What Happened in 1969

Major Events

  • Feb 4 The Palestine National Congress appoints Yasser Arafat chairman of the PLO
  • Feb 5 United States population reaches 200 million
  • Apr 7 The Internet's symbolic birth date: publication of RFC 1

1969 in Film & TV

1969 in Music

  • Jan 12 Atlantic Records releases eponymous debut album of Led Zeppelin in US
  • Jun 20 200,000 attend Newport '69, then largest-ever pop concert in Northridge, California. Jimi Hendrix gets $120,000 to appear
  • Jul 11 David Bowie releases the single "Space Oddity" 9 days before Apollo 11 lands on the moon
  • Aug 15 Woodstock Festival opens in Bethel, New York on Max Yasgur's Dairy Farm; performers include Richie Havens, Tim Hardin, Ravi Shankar, Melanie, Arlo Guthrie, and Joan Baez
  • Sep 20 Virtual 'cartoon' band Archies' single "Sugar Sugar" hits #1
  • Sep 26 Apple Records releases The Beatles 11th studio album "Abbey Road", their final recordings as a quartet; tops the charts in 11 countries
  • Oct 10 "Jesus Christ Superstar" soundtrack album by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice is recorded
  • Nov 1 The Beatles' "Abbey Road" album goes #1 in US and stays #1 for 11 weeks
  • Dec 6 300,000 attend free concert featuring The Rolling Stones in Altamont, California; the event is marred by violence and four deaths

1969 in Sport

  • Mar 1 New York Yankees legend Mickey Mantle announces his retirement due to persistent knee injuries; finishes 18-season career with 536 home runs and .298 batting average
  • May 5 Milwaukee Bucks sign #1 NBA Draft pick, star UCLA center Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)
  • Jun 8 MLB legend Mickey Mantle gives his farewell retirement speech during "Mickey Mantle Day" at Yankee Stadium, 60,096 see #7 retired

Did You Know?

The first automatic teller machine in the United States is installed in Rockville Center, New York.

September 2, 1969


More People Born in 1969

Fun Fact About 1969

The NY Times reviews "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut on its publication, saying "you'll either love it, or push it back in the science-fiction corner"

March 31, 1969


More 1969 Deaths

Famous Weddings in 1969

  • Jan 18 British actress Audrey Hepburn (39) weds second husband, Italian psychiatrist Andrea Dotti (30); divorce in 1982
  • Feb 16 American country singer Tammy Wynette (26) weds American country singer-songwriter George Jones (37), divorced 1975
  • Feb 18 Scottish pop singer Lulu (20) weds British rock musician Maurice Gibb (19); divorce in 1973

Famous Divorces in 1969

  • Sep 18 Actor Rod Taylor (39) divorces model Mary Hilem after 5 years of marriage

More 1969 Weddings