Boomers don’t exactly live in the past, but they do visit it quite often. If you’ve ever heard a sentence that starts with, “You know, back when…” then you’ll know exactly what we’re talking about. Boomers love to talk about the past, and in particular, these 17 cultural moments. Just watch as their eyes light up when you mention them.
The Beatles On Ed Sullivan (1964)
Seeing the Beatles on Ed Sullivan was absolutely legendary. Boomers love to talk about how life wasn’t the same after that night, even if they were 12 and watching with a bowl of Jell-O. The screaming from the crowd almost drowned out the music, and practically every girl in school started writing “I heart Paul” on their notebooks the next day. Many families gathered around TVs like it was a national event, and honestly, it kinda was.
Neil Armstrong’s Moon Landing (1969)
You couldn’t top the moon landing if you tried. Someone actually walked on the moon, and many Boomers remember seeing that fuzzy footage on the TV screen. They remember the countdown and the slow ladder descent, as well as hearing, “The Eagle has landed.” No matter if they watched it with or without popcorn, nearly everyone remembers how quiet the room got when his foot touched the surface.
Walter Cronkite Announcing JFK’s Death (1963)
Ask a Boomer where they were when JFK was shot, and they’ll probably give you plenty of details about who they were with and what the room smelled like at the time. They’ll even remember the exact tone of Cronkite’s voice announcing it. It was a moment they’ll never forget for the saddest of reasons, and they watched the screen go silent when Cronkite removed his glasses and choked on the words. It hit everyone pretty hard.
Woodstock Music Festival (1969)
Even Boomers who didn’t go to Woodstock love to act like they did by claiming that they were “this close” to going. The truth is that most of them watched the entire festival on TV in their parents’ living room. But they still somehow felt part of the muddy fields and the music, as well as the feeling of listening to Hendrix, Janis, Crosby, and Stills live. Sure, it was chaotic and messy, but boomers hang onto it like it’s the greatest musical event ever.
The Original “Coke Is It” Campaign (1982)
You’d hear the “Coke Is It” campaign on the radio and then again on TV. By the third time that someone said, “Coke is it,” you already had the jingle stuck in your head. The marketing campaign wasn’t subtle. It ran so long that by the mid-80s, you didn’t even have to like soda to know the words, and many Boomers still remember that slogan being everywhere.
The Challenger Explosion Live On TV (1986)
The Challenger Disaster wasn’t supposed to happen. Many school kids watched it in real-time, and adults did too, as it was the first time a space launch felt like a national field trip. But then, it went horribly wrong. Boomers still remember the sky splitting into that strange Y-shape, and they remember how silent the classrooms felt afterward, since a teacher, Christa McAuliffe, was on board the craft. It completely changed how this generation and America saw space travel.
Evel Knievel’s Snake River Canyon Jump (1974)
You didn’t need to like motorcycles to get pulled into watching Evel Knievel’s Snake River Canyon jump because he was everywhere in 1974. When word got out that he was planning to jump across the canyon on a rocket-bike, people cleared their calendars. He didn’t make it, but it didn’t matter because Boomers still remember the posters and the toy ramps. Practically every kid at school tried to be Evel for Halloween.
“I Want My MTV” Campaign (1981)
While Boomers weren’t teenagers when MTV launched, they definitely noticed the noise from that loud, flashy campaign with rock stars shouting into the camera. It was new and kind of exciting. It didn’t matter if they preferred radio because they remember the moment TV tried to get louder than everything else. MTV’s early days had that rebellious edge, and Boomers remember how incredible it felt seeing music videos nonstop.
The Death of Elvis Presley (1977)
Elvis Presley was the guy, and then suddenly, he was gone. He meant something different to everyone, but when Boomers heard the news, they felt the shock hit right down to the core. They remember the day and the headlines announcing his death all too well. For weeks, people talked about his health and how no one could ever replace him. And, of course, they spoke about the conspiracy theories, too.
“Where’s the Beef?” Wendy’s Commercial (1984)
Back in the ’80s, this tiny lady named Clara Peller shouted “Where’s the beef?” on national TV, and the whole country lost it, with the line itself catching on quickly. It became a phrase Boomers would use anytime something seemed kind of lame or disappointing. To cash in on its popularity, Wendy’s put the phrase on anything they could, whether that was buttons or mugs. Even now, many Boomers still use this phrase.
The Marlboro Man Ads
Speaking of commercials, you couldn’t go five minutes without seeing the Marlboro Man cowboy with a cigarette in his mouth. He was practically everywhere, and Boomers grew up seeing him as the ultimate “cool” symbol, even if they didn’t smoke. The guy never said anything, though. He just rode horses and lit up. Some Boomers collected those Marlboro Miles to get jackets or duffel bags.
The First Time They Saw Color TV
Many Boomers remember the days when they saw a show in color for the first time very well. Some remember it being Bonanza, others The Wonderful World of Disney, but whatever it was, it felt like stepping into another world. Families gathered in someone’s living room and stared at the screen like it was magic. And yeah, they still tell that story, because it truly was an incredible experience.
Nixon’s “I’m Not a Crook” Speech (1973)
Boomers can’t forget Nixon’s awkward 1973 press conference where he stood up, waved his hands, and said, “I’m not a crook.” People were already suspicious because of Watergate, but that moment sealed it. Whether it was the delivery, the timing, or the voice, this event stuck with many Boomers, and it became one of those lines you just never stop hearing.
The Sonny and Cher TV Show
The “Sonny and Cher” show had glitz, glamor, and jokes that barely made sense, as well as outfits that made everyone in the room go quiet for a second. Boomers still talk about Cher’s wild outfits and her chemistry with Sonny on camera. You couldn’t flip through channels without catching their musical numbers or cheesy skits, and Boomers remember the awkward laughs. It was so much fun.
The “Hands Across America” Event (1986)
“Hands Across America” was supposed to be one of those huge national moments where everyone linked hands across the entire country to raise money, but it didn’t quite pan out as planned. There were big gaps. Even so, Boomers still get nostalgic about it, and they remember standing in parking lots or parks, holding hands with strangers. It didn’t matter that the line wasn’t perfect. It felt big at the time, and people still bring it up like it was yesterday.
The Day the Draft Lottery Was Televised (1969)
The day the Vietnam draft lottery aired on live TV was hardly entertaining. Boomers old enough to be affected still remember watching with a calendar in hand, hoping their birthday didn’t come up early. It all began on December 1, 1969. You didn’t even have to be drafted yourself, as someone in your school or neighborhood probably was, which made the war feel a lot closer to home.
The Launch of the Sony Walkman (1979)
The Walkman was released in 1979, and it suddenly made music a much more personal experience. Many older people remember the days of creating those first mixtapes, and they still treat any that they have left like they’re sacred. You had to plan what song you were going to record, press the record button, and perhaps tape over your sibling’s stuff if you were desperate. If you got a Walkman for Christmas, you didn’t need anything else.
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