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May 1, 1962

May 1, 1962, was a Tuesday. It was 62 years, 6 months, and 21 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Taurus.

On This Day

On this day

What happened on May 1, 1962?

  • The first Target discount store is opened in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Song charts

Music charts

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

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

The Billboard Hot 100 on May 1, 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 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.
Moon Pilot

Top movie at the box office

The movie "Moon Pilot" was at the top of the box office on May 1, 1962.

Facts

This date occurred 22,851 days ago. Approximately 762 months have passed. It was the 121st day of 1962, in week 18. The decade was the swinging sixties. People who were born on May 1, 1962, are now 62 years old and belong to the Baby Boomer generation. The Earth has experienced 254 seasons of weather since then.

Take me back to May 1, 1962

Let's take a stroll down memory lane.

The date is May 1, 1962, and it's a Tuesday. Anyone born today will have the star sign Taurus. 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 Moon Pilot 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", "The Twilight Zone", "Danger Man", and "The Andy Griffith Show". 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. Kids and teenagers are watching TV shows such as "Captain Kangaroo", "Heckle and Jeckle", "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis", and "Davey and Goliath". Children are playing with toys such as Fisher Price Little People, Troll doll, Etch A Sketch, and Ken (doll).

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on May 1, 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 6.
  • Native American Zodiac: May 1, 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.
News

News, nostalgia, and fads

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

Personality traits

Check out our personality summary for people who were born on May 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 May 1, 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.
  • This date: May 1, 1962
  • May 2, 1962: Football: Portuguese side Benfica win the European Cup after they defeat Real Madrid 5-3 at the Olympisch Stadion in Amsterdam.
  • 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.

1960s fashion

Photographs of 1960s fashion and hairstyles.

1960s fashion

Television shows

Television shows in May 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

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 May 1962

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

Top Cat
Top Cat
Davey and Goliath
Davey and Goliath
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
Dennis the Menace
Dennis the Menace
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 May 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 May 1, 1968, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

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

Calamity Jane

Calamity Jane

Historical figure Deceased
Born on May 1, 1852
She was not alive on this date.

Tim McGraw

Tim McGraw

American country singer
Born on May 1, 1967
He was born exactly 5 years after this date.

Mary Lou McDonald

Mary Lou McDonald

Irish politician
Born on May 1, 1969
She was born exactly 7 years after this date.

Jamie Dornan

Jamie Dornan

Actor
Born on May 1, 1982
He was born exactly 20 years after this date.

Romain Ntamack

Romain Ntamack

Rugby player
Born on May 1, 1999
He was born exactly 37 years after this date.

Charli D'Amelio

Charli D'Amelio

Social media personality
Born on May 1, 2004
She was born exactly 42 years after this date.

Holidays

Holidays

National holidays and famous events that fall on May 1:

USA

US President

John Fitzgerald Kennedy was the President of the United States on May 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 May 1, 1962 was most likely conceived around August 8, 1961.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on May 1, 1962 is close to January 22, 1963.

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Stats for May 1, 1962

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about May 1, 1962:

  • 22,851 days have passed since this date.
  • 3,264 weeks have passed.
  • 1,974,330,000 seconds have passed since May 1, 1962.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 2,303,385,000 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 1,018,754,280,000 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 329,055,000 times.
  • You have taken approximately 169,792,380 steps. That's roughly 75,463 miles.
  • 23,691,960 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1962?

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