Manson’s music when Manson tried to get him to produce it when Manson met him at one of those open Hollywood Hills parties months before. The Manson Murders left a mark that I still carry to this day. It was just so close to my home and so brutal.
Hollywood was also prolific during that year, as well. Movies of 1969 were nearly as impressive as the music:
nk
|
Title
|
Studio
|
Gross
|
1
|
$102,308,889[1]
|
||
2
|
$44,785,053[2]
|
||
3
|
$41,728,598[3]
|
||
4
|
$33,208,099[4]
|
||
5
|
$31,897,253[5]
|
||
6
|
$31,678,778[6]
|
||
7
|
$31,132,592[7]
|
||
8
|
$25,889,208[8]
|
||
9
|
$22,939,805[9]
|
||
10
|
$22,774,493[10]
|
The news of the day was also remarkable.
Some major events of 1969 included:
“(CNN) -- From Woodstock and a man on the moon to the Manson murders and the Stonewall riots, the summer of 1969 was a tumultuous and eventful time. Listed below are a few of the historic and memorable moments from that summer.
April 23 | Sirhan Sirhan sentenced
Sirhan Sirhan, convicted of murdering New York Sen. Robert F. Kennedy during the 1968 presidential campaign, is sentenced to death a week after being found guilty. Three years later, his sentence is commuted to life in prison after California abolishes the death penalty.
Sirhan Sirhan, convicted of murdering New York Sen. Robert F. Kennedy during the 1968 presidential campaign, is sentenced to death a week after being found guilty. Three years later, his sentence is commuted to life in prison after California abolishes the death penalty.
May 18 | Apollo 10
The Apollo 10 mission is a dress rehearsal for the lunar landing module. This mission tested "all aspects of the lunar landing mission exactly as it would be performed, except for the actual landing," according to NASA. It also transmitted the first color pictures of Earth from space.
The Apollo 10 mission is a dress rehearsal for the lunar landing module. This mission tested "all aspects of the lunar landing mission exactly as it would be performed, except for the actual landing," according to NASA. It also transmitted the first color pictures of Earth from space.
May 23 | The Who releases "Tommy"
The Who, a key band of the 1960s British Invasion, releases the rock opera "Tommy." The double album features songs like "Pinball Wizard" and "Tommy, Can You Hear Me?"
The Who, a key band of the 1960s British Invasion, releases the rock opera "Tommy." The double album features songs like "Pinball Wizard" and "Tommy, Can You Hear Me?"
May 24 | Beatles' "Get Back" is No. 1
"Get Back" by the Beatles becomes the top song on Billboard's list and stays there for five weeks. Released as a single, the song later appeared on the "Let it be" album. "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine in" by the Fifth Dimension was the second song on the list for that week.
"Get Back" by the Beatles becomes the top song on Billboard's list and stays there for five weeks. Released as a single, the song later appeared on the "Let it be" album. "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine in" by the Fifth Dimension was the second song on the list for that week.
May 25 | "Midnight Cowboy" released
John Schlesinger's "Midnight Cowboy," starring Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman, is released with an X rating, the first ever in wide release. The film received seven Academy Award nominations and won three, including best picture. Other notable movies released during that year include "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," "Easy Rider" and "True Grit."
John Schlesinger's "Midnight Cowboy," starring Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman, is released with an X rating, the first ever in wide release. The film received seven Academy Award nominations and won three, including best picture. Other notable movies released during that year include "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," "Easy Rider" and "True Grit."
June 3 | Last episode of 'Star Trek' airs
The last episode of the original "Star Trek" airs on NBC. During the episode, titled "Turnabout Intruder," one of Captain Kirk's former lovers steals his body.
The last episode of the original "Star Trek" airs on NBC. During the episode, titled "Turnabout Intruder," one of Captain Kirk's former lovers steals his body.
June 6 | Joe Namath briefly retires
Joe Namath, the star New York Jets quarterback who famously guaranteed a Super Bowl victory, briefly retires from the National Football League over a conflict with league Commissioner Pete Rozelle.
Joe Namath, the star New York Jets quarterback who famously guaranteed a Super Bowl victory, briefly retires from the National Football League over a conflict with league Commissioner Pete Rozelle.
June 8 | Nixon and Vietnam
President Nixon, after being elected on a campaign pledge to pull troops out of Southeast Asia, announces the withdrawal of 25,000 U.S. troops from Vietnam.
President Nixon, after being elected on a campaign pledge to pull troops out of Southeast Asia, announces the withdrawal of 25,000 U.S. troops from Vietnam.
June 9 / June 23 | Burger becomes chief justice
Appointed by President Nixon, Warren Burger is confirmed as the chief justice of the Supreme Court on June 9, succeeding Earl Warren. Two weeks later, he is sworn in. In 1973, Burger votes with the majority in the landmark Roe v. Wade case, establishing a woman's right to an abortion.
Appointed by President Nixon, Warren Burger is confirmed as the chief justice of the Supreme Court on June 9, succeeding Earl Warren. Two weeks later, he is sworn in. In 1973, Burger votes with the majority in the landmark Roe v. Wade case, establishing a woman's right to an abortion.
June 28 | Stonewall riots
A confrontation between gay rights activists and police outside the Stonewall Inn -- a gay bar in Greenwich Village, New York City -- escalates into a riot. Over the next four decades, the riots act as a symbolic force for the burgeoning gay rights movement.
A confrontation between gay rights activists and police outside the Stonewall Inn -- a gay bar in Greenwich Village, New York City -- escalates into a riot. Over the next four decades, the riots act as a symbolic force for the burgeoning gay rights movement.
July 25 | Sen. Kennedy and Chappaquiddick
Democratic Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy receives a two-month suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to leaving the scene of a fatal accident. Mary Jo Kopechne, once a campaign worker for Sen. Robert Kennedy, drowned in the July 18 accident in Chappaquiddick, Massachusetts.
Democratic Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy receives a two-month suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to leaving the scene of a fatal accident. Mary Jo Kopechne, once a campaign worker for Sen. Robert Kennedy, drowned in the July 18 accident in Chappaquiddick, Massachusetts.
July 20 | Moon landing
Apollo 11, carrying three U.S. astronauts, lands on the moon. Mission commander Neil Armstrong was the first man on the moon; crewmate Buzz Aldrin also walked on the moon. The third man on the mission was Michael Collins. Six lunar landings followed.
Apollo 11, carrying three U.S. astronauts, lands on the moon. Mission commander Neil Armstrong was the first man on the moon; crewmate Buzz Aldrin also walked on the moon. The third man on the mission was Michael Collins. Six lunar landings followed.
July 24 | Muhammad Ali convicted
Boxing champion Muhammad Ali is convicted of evading the draft after he refused to be inducted into the U.S. Army. Two years earlier, Ali applied for an exemption as a conscientious objector but was denied. He was stripped of his fighting license and title. He returned to the ring in 1970, and his conviction was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1971.
Boxing champion Muhammad Ali is convicted of evading the draft after he refused to be inducted into the U.S. Army. Two years earlier, Ali applied for an exemption as a conscientious objector but was denied. He was stripped of his fighting license and title. He returned to the ring in 1970, and his conviction was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1971.
August 9-10 | The Manson murders
During a two-night rampage, pregnant actress Sharon Tate and seven others are killed by Charles Manson and his "Family." Manson and four others -- Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel, Charles "Tex" Watson and Leslie Van Houten -- were later convicted of murder and other charges. Their death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment in 1972.
During a two-night rampage, pregnant actress Sharon Tate and seven others are killed by Charles Manson and his "Family." Manson and four others -- Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel, Charles "Tex" Watson and Leslie Van Houten -- were later convicted of murder and other charges. Their death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment in 1972.
August 14 | British troops sent to Northern Ireland
More than 300 British troops are ordered into a Londonderry neighborhood in Northern Ireland after three nights of clashes between police and Catholic residents. The troops were supposed to stay for days, but the conflict lasted decades. The number of British troops stationed in Northern Ireland peaked at 30,000 in the early 1970s.
More than 300 British troops are ordered into a Londonderry neighborhood in Northern Ireland after three nights of clashes between police and Catholic residents. The troops were supposed to stay for days, but the conflict lasted decades. The number of British troops stationed in Northern Ireland peaked at 30,000 in the early 1970s.
August 14 | The Miracle Mets
The New York Mets fall nine games behind the Chicago Cubs in the National League race but, led by future Hall of Fame pitchers Nolan Ryan and Tom Seaver, stage a comeback in the months that followed to capture the pennant. They went on to defeat the Baltimore Orioles for the Word Series title.
The New York Mets fall nine games behind the Chicago Cubs in the National League race but, led by future Hall of Fame pitchers Nolan Ryan and Tom Seaver, stage a comeback in the months that followed to capture the pennant. They went on to defeat the Baltimore Orioles for the Word Series title.
August 15-18 | Woodstock
Nearly 400,000 people show up at a farm in Bethel, New York, for a music festival that features legendary acts Jimi Hendrix, the Who, the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin and Sly and the Family Stone. The event would help define an era.
Nearly 400,000 people show up at a farm in Bethel, New York, for a music festival that features legendary acts Jimi Hendrix, the Who, the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin and Sly and the Family Stone. The event would help define an era.
August 17 | Hurricane Camille
More than 250 people are killed in Mississippi and Louisiana when Hurricane Camille strikes the United States mainland. At its peak, Camille was a Category 5 storm, packing winds stronger than 200 mph and leaving tides measuring higher than 20 feet in its wake.
More than 250 people are killed in Mississippi and Louisiana when Hurricane Camille strikes the United States mainland. At its peak, Camille was a Category 5 storm, packing winds stronger than 200 mph and leaving tides measuring higher than 20 feet in its wake.
September 1 | Gadhafi assumes power
Moammar Gadhafi, a military captain at the time, deposes King Idris and assumes control of Libya. He remains in power to this day.
Moammar Gadhafi, a military captain at the time, deposes King Idris and assumes control of Libya. He remains in power to this day.
September 24 | The "Chicago 8" trial begins
A trial gets under way for eight people -- known as the "Chicago 8" -- who were indicted on charges connected with protests at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. After a long, raucous trial, two were acquitted, and the others were convicted on various charges. Eight police officers were also indicted in connection with the disorder in Chicago.”
A trial gets under way for eight people -- known as the "Chicago 8" -- who were indicted on charges connected with protests at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. After a long, raucous trial, two were acquitted, and the others were convicted on various charges. Eight police officers were also indicted in connection with the disorder in Chicago.”
So, 1969 was indeed a crazy year. I can’t cover everything here but I hope I gave you a taste of what it was like to experience it as an adolescent coming of age in a suburb in Southern California.
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/the-chaos-of-altamont-and-the-murder-of-meredith-hunter
remembering-the-victims-of-the-manson-murdershttps://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-07-26/remembering-the-victims-of-the-manson-murders
https://allthatsinteresting.com/leno-rosemary-labianca-murders
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonewall_riots#/media/File:Stonewall_Inn_1969.jpg
I was 11 and remember most of these things, clearly. I agree with you on the music of the time. We may not ever reach that level of excellence and richness, again. I think another factor that brought the 60's to an end was the growing use of cocaine as a popular drug. The Manson murders freaked me out too. I remember seeing hippies driving around St. Louis in an old school bus. I was sure the Manson family had made their 3way to the Midwest and were coming for me.
ReplyDeleteWhat a phenomenal year it was. The good and the bad.