Loose Change (book) facts for kids

First edition

The book Loose Change is a non-fiction story written in 1977 by an American author named Sara Davidson. It's about the lives and friendships of three women who first met as college students at the University of California, Berkeley in the 1960s. Sara (who is the author), Susie, and Tasha experience many big changes happening in American culture during that time. They see or get involved in things like student protests, the Civil Rights Movement, and the popular music of the era. As the story goes on, they become very close friends, but then their ideas and paths start to go in different directions.

Exploring the 1960s in Loose Change

The 1960s was a time of huge change in America, and Loose Change shows how these changes affected young people. The three friends in the book witness or take part in important events.

Student Protests and Civil Rights

During the 1960s, many students protested against different issues, like the Vietnam War and for more rights. The Civil Rights Movement was also very active, working to end unfair treatment and gain equal rights for all people, especially African Americans. These movements brought big changes to society.

The 1968 Democratic Convention

Another important event mentioned is the 1968 Chicago Democratic Convention. This was a major political meeting where the Democratic Party chose its candidate for president. Outside the convention, there were large protests and sometimes clashes, showing the strong feelings and divisions in the country at that time.

Life in Communes

The book also touches on communes. These were communities where people lived together, often sharing resources and trying out new ways of living. They were part of the counterculture movement of the 1960s, where some people wanted to live differently from mainstream society.

The Music of the Era

Music played a huge role in the 1960s, with new styles and artists becoming popular. Music often reflected the feelings and ideas of the time, including messages about peace, love, and social change.

Loose Change as a TV Miniseries

The book Loose Change was so popular that it was made into a three-part TV miniseries. It was also called Loose Change and was shown on NBC from February 26 to 28, 1978. Actresses Season Hubley and Cristina Raines starred in the show.

A Broadcast Mix-Up

When the miniseries first aired, there was a technical problem on February 27. On the East Coast, NBC accidentally started playing the third part of the show instead of the second. After about 17 minutes, the network realized the mistake. They showed a special message card with the title "Loose Change" and an announcer, Howard Reig, apologized. Then, they played the correct second part of the miniseries. This mix-up only happened on the East Coast.

Re-edited as Those Restless Years

Later that same year, in July, the miniseries was re-edited. It was cut down from six hours to four hours and was shown again with a new title: Those Restless Years.