The Cuban Missile Crisis, a confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union, is triggered when U2 spy planes confirm development of Soviet nuclear missile sites in Cuba. President Kennedy responds with a naval blockade in the Caribbean to prevent further missiles reaching Cuba. The confrontation is considered the closest the Cold War came to escalating into a full-scale nuclear war.
After a year of legal challenges, James Meredith becomes the first African American to enroll at the University of Mississippi. Meredith's enrollment led to riots at the all-white university and the National Guard and federal troops are brought in to escort Meredith to and from classes.
In July the first American communications satellite is launched into space. Owned by AT&T, the Telstar satellite is designed to facilitate television, phone calls and other transmissions between the US and Europe.
The animated series The Jetson's debuts as the first color television program on ABC. Produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions the show is a space age version of The Flintstones.
Astronaut John Glenn becomes the first American to orbit the earth.
Movie star Marilyn Monroe is found dead in her apartment at age 36 of a prescription drug overdose.
1962 advertisement for Playboy magazine with the headline "What sort of man reads Playboy?"
1962 advertisement for chrome dinette set.
Winston cigarette ad 1962.
Cover of 1962 Radio Shack catalog.
1962 Coca Cola advertisement showing women taking a break from shopping to enjoy a coke. A random Bob Dylan reference - note the woman with the "leopard skin pill box hat".
Print ad for Schick hair dryer.
1962 advertisement showing a model having her hair styled.
Model in 1962 Harper's Bazaar magazine.
Young adult photo shoot 1962.
1962 fashion photo showing popular "how many can fit in a phone booth" gag.
1962's Dr. No is the first James Bond film. The film stars Sean Connery as Bond and Ursula Andress. The long running spy film series is based on the novels of Ian Fleming.
Director David Lean's epic film Lawrence of Arabia is released, starring Peter O'Toole, Omar Sharif and Anthony Quinn.
CBS debuts The Beverly Hillbillies, a sitcom featuring an Ozark mountain family moving to posh Beverly Hills after striking it rich. The series runs until 1971.
Johnny Carson replaces former host Jack Paar on late night television program The Tonight Show. Carson hosts until his retirement in 1992. In the 1970's he was television's highest paid personality.
Family vacation photo at a Wisconsin Holiday Inn.
Dancers doing the Twist 1962.
High school campus Reseda, California.
Boys basketball team and coach DuSable High School Chicago.