15 Classic 1960s Products That Defined an Era
- - 15 Classic 1960s Products That Defined an Era
Rachel SchneiderAugust 9, 2025 at 8:00 AM
If fondue sets, go-go boots, and transistor radios make you remember the “good ol’ days,” then you probably had a great time in the ’60s. This decade wasn’t just about peace signs and rock ‘n’ roll — it was a golden era of experimentation, style, and downright fun. Some of the most iconic 1960s products include innovative toys and kitchen gadgets, many of which promised to make life easier.
Whether you were sketching doodles on an Etch-a-Sketch or pouring yourself a glass of Tang (because astronauts drank it, so obviously it was cool), the 1960s had something for everyone. These are the products that defined the era.
1. ‘The Beatles’ Merchandise
Blank Archives/Getty Images
“The Beatles” were one of the biggest bands in the 1960s. Fans had to have all the ridiculous merchandise made with John, Paul, George, and Ringo’s names and faces on it.
2. Chatty Cathy Doll
kathysdolls-1 / ebay
Known as the original “talking” doll, Chatty Cathy was first sold in stores in 1960, and became a staple in children’s bedrooms everywhere. The doll was programmed to “speak” almost 20 phrases when you pulled a ring from its back, including “I love you” and “Let’s play school.”
3. Go-Go Boots
Lambert/Getty Images
These knee-high, low-heeled white boots burst onto the scene during the mid-60s and swiftly became a staple in the decade’s fashion footprint.
4. Fondue Sets
Dennis Hannilan / Getty
If you hosted a fancy dinner party during this decade, communal fondue pots were all the rage. Whether you were melting cheese or chocolate, this 1960s product was a complete and utter vibe.
5. Etch-a-Sketch
u/Edm_vanhalen1981 via Reddit.com
Debuted in 1960, Etch-a-Sketch has to be one of the most iconic toys of all time. Whether you stuck to creating steps, tweaked on the knobs to create your own personal Pollack, or went for the gusto and tried to make actual images or letters, this toy offered endless fun.
6. Polaroid Swinger Camera
Camerafiend at English Wikipedia
As the first affordable instant camera, the Polaroid Swinger was wildly popular during the 1960s. It was especially beloved in the youth market.
7. Transistor Radios
tadphoto/istockphoto
Long before iPods, MP3 players, and Walkmans, transistor radios were the go-to portable music players. Just about everyone had one in the 1960s.
8. Tang
Roadsidepictures / Flickr
Who didn’t love Tang? This orange breakfast beverage put Tropicana to shame, and Sunny D could never. In the 1960s, Tang was considered the King of Drinks.
9. Milton Bradley’s Battleship Game
Lazaros Papandreou/istockphoto
Though it first launched as a paper-and-pencil game in the ’30s, Milton Bradley revamped Battleship as a plastic board game in 1967. The game has some serious staying power; the 2012 movie “Battleship” is based on the game.
10. Easy-Bake Ovens
winches_1967 / ebay
When Easy-Bake ovens came out in the 1960s, kids everywhere got to unleash their inner bakers and treat Mom and Dad to some goodies for a change. The original Easy-Bake was sold with a cookbook, the oven, pans, and all the fixings for Devil’s Food cake, white cake, and chocolate frosting.
11. Tupperware
r/nostalgia via Reddit.com
Tupperware might not have debuted during the 1960s, but it was certainly insanely popular during the decade. The funkier the Tupperware colors, the more coveted the containers.
12. G.I. Joe Action Figures
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
The ’60s brought us the first action figures with G.I. Joes, and people went nuts. Hasbro couldn’t pump new Joes out fast enough to keep up with the demand.
13. Lava Lamps
Nicky Digital/Corbis via Getty Images
Nightstands everywhere were made all the more groovy thanks to lava lamps, a classic 1960s product. They were, after all, the optimal alarm clock companion.
14. Push-Button Telephones
Harold M. Lambert / Getty
Introduced in 1963, push-button phones were a giant modern leap forward from rotary dials. As a result, tons of people just had to have one.
15. Electric Can Openers
Retrotreasureseekers / Etsy
Why waste your arm strength on frivolous things like opening a can of Spaghetti-O’s? The electric can opener was a kitchen staple in the 1960s.
Wondering what other products were popular in the ’60s?
Take a look at 13 Valuable Toys From the 1960s Worth Thousands, along with 15 Valuable Collectibles From the 1960s. And 13 Vintage Ads From the 1960s offers some good insight into what department stores were selling at the time.
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