Main content

7 iconic things celebrating their 50th birthday this year

A lot happened in 1967. The world was introduced to Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, the ATM machine, Rolling Stone magazine, Bonnie & Clyde and The Monkees' Daydream Believer.

But that's not all because something else pretty notable happened in 1967: Radio 2 was born!

Yep, your favourite station is celebrating its 50th birthday on September 30th and, to mark the occasion, we've rallied up some other monumental happenings that took place in 1967...

Boeing 737

Prepare to have your mind blown because the first flight of the Boeing 737 happened on the 9th of April, 1967.

First thought up in 1964, the aircraft was launched in 1965 before taking its first flight in 1967. That's a whole lot of numbers but bear with us because there's more to come... Since its inception, this impressive piece of airborne wizardry has been produced 9,659 times (!!!) and, with each jet seating up to 175, it's safe to say that a fair few people have journeyed in this popular plane.

Respect by Aretha Franklin

Forever changing the way we uttered the word 'respect', Aretha Franklin's signature hit celebrated its 50th birthday on April 29th of this year. But did you know that Aretha's version is actually a cover?!

It was only last week that the internet was reeling over the revelation that Natalie Imbruglia's Torn is a cover, as is Sinead O'Connor's Nothing Compares 2U, and we're sure you'll feel similarly over this latest discovery. Originally written and released by Otis Redding in 1965, Aretha's version features some significant changes, most notably the R-E-S-P-E-C-T chorus and the continual 'sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me'.

Fast forward a year and Franklin's cover saw her bag two Grammy Awards for Best Rhythm & Blues Recording and Best Rhythm & Blues Solo Vocal Performance. If that doesn't deserve some r-e-s-p-e-c-t, we don't know what does.

Countertop microwave

Can you imagine a world without microwaves?! Us either!

Invented somewhat accidentally in 1946 by Dr. Percy LeBaron Spencer, the microwave began life in the engineer's lab.

Spencer, who was working with magnetrons and microwaves at the time, discovered that his chocolate bar had melted as a result of the working environment and this realisation spurred a stroke of genius - could this equipment be used to cook food, and at a faster rate than the conventional oven?! Sensing that the answer was 'yes and YES!', Dr. Percy placed some corn kernels near the equipment and watched on as the popcorn came to life in his lab. Cue the birth of the microwave as we know it!

21 years later and the first domestic microwave oven was officially available for purchase. Next time you chow down on some popcorn, think of Dr. Percy.

All You Need Is Love by The Beatles

Penned by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, All You Need Is Love has a surprising 91热爆 backstory.

Although the single was released in July 1967, All You Need Is Love began life in May of that year when The Beatles were requested to represent the 91热爆 on Our World: a live televised event with a mission statement that looked a little like this:

"...for the first time ever, linking five continents and bringing man face to face with mankind, in places as far apart as Canberra and Cape Kennedy, Moscow and Montreal, Samarkand and Soderfors, Takamatsu and Tunis."

With so many eyes and ears tuning in from across the globe, The Beatles endeavoured to make the song as simple as possible so that it was universally understood.

"We were big enough to command an audience of that size, and it was for love," Ringo Starr told Anthology. "It was for love and bloody peace. It was a fabulous time. I even get excited now when I realise that's what it was for: peace and love, people putting flowers in guns."

Handheld calculator

It took three engineers two years to create the first handheld calculator.

Embarking on the task in 1965 the president of Texas Instruments, Pat Haggerty, recruited three colleagues - Jack Kilby, Jerry Merryman and James Van Tassel - to help bring his vision to life.

Attempting to create a battery-powered calculator with the capability of adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing doesn't seem particularly straightforward (we wouldn't know where to begin!) but the trio managed to make it happen. Measuring 4.25 by 6.15 by 1.75 inches and weighing 45 ounces, Kilby, Merryman and Van Tassel successfully executed their task in 1967.

One thing is for sure: maths lessons would've been a whole lot trickier without our trusty calculator. Thanks, guys!

Cash machine

Happy 50th birthday to the cash machine

A six-digit PIN and radioactive vouchers? Iain Duncan Smith looks back at the first ATM.

Pulling money out of a cash machine is an everyday occurrence for many of us nowadays but 50 years ago it was a fairly mind-blowing act.

The very first cash machine appeared in Barclays Bank in North London (Enfield, to be precise) and the first person to give this new piece of wizardry a whirl was On The Buses actor Reg Varney. Far from the streamlined manner in which we withdraw money today, the original ATM required a lot more time and attention. First you fed it a special voucher - a voucher that was provided by your bank prior to you pulling out your cash - before signing a slip and then popping in a 6-figure pin. Then, and only then, would you be given your money.

Nicole Kidman

Yup, it's hard to believe but June this year saw Nicole Kidman turn 50. She's not alone though, of course, because quite a few of your favourite stars share their birthday with Radio 2. Will Ferrell, Julia Roberts, Laura Dern, Matt LeBlanc, Laura Dern, Mark Ruffalo and Jason Statham are all celebrating with us (sort of).

More from Radio 2