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December 8, 1961

December 8, 1961, was a Friday. It was the 342nd day of 1961. The decade was the swinging sixties.

62 years, 3 months, and 21 days have passed since December 8, 1961.

The zodiac star sign for this date is Sagittarius.

Birthdays

Born on December 8, 1961

People who were born on this exact date:

Song charts

Music charts

These songs were on top of the music charts in the United States and the United Kingdom on December 8, 1961:

  • United States: "Big Bad John" by Jimmy Dean
  • United Kingdom: "Tower Of Strength" by Frankie Vaughan

The Billboard Hot 100 on December 8, 1961

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

  • Big Bad John - Jimmy Dean
  • Please Mr. Postman - The Marvelettes
  • Goodbye Cruel World - James Darren
  • Runaround Sue - Dion
  • Fool #1 - Brenda Lee
Play the top songs 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.
King of Kings

Top movie at the box office

The movie "King of Kings" was at the top of the box office on December 8, 1961.

Facts

This date was 22,757 days ago. Approximately 759 months have passed. It was the 342nd day of 1961, in week 49. The decade was the swinging sixties. There were only 23 days left in the year. People born on this day are currently 62 years old and belong to the Baby Boomer generation. The Earth has experienced 253 seasons of weather since then.

Take me back to December 8, 1961

Let's take a stroll down memory lane.

It is Friday, December 8, 1961. Anyone born today will have the star sign Sagittarius. People have "that Friday feeling" and are excited for the weekend.

The Christmas season of 1961 has begun. In America, the song "Big Bad John" by Jimmy Dean is at the top of the singles charts, while "Tower Of Strength" by Frankie Vaughan is the number-one song in the UK. John Fitzgerald Kennedy is the President of the United States, and the movie King of Kings is at the top of the box office.

Harold Macmillan is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. 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 Ernie Kovacs and Marilyn Monroe would be still alive. On TV, people are watching popular shows such as "The Ed Sullivan Show", "Have Gun - Will Travel", "Perry Mason", and "The Andy Griffith Show".

Children and teenagers are watching television shows such as "The Gumby Show", "Captain Pugwash", "The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends", and "My Three Sons". Popular toys at the moment include BAS-KET Miniature Basketball, Fisher Price Little People, Tonka trucks, and Astrobase.

News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on December 8, 1961.

  • Christmas 1961 has begun.

    Christmas 1961 has begun

    The Christmas holiday season of 1961 had just begun. Retailers were starting to play festive music, and decorations were beginning to spring up.
  • 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 December 8, 1961.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

View Personality Summary

Events

What happened around this time?

Notable events that happened close to December 8, 1961.

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

1960s fashion

Photographs of 1960s fashion and hairstyles.

1960s fashion

Television shows

TV shows in 1961

The following TV shows were popular in December 1961:

TV shows from December 1961.

Hazel
Hazel
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
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

Kids TV shows on December 8, 1961

Cartoons and TV shows that children and teenagers were watching on this day in 1961:

Top Cat
Top Cat
Davey and Goliath
Davey and Goliath
The Yogi Bear Show
The Yogi Bear Show

The Dick Tracy Show
The Dick Tracy Show
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
Noggin the Nog
Noggin the Nog
Bozo: The World's Most Famous Clown
Bozo: The World's Most Famous Clown
The Rifleman
The Rifleman
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

Popular toys and games in 1961

Toys and games that were popular in 1961:

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 December 8, 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 December 8, 1967, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on December 8.

Sammy Davis, Jr

Sammy Davis, Jr

Entertainer Deceased
Born on December 8, 1925
He turned 36 on this day in 1961.

Jim Morrison

Jim Morrison

Singer Deceased
Born on December 8, 1943
He turned 18 on this day in 1961.

Kim Basinger

Kim Basinger

Actress
Born on December 8, 1953
She turned 8 on this day in 1961.

Teri Hatcher

Teri Hatcher

Actress
Born on December 8, 1964
She was born exactly 3 years after this date.

Sinéad O'Connor

Sinéad O'Connor

Singer Deceased
Born on December 8, 1966
She was born exactly 5 years after this date.

Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj

Rapper
Born on December 8, 1982
She was born exactly 21 years after this date.

Raheem Sterling

Raheem Sterling

Soccer player
Born on December 8, 1994
He was born exactly 33 years after this date.

Reece James

Reece James

Soccer player
Born on December 8, 1999
He was born exactly 38 years after this date.

Holidays

Holidays

National holidays and famous events that fall on December 8:

USA

US President

John Fitzgerald Kennedy was the President of the United States on December 8, 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.

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