This Week In 1962
You may have caught the recent news that US Air and American Airlines will be merging to form the world's largest airline. The merger consolidates the position of American as one of the remaining major airlines from the early 1960s, along with United and Delta. Other big names from that era including Pan-Am and TWA have disappeared. American Airlines also made news in 1962, partnering with IBM to introduce one of the earliest computerized reservation systems, SABRE. During the late 1950s, it became apparent that the manual systems of booking airline tickets would no long work due to increasing passenger volumes. The first experimental system went online in 1960, at a cost of $40 million. It was rolled out for use in 1962 and by 1964 had taken over all booking functions. This system, updated with new technology over the years, is still at the heart of not only online airline booking, but also hotels, car rentals, and even cruise ships.
Our year 1962 also saw American Airlines adopt the new logo shown here. In 2013, they changed the logo again, after having previously changed it in 1968 to a more stylized version of this 1962 logo, designed by noted Italian graphic designer Massimo Vignelli.
Andy Warhol Art from 1962
Last week, Andy Warhol’s 1962 painting of a single Coca-Cola bottle sold for $35.4 million at a Sotheby’s auction. The previous day, another 1962 Warhol painting, of actress Elizabeth Taylor, sold for $63 million at auction. The Coca-Cola bottle painting on cotton is a person-size, black-and-white piece of art and was last sold over twenty years ago. As the picture here shows, in another of his 1962 paintings, once Warhol started painting Coca-Cola it appears he couldn’t quit.
1962 In Sports
Sports Illustrated for November 19, 1962 features the Detroit Lions' fullback Nick Pietrosante. This was his fourth season with the Lions after Nick attending the University of Notre Dame. Though he was not considered the equal of Green Bay's Jim Taylor or Cleveland's Jim Brown as a runner, with his violent-running style, he was noted as their superior as a blocker. Nick played in the NFL through the 1967 season and unfortunately died young, at age 50 in Royal Oak, Michigan.
Rounding out the issue were lots more football articles, an article on stretch fabric for ski pants, an article on the Russian basketball team which was on a tour of the U.S. playing college teams, and an article discussing Ford Motor Company’s decision to go after racing prizes ranging from Indianapolis to Monte Carlo, after a lapse of 60 years.
Museum of the Week
If you’re ever taking a roadtrip on US-19, US-22, or The Lincoln Highway US-30, stop by the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Over 900 of Warhol’s paintings are housed here, along with sketches, video, and more from both him and his associates and contemporaries. Exhibits cover his early commercial art, through his developing and mature pop art styles. Plenty from 1962 also.
US-6 Featured Trip Segment
Just two weeks ago, the latest post from our US-6 roadtrip was from Cedar Point Amusement Park, Sandusky, Ohio. Of course, we spend a day at the park…in 1962! Come with me to “Cedar Point, Happiest Spot On The Lakes”.
Guest Blog of the Week
Here’s the top five songs from 1962, from the survey at The Grooveyard that I mentioned a few weeks ago. One of my favorites, “Palisades Park” by Freddy Cannon, made #1! Check to see if one of your favorites made it too.
US-23 Featured Trip Segment
Day 9 of our US-23 roadtrip was also spent in Ohio, though far from the lakeshore. A day of travel from Columbus to the Ohio River passed by prehistoric Indian mounds, abandoned canals, some great food, and more fun stuff.
Reader Comments and Photos
Check out what other readers of Roadtrip-’62 ™ are saying at our Reader Comments and Photos page. Leave a comment of your own while you’re there; I’d love to hear from you!
1962 Comic Buy of the Week
Hey kids, click to buy comics!
scan from Grand Comics Database
One of my favorite TV shows as a kid was Mr. Ed. The theme song was so catchy that I still remember nearly all the words! The show was a comedy based on the ridiculous idea that Wilbur Post, played by Alan Young, owned a talking horse, Mr. Ed. Ed was constantly getting Wilbur in trouble and then getting him back out. Of course, any popular TV show spawned a comic book in those days. Mister Ed, the Talking Horse ran 6 issues, from its debut in November 1962 to February 1964. The show itself ran from 1958–1966.
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Video of the Week
Speaking of Ford Motor getting back into the racing game, here’s a video of an experimental version of their Mustang, which would hit the streets as a production nameplate in 1965. The car’s official introduction was at the race course at Watkins Glen, New York in October 1962, during the United States Grand Prix. The video also shows it being tested at Daytona Speedway, Florida. Design and construction of the Mustang didn’t use any computer aided design or prototype techniques back then, it’s all hands on!
Ford Motor Co. Mustang Promotional Video from 1962
Our front page changes frequently, so you may have missed some fun stuff if you don't check in frequently. Check the Home Page Archives for all the previous iterations of our front page. Discover links, videos, roadtrip suggestions, and lots of news from 1962!
All photos by the author and Copyright © 2013, 2021 - Donald Dale Milne, except as noted.
All other content Copyright © 2013, 2021 - Donald Dale Milne.
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