The 66 most 60’s thing about 1966
The Beatles Change Music Forever with 'Revolver'
Beatlemania and the ravenous fanbase it fed/created dominated the early part of the ‘60s. But something changed with 1966’s Revolver. The Beatles — once pop’s premier boy band — had suddenly grown up. The LP's tracks were deeper, trippier and more experimental than anything they (or anyone else, for that matter) had tried before. The Beatles pushed the boundaries of what could be achieved in the studio, layering instruments, using tape loops and even occasionally playing back parts backwards. Classic songs included "Taxman," "Eleanor Rigby," "Here, There and Everywhere," "Yellow Submarine," "Good Day Sunshine" and "Got to Get You Into My Life." Revolver was the sound of change and the perfect reflection of its year.
‘Batman’ Saves the Day
Before Christian Bale, George Clooney, Michael Keaton or even Val Kilmer donned Batman’s tights, Adam West portrayed the heroic caped crusader. The Batman TV series launched in January ‘66, with a feature film (the first Batman movie made) following that July. While West’s embodiment of the character was much more camp and cartoonish that the modern interpretations, he undoubtedly left his mark on the Batman franchise. Plus, who could ever forget those “Pow!” and “Zap!” comic-like title cards or the famous Batman theme song?
'The Endless Summer' Brings Surfing Mainstream
As surfing culture began seeping into mainstream culture, one film caught the attention of moviegoers the world over. Documentary The Endless Summer chronicled surfers Mike Hynson and Robert August as they traveled across the globe in search of the perfect wave. The film’s style matched its laid back subject matter; unlike most documentaries at the time, which tended to be stuffy, formal affairs, The Endless Summer was presented as an informal look inside surf culture. A landmark film which has since been selected for preservation by the Library of Congress, The Endless Summer helped take surfing from a niche sport to a worldwide phenomenon.
Beach Boys Unleash 'Pet Sounds'
For Brian Wilson, Pet Sounds was more than just a passion project — it was an obsession. The forward-thinking Beach Boy had been inspired by the Beatles Rubber Soul and producer Phil Spector’s wall of sound techniques, and he was determined to create a project that rivaled those pioneering efforts. Wilson produced, wrote and orchestrated the album’s tracks, while Tony Asher handled the majority of the lyrics. Studio experimentation abounded, with Wilson seemingly trying to incorporate every instrument he could find – and even some non-instruments, like Coke cans. The result was an artistic triumph which featured such hits as "Caroline, No," "Sloop John B," "Wouldn't It Be Nice" and "God Only Knows." Though it eventually created a rift within the Beach Boys — the band argued about their artistic direction following the album’s release — Pet Sounds would go on to be regarded as a groundbreaking LP.
Temple Solel
Founded in 1966, Temple Solel began with just twelve visionary families who sought a warm, inclusive spiritual home in Paradise Valley. Guided by the meaning of its name-“Pathfinder”-the congregation grew into a vibrant center of Reform Jewish life, blending tradition with progressive values. Today, it is known for its strong cultural spirit, welcoming community, and its commitment to lifelong learning, worship, and meaningful Jewish engagement.
