Photos: Turning 50 in 2014

From left, Sports Illustrated models Chrissy Teigen, Nina Agdal and Lily Aldridge pose with the 2014 swimsuit issue, on whose cover they are featured. This year’s edition marks the 50th anniversary of the magazine’s trademark issue.  (Frazer Harrison / Getty Images)

Nearly 73 million people watched the Beatles perform on the “Ed Sullivan Show” on Feb. 9, 1964, triggering the start of Beatlemania in the United States.   (Express Newspapers / Getty Images)

An advisory committee to the U.S. surgeon general issued a Jan. 11, 1964, report highlighting the detrimental health consequences of smoking. The report led to the now-famous surgeon general’s warning label on tobacco products.  (Robert Lachman / Los Angeles Times)

The Civil Rights Act, enacted July 2, 1964, protects Americans from major forms of discrimination. Civil rights leader the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. waves to supporters during the March on Washington in 1963.  (AFP / Getty Images)

A South African court sentenced civil rights activist Nelson Mandela to life in prison on June 12, 1964. Mandela remained in prison until 1990. The anti-apartheid icon died last December.  (Alexander Joe / AFP/Getty Images)

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin celebrated her 50th birthday on Feb. 11.  (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

Buffalo wings were first created in 1964 at a family-owned restaurant in Buffalo, N.Y., called the Anchor Bar. Though there is some dispute over how exactly restaurant owner Teressa Bellissimo dreamed up the recipe, the Anchor Bar is widely recognized as the birthplace of Buffalo wings.  (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

The Rolling Stones headlined their first U.S. tour in June 1964. From left are band members Ronnie Wood, Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts and Keith Richards, shown performing in Los Angeles last year.  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Actress Sandra Bullock will turn 50 on July 29, 2014.  (Paul Buck / EPA)

Sidney Poitier, second from right, won an Oscar for best actor on April 13, 1964, for his role in “Lilies of the Field.” Poitier was the first African American to win the award.  (John Malmin / Los Angeles Times)

The first episode of the quiz game show “Jeopardy” aired on NBC on March 30, 1964 -- though Alex Trebek, shown, did not become the show’s host until 1984.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

The first boxes of General Mills’ popular Lucky Charms cereal hit stores in 1964, a half-century ago.  (Gene J. Puskar / Associated Press)

The popular breakfast treat debuted in 1964 with just four flavors: strawberry, blueberry, brown sugar cinnamon and apple currant.   (Andrew Burton / Getty Images)

The Disneyland attraction famous, or infamous, depending on your point of view, for its signature tune celebrates 50 years of operation this year. The first iteration of the ride debuted at the New York World’s Fair in 1964.  (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

The landmark Supreme Court decision protecting the freedom of the press was handed down on March 9, 1964. The ruling established the “actual malice” standard for libel cases.   (Karen Bleier / AFP / Getty Images)

Legend has it that the first Belgian waffles were sold at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York. Though similar versions of the treat existed before then, the crisp waffles with extra deep dents were not given the Belgian name until 1964.   (Robert Lachman / Los Angeles Times)

Del Taco, one of the few fast food restaurants that serves hamburgers and french fries alongside tacos and burritos, celebrates its 50th birthday this year. The first Del Taco opened in Yermo, Calif., in 1964 and sold tacos for a mere 19 cents.  (David Fitzgerald / Los Angeles Times)

The famous children’s book about a car with extraordinary powers was first published on Oct. 22, 1964. Four years later, the beloved film adaptation starring Dick Van Dyke as Caractacus Pott hit movie theaters.   (Silver Screen Collection / Getty Images)

Though Neil Armstrong wouldn’t take that first small step for another five years, NASA’s Ranger 7 sent the first close-up images of the lunar surface back to Earth on July 31, 1964. Scientists credit Ranger 7 with making the famous spacewalk possible.  (Fadel Senna / AFP/Getty Images)