Rainbow Valley - The Sixties Podcast.

Telling the stories from the decade that shook the world.

The Apollo One Disaster

January 27th 1967, US astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee way made their way into a brand new spacecraft perched atop a large powerful Saturn Five rocket at Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. A routine dress rehearsal, and one of many, for their approaching launch into orbit less than a month away.

All three astronauts were experienced pilots, all harbouring dreams of one day setting foot on the moon. But little did they know, nor did anyone else, that once they entered the spacecraft that chilly winters day, they would never leave it alive.

The Apollo programme would be dangerously close to cancellation before it even got off the ground.

The Apollo spacecraft was condemned from the start, comprising of miles of uninsulated wiring, tons of flammable materials confined in an atmosphere consisting of pure oxygen, and a hatch that wouldn’t open.

Public opinion was already turning against the space race, and the events of that January evening did nothing to boost their confidence in the programme.

It is a story not only of how America continued to fulfil its destiny of placing a man on the moon, but also a valiant tale of the three American heroes who lost their lives in a horrific accident

Ladies and gentlemen, Rainbow Valley is proud to present the story of Apollo One.

Don't forget you can also listen to our weekly sixties chart show evey Sunday on Mixcloud.

Link below:

https://www.mixcloud.com/scophi/rainbow-valley-sixties-chart-show-5th-march-2023/

On August 1st 1960, an album on the Warner Brothers label reached number one in the Billboard Mono Action Albums Chart. It was the debut album for this particular artist and would remain at the top for fourteen weeks. The album would stay in the chart for two years selling over 600,000 copies near release and ranking as the 20th best selling album of all time on the Billboard charts.

Its total running time was just short of thirty two minutes, it consisted of just six tracks, and was a recording of a live performance

It won album of the year at the 1961 Grammy awards as well as best new artist for its performer. Yet this was no pop, folk or rock album. It was the first comedy album to win album of the year and the only time that a comedian had won best artist.

That comedian was Bob Newhart and this particular album saved the struggling Warner Brothers Records label and changed the face of modern comedy and the way the world experienced stand up forever.

Ladies and gentlemen, Rainbow Valley is proud to present the story of The Button Down Mind Of Bob Newhart.

Don't forget you can also listen to our weekly sixties chart show evey Sunday on Mixcloud.

Link below:

https://www.mixcloud.com/scophi/rainbow-valley-sixties-chart-show-5th-march-2023/

The Aberfan Disaster

9:13am on October 21st 1966, Pantglas School in the small Welsh mining village of Aberfan

Inside the school, more than 200 children and nine teachers were waiting for their first lesson of the day to begin when the air was filled with the sound of a distant rumble.

A massive coal tip - a mountain of waste generated by the town's mines that employed 8000 people had collapsed and a landslide of mud and debris flooded into the classroom, burying the school and engufing everyone inside

116 children and 28 adults were killed

It was one of the worst industrial disasters Britain has ever seen. An accident that could and should have been prevented and a tragic account of a mistake that cost a village an entire generation of its children.

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You can also listen to our weekly sixties chart rundown at:

https://www.mixcloud.com/scophi/rainbow-valley-sixties-chart-show-1st-january-1960/

This has been a Stinking Pause production.

Thanks for listening

Scott