Kennedy and company?

January 17, 2009 2:12 PM

1961-themed cocktail party. What should we show on the TV?

We're having a cocktail party tonight, partially in honor of the upcoming inauguration, and it occurred to us that this is the first time a lot of (liberal) people will be so excited about the event since 1961. So, theme party.

We'd like to improve the decor a bit by having the TV show black-and-white news from (at least approximately) the right period, or some other kind of show that seems appropriate. Kennedy's inaugural would be ideal, but I haven't had any luck finding that online. Movies are also a possibility, but one I'm less excited about. We'll likely have the volume down or off.

We have a computer hookup, and I have nothing against torrents or streaming sites for old news programs, but I'm not sure what to search for.

(Musical or other decor suggestions would also be welcome.)

posted by you're a kitty! to Home & Garden (34 answers total)

Take a look at archive.org's moving pictures section. Lots of public domain movies and tv shows / commericals from that era.
posted by bottlebrushtree at 2:22 PM on January 17, 2009

Hulu.com is featuring past Inaugural Speeches; Kennedy's (partial) address among them.
posted by gummi at 2:23 PM on January 17, 2009

Brinkley waiting for Kennedy's address, giving the daily news.
posted by Houstonian at 2:25 PM on January 17, 2009

Oops, link is here.
posted by Houstonian at 2:25 PM on January 17, 2009

Here is archive.org's Kennedy Inaugural Address (Excerpt) which may be the same as Hulu's but this one is downloadable.
posted by bottlebrushtree at 2:25 PM on January 17, 2009

His entire address is on youtube.
posted by Houstonian at 2:27 PM on January 17, 2009

If you can find it : The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis a situation comedy that ran on CBS in the USA from 1959–1963. I'm checking for it now.
posted by Agamenticus at 2:36 PM on January 17, 2009

Gunsmoke! or 77 Sunset Strip
posted by droplet at 2:51 PM on January 17, 2009

Prelinger Archives?
posted by peagood at 3:03 PM on January 17, 2009

If you want to be goofy, show "The Silencers" starring Dean Martin as a cross between James Bond and Austin Powers. Pure 60s goodness.

Here's the first part of the film.
posted by billysumday at 3:04 PM on January 17, 2009 [1 favorite]

This is 'new in 1961' TV - you can browse backwards easily at the top of the category page.
posted by Weighted Companion Cube at 3:07 PM on January 17, 2009

The Avengers started in 1961.
posted by Alison at 3:08 PM on January 17, 2009

I Love Lucy.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 3:24 PM on January 17, 2009

Seconding 77 Sunset Strip for old TV shows, also Naked City, Maverick, Adventures in Paradise, The Flintstones, My Three Sons. Wagon Train, Rawhide, Perry Mason, Candid Camera ...
posted by gudrun at 3:46 PM on January 17, 2009

honeymooners
posted by patnok at 3:46 PM on January 17, 2009

Also "Leave It To Beaver".
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 3:53 PM on January 17, 2009

Oh, and in terms of movies, you couldn't do better than The Apartment.
posted by gudrun at 3:53 PM on January 17, 2009

Dobie!
posted by Jaltcoh at 3:55 PM on January 17, 2009

Bonanza!
posted by canoehead at 4:01 PM on January 17, 2009

ed Sullivan
posted by patnok at 4:03 PM on January 17, 2009

-A decor suggestion-, you could print out some copies of this mad magazine cover, the first upside-down year since 1881, the last until 6009.
posted by abirae at 4:22 PM on January 17, 2009 [1 favorite]

Dobie Gillis was ahead of it's time - breaking the third wall. Very clever. Have Gun Will Travel, also ahead in that the hero was kind of a bad guy. Not Dexter or anything, but a hired killer. Also, Steve McQueen's Wanted Dead or Alive mostly was good because of ......right, Steve McQueen.
posted by Joe13 at 4:28 PM on January 17, 2009

John F. Kennedy's musical life.
posted by gudrun at 5:07 PM on January 17, 2009

Dick Van Dyke! It's not just period, it's Michelle Obama's favourite show.
posted by maudlin at 5:59 PM on January 17, 2009

(Well, they both like it.)
posted by maudlin at 6:01 PM on January 17, 2009

Breathless, Inherit the Wind, The Absent Minded Professor, Spartacus, Exodus, BUtterfield 8, The Magnificent Seven.....
posted by brujita at 6:40 PM on January 17, 2009

Hazel
posted by geekyguy at 6:45 PM on January 17, 2009

If you want to evoke Kennedy era, I'd skip the westerns. I think they suggest pioneer era more than they make me think of Kennedy and 60's. I'd skip Inherit The Wind and Spartacus too. Even though they're great movies and were released in 1960, they take place in a different era, and don't feel right to me. Kennedy 'feels' much more like Dick Van Dyke and The Apartment. Stick with topical current shows and movies of the time.
posted by marsha56 at 7:17 PM on January 17, 2009

Also, 101 Dalmatians.
posted by brujita at 1:01 AM on January 18, 2009

The fact that a movie wasn't set in the era it was made does not preclude it from reflecting the mindset of its times.


Getting back to suggestions: Vaughn Meader's JFK impersonations are available on CD.
posted by brujita at 2:08 AM on January 18, 2009

1961 Media Resource

I love The Misfits and it's spare enough where you don't have too much intrusive action (Arthur Miller and his character development, sheesh, jk) and the scenery is incredibly sparse (desert) but the best part is you get to watch Marilyn and Clark Gable.
posted by HolyWood at 11:28 AM on January 18, 2009

And Monty!
posted by brujita at 2:25 PM on January 18, 2009

Jackie's tour of the White House?
posted by abirae at 7:46 AM on January 19, 2009

seconding Jackie's tour of the White House! I came to this page just to suggest that...
posted by dearest at 10:32 AM on January 19, 2009