Welcome to the Ultimate1960s gift guide! Remember tuning in to American Bandstand on a sleepy Saturday morning? If you grew up in the 1960s, you lived through pure magic. It was the era of transistor radios under the pillow, Silly Putty on the newspaper funnies, and music that shook the world. Whether you’re hunting for a fun hit of nostalgia for a fellow baby boomer or just looking for a thoughtful gift that captures the peace-and-love era, we’ve got you covered.
Electronics, Audio & Media
1960s Portable Transistor Radio. Source: Science & Society Picture Library / SSPL via Getty Images
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Vinyl Record Player – Portable 33/45 RPM turntable modeled after 60s teenager record players. The absolute BEST!
- 1960s Vinyl Record LP Classics – Original 1960s albums on vinyl (e.g., Abbey Road, Pet Sounds, Are You Experienced). See above – buy these now and let’s have a listening party!
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Instant Film Polaroid Camera – Modern analog cameras recreating the instant-print thrill of 1960s Land Cameras. Fan fave.
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Compact Cassette Tape Player – Philips introduced the audio cassette tape format in 1963. Mixed tape anyone?
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Transistor Radio Replica – Battery-operated handheld AM radio, the primary portable music device of 60s youth.
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View Finder Photo Reel Viewer – Classic plastic 3D photo viewer widely updated and sold throughout the 1960s. I must buy this immediately!
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Vintage Wooden Cabinet AM/FM Radio – Mid-century desktop radio featuring woven speaker fabric and dial backlights. Worth a look!
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Starburst Wall Clock – Electronics styled after the 1969 Panasonic TR-005 “Flying Saucer” TV. Have one!
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Plasma Globe – Classic physics desk novelty popular in science shops and dorm rooms.
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Wood-Panel Electric Guitar – Surfing-rock and psychedelic era offsets (like Fender Jaguar/Jazzmaster styles).
Home Decor, Pop Art & Novelties
Original 1960s Lava Lamps. Source: Michael S Charbonneau / Getty Images
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Original Lava Lamp – Invented by Edward Craven Walker in 1963; a quintessentially psychedelic room accessory. So groovy!
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Ball Chair / Egg Chair Replica – Eero Aarnio’s famous 1965 space-age lounge chair design. Loving these after all this time!
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Retro Rotary Dial Telephone – Princess or Western Electric 500-style desk phone with a mechanical bell ringer. Classic!
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Mod Wall Decals – Bright vinyl retro daisy wall graphics inspired by 1960s pop art. I’m bringing these back to my house!
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Tie-Dye Tapestry – Vibrant swirl wall hangings popularized during the 1967 Summer of Love.
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Beaded Door Curtains – Wooden or acrylic string bead curtains ubiquitous in 60s pad entrances. So cool!
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Mushroom Table Lamp – Murano-style glass or plastic mushroom-shaped lamp from the late 60s space-age aesthetic. So cute! Let’s get one!
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Blacklight Psychedelic Posters – Fluorescent artwork designed to glow under ultraviolet lighting. Had one!
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Retro Flip Desk Clock – Mechanical leaf flip clock originally engineered in the mid-to-late 1960s. Had one, too!
Toys, Games & Other Novelties
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Twister Game – Milton Bradley launched this bodily-coordination game in 1966 to immediate pop-culture acclaim. Yes, please!
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Operation Board Game – Cavity Sam’s buzzing surgical skill game invented in 1964. I still jump thinking about that buzzing sound!
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Etch A Sketch – Classic red magic screen drawing toy launched by Ohio Art Company in 1960. Remember how creative people got with this?
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G.I. Joe Action Figure (12-inch) – Hasbro introduced the world’s first “action figure” line in 1964. Let’s go Joe!
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Troll Dolls – Thomas Dam’s pointy-haired plastic creatures became a global craze in the early 1960s.
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Hot Wheels Original 24 Cars – Mattel launched the iconic die-cast toy line in 1968.
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Spirograph Drawing Set – Geometric drawing toy launched internationally by Kenner in 1965. Love it!
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Mouse Trap Board Game – Ideal Toy Company’s intricate Rube Goldberg-style board game from 1963. Hours and hours playing this one!
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Sea-Monkeys Kit – Instant-life brine shrimp novelty kits heavily advertised in 1960s comic books.
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Fondue Pot Set – Swiss-style communal table burner that became the ultimate 1960s dinner party staple. And also…chocolate!
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Easy-Bake Oven Retro Replica – Kenner launched this iconic light-bulb powered toy oven in 1963. I’m still a fan!
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Pyrex “Butterprint” / “Crazy Daisy” Pattern Mugs – We definitely had this vintage-style opal glass dishware of the 60s at our house!
We hope this collection brough back lots of memories and inspiration! What were YOUR 1960s favorites?