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May 2, 1962

May 2, 1962, was a Wednesday. It was the 122nd day of 1962. The decade was the swinging sixties.

61 years, 10 months, and 17 days have passed since May 2, 1962.

The zodiac star sign for this date is Taurus.

On This Day

On this day

What happened on May 2, 1962?

  • Football: Portuguese side Benfica win the European Cup after they defeat Real Madrid 5-3 at the Olympisch Stadion in Amsterdam.
Song charts

Music charts

Songs that were on top of the charts in the USA and the United Kingdom on May 2, 1962:

  • United States: "Soldier Boy" by The Shirelles
  • United Kingdom: "Wonderful Land" by The Shadows

The Billboard Hot 100 on May 2, 1962

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

  • Good Luck Charm - Elvis Presley With The Jordanaires
  • Johnny Angel - Shelley Fabares
  • Mashed Potato Time - Dee Dee Sharp
  • Soldier Boy - The Shirelles
  • Slow Twistin' - Chubby Checker (with Dee Dee Sharp)
Play the top songs 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.
West Side Story

Top movie at the box office

The movie "West Side Story" was at the top of the box office on May 2, 1962.

Facts

This date was 22,602 days ago. Approximately 753 months have passed. It was the 122nd day of 1962, in week 18. The decade was the swinging sixties. People born on this day are currently 61 years old and belong to the Baby Boomer generation. The Earth has experienced 251 seasons of weather since then.

Take me back to May 2, 1962

Let's take a stroll down memory lane.

It is Wednesday, May 2, 1962. Anyone born today will have the star sign Taurus. It is "Hump Day", so many are beginning to think about the weekend ahead.

The summer of 1962 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 "Soldier Boy" by The Shirelles is at the top of the singles charts, while "Wonderful Land" by The Shadows is the number-one song in the UK. John Fitzgerald Kennedy is the President of the United States, and the movie West Side Story is at the top of the box office.

Harold Macmillan is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. 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 Marilyn Monroe, Robert Frost, Ernie Davis, and John F. Kennedy would all still be alive. On TV, people are watching popular shows such as "The Danny Thomas Show", "Gunsmoke", "Route 66", and "Hazel". Kids and teenagers are watching TV shows such as "Noggin the Nog", "My Three Sons", "The Flintstones", and "The Dick Tracy Show".

Popular toys at the moment include the Frisbee, Playpal dolls, Ken (doll), and Chatter Telephone.

News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on May 2, 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.

Personality traits

Check out our personality summary for people who were born on May 2, 1962.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

View Personality Summary

Events

What happened around this time?

Notable events that happened close to May 2, 1962.

  • April 10, 1962: Ex-Beatles member Stuart Sutcliffe dies of an aneurysm.
  • April 26, 1962: NASA's Ranger 4 spacecraft crashes on the far side of the Moon.
  • May 1, 1962: The first Target discount store is opened in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
  • This date: May 2, 1962
  • May 5, 1962: FA Cup Final 1962: Tottenham Hotspur defeat Burnley 3-1.
  • May 10, 1962: The first issue of The Incredible Hulk is published.
  • May 19, 1962: Marilyn Monroe sings "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" for President John F. Kennedy.
  • May 30, 1962: The 1962 FIFA World Cup kicks off in Chile.
  • June 1, 1962: Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann is executed.
Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on May 2, 1962, will have the star sign Taurus.
  • 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 7.
  • Native American Zodiac: May 2, 1962 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 shows in 1962

Television shows that people were watching in May 1962:

TV shows from May 1962.

Steptoe and Son
Steptoe and Son
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
Perry Mason
Perry Mason
Wagon Train
Wagon Train
Have Gun - Will Travel
Have Gun - Will Travel
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 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

Kids TV shows on May 2, 1962

Cartoons and TV shows that children and teenagers were watching on this day in 1962:

Top Cat
Top Cat
Davey and Goliath
Davey and Goliath
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
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 1962

Toys and games that were popular in 1962:

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
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 2, 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 May 2, 1968, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on May 2.

Manfred von Richthofen

Manfred von Richthofen

Pilot Deceased
Born on May 2, 1892
He was not alive on this date.

Big Boss Man

Big Boss Man

Wrestler Deceased
Born on May 2, 1963
He was born exactly one year after this date.

Dwayne Johnson

Dwayne Johnson

Wrestler / Actor
Born on May 2, 1972
He was born exactly 10 years after this date.

David Beckham

David Beckham

Soccer player
Born on May 2, 1975
He was born exactly 13 years after this date.

Lily Allen

Lily Allen

Singer
Born on May 2, 1985
She was born exactly 23 years after this date.

Princess Charlotte

Princess Charlotte

Princess of Wales
Born on May 2, 2015
She was born exactly 53 years after this date.

USA

US President

John Fitzgerald Kennedy was the President of the United States on May 2, 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 May 2, 1962 was most likely conceived around August 9, 1961.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on May 2, 1962 is close to January 23, 1963.

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Stats for May 2, 1962

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about May 2, 1962:

  • 22,602 days have passed since this date.
  • 3,228 weeks have passed.
  • 1,952,816,400 seconds have passed since May 2, 1962.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 2,278,285,800 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 1,007,653,262,400 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 325,469,400 times.
  • You have taken approximately 167,942,210 steps. That's roughly 74,641 miles!
  • Since this date, 23,433,797 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere!
  • How many years ago was 1962?

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