Hist 285 Paper Naman Shah

“THE CULTURAL PHENOMENON KNOWN AS THE MOON LANDING”

“That’s one small step for [a]man, one giant leap for mankind.”1 At 10:56 pm EST on July 20,

1969, American astronaut Neil uttered these famous words as he became the first person to step

on the moon. Set off by John F. Kennedy’s challenge to the United States to send a man to the

moon in 1961 when he addressed a joint session of congress2, the Apollo 11 mission put the

United States in a position of supremacy over the Soviet Union (USSR) and its allies. This

capped off the tumultuous 1960s which saw some of the most memorable events in history such

as the assassination of President Kennedy, the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement and

assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., and the Cold War. Historian Kenneth J. Bindas argues

that “As a cultural marker for the era, the moon landing serves as one of the few memories that is

largely uncontested compared to the continued division over the ideals and impact of Vietnam,

student protests and activism, Civil Rights, and even the counterculture phenomenon.”3 Images,

newspaper articles, and eyewitness statements from this era and others largely confirm Bindas’

thesis; that the moon landing is an uncontested cultural marker for the era. However, the moon

landing was not just a cultural marker for the era it was a cultural phenomenon that entranced the

Unites States and the World for years following the Apollo 11 mission.

1
Neil, Armstrong, 1969, One Small Step. Accessed June 1, 2020,
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/apollo11_audio.html Recorded and broadcast across
the world as Neil Armstrong became the first human to walk on the moon
2
EXCERPT, ADDRESS BEFORE A JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS, 25 MAY 1961,
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum (CBS (Columbia Broadcasting System)
motion picture, 1961),https://www.jfklibrary.org/asset-viewer/archives/TNC/TNC-200-2/TNC-
200-2)
3
Bindas, Kenneth J. “‘“Somebody Is Really up There!”: The 1969 Moon Landing as
Historical Marker for an Era.’” The Journal of American Culture 42, no. 3 (September 2019):
199–212. doi:10.1111/jacc.13069.
 2

The day of the landing itself was met by countless celebrations and activities throughout

the country. The minds of everyday citizens were preoccupied with thoughts of the moon

landing. Churches everywhere held prayers for the safety of the astronauts, thousands gathered

at Central Park in New York City to watch a live broadcast of the moon landing, and a judge

even ordered a color TV into his courtroom so the jurors could watch the landing.4 In response to

the celebrations that were occurring a man in Times square said “Why not? It only happens once

every several thousand years, doesn’t it?”5 People were truly in awe of this monumental event.

In Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada “gamblers were asked to halt the action briefly”, meanwhile

their casinos debuted new moon landing themed drinks.6 Native Americans too celebrated the

moon landing with a victory dance at the Pottawatomie Pow-Wow in Mayetta, Kansas.7

Regardless of financial standing, race, or gender citizens of the United States celebrated the

moon landing.

The moon landing celebrations also took form in other ways. Artists were commissioned

and inspired to create a plethora of art to commemorate the event. In order to preserve the

memory of the moon landing the National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA)

invited artists such as Robert Rauschenberg to Cape Canaveral to witness the launching of the

Apollo 11 shuttle.8 The American Broadcasting Company (A.B.C) commissioned Duke

4
McCANDLISH PHILLIPS, "A Fete in Central Park Celebrates the Landing." New York
Times, Jul 21, 1969 http://ezproxy2.library.drexel.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-
com.ezproxy2.library.drexel.edu/docview/118559192?accountid=10559.
5
McCANDLISH Phillips, “A Fete in Central Park Celebrates the Landing."
6
Associated Press, “US Celebrates Moon Landing In Many Ways”, Muncie Evening
Press, Jul 21, 1969
7
Associated Press, “US Celebrates Moon Landing In Many Ways”
Paul Richard. "Apollo 11 as an Art Form: Art to Praise the Moon Shot." The
8

Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973), Oct 30, 1970. https://search-proquest-

com.ezproxy2.library.drexel.edu/docview/147768351?accountid=10559.
 3

Ellington to compose one such piece of art in the form of “an original score to mark man’s

landing on the moon”. Ellington titled this song “Moon Maiden” performing and taping it on

July 14th, two days before the launch, and A.B.C broadcast it to the country while Buzz Aldrin

and Neil Armstrong took their first steps on the moon.9 The New York Times published a poem “

Voyage to the Moon” written by Archibald MacLeish to commemorate the Apollo 11 mission on

its front page the day after the moon landing. 10 Many museums over the decades have featured

Apollo 11 exhibits consisting of art pieces that commemorated the event. One such exhibit was

at the Frederick Gallery in the fall of 1970 consisting of lithographers from American painter

Robert Rauschenberg‘s “Stoned Moon ” series. 11

While monumentally important to the Unites States Important the moon landing phenomenon

expanded across the world as well. Like the United States12 countries such as Togo, the

Maldives, Grenada, and South Korea released commemorative stamps in honor of the event.13 In

England news of the moon landing plastered the front pages of newspapers. The Coventry

Evening Telegraph, one such newspaper, had the headline of “THIS IS IT-MAN ON THE

MOON” followed by a brief overview of the mission.14 The Pope commented on the events

9
"Ellington Sings Moon Song.", New York Times, July, 15 1969 Accessed June 01, 2020
https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy2.library.drexel.edu/docview/118682720?accountid=10559.
10
ARCHIBALD MACLEISH, "VOYAGE TO THE MOON." New York Times (1923-
Current File), Jul 21, 1969. http://ezproxy2.library.drexel.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-
com.ezproxy2.library.drexel.edu/docview/118567478?accountid=10559.
11
Paul Richard, "Apollo 11 as an Art Form: Art to Praise the Moon Shot." 
12
“Collins, Armstrong, Aldrin with U.S. Postmaster General Winton M. Blount unveiling
a stamp honoring Apollo 11” September 9 ,1969, Apollo 11 Image Library
https://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a11/ap11-69-HC-1119.jpg
13
By Franklin R. Bruns Jr, "Apollo 11 Stamps: The Philatelist." The Washington Post,
Times Herald (1959-1973), Jul 27, 1969. https://search-proquest-
com.ezproxy2.library.drexel.edu/docview/143696194?accountid=10559.
“THIS IS IT- MAN ON THE MOON”, The Coventry Evening Telegraph”, July 21,
14

1969, Accessed June 1,2020 https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/lifestyle/nostalgia/gallery/defining-

 4

calling the astronauts “conquerors of the moon”15 From Chileans dancing in the street when the

shuttle landed on the moon safely, Cuba’s national radio announcing the safe landing, or citizens

in South Korea and Japan watching the landing on their television the Apollo 11 mission

entranced the rest of the world as much as it did America. 16

The sensationalization of the Astronauts on the Apollo 11 further engulfed the world into

the moon landing phenomenon. Following the mission, Michael Collins, Buzz Aldrin, Neil

Armstrong went on a world tour visiting 23 countries aboard one of President Nixon’s private

jets with their wives to demonstrate the United States’ willingness to share space knowledge.17

They left on this tour towards the end of September, 2 months after the mission. If they had any

secrets, to begin with, they didn’t anymore by the time they left for the tour as the media dug into

their lives. Every minute of the astronauts’ lives was reported on, from their weight loss on the

trip18 to Michael Collin’s shaving off a month-old mustache19. LIFE Magazine even published

articles biographing parts of their life in their special Apollo 11 on August 11th, 1969.20

moments-1960s-7851718
15
"’WE’RE NUMBER ONE’ AND WORLD AGREES” The Philadelphia Inquirer
Public Ledger, July 21,1969. http://ezproxy2.library.drexel.edu/login?url=https://search-
proquest-com.ezproxy2.library.drexel.edu/docview/1841726737?accountid=10559
16
Ibid 15
"Apollo 11 Crew Starts on World Tour Monday." The Washington Post, Times Herald
17

(1959-1973), Sep 28, 1969. http://ezproxy2.library.drexel.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-

com.ezproxy2.library.drexel.edu/docview/147634049?accountid=105
18
Thomas O'Toole and Staff Writer "Armstrong and Aldrin Lost Weight on Trip: Moon
Walkers Lost Weight on Trip." The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973), Jul 28, 1969.
http://ezproxy2.library.drexel.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-
com.ezproxy2.library.drexel.edu/docview/147654646?accountid=10559.
19
"THE MUSTACHE THAT IS NO MORE." The Washington Post, Times Herald
(1959-1973), Aug 14, 1969. https://search-proquest-
com.ezproxy2.library.drexel.edu/docview/143660209?accountid=10559.
Dora Jane Hamblin. “He could fly before he could drive; David Nevin. “An engineer
20

who does not love machines”; Gene Farmer. “The best scientific mind in space”, Life Magazine,
Apollo 11 Special Edition, August 11, 1969. https://www.life.com/history/apollo-11-to-the-
 5

In those 2 months, they became overnight celebrities. Parades and dinners all across the

country honored the astronauts, with the events in the cities of Chicago, New York, and Los

Angeles being covered live.21 Neil Armstrong even gave a speech at a parade honoring him in his

hometown with local bands. 22 Before the world tour, they were invited to have dinner at the

White House with the president, something even many politicians had yet to achieve.23 The fame

of the three astronauts grew to the point where the State Department offered Michael Collins the

position of Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs.24 It was a testament to how popular

Collins, Aldrin, and Armstrong actually were.

The Apollo 11 mission is undoubtedly a marker for the era. The memory of the moon

landing not only permanently burnt itself into the memory of everyday citizens, but it also burnt

itself into the national identity of the United States defining its culture. The moon landing stayed

in the limelight for years, even as Congress reduced Nasa’s budget in 1970 (the year following

the landing).25 Whether it be works of art and film inspired by the mission, the various

moon-and-back-life-magazine-lunar-landing/
"Astronaut Honors." The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973), Aug 13, 1969.
21

https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy2.library.drexel.edu/docview/147631806?accountid=10559.
JERRY M Flint, "Brass Bands Greet Armstrong on His Return to Home Town." New
22

York Times (1923-Current File), Sep 07, 1969. https://search-proquest-

com.ezproxy2.library.drexel.edu/docview/118664722?accountid=10559
23
"Homecoming Gala Set for Astronauts." The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-
1973), Sep 29, 1969. http://ezproxy2.library.drexel.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-
com.ezproxy2.library.drexel.edu/docview/147633174?accountid=10559.
"State Dept. PR Post Offered to Astronaut." The Washington Post, Times Herald
24

(1959-1973), Nov 25, 1969. http://ezproxy2.library.drexel.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-

com.ezproxy2.library.drexel.edu/docview/143665518?accountid=10559.
25
JOHN, NOBLE WILFORD. "NASA Foresees Dynamic Program Despite Budget
Cut." New York Times (1923-Current File), Jul 20, 1970. https://search-proquest-
com.ezproxy2.library.drexel.edu/docview/118908112?accountid=10559.
 6

celebrations the day of the landing, or the sensationalization of the astronauts on the mission the

moon landing truly became a cultural phenomenon.

 7

Bibliography

"Apollo 11 as an Art Form: Art to Praise the Moon Shot." The Washington Post, Times Herald.
(1959-1973), Oct 30, 1970.

"Ellington Sings Moon Song.", New York Times, July 15, 1969, Accessed June 01, 2020

“Collins, Armstrong, Aldrin with U.S. Postmaster General Winton M. Blount unveiling a stamp
honoring Apollo 11” September 9, 1969, Apollo 11 Image Library

“THIS IS IT- MAN ON THE MOON”, The Coventry Evening Telegraph”, July 21, 1969,
Accessed June 1, 2020

Armstrong, Neil. 1969, One Small Step. Accessed June 1, 2020,

Associated Press, “US Celebrates Moon Landing In Many Ways”, Muncie Evening Press, Jul 21,
1969

Bindas, Kenneth J. “‘“Somebody Is Really up There!”: The 1969 Moon Landing as a Historical
Marker for an Era.’” The Journal of American Culture 42, no. 3 (September 2019): 199–
212. DOI:10.1111/jacc.13069.

EXCERPT, ADDRESS BEFORE A JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS, 25 MAY 1961, John F.

Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum (CBS (Columbia Broadcasting System)
motion picture, 1961),

Life Magazine, Apollo 11 Special Edition, August 11, 1969.

MacLeish, Archibald. "VOYAGE TO THE MOON." New York Times (1923-Current File). Jul

21, 1969.

New York Times. July 1969-July 1970.

"’WE’RE NUMBER ONE’ AND WORLD AGREES”. The Philadelphia Inquirer Public

Ledger, July 21,1969.

The Washington Post, Times Herald. July 1969 -November 1969.