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August 31, 1961

August 31, 1961, was a Thursday. It was 62 years, 7 months, and 24 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Virgo.

On This Day

Events

Notable events that occurred on August 31, 1961:

  • Ann Marie Burr (8) goes missing from her home in Tacoma, Washington.
Song charts

Popular songs

On August 31, 1961, the following songs were at the top of the music charts in the USA and the UK:

  • United States: "Wooden Heart" by Joe Dowell
  • United Kingdom: "Johnny Remember Me" by John Leyton

The music charts on August 31, 1961

The following songs were dominating the Billboard Hot 100 chart:

  • Wooden Heart - Joe Dowell
  • Tossin' And Turnin' - Bobby Lewis
  • Michael - The Highwaymen
  • Last Night - Mar-Keys
  • You Don't Know What You've Got (Until You Lose It) - Ral Donner
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.
Come September

Top movie

The top movie on this day was "Come September".

Facts

This date occurred 22,882 days ago. Approximately 763 months have passed. It was the 243rd day of 1961, in week 35. The decade was the swinging sixties. People who were born on August 31, 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 31, 1961

Let's go back to the swinging sixties.

The date is August 31, 1961, and it's a Thursday. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Virgo. The summer of 1961 is coming to an end and fall is just around the corner.

Labor Day weekend is a few days away, which means that many Americans are planning barbecues and other social gatherings. In America, the song "Wooden Heart" by Joe Dowell is at the top of the singles charts, while "Johnny Remember Me" by John Leyton is the number-one song in the UK. John Fitzgerald Kennedy is the President of the United States, and the movie Come September 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 "What's My Line?", "The Danny Thomas Show", "Perry Mason", 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 "Looney Tunes", "The Huckleberry Hound Show", "The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends", and "The Flintstones". Children are playing with toys such as Fisher Price Little People, 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 31, 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 31, 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 31, 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 31, 1961
  • 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.
  • September 25, 1961: The film "The Hustler" is released.
  • September 28, 1961:
    • The first episode of the sitcom "Hazel", starring Shirley Booth, is aired on TV.
    • The United Arab Republic breaks up after disgruntled Syrian Army officers stage a coup.
Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on August 31, 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 2.
  • Native American Zodiac: August 31, 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

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

If you were a kid on August 31, 1961, then you were probably watching the following cartoons and TV shows:

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

The Dick Tracy Show
The Dick Tracy Show
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
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

Were you born on August 31, 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 31, 1967, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on August 31.

Richard Gere

Richard Gere

Actor
Born on August 31, 1949
He turned 12 on this day in 1961.

Chris Tucker

Chris Tucker

Actor
Born on August 31, 1971
He was born exactly 10 years after this date.

Jeff Hardy

Jeff Hardy

Wrestler
Born on August 31, 1977
He was born exactly 16 years after this date.

Chloe Ferry

Chloe Ferry

TV personality
Born on August 31, 1995
She was born exactly 34 years after this date.

USA

US President

John Fitzgerald Kennedy was the President of the United States on August 31, 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 31, 1961 was most likely conceived around December 8, 1960.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on August 31, 1961 is close to May 24, 1962.

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Stats for August 31, 1961

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about August 31, 1961:

  • 22,882 days have passed since this date.
  • 3,268 weeks have passed.
  • 1,977,004,800 seconds have passed since August 31, 1961.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 2,306,505,600 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 1,020,134,476,800 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 329,500,800 times.
  • You have taken approximately 170,022,413 steps. That's roughly 75,566 miles.
  • 23,724,058 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1961?

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