Literature
Celebrate the Literature of 1966 With These Exciting Programs
Catch Up With a 1966 Classic: Valley of the Dolls Book Discussion
Tuesday, March 8th 7:00PM
Join the Reference Librarian for a discussion of the popular favorite from 1966, Valley of the Dolls, by Jacqueline Susann. This book discussion is part of the celebration of the library’s 50th anniversary.
Alice in Wonderland Unbirthday Party
Wednesday, March 9th 6:30PM
Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Margaret Heggan Library by attending our Alice in Wonderland themed Unbirthday Party, where it’s EVERYONE’S birthday! Enjoy birthday cake, activities, and more! For Heggan Library cardholders in grades 6-12; pre-registration is required.
50 Years 50 Books
To celebrate 50 our years we challenge you to read 50 books in 2016! Use the reading log below to keep track of your progress. When you’ve reached 50 entries return the log to the Circulation Desk for a prize!
The 50 Years 50 Books Challenge runs from January 1st-December 31st 2016.
50 Years 50 Books Challenge Reading Log (Age 13+)
50 Years 50 Books Challenge Reading Log (Under Age 13)
1966 New York Times Best Sellers
#1 Bestsellers |
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Other Titles |
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1966 Literary Awards
Award | Winners | Project or Work Honored |
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Hugo Award | Frank Herbert | Dune |
Hugo Award | Roger Zelazny | …And Call Me Conrad |
Newbery Awards | Elizabeth Borton de Trivino | I, Juan de Pareja |
Nobel Prize for Literature | Shmuel Yosef Agnon | “for his profoundly characteristic narrative art with motifs from the life of the Jewish people” |
Nobel Prize for Literature | Nelly Sachs | “for her outstanding lyrical and dramatic writing, which interprets Israel’s destiny with touching strength” |
Pulitzer Prize for Fiction | Katherine Anne Porter | Collected Stories |
Pulitzer Prize for Poetry | Richard Eberhart | Selected Poems |
Comic Books and Graphic Novels in 1966
This change in tone did not go unnoticed by individuals skeptical of comic books. Even though comic books, even in their infancy, avidly encouraged literacy by promoting local libraries and writing programs, they’ve always carried the stigma of fostering illiteracy and simple mindedness. Dissenters had a new angle to exploit as comic themes shifted into darker territory in the mid 1950’s. Frederic Wertham made perhaps the most devastating strike to the industry with his book Seduction of the Innocent in 1954, which claimed that comic books were promoting illiteracy and delinquency in the juvenile population with evidence that has now been revealed to be completely fabricated. Seduction of the Innocent quickly became a best seller and galvanized a great censorship movement, culminating with book burnings and Senate hearings to evaluate if federal censorship was necessary. In order to get ahead of the game, the comic industry formed the Comics Code Authority in 1954, which established a self censorship of the industry. This was not a regulated body with any power, but if comics passed a screening process they would receive a Comics Code Authority seal. The Comics Code Authority remained in use as late as the early 2010’s, though publishers began to move away from it by the early 2000’s.
Silver Age comics relied heavily on the super hero archetype. Following the CCA guidelines, their stories refrained from including excessive violence, sexual themes, kidnapping, concealed weapons, and horror staples like zombies, werewolves, and ghosts. This period of time introduced many well known comic book icons such as Spider-Man, The Flash (the version commonly known today, that is), The Fantastic Four, The X-Men (Wolverine would not be introduced until the Bronze Age, as “Anti-Heroes” were not welcome during the Silver Age), Thor, The Justice League of America, The Avengers, Supergirl and the Teen Titans.
The Silver Age lasted until around 1970’s Bronze Age, when the outcry for censorship began to die down and the industry became relaxed enough to introduce some darker elements, such as the archetype of the Anti-Hero, back into comic books.
Character | Title | Issue |
---|---|---|
Black Panther | Fanatastic 4 | 52 |
Blue Beetle (Ted Kord) | Captain Atom Volume 2 | 83 |
Dial H for Hero | House of Mystery | 156 |
Galactus | Fantastic 4 | 48 |
Karate Kid | Adventure Comics | 346 |
Mary Jane Watson | The Amazing Spider-Man | 42 |
Peggy Carter | Tales of Suspense | 77 |
Peppermint Patty | Peanuts | — |
Poison Ivy | Batman | 181 |
Sharon Carter | Tales of Suspense | 75 |
Silver Surfer | Fantastic 4 | 48 |
Smurfette | Spirou Magazine | — |
Unknown Soldier | Our Army at War | 168 |
Special Events
Barry Allen marries Iris West in Flash 156. Iris was unaware of Barry’s role as the second Flash, but discovered his secret as he spoke in his sleep on their wedding night.
Spider-Man Discovers the Identity of the Green Goblin when Norman Osborn unmasks himself after unmasking Spider-Man. Luckily for Spider-Man, Osborn soon loses his memory and forgets his revelation.
Vibranium, the metal used with the Marvel universe for legendary objects like Captain America’s shield, was also introduced this year in Daredevil #13.