Can You Name All These Items That Could Be Found in a ’60s Home?

HISTORY

By: Lauren Lubas

7 Min Quiz

Image: Cletus Hunnicutt via YouTube

About This Quiz

These days, we're always looking for the next best thing to help us in our day-to-day lives. We want better technology, easier cooking and even more free time.

It wasn't much different in the '60s. Many products were marketed as "space aged" and "futuristic," but we look back on them and wonder how anyone functioned with such archaic devices. That's not to say that these items weren't important and sometimes even necessary. If you lived in the 1960s, you know that innovation was more than just a thought. Several items were being brought into homes to give people more freedom from their daily workload. These inventions helped people cut their cooking times in half, delivered forms of entertainment that were not yet heard of and allowed people to design their homes how they saw fit.

If you grew up in the '60s, you probably watched your parents attempt to try out these new technologies, giving them more free time and changing their lifestyles completely. But do you think you remember what those items called? Take this quiz to see just how much you know about the things that could be found in nearly every household in the 1960s.

If you grew up in the 1960s, your house definitely had this drink mix readily available. What is it?

Tang was marketed as the drink the astronauts took to the moon, but it was also considered a go-to for parents across the country. It was said to have vitamins and minerals that children needed, but it was basically just citric acid and sugar.

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Do you know which kind of phone didn't have buttons?

Although the first push-button phone made it to market in 1963, the most common phone throughout the decade was a rotary phone, which required users to spin a dial to get a single number (which is why we still refer to making a phone call as "dialing a phone number").

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Newer models of this kitchen appliance are sleek and usually brushed chrome or black. What do you call this boxy contraption?

The blender was invented in 1922, and models have changed over the years. While many of us see a Vitamix and get excited, most households in the '60s didn't have such great options, and they had to depend on a few bottom blades in hopes that their food was processed properly.

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Can you identify these types of chairs?

Little tulip chairs could be found in offices, salons and homes across the United States in the 1960s. In the home, these chairs were often used at breakfast bars because they were comfortable and stylish.

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It might not look like much, but this was state of the art in the '60s. Do you know what it is?

Televisions have come a long way since the 1960s. These days, nearly everyone has a flat screen television with smart capabilities, but back then, you were the most popular person on the block if you had a color TV.

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What kind of radio is this?

The majority of large radios in the 1960s used vacuum tubes as circuits. However, transistor radios used transistors in their circuits, making them lighter, smaller and portable for everyone.

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Do you know what this helpful kitchen appliance is called?

While KitchenAid has the market nearly cornered these days with its stand mixer, the majority of homes in the '60s had a Sunbeam Mixmaster, as it was the most state of the art appliance of its time.

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This device attached to a woman's blow dryer. Do you know what it was called?

The Pifco Princess was a woman's way of getting the hairstyle she wanted without having to go to the salon several times a week. It gave them the bouffant hairstyle that we all know and love from the time period.

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In the '60s, drip-brew coffee machines didn't exist. What did most people use to make their coffee?

For those who don't know how a percolator works, it is very much like a drip coffee pot, except the coffee is continuously sent up through the grounds. This is why coffee tended to have a burnt taste to it. If you didn't make it right, it would come out of the percolator like mud.

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Any household with a little girl in the '60s had at least one of these. What is it?

Barbie changed the game in 1959, and by the 1960s, nearly every little girl had at least one of them. They were beautiful and allowed little girls to play grown up without having to take care of babies.

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Young kids loved playing with this bug experiment. Do you know what it is?

If you were lucky enough to own an ant farm as a child, you know that the joy was in watching the little buggers work. Of course, some kids gave their farms a little shake after the ants did so much work.

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Can you name this large, talking doll that rivaled Barbie?

Any household that included a young girl would most definitely have a Chatty Cathy doll. Though it rivaled Barbie in sales, chances are young girls owned both of these toys because they were so popular.

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It wasn't a Walkman, but it was close enough. Do you know what this device is called?

Cassette tape recorders were released in 1963, and people soon became obsessed with them. They could record their voices, music and sounds and play them back for others to hear. It was innovative, and it led to many great inventions down the road.

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Households that were in colder climates usually had at least one of these hanging around for winter. What is it?

Electric blankets were a great way to solve household temperature disputes. If someone was cold, they could simply get under the electric blanket. If someone was too hot, they could stay away from it.

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You were in and you were hip if your house had one of these rugs. What kind of rug is it?

Shag rugs and shag carpeting were great to welcome friends into your home. The carpet was soft and generally in a warm color. However, it was very difficult to clean. It required raking, sweeping and avoiding the vacuum.

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Nearly every home had at least one of these chairs. Do you know what it's called?

They may have looked like eggs, but these sleek and "futuristic" chairs gave you the comfort you needed when you just wanted to relax. In the '60s, these chairs were often found, not in living rooms, but in bedrooms and sitting rooms.

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Can you remember what kind of lamp this is?

Lava lamps were a huge part of the decor in the 1960s, and you didn't have to be a strung-out teenager to own one. These lamps were made with wax, and when the lamp was on, the wax heated and moved around, giving out a psychedelic vibe.

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By the 1960s, pretty much every home had a set of these. What are they?

With more and more families enjoying TV time during dinner time, TV trays became a great way to avoid a mess while enjoying your favorite show. Additionally, TV dinners were made popular around this time, giving home cooks a little break from just about everything from preparation to clean-up.

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Do you know the name of this item that replaced some doors in '60s homes?

Beaded curtains were a great way to let people know there was a doorway somewhere, but it was totally cool if they went through it. These curtains didn't allow much privacy, but the sound the beads made when someone walked through the curtain was like a built-in warning system to those on the other side of the doorway.

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What is this piece of exercise equipment from the decade?

Belt massagers were a popular piece of exercise equipment that helped women shape their bodies without actually partaking in physical activity. They generally came in black and enamel finishes, and they did nothing of what they claimed to do.

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Clocks like this were essential home decor pieces in the '60s. What are they called?

Sunburst clocks are named after their appearance. Some were made out of mirror, but most were made out of brass to give a great shine. They attracted the eye as a piece of artwork, but they also had the practical use of telling time.

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Can you remember the name of these interesting lamps?

Pole lamps were considered the highest quality lamps of the time period. They came in different colors and patterns to fit whatever decor options you were particular to. Some even had flat surfaces and ashtrays attached.

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Those who liked to host definitely had these. Do you know what they are?

Electric cookers are now called electric skillets. Though the design is similar to the ones made today, the electric cooker of the '60s was marketed as a hot server and breakfast cooker.

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Though many kitchens these days come standard with these appliances, the 1960s offered portable versions. Do you know what it is?

Portable dishwashers were all the rage in the 1960s. They were priced at around $250, which was quite a bit of money back then, but those who had them appreciated them more and more every day.

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Do you recognize this piece of cleaning equipment?

If you're old enough to remember vacuum cleaners that looked like miniature cars with long hoses, you probably remember how cool it was to see an upright vacuum. These were an excellent way to keep your home clean in a fraction of the time and using a fraction of the energy.

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Sun beam made this popular in the 1960s. What is it?

Canned food ruled the world in the 1960s. It didn't spoil, it tasted fine, and it made for easy cooking. Creating an electric can opener was a genius plan to get more electronic devices into kitchens across America.

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Can you name this form of entertainment?

Though 8-track players were invented in 1965, the majority of homes in the '60s still had record players available. The crisp sound of vinyl was irreplaceable. However, people later moved toward 8-tracks and cassettes because they took up less space.

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What kind of refrigerator gave you both convenience and status in the decade?

Side-by-side refrigerators were all the rage in the 1960s. They required less work to find the items you were looking for, and they gave you more freezer space as well. They were also easier to clean, as they didn't require you to reach far to clean them.

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This countertop appliance was a great way to cook food quickly. Do you know what it is?

Front-loading toaster ovens were a great way for home cooks to get the toasted taste they wanted on most of their meals. They were also excellent for making hor d'oeuvres for parties.

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Most homes with little boys had these action figures. What are they?

G.I. Joe was a household staple for all boys who had any kind of toys. Though parents of the time period worried about giving their boys dolls to play with, G.I. Joe assured them that they were action figures.

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The design for this baby item has changed quite a bit since the '60s. Do you know what it's called?

These days, walkers are made almost completely out of plastic or metal covered in plastic or silicone. In the '60s, it was just metal and cloth, but if you were lucky, there was a plastic tray on it.

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You could find this hat on any rack in the suburbs in the '60s. What kind of hat is it?

Women wearing fashionable hats was a big rage in the 1960s. Though this trend ended shortly after the decade, stylish hats like the tall crown hat were signs of status and social heirachy.

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Can you name these sun blocking devices that came in vibrant colors and intricate patterns?

In the 1960s, drapes were made of incredibly heavy material like velvet and suede. They were considered a gorgeous addition to home decor, and they could help you frame an entire room.

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Can you identify this bathroom device?

Electric shavers are not a new thing. Though the design has changed quite a bit, both men's and women's electric shavers were available on the market throughout the 1960s. They were advertised as convenient and essential.

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Many housewives chose this morning beverage mix. What is it?

Because brewing coffee was a royal pain in the 1960s, instant coffee was marketed as a time-saving and flavor-saving must-have. Even those who boasted making the best brewed coffee had a little bit of instant coffee on hand, in case of an emergency.

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These were great for lounging around. What are they?

Bean bag chairs were perfect for a child's play area or a teenager's room. They were soft and comfortable, but it was hard to remain graceful when you tried to get up from one.

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Can you name the stuff that makes your walls look designer?

If you didn't use wallpaper in the 1960s, you were not in the groove. This was a housing essential during the decade, and it had to have intricate floral designs to keep the wall busy and avoid the plain paint alternatives.

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Your dad may have had one of these in a corner of the house. What is it?

Portable bars came in several styles in the 1960s, but most had a padded leather or patent leather design on the front and matching stools. It was a great way to keep things away from the kids while entertaining your adult friends.

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What style is this women's coat?

Flare swing coats were made during a time when a coat had to be both fashionable and practical. These coats were very much like a dress to go over your dress in the winter. They were high fashion, and even Barbie had one.

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What kind of jewelry was in style for women in the 1960s?

Jewelry in the 1960s was nothing short of fantastic. From stained glass jewelry to the pop art jewelry of the time, women loved adding it on. The layers of jewelry received a lot of attention.

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