1964 Technology & Gadgets

The 8 Track - Offically called the Stereo 8 was created and introduced in 1964 by Bill Lear of Lear Jet Corporation. It was not until 1965 that Ford Motor Company (Motorola) introduced dealer-installed 8-track players with the Mustang. By 1966 not only did all car companies offer them but 8 track home players hit the market which began the demise of the vinyl record. In the early Seventies once the techology was found to improve the sound quality (Dolby) on smaller recordable cassettes, the 8 track quickly fell from grace.

IBM System/360 - was IBM's first family of computers moving from architecture and implementation. Designed by Gene Amdahl it allowed IBM to offer designs at different price points. It is considered to be one of the most successful computers in history, influencing computer design for years to come. AND it had 4k of memory and 7 megs of storage!

Three high school friends in Hoboken, N.J., open the first BLIMPIE on Washington St.

1964 Toys & Gadgets

Mattel introduces the Thingmaker under the brand name Creepy Crawlers. It consists ofliquid Plasti-Goop which is poured into metal molds and heated. The rubbery replicas of yucky insects were pimarily created to scare parents as the kids put them on clothes, in cereal bowls and plates of mashed potatoes.

Troll dolls, originally known as Leprocauns, Dam dolls, Wishniks, Treasure Trolls, and Norfins, became one of America's biggest toy fads. Believed to bring good luck they were promted by Diana Dors.

G.I. Joe - With the success of Barbie, Stan Weston who coined the phrase "action figure" took the idea of a military doll (based on the television series The Lieutenant) to Don Levine at Hasbro. The rest is history.