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May 11, 1961

May 11, 1961, was a Thursday. It was the 131st day of 1961. The decade was the swinging sixties.

62 years, 10 months, and 18 days have passed since May 11, 1961.

The zodiac star sign for this date is Taurus.

On This Day

What happened on this day?

What happened on May 11, 1961?

  • US President John F. Kennedy orders helicopters and 400 Green Berets into South Vietnam.
Song charts

Top songs

These songs were on top of the music charts in the United States and the United Kingdom on May 11, 1961:

  • United States: "Runaway" by Del Shannon
  • United Kingdom: "Blue Moon" by The Marcels

The Billboard Hot 100 on May 11, 1961

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

  • Runaway - Del Shannon
  • Mother-In-Law - Ernie K-Doe
  • A Hundred Pounds Of Clay - Gene McDaniels
  • I've Told Every Little Star - Linda Scott
  • Blue Moon - The Marcels
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.
Gone with the Wind (reissue)

Top movie at the box office

The movie "Gone with the Wind (reissue)" was at the top of the box office on this day.

Facts

This date occurred 22,968 days ago. Approximately 766 months have passed. It was the 131st day of 1961, in week 19. The decade was the swinging sixties. People who were born on May 11, 1961, are now 62 years old and belong to the Baby Boomer generation. We have gone through approximately 255 seasons of weather since this date.

Take me back to May 11, 1961

Ready for a walk down memory lane?

The date is May 11, 1961, and it's a Thursday. Anyone born today will have the star sign Taurus. The summer of 1961 has finally arrived. The weather has warmed up, and the evenings are brighter than usual. The school year is nearly finished.

In America, the song "Runaway" by Del Shannon is at the top of the singles charts, while "Blue Moon" by The Marcels is the number-one song in the UK. John Fitzgerald Kennedy is the President of the United States, and the movie Gone with the Wind (reissue) 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", "Gunsmoke", "Perry Mason", 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. Children and teenagers are watching television shows such as "The Adventures of Spunky and Tadpole", "Pixie and Dixie and Mr. Jinks", "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis", and "My Three Sons".

Children are playing with toys such as BAS-KET Miniature Basketball, the Hula Hoop, Tonka trucks, and Ken (doll).

News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on May 11, 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 May 11, 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 May 11, 1961.

  • 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.
  • May 1, 1961: Fidel Castro proclaims Cuba as a socialist state and bans all elections.
  • May 5, 1961: Alan Shepard becomes the first American to travel into space.
  • May 6, 1961: FA Cup Final 1961: Tottenham Hotspur defeat Leicester City 2-0.
  • May 10, 1961: 78 people die after a bomb explodes on Air France Flight 406.
  • This date: May 11, 1961
  • May 13, 1961: American actor Gary Cooper dies from cancer at the age of 60.
  • May 21, 1961: Martial law is imposed in Montgomery, Alabama, following racial violence between whites and blacks.
  • May 25, 1961: US President John F. Kennedy announces that the United States plans to put a man on the moon before the end of the decade.
  • May 30, 1961:
    • Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo is assassinated during an ambush outside of Santo Domingo.
    • 61 people lose their lives after Viasa Flight 897 crashes off the coast of Portugal.
  • May 31, 1961: Football: Portuguese side Benfica win the European Cup after they defeat Barcelona 3-2 at the Wankdorf Stadium in Bern, Germany.
  • June 8, 1961: Marvin Gaye releases his debut studio album.
Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on May 11, 1961, will have the star sign Taurus.
  • Zodiac Element: Earth.
  • 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: May 11, 1961 falls under the Beaver.
  • Birthstone: A person during the month of May will have the birthstone Emerald.
  • Birth flower (May): The Lily of the Valley and the Hawthorn.

1960s fashion

Photographs of 1960s fashion and hairstyles.

1960s fashion

Television shows

TV series on May 11, 1961

TV audiences were watching the following shows on May 11, 1961:

TV shows from May 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 May 1961

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

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

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 May 11, 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 May 11, 1967, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on May 11.

Pam Ferris

Pam Ferris

Actress
Born on May 11, 1948
She turned 13 on this day in 1961.

Natasha Richardson

Natasha Richardson

English actress Deceased
Born on May 11, 1963
She was born exactly 2 years after this date.

Cory Monteith

Cory Monteith

Actor Deceased
Born on May 11, 1982
He was born exactly 21 years after this date.

Andres Iniesta

Andres Iniesta

Spanish soccer player
Born on May 11, 1984
He was born exactly 23 years after this date.

Abou Diaby

Abou Diaby

Former soccer player
Born on May 11, 1986
He was born exactly 25 years after this date.

Blac Chyna

Blac Chyna

Model
Born on May 11, 1988
She was born exactly 27 years after this date.

Thibaut Courtois

Thibaut Courtois

Belgian soccer player
Born on May 11, 1992
He was born exactly 31 years after this date.

Coi Leray

Coi Leray

Rapper
Born on May 11, 1997
She was born exactly 36 years after this date.

USA

US President

John Fitzgerald Kennedy was the President of the United States on May 11, 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 May 11, 1961 was most likely conceived around August 18, 1960.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on May 11, 1961 is close to February 1, 1962.

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Stats for May 11, 1961

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about May 11, 1961:

  • 22,968 days have passed since this date.
  • 3,281 weeks have passed.
  • 1,984,438,800 seconds have passed since May 11, 1961.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 2,315,178,600 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 1,023,970,420,800 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 330,739,800 times.
  • You have taken approximately 170,661,737 steps. That's roughly 75,850 miles!
  • Since this date, 23,813,266 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere!
  • How many years ago was 1961?

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