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January 17, 1959

January 17, 1959, was a Saturday. It was 65 years, 11 months, and 7 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Capricorn.

Music charts

Top song: January 17, 1959

The best-selling single on January 17, 1959 was "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" by The Chipmunks and David Seville.

The Billboard Hot 100 on January 17, 1959

The top five songs from the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

  • Smoke Gets In Your Eyes - The Platters
  • My Happiness - Connie Francis
  • The Chipmunk Song - The Chipmunks With David Seville
  • Donna - Ritchie Valens
  • 16 Candles - The Crests
Play the top singles from 1959
A Spotify playlist of songs from the year 1959. Take a trip back to the days of The Platters, Frankie Avalon, The Fleetwoods and Johnny Horton.
Auntie Mame

Top movie

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

Facts

This date occurred 24,083 days ago. Approximately 803 months have passed. It was the 17th day of 1959, in week 03. The decade was the fifties. People who were born on January 17, 1959, are now 65 years old and belong to the Baby Boomer generation. We have gone through approximately 268 seasons of weather since this date.

Take me back to January 17, 1959

Let's take a walk down memory lane.

The date is January 17, 1959, and it's a Saturday. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Capricorn. The work week is over and Saturday has finally come, so people are spending time with their kids, going to bars, attending dances, shopping, and watching sports.

The holiday season of 1958 seems like a distant memory. New year's resolutions are already being abandoned, and many are eagerly awaiting their first paycheck after Christmas In music, the song "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" by The Chipmunks and David Seville is the best-selling record at the moment. Dwight David Eisenhower is the President of the United States, and the movie Auntie Mame 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 "Fury", "Have Gun - Will Travel", "Wagon Train", and "Maverick". In fashion, women are sporting chemise dresses, sheaths, sack dresses and straight-cut suits. Short boxy jackets and shift dresses are also beginning to become popular. Meanwhile, a lot of men are sporting a "Teddy Boy" style that involves leather jackets, greased-back hair, extremely narrow trousers and velvet-collared jackets. Men are also wearing formal suits as daywear.

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. It's 1959, so radio stations and jukeboxes are playing hit songs from artists such as Johnny Horton, Bobby Darin, Lloyd Price, Frankie Avalon, Paul Anka, The Browns, The Fleetwoods and Wilbert Harrison. If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as Buddy Holly and Clark Gable would be still alive.

Children and teenagers are watching television shows such as "Lassie", "Mighty Mouse Playhouse", "Leave It to Beaver", and "The Huckleberry Hound Show". Children are playing with toys such as Spinning Tops, Metal House robots, the Hula Hoop, and Crater Critters.

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on January 17, 1959, will have the star sign Capricorn.
  • Zodiac Element: Earth.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1959 was the year of the Pig (Yin Wood).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 6.
  • Native American Zodiac: January 17, 1959 falls under the Goose.
  • Birthstone: A person during the month of January will have the birthstone Garnet.
  • Birth flower (January): The Carnation and the Snowdrop.
News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on January 17, 1959.

  • Phonebooth stuffing has become a fad.

    Phonebooth stuffing has become a fad

    In 1959, a new fad swept across South Africa, the United States, Canada, and Britain. This fad was called "phonebooth stuffing". As the name suggests, it involved trying to fit as many people into a telephone booth as possible.
  • Movies from 1959.

    Movies from 1959

    The most popular movies in 1959 were Ben-Hur, The Shaggy Dog, Operation Petticoat, Some Like It Hot, Pillow Talk, Imitation of Life, "Suddenly, Last Summer", Rio Bravo and The Nun's Story.
  • 1959 in music.

    1959 in music

    The radio stations in 1959 were dominated by artists such as Johnny Horton, Bobby Darin, Lloyd Price, Frankie Avalon, Paul Anka, The Browns, The Fleetwoods and Wilbert Harrison.
  • Dwight D. Eisenhower.

    Dwight D. Eisenhower

    US President Dwight D. Eisenhower was named Time Person of the Year in 1959.
  • 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.
  • Panty raids are all the rage on college campuses.

    Panty raids are all the rage on college campuses

    Panty raids were a popular college prank at the time. Large groups of male students would "raid" the living quarters of their female counterparts and then steal their underwear as proof that the raid had been successful. These raids took place during a time when colleges had curfews and men were forbidden from entering female dormitories.
  • Poodle skirts are a thing.

    Poodle skirts are a thing

    Women and young girls were wearing wide, unrestricted felt skirts called "poodle skirts." These were solid-colored skirts that had a design or a logo. In many cases, the design was an image of a poodle or a cat.
  • 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.
  • Men are getting "DA haircuts".

    Men are getting "DA haircuts"

    The "DA haircut" was extremely popular among men. The cut consisted of a combed-back hairstyle that was parted down the middle at the back. "DA" stood for "Duck's Ass," which is what many people liked to call the style.
  • Sock hops.

    Sock hops

    Sock hops were informal dance events for teenagers. The name originated from the fact that many of these dances required participants to remove their shoes. This is because sock hops were often held in high school gymnasiums, and the organizers didn't want scuff marks on the floors.
  • Capitalism vs Communism.

    Capitalism vs Communism

    The ideological clash between capitalism and communism heated up during the 1950s. It was during this period that a "Cold War" started between the United States and the Soviet Union. In the US, there were fears that Soviet spies had infiltrated all parts of society, including Hollywood.
  • The economy is booming.

    The economy is booming

    The world was recovering from World War II. Many countries witnessed an economic boom during this decade. Unemployment was low, consumerism increased, mortgages were cheap, and governments started to invest in infrastructure such as highways. For many, this was the "golden age" of the economy.
  • Rotary phones.

    Rotary phones

    Almost everyone had rotary phones in the 1950s. However, the heavier metal dial components were being phased out and replaced with plastic.
  • More and more people are buying television sets.

    More and more people are buying television sets

    More and more households were buying TV sets. In 1950, 20% of homes had a television. By the end of the decade, that figure had risen to 90%.

Personality traits

Check out our personality summary for people who were born on January 17, 1959.

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 January 17, 1959.

  • December 28, 1958: NFL: The Baltimore Colts defeat the New York Giants by 23-17 to win the 1958 NFL Championship Game.
  • January 1, 1959: The Cuban Revolution ends when Cuban president Fulgencio Batista and his government ministers flee the country.
  • January 3, 1959: Alaska becomes the 49th US state.
  • January 4, 1959: Che Guevara and Camilo Cienfuegos lead rebel troops into the Cuban city of Havana.
  • January 13, 1959: 71 supporters of Fulgencio Batista are executed by the new Communist regime.
  • This date: January 17, 1959
  • January 29, 1959: Disney's animated film Sleeping Beauty is released.
  • February 2, 1959: Dyatlov Pass incident: 9 Russian hikers die in the Ural Mountains under mysterious circumstances.
  • February 3, 1959: Buddy Holly is killed in a plane crash.
  • February 16, 1959: Fidel Castro is sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Cuba.

1950s fashion

Photographs of 1950s fashion and hairstyles.

1950s fashion

Television shows

TV series on January 17, 1959

People in January 1959 were watching the following TV series:

TV shows from January 1959.

Rawhide
Rawhide
77 Sunset Strip
77 Sunset Strip
Casey Jones
Casey Jones
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
Fury
Fury
Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke
The Danny Thomas Show
The Danny Thomas Show
Sky King
Sky King

Cars in 1959

1959 saw the introduction of cars such as the Ford Falcon, the Chevrolet El Camino, the BMW 700, the Mini, the Buick Electra, and the Studebaker Lark.

Cars in 1959.

Children TV shows

Cartoons and children's TV shows in January 1959

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

Pixie and Dixie and Mr. Jinks
Pixie and Dixie and Mr. Jinks
Felix the Cat
Felix the Cat
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
The Ruff and Reddy Show
The Ruff and Reddy Show
Leave It to Beaver
Leave It to Beaver
Captain Pugwash
Captain Pugwash
Colonel Bleep
Colonel Bleep
Tom Terrific
Tom Terrific
Toys

Toys in 1959

Children were playing with the following toys and games:

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
Play-Doh
Play-Doh
Matchbox toy cars
Matchbox toy cars
Colorforms
Colorforms
BAS-KET Miniature Basketball
BAS-KET Miniature Basketball
Tiny Tears (doll)
Tiny Tears (doll)
Spinning Tops
Spinning Tops

Were you born on January 17, 1959?

If you were born on this date, then it is unlikely that you will remember anything from the year 1959.

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 January 17, 1965, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on January 17.

Al Capone

Al Capone

Gangster Deceased
Born on January 17, 1899
He was not alive on this date.

Betty White

Betty White

Actress Deceased
Born on January 17, 1922
She turned 37 on this day in 1959.

Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali

Boxer Deceased
Born on January 17, 1942
He turned 17 on this day in 1959.

Andy Kaufman

Andy Kaufman

Comedian Deceased
Born on January 17, 1949
He turned 10 on this day in 1959.

Mick Taylor

Mick Taylor

Musician
Born on January 17, 1949
He turned 10 on this day in 1959.

Jim Carrey

Jim Carrey

Actor
Born on January 17, 1962
He was born exactly 3 years after this date.

Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama

First Lady
Born on January 17, 1964
She was born exactly 5 years after this date.

Zooey Deschanel

Zooey Deschanel

Actress
Born on January 17, 1980
She was born exactly 21 years after this date.

Calvin Harris

Calvin Harris

DJ
Born on January 17, 1984
He was born exactly 25 years after this date.

Marnie Simpson

Marnie Simpson

English TV personality
Born on January 17, 1992
She was born exactly 33 years after this date.

Maxwell Frost

Maxwell Frost

US politician
Born on January 17, 1997
He was born exactly 38 years after this date.

Jake Paul

Jake Paul

Youtuber
Born on January 17, 1997
He was born exactly 38 years after this date.

USA

US President

Dwight David Eisenhower was the President of the United States on January 17, 1959.

UK

UK Prime Minister

Harold Macmillan was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Ireland

Irish Taoiseach

Éamon de Valera was the Taoiseach of Ireland.

Conception

Conception dates

Conception estimates for this date.

  • A baby that was born on January 17, 1959 was most likely conceived around April 26, 1958.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on January 17, 1959 is close to October 10, 1959.

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Stats for January 17, 1959

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about January 17, 1959:

  • 24,083 days have passed since this date.
  • 3,440 weeks have passed.
  • 2,080,771,200 seconds have passed since January 17, 1959.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 2,427,566,400 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 1,073,677,939,200 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 346,795,200 times.
  • You have taken approximately 178,946,323 steps. That's roughly 79,532 miles.
  • 24,969,254 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1959?

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