Reading Steady Go!

Reading Steady Go! exhibition logo

This exhibition explored the explosion of youth culture in the 1960s and its legacy in today’s music and fashion.

In the early 1960s Reading emerged from the rationing and austerity of the post war years. A generation of ‘Baby Boomers’ enjoyed increased spending power, more freedom and leisure time.

The term ‘teenager’ was used for the first time and alongside the new buildings that rose up in Reading, various youth cultures emerged. Young people began to define their identify through allegiance to different styles such as Teddy Boy, Rockabilly, Beatnik and Mod.

The early Mod pioneers were known as 'Modernists', because of their liking for Modern Jazz. They approved of all things new and revelled in the coffee bars and supermarkets that came to Reading in the late 1950s.

The town’s Mods soaked up the influences and latest trends from London. They listened to black American R & B artists, wore smooth cropped hairstyles, tailored jackets and neat Italian rounded-collar shirts.

Our exhibition intended to be an insight into the real Mod world, going beyond the popular myths to show their passion for music, fashion and being young.

The exhibition was sponsored by

Date updated: 10 Apr 2012

Related Content:

Iconic Mod brand lends to 60s show

Iconic clothing brand Fred Perry have agreed to lend items from their archive of 1960s clothing and ephemera to the Museum's forthcoming exhibition Reading Steady Go: Life through the Eyes of a 1960s Mod.

Date published: 25 Feb 2011

Reading Rock Royalty Sponsor Exhibition

Pretty Green, Liam Gallagher’s Reading-based clothing range and Festival Republic, organisers of the world famous Reading Festival, have pledged their support to our Mod exhibition 'Reading Steady Go'.

Date published: 23 Nov 2010