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March 31, 1961

March 31, 1961, was a Friday. It was the 90th day of 1961. The decade was the swinging sixties.

62 years, 11 months, and 28 days have passed since March 31, 1961.

The zodiac star sign for this date is Aries.

Song charts

Popular songs

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

  • United States: "Surrender" by Elvis Presley
  • United Kingdom: "Wooden Heart" by Elvis Presley

The music charts on March 31, 1961

The following songs were dominating the Billboard Hot 100 chart:

  • Surrender - Elvis Presley With The Jordanaires
  • Pony Time - Chubby Checker
  • Dedicated To The One I Love - The Shirelles
  • Apache - Jorgen Ingmann & His Guitar
  • Don't Worry - Marty Robbins
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 top movie on this day was "Exodus".

Facts

This date occurred 23,008 days ago. Approximately 767 months have passed. It was the 90th day of 1961, in week 13. The decade was the swinging sixties. People who were born on March 31, 1961, are now 62 years old and belong to the Baby Boomer generation. 256 seasons of weather have come and gone since then.

Take me back to March 31, 1961

Let's go back to the swinging sixties.

The date is March 31, 1961, and it's a Friday. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Aries. Many people have "that Friday feeling" and are looking forward to the weekend.

Spring has arrived, and the days are starting to get longer. In America, the song "Surrender" by Elvis Presley is at the top of the singles charts, while "Wooden Heart" 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 "The Danny Thomas Show", "Rawhide", "Bonanza", and "The Twilight Zone". 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 "Mighty Mouse Playhouse", "Augie Doggie and Doggie Daddy", "Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse", and "Davey and Goliath". Children are playing with toys such as the Frisbee, Fisher Price Little People, Etch A Sketch, and Ken (doll).

News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on March 31, 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 March 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 March 31, 1961.

  • 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.
  • This date: March 31, 1961
  • April 3, 1961: Western musician and TV personality Spade Cooley murders his wife Ella Mae.
  • April 8, 1961: 238 people are killed when British passenger ship Dara sinks off the coast of Dubai.
  • April 11, 1961: The trial of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann begins in Israel.
  • April 12, 1961: Russia's Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human to journey into outer space.
  • April 13, 1961: A coup d'état against Portuguese prime minister António de Oliveira Salazar fails.
  • April 16, 1961: Cuban leader Fidel Castro announces that the country will be adopting Communism.
  • April 17, 1961: The Bay of Pigs Invasion occurs when a CIA-sponsored paramilitary group attempts to invade Cuba.
  • April 18, 1961: Newspapers report that American actor Gary Cooper is dying from cancer.
  • April 19, 1961: The comedy-drama film "La Dolce Vita" hits the big screen.
  • April 20, 1961: The Bay of Pigs Invasion of Cuba fails.
  • April 23, 1961: American actress and singer Judy Garland performs at a comeback concert in Carnegie Hall.
  • April 24, 1961: Ben E. King releases his song "Stand by Me".
  • April 26, 1961: Western musician and TV personality Spade Cooley is indicted for the murder of his wife Ella Mae Evans.
  • April 30, 1961: The song "Tossin' and Turnin'" is released by Bobby Lewis.
Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on March 31, 1961, will have the star sign Aries.
  • Zodiac Element: Fire.
  • 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: March 31, 1961 falls under the Falcon.
  • Birthstone: A person during the month of March will have the birthstone Aquamarine.
  • Birth flower (March): The Daffodil and the Jonqui.

1960s fashion

Photographs of 1960s fashion and hairstyles.

1960s fashion

Television shows

Television shows in March 1961

In March 1961, TV audiences were watching the following series:

TV shows from March 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 March 1961

If you were a kid on March 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

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
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

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
The Frisbee
The Frisbee
Wooly Willy
Wooly Willy
BAS-KET Miniature Basketball
BAS-KET Miniature Basketball

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

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

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

Rene Descartes

Rene Descartes

Philosopher Deceased
Born on March 31, 1596
He was not alive on this date.

Johann Sebastian Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach

Composer Deceased
Born on March 31, 1685
He was not alive on this date.

William Daniels

William Daniels

Actor
Born on March 31, 1927
He turned 34 on this day in 1961.

Christopher Walken

Christopher Walken

Actor
Born on March 31, 1943
He turned 18 on this day in 1961.

Rhea Perlman

Rhea Perlman

Actress
Born on March 31, 1948
She turned 13 on this day in 1961.

Ewan McGregor

Ewan McGregor

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

USA

US President

John Fitzgerald Kennedy was the President of the United States on March 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 March 31, 1961 was most likely conceived around July 8, 1960.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on March 31, 1961 is close to December 22, 1961.

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Stats for March 31, 1961

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about March 31, 1961:

  • 23,008 days have passed since this date.
  • 3,286 weeks have passed.
  • 1,987,894,800 seconds have passed since March 31, 1961.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 2,319,210,600 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 1,025,753,716,800 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 331,315,800 times.
  • You have taken approximately 170,958,953 steps. That's roughly 75,982 miles!
  • Since this date, 23,854,738 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere!
  • How many years ago was 1961?

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