1962 Fallout Shelter Handbook

[area23]

For your information, this page has some hilarious suggestions on how to survive.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wardomatic/sets/72157594417383496/
Printed five years after date, I think it still suggests the feeling of the era...

This pic in particular has a funny comment. I imagine my daughters judging me like that when they grow older.... 

[Bako]

Oh yes, I've seen this some point a coupla' or so years ago. Excellent, is it not?

[Arlequín]

I'm fascinated by this sort of thing, thanks for that.

People often mock the preparations people made to defend against a nuclear war back then, but the weapons available were less powerful and less plentiful in the 60's than in the 80's. Things like 'duck and cover' and having your own shelter did enhance your survivability in 1962, just not for long after. 

[Pentaro]

Dramatic but hilarious at the same time, thanks for sharing this.

[Doug ex-em4]

Even the author's name (Chuck West) has a perfect period sound to it.

Doug

[Silent Invader]

In the UK, the authorities advised a more basic form of construction, in a leaflet called Protect & Survive

http://www.atomica.co.uk/main.htm

"Make your house as safe as possible....".  With a couple of doors, some suitcases and the odd piece of furniture. 

[Hammers]

Dad's smoking his pipe and reading the paper and mom's reorganizing the canned food in a starched apron. That's nice.

[Col.Stone]

Thanks

Old instructionbooks always make me laugh,

[Arlequín]

I'm reminded of that Brendan Fraser/Christopher Walken film 'Blast from the past' 

[Bako]

(Chuck West)

Seems like it was implying something actually.

[Argonor]

Just saw this... what are you supposed to do when the portable toilet is full??? You cannot just go outside and empty it...?

[Bako]

Just saw this... what are you supposed to do when the portable toilet is full??? You cannot just go outside and empty it...?

Oh, dear...

[Ramshackle_Curtis]

Ye gods, if there had been a nuclear war, these schmucks would have died. We would not be here now.

[Argonor]

 

[carlos marighela]

Somewhere on my bookshelves there is a US Government tome entitled The Effects of Nuclear Warfare dating from 1962. It has some rather unamusing information regarding survival prospects, including a nifty little pull out calculator to calculate blast areas based on megatonnage. It's a rather sobering tome.

If you want  rather thought provoking film that utilises most of the nuke survival docos of the time, search for a copy of The Atomic Cafe,  excellent film and a wonderful soundtrack to boot.