1. Phone Booth Stuffing
At some point in the late ’50s and rolling into the early ’60s, cramming as many people as possible into a phone booth became a full-blown craze. It sounds like something out of a college prank, but people were genuinely competing, photographing, and bragging about how many bodies they could stack in a tiny glass box. The record? Supposedly 25 people in one booth in South Africa, although how they could breathe, let alone fit, is still a mystery. The fad quickly spread across college campuses and even had international appeal.
It didn’t last long, but it sure left people scratching their heads for decades. Maybe it was a sign of postwar boredom or just a harmless excuse to be silly. Either way, it’s hard to imagine this catching on today when most people would barely want to share an elevator. And let’s face it, phone booths themselves are pretty much extinct now, making this one feel even more bizarre in hindsight.
2. Antenna Ball Decorations
Back when car antennas were tall and proud, people in the ’60s started sticking all kinds of things on top—smiley faces, fuzzy animals, even seasonal flair. It started as a way to spot your car in a sea of sedans, but it quickly turned into a trend that got increasingly over-the-top. It wasn’t just a novelty, either—entire gas stations gave them away as promos, and people collected them like trading cards.
What began as a practical fix for parking confusion turned into a quirky style statement. Today, with car antennas practically invisible and backup cameras doing all the spotting, the fad feels hilariously dated. But for a brief moment, your antenna ball said something about who you were. And the weirder it looked, the better.
3. Go-Go Boots for Everyday Errands
Go-go boots were made for dancing, but somehow they became a fashion staple for everything else too. Women wore them to the grocery store, to pick up kids from school, and even paired them with casual outfits that had nothing to do with go-go dancing. Usually white and shiny, they came up just below the knee and made every outfit look a little space-age.
Blame it on mod culture or the influence of British fashion icons like Twiggy, but the look exploded in popularity. Sure, they weren’t the most comfortable choice for errands or long walks, but that didn’t stop the obsession. They became a symbol of empowerment and playfulness, even if it meant sweating in vinyl boots during summer. To this day, go-go boots still show up in retro parties and music videos, but few remember just how everyday they once were.
4. Pet Rocks’ First Cousin: Invisible Dogs
Before the Pet Rock craze of the ’70s, the ’60s had its own puzzling pet phenomenon: the invisible dog leash. It was essentially a stiff wire attached to a collar and empty space, giving the illusion you were walking a very obedient (and very nonexistent) pooch. People paraded them down sidewalks like it was the most natural thing in the world, often accompanied by exaggerated tugs on the leash to sell the bit.
It sounds like a gag gift today, but for a while, it was genuinely trendy. Stores sold them in bulk, and you’d see them at fairs, parks, and even in downtown shopping districts. It combined whimsy with performance, and for some reason, people just couldn’t get enough. No one’s entirely sure why it caught on, but it sure made people laugh—and maybe that was the whole point.
5. Paper Dresses
Disposable fashion took a literal turn in the ’60s when paper dresses hit the scene. Marketed as fun, colorful, and super convenient, these dresses were made out of cellulose-based paper and sold for just a few bucks. You could wear one to a party, toss it away, and not worry about laundry. In theory, it was genius.
But they were flimsy, ripped easily, and couldn’t handle heat, water, or really anything life threw at you. Despite that, people loved the novelty, and they were even used for political campaigns and brand promotions. The fad didn’t last long, but it was one of the wildest fashion experiments of the decade. We’re still trying to understand how anyone sat down in one without disaster.
6. Bathtub Gin Reenactments
For reasons that are still unclear, there was a brief phase in the ’60s when young people started re-creating Prohibition-era “bathtub gin” setups at parties. It wasn’t so much about making real alcohol in the tub (thankfully), but about the theme—the vintage look, the old-timey labels, and the general speakeasy vibe. People would stage mock-distilling scenes and drink out of mason jars in clawfoot bathtubs.
The whole thing had a strange mix of rebellion and nostalgia, as if the Roaring Twenties were suddenly cool again. It’s possible this was sparked by the popularity of gangster films or retro fashion making a comeback. Still, turning your bathroom into a cocktail lounge definitely raised some eyebrows. We may never know exactly why it took off, but it sure made for some unforgettable photo ops.
