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October 15, 1961

October 15, 1961, was a Sunday. It was the 288th day of 1961. The decade was the swinging sixties.

62 years, 5 months, and 14 days have passed since October 15, 1961.

The zodiac star sign for this date is Libra.

Song charts

Top songs

These songs were on top of the music charts in the United States and the United Kingdom on October 15, 1961:

  • United States: "Hit The Road Jack" by Ray Charles
  • United Kingdom: "Michael" by The Highwaymen

The Billboard Hot 100 on October 15, 1961

These were the top five songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart:

  • Hit The Road Jack - Ray Charles and his Orchestra
  • Runaround Sue - Dion
  • Bristol Stomp - The Dovells
  • Crying - Roy Orbison
  • You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby - Bobby Darin
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 Hustler

Top movie at the box office

The movie "The Hustler" was at the top of the box office on this day.

Facts

This date occurred 22,811 days ago. Approximately 760 months have passed. It was the 288th day of 1961, in week 41. The decade was the swinging sixties. People who were born on October 15, 1961, are now 62 years old and belong to the Baby Boomer generation. We have gone through approximately 253 seasons of weather since this date.

Take me back to October 15, 1961

Ready for a walk down memory lane?

The date is October 15, 1961, and it's a Sunday. Anyone born today will have the star sign Libra. People are currently enjoying their weekend. However, because it's a Sunday, some are dreading the week ahead.

The summer is long gone. Temperatures have become much cooler, and the evenings are beginning to get darker. There is a fresh, earthy scent in the air, and fallen leaves have carpeted driveways, lawns, pathways, and sidewalks. In America, the song "Hit The Road Jack" by Ray Charles is at the top of the singles charts, while "Michael" by The Highwaymen is the number-one song in the UK.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy is the President of the United States, and the movie The Hustler 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 "The Ed Sullivan Show", "The Jack Benny Program", "Tonight Starring Jack Paar", and "Hazel".

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", "Heckle and Jeckle", "The Huckleberry Hound Show", and "The Flintstones". Children are playing with toys such as BAS-KET Miniature Basketball, the Frisbee, Etch A Sketch, and Ken (doll).

News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on October 15, 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 October 15, 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 October 15, 1961.

  • 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.
  • October 1, 1961: Elvis Presley releases his song "Can't Help Falling in Love".
  • October 9, 1961: Baseball: The New York Yankees defeat the Cincinnati Reds by 4-1 to win the 1961 World Series.
  • October 11, 1961: The Biblical film "King of Kings" is released in movie theaters.
  • October 12, 1961: New Zealand abolishes the death penalty.
  • October 14, 1961: Golf: The United States wins the 1961 Ryder Cup at the Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club in Lytham St Annes, England.
  • This date: October 15, 1961
  • October 18, 1961: The musical film "West Side Story" is released.
  • October 30, 1961: Tsar Bomba: The Soviet Union detonates a 58-megaton hydrogen bomb over Novaya Zemlya.
  • November 8, 1961: 77 people are killed when Imperial Airlines Flight 201/8 crashes in Richmond, Virginia.
Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on October 15, 1961, will have the star sign Libra.
  • Zodiac Element: Air.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1961 was the year of the Ox (Yin Wood).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 6.
  • Native American Zodiac: October 15, 1961 falls under the Raven.
  • Birthstone: A person during the month of October will have the birthstones Tourmaline and Opal.
  • Birth flower (October): The Marigold and the Cosmos.

1960s fashion

Photographs of 1960s fashion and hairstyles.

1960s fashion

Television shows

TV series on October 15, 1961

TV audiences were watching the following shows on October 15, 1961:

TV shows from October 1961.

Hazel
Hazel
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 October 1961

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

Top Cat
Top Cat
Davey and Goliath
Davey and Goliath
The Yogi Bear Show
The Yogi Bear Show

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
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
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

Children were playing with the following toys and games:

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 October 15, 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 October 15, 1967, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on October 15.

Tanya Roberts

Tanya Roberts

Actress Deceased
Born on October 15, 1949
She turned 12 on this day in 1961.

Tito Jackson

Tito Jackson

Musician
Born on October 15, 1953
He turned 8 on this day in 1961.

Dominic West

Dominic West

English actor
Born on October 15, 1969
He was born exactly 8 years after this date.

Andy Cole

Andy Cole

Soccer player
Born on October 15, 1971
He was born exactly 10 years after this date.

Mesut Özil

Mesut Özil

German soccer player
Born on October 15, 1988
He was born exactly 27 years after this date.

Anthony Joshua

Anthony Joshua

Boxer
Born on October 15, 1989
He was born exactly 28 years after this date.

Ncuti Gatwa

Ncuti Gatwa

Actor
Born on October 15, 1992
He was born exactly 31 years after this date.

USA

US President

John Fitzgerald Kennedy was the President of the United States on October 15, 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 October 15, 1961 was most likely conceived around January 22, 1961.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on October 15, 1961 is close to July 8, 1962.

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Stats for October 15, 1961

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about October 15, 1961:

  • 22,811 days have passed since this date.
  • 3,258 weeks have passed.
  • 1,970,874,000 seconds have passed since October 15, 1961.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 2,299,353,000 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 1,016,970,984,000 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 328,479,000 times.
  • You have taken approximately 169,495,164 steps. That's roughly 75,331 miles!
  • Since this date, 23,650,488 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere!
  • How many years ago was 1961?

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