1967 brought about The Doors self-titled album, the Jimi Hendrix Experience’s “Are You Experienced,” the Velvet Underground’s first album, “Songs of Leonard Cohen,” and “Nina Simone Sings the Blues.” Where did folks hear these absurdly sweet tunes? On their in-home, hidden hi-fi, which conveniently came in Italian Provincial, Early American, or Mediterranean styles. That is, if they could afford the super-saver price of $199 on their $1.40/hour minimum wage. (Mind you, a $1.40 an hour in 1967 would be $10.27 in 2017.)
Maybe they preferred tuning in for “The Dean Martin Show,” the original “Star Trek” series, or “Batman.” Folks could have their very own 18-inch TV for $299 – which equates to a lil’ more than two months of rent back then. Don’t forget: That’s a color TV. They’d been sold since the early ’50s, but it wasn’t till the late 1960s that color TVs were seen as a somewhat reasonably priced, reliable technology. It would take until 1970 for color TV sales to soar over black and white TVs.
Patty TempletonDGO Staff Writer
