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August 23, 1961

August 23, 1961, was a Wednesday. It was the 235th day of 1961. The decade was the swinging sixties.

62 years, 7 months, and 6 days have passed since August 23, 1961.

The zodiac star sign for this date is Virgo.

Song charts

Popular songs

On August 23, 1961, the following songs were at the top of the music charts in the USA and the UK:

  • United States: "Tossin' And Turnin'" by Bobby Lewis
  • United Kingdom: "You Don't Know" by Helen Shapiro

The Billboard Hot 100 on August 23, 1961

These songs were dominating the music charts:

  • Tossin' And Turnin' - Bobby Lewis
  • Wooden Heart - Joe Dowell
  • Michael - The Highwaymen
  • Last Night - Mar-Keys
  • I Like It Like That, Part 1 - Chris Kenner
Play the top singles from 1961
A Spotify playlist of songs from the year 1961. Take a trip back to the days of Elvis Presley, Cliff Richard & The Shadows, The Shirelles, Chubby Checker, Ray Charles and Helen Shapiro.
The Guns of Navarone

Top movie

The top movie on this day was "The Guns of Navarone".

Facts

This date occurred 22,864 days ago. Approximately 762 months have passed. It was the 235th day of 1961, in week 34. The decade was the swinging sixties. People who were born on August 23, 1961, are now 62 years old and belong to the Baby Boomer generation. 254 seasons of weather have come and gone since then.

Take me back to August 23, 1961

Let's take a walk down memory lane.

The date is August 23, 1961, and it's a Wednesday. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Virgo. It is "Hump Day", so many are beginning to think about the weekend ahead.

The summer of 1961 is coming to an end and fall is just around the corner. In America, the song "Tossin' And Turnin'" by Bobby Lewis is at the top of the singles charts, while "You Don't Know" by Helen Shapiro is the number-one song in the UK. John Fitzgerald Kennedy is the President of the United States, and the movie The Guns of Navarone is at the top of the box office.

Harold Macmillan is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. On television, people are watching popular shows such as "Gunsmoke", "77 Sunset Strip", "The Twilight Zone", and "The Untouchables". Tailfins on cars are extremely popular at the moment. The design looks futuristic, almost like a rocket or the twin rudders on the back of an airplane.

In fashion, many of the trends from the late 1950s are still popular. Women are wearing tailored skirts, short boxy jackets and shift dresses. Trousers are also becoming popular amongst women. Meanwhile, men are wearing polo shirts, argyle socks, sweater vests, loafers and harrington jackets. Because it's 1961, radio stations are playing hit songs from artists such as Bert Kaempfert, Chubby Checker, Elvis Presley, Del Shannon, Bobby Lewis and Jimmy Dean. If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as Ernie Kovacs and Marilyn Monroe would be still alive.

Children and teenagers are watching television shows such as "Heckle and Jeckle", "Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse", "The Flintstones", and "The Dick Tracy Show". Children are playing with toys such as the Frisbee, Crater Critters, Barbie, and Etch A Sketch.

News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on August 23, 1961.

  • The USA is escalating its involvement in the Vietnam War.

    The USA is escalating its involvement in the Vietnam War

    The United States was slowly escalating its involvement in the Vietnam War. In May 1961, President John F. Kennedy ordered helicopters and 400 Green Berets into South Vietnam. Covert operations against the communist forces in the north were also authorized. By 1963, the number of US military personnel in the country had grown to 10,000.
  • Who were the best NBA players in 1961?

    Who were the best NBA players in 1961?

    In 1961, the best NBA players were Bill Russell, Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, Bob Pettit, Bob Cousy and Oscar Robertson.
  • Who were the best football players?

    Who were the best football players?

    In 1961, the best soccer players were Pelé, Omar Sívori, Luis Suárez, Johnny Haynes, Lev Yashin, Ferenc Puskás, Alfredo Di Stéfano, Uwe Seeler and John Charles.
  • West Side Story.

    West Side Story

    The film "West Side Story" won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1961.
  • Henry Mancini - "Moon River"

    Henry Mancini - "Moon River"

    The song "Moon River" by Henry Mancini won a Grammy for 1961's Song of the Year.
  • 1961 in music.

    1961 in music

    The Billboard Charts in 1961 were dominated by the likes of Elvis Presley, Bobby Lewis, Jimmy Dean, Ricky Nelson, The Marcels, Del Shannon, Bobby Vee, Ray Charles and Bert Kaempfert.
  • 1961 in movies.

    1961 in movies

    Movies released in 1961 included West Side Story, The Guns of Navarone, El Cid, The Absent-Minded Professor, The Parent Trap, La Dolce Vita, Lover Come Back, King of Kings, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, Splendor in the Grass, Breakfast at Tiffany's and The Hustler.
  • John F. Kennedy.

    John F. Kennedy

    US President John F. Kennedy was named Time Person of the Year in 1961.
  • Rotary phones.

    Rotary phones

    Rotary phones were still the most common type of landline phone. Although push-button telephones did begin to appear at the end of 1963, they were relatively uncommon.
  • Tailfins on cars.

    Tailfins on cars

    Tailfins on cars were a popular style around this time. The design looked futuristic, almost like the twin rudders on the back of an airplane.
  • Greasers.

    Greasers

    A youth subculture called "greasers" emerged during the 1950s and early 1960s. The style included greased-back hairstyles, work pants, and denim or leather jackets.
  • The Jukebox.

    The Jukebox

    The jukebox was at the height of its popularity. Teenagers and young adults would often hang out at local restaurants and diners and listen to the latest songs.

Personality traits

Check out our personality summary for people who were born on August 23, 1961.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

View Personality Summary

Events

What happened around this time?

News stories, pop culture trends, and other events that happened around August 23, 1961.

  • August 9, 1961: The romantic comedy film "Come September" starts showing at movie theaters.
  • August 13, 1961: Construction of the Berlin Wall begins.
  • August 16, 1961: Roy Orbison releases his song "Crying".
  • August 21, 1961:
    • The song "Please Mr. Postman" is released by The Marvelettes.
    • Western musician and TV personality Spade Cooley is found guilty of the murder of his wife Ella Mae.
  • August 22, 1961: German nurse Ida Siekmann becomes the first person to die at the Berlin Wall after she attempts to jump from her apartment building and flee to West Berlin.
  • This date: August 23, 1961
  • August 31, 1961: Ann Marie Burr (8) goes missing from her home in Tacoma, Washington.
  • September 10, 1961: 15 people are killed when German F1 driver Wolfgang von Trips crashes into a stand in Monza, Italy.
  • September 18, 1961: UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskjöld is killed in an air crash in Northern Rhodesia.
Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on August 23, 1961, will have the star sign Virgo.
  • Zodiac Element: Earth.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1961 was the year of the Ox (Yin Wood).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 3.
  • Native American Zodiac: August 23, 1961 falls under the Bear.
  • Birthstone: A person during the month of August will have the birthstone Peridot.
  • Birth flower (August): The Gladiolus and the Poppy.

1960s fashion

Photographs of 1960s fashion and hairstyles.

1960s fashion

Television shows

Television shows in August 1961

In August 1961, TV audiences were watching the following series:

TV shows from August 1961.

Route 66
Route 66
The Andy Griffith Show
The Andy Griffith Show
Danger Man
Danger Man
The Untouchables
The Untouchables
The Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
Bonanza
Bonanza
Rawhide
Rawhide
77 Sunset Strip
77 Sunset Strip
Maverick
Maverick
Perry Mason
Perry Mason
Wagon Train
Wagon Train
Have Gun - Will Travel
Have Gun - Will Travel
Tonight Starring Jack Paar
Tonight Starring Jack Paar
Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke
The Danny Thomas Show
The Danny Thomas Show
The Jack Benny Program
The Jack Benny Program
What's My Line?
What's My Line?
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show

Cars in 1961

1961 saw the introduction of cars such as the BMW New Class, the Dodge Lancer, the Toyota Publica, the Ford Thunderbird (third generation), the MG Midget, and the Volvo P1800.

Cars in 1961.

Children TV shows

Cartoons and children's TV shows in August 1961

Children and teenagers were watching the following cartoons and TV series:

Davey and Goliath
Davey and Goliath
The Yogi Bear Show
The Yogi Bear Show
Mister Ed
Mister Ed

King Leonardo and His Short Subjects
King Leonardo and His Short Subjects
The Bugs Bunny Show
The Bugs Bunny Show
The Flintstones
The Flintstones
My Three Sons
My Three Sons
Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse
Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse
The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends
The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends
Dennis the Menace
Dennis the Menace
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
Augie Doggie and Doggie Daddy
Augie Doggie and Doggie Daddy
Snooper and Blabber
Snooper and Blabber
Noggin the Nog
Noggin the Nog
Pixie and Dixie and Mr. Jinks
Pixie and Dixie and Mr. Jinks
Bozo: The World's Most Famous Clown
Bozo: The World's Most Famous Clown
The Rifleman
The Rifleman
The Huckleberry Hound Show
The Huckleberry Hound Show
The Adventures of Spunky and Tadpole
The Adventures of Spunky and Tadpole
Leave It to Beaver
Leave It to Beaver
Captain Pugwash
Captain Pugwash
Heckle and Jeckle
Heckle and Jeckle
The Gumby Show
The Gumby Show
Mighty Mouse Playhouse
Mighty Mouse Playhouse
Captain Kangaroo
Captain Kangaroo
Lassie
Lassie
Tom and Jerry
Tom and Jerry
Looney Tunes
Looney Tunes
Toys

Toys in 1961

If you were a child on this date, then you may have had some of the following toys:

Ken (doll)
Ken (doll)
Etch A Sketch
Etch A Sketch
Astrobase
Astrobase
Troll doll
Troll doll
Tonka trucks
Tonka trucks
Matchbox toy cars
Matchbox toy cars
Barbie
Barbie
Playpal dolls
Playpal dolls
Crater Critters
Crater Critters
Fisher Price Little People
Fisher Price Little People
The Hula Hoop
The Hula Hoop
Metal House robots
Metal House robots
The Frisbee
The Frisbee
Wooly Willy
Wooly Willy
BAS-KET Miniature Basketball
BAS-KET Miniature Basketball

Were you born on August 23, 1961?

If you were born on this date, then it is unlikely that you will remember anything from the year 1961.

This is because humans find it difficult to retrieve memories of their early childhood.

If you are looking for some childhood nostalgia, then you should check out August 23, 1967, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on August 23.

Henry Lee Lucas

Henry Lee Lucas

American serial killer Deceased
Born on August 23, 1936
He turned 25 on this day in 1961.

Rodney Alcala

Rodney Alcala

Serial killer Deceased
Born on August 23, 1943
He turned 18 on this day in 1961.

Keith Moon

Keith Moon

Drummer Deceased
Born on August 23, 1946
He turned 15 on this day in 1961.

River Phoenix

River Phoenix

Actor Deceased
Born on August 23, 1970
He was born exactly 9 years after this date.

Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant

Basketball player Deceased
Born on August 23, 1978
He was born exactly 17 years after this date.

August Ames

August Ames

Adult actress Deceased
Born on August 23, 1994
She was born exactly 33 years after this date.

Lil Yachty

Lil Yachty

Rapper
Born on August 23, 1997
He was born exactly 36 years after this date.

USA

US President

John Fitzgerald Kennedy was the President of the United States on August 23, 1961.

UK

UK Prime Minister

Harold Macmillan was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Ireland

Irish Taoiseach

Seán Lemass was the Taoiseach of Ireland.

Conception

Conception dates

Conception estimates for this date.

  • A baby that was born on August 23, 1961 was most likely conceived around November 30, 1960.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on August 23, 1961 is close to May 16, 1962.

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Stats for August 23, 1961

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about August 23, 1961:

  • 22,864 days have passed since this date.
  • 3,266 weeks have passed.
  • 1,975,453,200 seconds have passed since August 23, 1961.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 2,304,695,400 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 1,019,333,851,200 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 329,242,200 times.
  • You have taken approximately 169,888,975 steps. That's roughly 75,506 miles!
  • Since this date, 23,705,438 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere!
  • How many years ago was 1961?

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