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December 21, 1959

December 21, 1959, was a Monday. It was 64 years, 3 months, and 27 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Sagittarius.

Music charts

Top song: December 21, 1959

The best-selling single on December 21, 1959 was "Heartaches" by the Number.

The Billboard Hot 100 on December 21, 1959

The top five songs from the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

  • Heartaches By The Number - Guy Mitchell
  • Why - Frankie Avalon
  • El Paso - Marty Robbins
  • The Big Hurt - Miss Toni Fisher
  • Way Down Yonder In New Orleans - Freddie Cannon
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.
Pillow Talk

Top movie

The top movie on this day was "Pillow Talk".

Facts

This date occurred 23,495 days ago. Approximately 783 months have passed. It was the 355th day of 1959, in week 52. The decade was the fifties. The start of 1960 was just 10 days away. People who were born on December 21, 1959, are now 64 years old and belong to the Baby Boomer generation. 261 seasons of weather have come and gone since then.

Take me back to December 21, 1959

Let's take a walk down memory lane.

The date is December 21, 1959, and it's a Monday. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Sagittarius. The weekend has just passed, so some people are feeling a bit down. Others are tired after partying too much.

Christmas Day of 1959 is fast approaching and the excitement is building. Department stores are packed with Christmas shoppers, and people are meeting up with friends that they haven't seen in a while. In music, the song "Heartaches" by the Number is the best-selling record at the moment. Dwight David Eisenhower is the President of the United States, and the movie Pillow Talk 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", "77 Sunset Strip", and "The Untouchables". 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 Clark Gable would be still alive.

Children and teenagers are watching television shows such as "Father Knows Best", "Captain Kangaroo", "Captain Pugwash", and "Clutch Cargo". Children are playing with toys such as Dimestore soldiers, Foto-Electric Baseball, Matchbox toy cars, and Playpal dolls.

News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on December 21, 1959.

  • Christmas 1959 is days away.

    Christmas 1959 is days away

    Christmas 1959 was just days away. The decorations were up, festive music was playing on the radio, people were buying last-minute presents for their loved ones, and stores were packed with shoppers. Schools, colleges, and non-retail businesses were also beginning to close for the holiday season.
  • Trouble is brewing in Vietnam.

    Trouble is brewing in Vietnam

    By this time, communist forces in North Vietnam had committed themselves to invading South Vietnam. The Ho Chi Minh trail was established and expanded and guerrilla warfare attacks were being carried out against the US-backed Diệm government in the south. It was during this time that the United States started to slowly escalate its involvement in the conflict.
  • Barbie is introduced.

    Barbie is introduced

    The first Barbie toy doll was introduced in March 1959. The doll came in both blonde and brunette colors. It also had a modest sideways glance.
  • 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 1958 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.
  • 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 December 21, 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 December 21, 1959.

  • December 1, 1959:
    • American actor Mickey Rooney is asked to leave the set of "Tonight Starring Jack Paar" for being drunk.
    • The final episode of the animated series "Crusader Rabbit" is aired on television.
  • This date: December 21, 1959
  • December 27, 1959: NFL: The Baltimore Colts defeat the New York Giants by 31-16 to win the 1959 NFL Championship Game.
  • January 2, 1960: US Senator John F. Kennedy announces his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on December 21, 1959, will have the star sign Sagittarius.
  • Zodiac Element: Fire.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1959 was the year of the Pig (Yin Wood).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 3.
  • Native American Zodiac: December 21, 1959 falls under the Owl.
  • Birthstone: A person during the month of December will have the birthstones Tanzanite, Zircon and Turquoise.
  • Birth flower (December): The Narcissus and the Holly.

1950s fashion

Photographs of 1950s fashion and hairstyles.

1950s fashion

Television shows

Television shows in December 1959

People in December 1959 were watching the following TV series:

TV shows from December 1959.

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
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

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 December 1959

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

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
Clutch Cargo
Clutch Cargo
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
Toys

Toys in 1959

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

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
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)

Were you born on December 21, 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 December 21, 1965, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on December 21.

Jane Fonda

Jane Fonda

Actress
Born on December 21, 1937
She turned 22 on this day in 1959.

Frank Zappa

Frank Zappa

Musician Deceased
Born on December 21, 1940
He turned 19 on this day in 1959.

Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel L. Jackson

Actor
Born on December 21, 1948
He turned 11 on this day in 1959.

Jane Kaczmarek

Jane Kaczmarek

Actress
Born on December 21, 1955
She turned 4 on this day in 1959.

Ray Romano

Ray Romano

Actor
Born on December 21, 1957
He turned 2 on this day in 1959.

Kiefer Sutherland

Kiefer Sutherland

Actor
Born on December 21, 1966
He was born exactly 7 years after this date.

Emmanuel Macron

Emmanuel Macron

French president
Born on December 21, 1977
He was born exactly 18 years after this date.

The King of Random

The King of Random

Youtube personality Deceased
Born on December 21, 1980
He was born exactly 21 years after this date.

Steven Yeun

Steven Yeun

Actor
Born on December 21, 1983
He was born exactly 24 years after this date.

Kaitlyn Dever

Kaitlyn Dever

Actress
Born on December 21, 1996
She was born exactly 37 years after this date.

Ben Chilwell

Ben Chilwell

Soccer player
Born on December 21, 1996
He was born exactly 37 years after this date.

USA

US President

Dwight David Eisenhower was the President of the United States on December 21, 1959.

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 December 21, 1959 was most likely conceived around March 30, 1959.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on December 21, 1959 is close to September 12, 1960.

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Stats for December 21, 1959

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about December 21, 1959:

  • 23,495 days have passed since this date.
  • 3,356 weeks have passed.
  • 2,029,964,400 seconds have passed since December 21, 1959.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 2,368,291,800 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 1,047,461,630,400 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 338,327,400 times.
  • You have taken approximately 174,576,938 steps. That's roughly 77,590 miles.
  • 24,359,573 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1959?

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