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February 17, 1961

February 17, 1961, was a Friday. It was the 48th day of 1961. The decade was the swinging sixties.

63 years, 1 month, and 12 days have passed since February 17, 1961.

The zodiac star sign for this date is Aquarius.

Song charts

Top songs

These songs were on top of the music charts in the United States and the United Kingdom on February 17, 1961:

  • United States: "Calcutta" by Lawrence Welk
  • United Kingdom: "Are You Lonesome Tonight" by Elvis Presley

The Billboard Hot 100 on February 17, 1961

These songs were dominating the music charts:

  • Calcutta - Lawrence Welk And His Orchestra
  • Will You Love Me Tomorrow - The Shirelles
  • Shop Around - The Miracles (featuring Bill "Smokey" Robinson)
  • Calendar Girl - Neil Sedaka
  • Exodus - Ferrante & Teicher
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.
Exodus

Top movie

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

Facts

This date occurred 23,051 days ago. Approximately 768 months have passed. It was the 48th day of 1961, in week 07. The decade was the swinging sixties. People who were born on February 17, 1961, are now 63 years old and belong to the Baby Boomer generation. We have gone through approximately 256 seasons of weather since this date.

Take me back to February 17, 1961

Let's take a walk down memory lane.

The date is February 17, 1961, and it's a Friday. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Aquarius. Many people have "that Friday feeling" and are looking forward to the weekend.

Valentine's Day of 1961 has just passed. In America, the song "Calcutta" by Lawrence Welk is at the top of the singles charts, while "Are You Lonesome Tonight" by Elvis Presley is the number-one song in the UK. John Fitzgerald Kennedy is the President of the United States, and the movie Exodus 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 "You Bet Your Life", "Perry Mason", "Rawhide", and "Danger Man". 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 Ernest Hemingway, Ernie Kovacs, and Marilyn Monroe would all still be alive.

Kids and teenagers are watching TV shows such as "Looney Tunes", "Lassie", "Pixie and Dixie and Mr. Jinks", and "The Bugs Bunny Show". Children are playing with toys such as BAS-KET Miniature Basketball, Crater Critters, Playpal dolls, and Tonka trucks.

News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on February 17, 1961.

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 February 17, 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 February 17, 1961.

  • January 20, 1961: John F. Kennedy takes office as the 35th President of the United States.
  • January 24, 1961: Actress Marilyn Monroe divorces her husband Arthur Miller after less than five years of marriage.
  • January 25, 1961: Disney releases the movie "One Hundred and One Dalmatians".
  • January 30, 1961: Patsy Cline releases her single "I Fall to Pieces".
  • February 9, 1961: The Beatles perform for the very first time at a nightclub called The Cavern Club.
  • February 15, 1961: The entire United States figure skating team is killed after their Sabena Boeing 707 crashes in Belgium.
  • This date: February 17, 1961
  • February 18, 1961: Del Shannon releases his song "Crying".
  • February 25, 1961: The Sydney tramway network operates for the last time.
  • March 9, 1961: The Soviet spacecraft Korabl-Sputnik 4 is successfully launched, carrying a dog named Chernushka.
  • March 11, 1961: The Ken doll is introduced as Barbie's boyfriend.
  • March 13, 1961: The 1961 Kurenivka mudslide kills 145 people in Kiev, Ukraine.
  • March 16, 1961: The comedy film "The Absent-Minded Professor" is released.
  • March 17, 1961: Soccer: Don Revie is named as the new manager of Leeds United.
Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on February 17, 1961, will have the star sign Aquarius.
  • 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 9.
  • Native American Zodiac: February 17, 1961 falls under the Otter.
  • Birthstone: A person during the month of February will have the birthstone Amethyst.
  • Birth flower (February): The Violet and the Primrose.

1960s fashion

Photographs of 1960s fashion and hairstyles.

1960s fashion

Television shows

TV series on February 17, 1961

People in February 1961 were watching the following TV series:

TV shows from February 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
You Bet Your Life
You Bet Your Life
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 February 1961

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

The Yogi Bear Show
The Yogi Bear Show
Mister Ed
Mister Ed
The Dick Tracy Show
The Dick Tracy Show

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

Children were playing with the following toys and games:

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 February 17, 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 February 17, 1967, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

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

Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan

Basketball player
Born on February 17, 1963
He was born exactly 2 years after this date.

Billie Joe Armstrong

Billie Joe Armstrong

Green Day
Born on February 17, 1972
He was born exactly 11 years after this date.

Paris Hilton

Paris Hilton

Socialite
Born on February 17, 1981
She was born exactly 20 years after this date.

Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran

Singer
Born on February 17, 1991
He was born exactly 30 years after this date.

Jeremy Allen White

Jeremy Allen White

Actor
Born on February 17, 1991
He was born exactly 30 years after this date.

USA

US President

John Fitzgerald Kennedy was the President of the United States on February 17, 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 February 17, 1961 was most likely conceived around May 27, 1960.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on February 17, 1961 is close to November 10, 1961.

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Stats for February 17, 1961

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about February 17, 1961:

  • 23,051 days have passed since this date.
  • 3,293 weeks have passed.
  • 1,991,606,400 seconds have passed since February 17, 1961.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 2,323,540,800 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 1,027,668,902,400 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 331,934,400 times.
  • You have taken approximately 171,278,150 steps. That's roughly 76,124 miles!
  • Since this date, 23,899,277 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere!
  • How many years ago was 1961?

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