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January 1, 1962 New Year's Day

January 1, 1962, was a Monday. It was 62 years, 11 months, and 2 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Capricorn.

On This Day

On this day

What happened on January 1, 1962?

  • The United States Navy SEALs are founded.
Song charts

Music charts

Songs that were on top of the charts in the USA and the United Kingdom on January 1, 1962:

  • United States: "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" by The Tokens
  • United Kingdom: "Moon River" by Danny Williams

The Billboard Hot 100 on January 1, 1962

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

  • The Lion Sleeps Tonight - The Tokens
  • The Twist - Chubby Checker
  • Run To Him - Bobby Vee
  • Peppermint Twist - Part I - Joey Dee & the Starliters
  • Can't Help Falling In Love - Elvis Presley With The Jordanaires
Play the top singles from 1962
A Spotify playlist of songs from the year 1962. Take a trip back to the days of Elvis Presley, Chubby Checker, Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, Frank Ifield and The Tornados.
Flower Drum Song

Top movie at the box office

The movie "Flower Drum Song" was at the top of the box office on January 1, 1962.

Facts

New Year's Day 1962 occurred 22,982 days ago. Approximately 766 months have passed. It was the 1st day of 1962, in week 01. The decade was the swinging sixties. People who were born on January 1, 1962, are now 62 years old and belong to the Baby Boomer generation. The Earth has experienced 255 seasons of weather since then.

Take me back to January 1, 1962

Let's take a stroll down memory lane.

The date is January 1, 1962, and it's a Monday. Anyone born today will have the star sign Capricorn. It's New Year's Day, the official start of the year 1962. A lot of people are relaxing at home. Some are nursing hangovers from the night before.

In America, the song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" by The Tokens is at the top of the singles charts, while "Moon River" by Danny Williams is the number-one song in the UK. John Fitzgerald Kennedy is the President of the United States, and the movie Flower Drum Song 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 "Perry Mason", "Maverick", "Route 66", and "Hazel". 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 1962, radio stations are playing hit songs from music artists such as Ray Charles, The Four Seasons, Elvis Presley, Chubby Checker, Bobby Vinton and Shelley Fabares.

If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as Ernie Kovacs, Marilyn Monroe, Robert Frost, and Ernie Davis would all still be alive. Kids and teenagers are watching TV shows such as "Tom and Jerry", "Captain Pugwash", "The Adventures of Spunky and Tadpole", and "King Leonardo and His Short Subjects". Children are playing with toys such as the Frisbee, the Hula Hoop, Playpal dolls, and Chatter Telephone.

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on January 1, 1962, will have the star sign Capricorn.
  • Zodiac Element: Earth.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1962 was the year of the Tiger (Yang Fire).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 11.
  • Native American Zodiac: January 1, 1962 falls under the Goose.
  • Birthstone: A person during the month of January will have the birthstone Garnet.
  • Birth flower (January): The Carnation and the Snowdrop.
News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on January 1, 1962.

  • Fast food is replacing diners and drive-ins.

    Fast food is replacing diners and drive-ins

    The fast food industry was steadily growing, much to the detriment of local diners and drive-in restaurants. Consequently, things such as jukeboxes and carhops also started to decline.
  • Who were the best NBA players in 1962?

    Who were the best NBA players in 1962?

    In 1962, the best NBA players were Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, Bob Pettit, Oscar Robertson and Jerry West.
  • Who were the best football players?

    Who were the best football players?

    In 1962, the best soccer players were Pelé, Josef Masopust, Eusébio, Karl-Heinz Schnellinger, Dragoslav Šekularac, Jef Jurion, Gianni Rivera, Jimmy Greaves, John Charles, Milan Galić and János Göröcs.
  • Lawrence of Arabia.

    Lawrence of Arabia

    "Lawrence of Arabia" won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1962.
  • Sammy Davis Jr. - "What Kind of Fool Am I?"

    Sammy Davis Jr. - "What Kind of Fool Am I?"

    "What Kind of Fool Am I?" by Sammy Davis Jr. would go on to win a Grammy for 1962's Song of the Year.
  • 1962 in music.

    1962 in music

    The Billboard Charts in 1962 were dominated by the likes of Chubby Checker, Gene Chandler, Bruce Channel, The Shirelles, The Four Seasons, Ray Charles and Mr. Acker Bilk.
  • 1962 in movies.

    1962 in movies

    Movies released in 1962 included Lawrence of Arabia, The Longest Day, In Search of the Castaways, That Touch of Mink, Cape Fear, The Music Man, Mutiny on the Bounty, To Kill a Mockingbird, Hatari!, Gypsy, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? and Bon Voyage!
  • Pope John XXIII.

    Pope John XXIII

    Pope John XXIII was named Time Person of the Year in 1962 after he volunteered as a mediator during the Cuban missile crisis.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 January 1, 1962.

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 January 1, 1962.

  • December 2, 1961: Fidel Castro announces that Cuba will be adopting Communism.
  • December 4, 1961: Boxing: Floyd Patterson retains the heavyweight championship after he knocks out Tom McNeeley in the 4th round.
  • December 6, 1961: The historical film "El Cid" is released.
  • December 9, 1961: Domino's Pizza is founded in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
  • December 14, 1961: 20 children are killed after a school bus collides with a train in Greeley, Colorado.
  • December 15, 1961:
    • Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann is sentenced to death.
    • US President John F. Kennedy leaves for a tour of South America "despite reports of anti-US feelings".
  • December 16, 1961:
    • US President John F. Kennedy visits Venezuela despite threats of violence from left-wing groups.
    • UN troops capture the main Katangan base in Elisabethville in the Congo.
  • December 17, 1961: 503 people are killed after a fire breaks out in a crowded circus tent in Niterói, Brazil.
  • December 20, 1961: The romantic comedy film "Lover Come Back" is released.
  • December 31, 1961: NFL: The Green Bay Packers defeat the New York Giants by 37-0 to win the 1961 NFL Championship Game.
  • This date: January 1, 1962
  • January 3, 1962: Cuban prime minister Fidel Castro is excommunicated by the Catholic Church for preaching Communism.
  • January 8, 1962: 93 people die after two trains collide at a railway junction in Harmelen in the Netherlands.
  • January 10, 1962: 4000 people die after an avalanche occurs at the Huascarán mountain in Peru.
  • January 13, 1962: Comedian Ernie Kovacs dies in a car crash in Los Angeles.

1960s fashion

Photographs of 1960s fashion and hairstyles.

1960s fashion

Television shows

Television shows in January 1962

Television shows that people were watching in January 1962:

TV shows from January 1962.

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

Cars in 1962

1962 saw the introduction of cars such as the Buick Wildcat, the Ford Cortina, the Mitsubishi Colt, the Pontiac LeMans, the Dodge Custom 880, and the Plymouth Fury (3rd generation).

Cars in 1962.

Children TV shows

Cartoons and children's TV shows in January 1962

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

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

Mister Ed
Mister Ed
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
Toys

Toys in 1962

Children were playing with the following toys and games:

Tammy (doll)
Tammy (doll)
Chatter Telephone
Chatter Telephone
Rock-a-Stack
Rock-a-Stack
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

Were you born on January 1, 1962?

If you were born on this date, then it is unlikely that you will remember anything from the year 1962.

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 January 1, 1968, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on January 1.

J. Edgar Hoover

J. Edgar Hoover

The first Director of the FBI Deceased
Born on January 1, 1895
He turned 67 on this day in 1962.

Grandmaster Flash

Grandmaster Flash

Hip Hop DJ
Born on January 1, 1958
He turned 4 on this day in 1962.

Verne Troyer

Verne Troyer

Actor Deceased
Born on January 1, 1969
He was born exactly 7 years after this date.

Ice Spice

Ice Spice

Rapper
Born on January 1, 2000
She was born exactly 38 years after this date.

Holidays

Holidays

National holidays and famous events that fall on January 1:

USA

US President

John Fitzgerald Kennedy was the President of the United States on January 1, 1962.

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 January 1, 1962 was most likely conceived around April 10, 1961.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on January 1, 1962 is close to September 24, 1962.

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Stats for January 1, 1962

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about January 1, 1962:

  • 22,982 days have passed since this date.
  • 3,283 weeks have passed.
  • 1,985,644,800 seconds have passed since January 1, 1962.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 2,316,585,600 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 1,024,592,716,800 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 330,940,800 times.
  • You have taken approximately 170,765,453 steps. That's roughly 75,896 miles.
  • 23,827,738 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1962?

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