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January 17, 1968

January 17, 1968, was a Wednesday. It was 56 years, 11 months, and 5 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Capricorn.

Song charts

Top songs

These songs were on top of the music charts in the United States and the United Kingdom on January 17, 1968:

  • United States: "Judy In Disguise" by John Fred & His Playboy Band
  • United Kingdom: "Hello Goodbye" by The Beatles

The Billboard Hot 100 on January 17, 1968

These songs were dominating the music charts:

  • Hello Goodbye - The Beatles
  • Judy In Disguise (With Glasses) - John Fred And The Playboys
  • Daydream Believer - The Monkees
  • Woman, Woman - The Union Gap Featuring Gary Puckett
  • I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Gladys Knight And The Pips
Play the top singles from 1968
A Spotify playlist of songs from the year 1968. Take a trip back to the days of The The Beatles, Otis Redding, Cliff Richard, Louis Armstrong and The Rascals.
Valley of the Dolls

Top movie

The movie "Valley of the Dolls" was at the top of the box office on this day.

Facts

This date occurred 20,794 days ago. Approximately 693 months have passed. It was the 17th day of 1968, in week 03. The decade was the swinging sixties. People who were born on January 17, 1968, are now 56 years old and belong to the Generation X generation. 1968 was a leap year, which means that it had an extra day in February. We have gone through approximately 231 seasons of weather since this date.

Take me back to January 17, 1968

Let's take a walk down memory lane.

The date is January 17, 1968, and it's a Wednesday. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Capricorn. It is "Hump Day", so many are beginning to think about the weekend ahead.

The holiday season of 1967 seems like a distant memory. New year's resolutions are already being abandoned, and many are eagerly awaiting their first paycheck after Christmas In America, the song "Judy In Disguise" by John Fred & His Playboy Band is at the top of the singles charts, while "Hello Goodbye" by The Beatles is the number-one song in the UK. Lyndon Baines Johnson is the President of the United States, and the movie Valley of the Dolls is at the top of the box office.

Harold Wilson is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. On television, people are watching popular shows such as "What's My Line?", "The Andy Griffith Show", "Gilligan's Island", and "Dark Shadows". In fashion, a new "hippie subculture" has emerged, bringing with it laid-back Bohemian styles. Frayed bell-bottom jeans, Jesus sandals, crushed velvet suits, and bright tie-dye t-shirts are all popular items of clothing at the moment.

It's 1968, so radio stations are playing hit songs from artists such as The Beatles, Louis Armstrong, Otis Redding, The Rolling Stones, Bobby Goldsboro and Marvin Gaye. If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as Martin Luther King, Helen Keller, Robert F. Kennedy, and Ramon Novarro would all still be alive. Children and teenagers are watching television shows such as "Looney Tunes", "Captain Kangaroo", "Top Cat", and "The New Adventures of Superman".

Children are playing with toys such as Tonka trucks, the Easy-Bake Oven, Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots, and Best of the West (action figures).

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on January 17, 1968, will have the star sign Capricorn.
  • Zodiac Element: Earth.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1968 was the year of the Monkey (Yang Water).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 6.
  • Native American Zodiac: January 17, 1968 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 17, 1968.

  • The Volkswagen Beetle.

    The Volkswagen Beetle

    The Volkswagen Beetle was one of the most common cars on the road. Sales of the vehicle increased following the release of the 1968 film The Love Bug (and its subsequent spin-offs).
  • The Vietnam War is becoming costly.

    The Vietnam War is becoming costly

    In 1968, US troop numbers in Vietnam reached their peak. An estimated 536,100 service personnel were now stationed in the country. This was the deadliest and most expensive year for the American military in Vietnam. In 1968 alone, an estimated 16,592 US soldiers lost their lives. By this time, most Americans believed that military involvement in Vietnam was a mistake.
  • Who were the best NBA players in 1968?

    Who were the best NBA players in 1968?

    The best NBA players in 1968 were Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, Jerry Lucas, Dave Bing and Oscar Robertson.
  • Who were the best football players?

    Who were the best football players?

    In 1968, the best soccer players were George Best, Bobby Charlton, Dragan Džajić, Franz Beckenbauer, Giacinto Facchetti, Luigi Riva, Amancio Amaro, Eusébio, Gianni Rivera, Jimmy Greaves and Pirri.
  • Oliver!

    Oliver!

    "Oliver!" won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1968.
  • O. C. Smith - "Little Green Apples"

    O. C. Smith - "Little Green Apples"

    "Little Green Apples" by O. C. Smith won a Grammy for 1968's Song of the Year.
  • 1968 in music.

    1968 in music

    The Billboard Charts in 1968 were dominated by the likes of Paul Mauriat, Otis Redding, Bobby Goldsboro, The Beatles, The Rascals and Herb Alpert.
  • 1968 in movies.

    1968 in movies

    Movies released in 1968 included 2001: A Space Odyssey, Funny Girl, The Love Bug, The Odd Couple, Bullitt, Romeo and Juliet, Oliver!, Coogan's Bluff, Rosemary's Baby, Planet of the Apes, Night of the Living Dead and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
  • The Apollo 8 astronauts.

    The Apollo 8 astronauts

    "The Apollo 8 astronauts" were named Time Person of the Year in 1968 after they became the first humans to successfully leave low Earth orbit.
  • The Hippie movement.

    The Hippie movement

    The hippie counterculture reached its peak during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The movement, which sprung up in opposition to the Vietnam War, was centered around peace, psychedelic music, sexual liberation, bright colors, and drugs such as LSD and marijuana.
  • Lava lamps are all the rage.

    Lava lamps are all the rage

    Sales of lava lamps increased in the late 1960s. It wasn't until the second half of the 1970s that they started to go out of fashion.
  • The afro hairstyle is at its peak in popularity.

    The afro hairstyle is at its peak in popularity

    The afro hairstyle took off during the 1960s and early 1970s. Public figures such as Angela Davis, Pam Grier, Jimi Hendrix, and the Jackson 5 were among those who sported the style.
  • Color TV.

    Color TV

    Although color television was rising in popularity, black-and-white TV sets were still the most popular.
  • The push-button telephone.

    The push-button telephone

    Push-button telephones were beginning to replace the older rotary-style landlines.
  • The miniskirt has taken over.

    The miniskirt has taken over

    In the mid-to-late 1960s, the miniskirt became a favored clothing item among women. The skirt countered the conservatism of the 1950s and early 1960s. As a result, many people at the time saw it as a rebellious fashion statement.
  • The Suzy Homemaker.

    The Suzy Homemaker

    A miniature oven called the "Suzy Homemaker" was a sought-after toy around this time.
  • 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.

Personality traits

Check out our personality summary for people who were born on January 17, 1968.

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 17, 1968.

  • December 19, 1967: Country Party leader John McEwen becomes the new Prime Minister of Australia.
  • January 10, 1968: John Gorton becomes the new Prime Minister of Australia.
  • January 14, 1968: The Green Bay Packers win Super Bowl II after defeating the Oakland Raiders at the Miami Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida.
  • January 15, 1968: 1968 Belice earthquake: An earthquake kills 231-400 people in Sicily, Italy.
  • This date: January 17, 1968
  • January 23, 1968: A research ship called the USS Pueblo is captured by North Korea under suspicion of spying.
  • January 30, 1968: Vietnam War: The Tet Offensive begins.
  • January 31, 1968:
    • The US embassy in Saigon, South Vietnam, is attacked by Viet Cong soldiers.
    • The Jackson 5 release their debut single "Big Boy".
  • February 1, 1968:
    • The execution of a Viet Cong officer named Nguyen Van Lem is photographed by Eddie Adams. The image makes headlines around the world.
    • Elvis and Priscilla Presley have their first and only child, Lisa Marie.

1960s fashion

Photographs of 1960s fashion and hairstyles.

1960s fashion

Television shows

TV series on January 17, 1968

People in January 1968 were watching the following TV series:

TV shows from January 1968.

Dark Shadows
Dark Shadows
Batman
Batman
I Dream of Jeannie
I Dream of Jeannie
Gilligan's Island
Gilligan's Island
Steptoe and Son
Steptoe and Son
The Andy Griffith Show
The Andy Griffith Show
Bonanza
Bonanza
Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke
What's My Line?
What's My Line?
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show

Cars in 1968

1968 saw the introduction of cars such as the Audi 100, the Chevrolet Chevy Malibu, the Volkswagen Type 4, the BMW New Six, the Ford Torino, and the AMC Javelin.

Cars in 1968.

Children TV shows

Cartoons and children's TV shows in January 1968

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

Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Aquaman
Aquaman
The Herculoids
The Herculoids

Birdman and the Galaxy Trio
Birdman and the Galaxy Trio
The Monkees
The Monkees
The New Adventures of Superman
The New Adventures of Superman
The King Kong Show
The King Kong Show
Cool McCool
Cool McCool
Star Trek: The Original Series
Star Trek: The Original Series
JOT the Dot
JOT the Dot
Milton the Monster
Milton the Monster
Toys

Toys in 1968

Children were playing with the following toys and games:

Battleship (game)
Battleship (game)
Lite-Brite
Lite-Brite
Best of the West (action figures)
Best of the West (action figures)
Twister mat
Twister mat
Suzy Homemaker
Suzy Homemaker
Major Matt Mason (action figure)
Major Matt Mason (action figure)
Captain Action (action figure)
Captain Action (action figure)
Operation
Operation
Scalextric
Scalextric
Barrel of Monkeys
Barrel of Monkeys
Motorific (slot car toys)
Motorific (slot car toys)
Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots
Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots

Were you born on January 17, 1968?

If you were born on this date, then it is unlikely that you will remember anything from the year 1968.

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 17, 1974, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on January 17.

Al Capone

Al Capone

Gangster Deceased
Born on January 17, 1899
He was not alive on this date.

Betty White

Betty White

Actress Deceased
Born on January 17, 1922
She turned 46 on this day in 1968.

Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali

Boxer Deceased
Born on January 17, 1942
He turned 26 on this day in 1968.

Andy Kaufman

Andy Kaufman

Comedian Deceased
Born on January 17, 1949
He turned 19 on this day in 1968.

Mick Taylor

Mick Taylor

Musician
Born on January 17, 1949
He turned 19 on this day in 1968.

Jim Carrey

Jim Carrey

Actor
Born on January 17, 1962
He turned 6 on this day in 1968.

Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama

First Lady
Born on January 17, 1964
She turned 4 on this day in 1968.

Zooey Deschanel

Zooey Deschanel

Actress
Born on January 17, 1980
She was born exactly 12 years after this date.

Calvin Harris

Calvin Harris

DJ
Born on January 17, 1984
He was born exactly 16 years after this date.

Marnie Simpson

Marnie Simpson

English TV personality
Born on January 17, 1992
She was born exactly 24 years after this date.

Maxwell Frost

Maxwell Frost

US politician
Born on January 17, 1997
He was born exactly 29 years after this date.

Jake Paul

Jake Paul

Youtuber
Born on January 17, 1997
He was born exactly 29 years after this date.

USA

US President

Lyndon Baines Johnson was the President of the United States on January 17, 1968.

UK

UK Prime Minister

Harold Wilson was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Ireland

Irish Taoiseach

Jack Lynch was the Taoiseach of Ireland.

Conception

Conception dates

Conception estimates for this date.

  • A baby that was born on January 17, 1968 was most likely conceived around April 26, 1967.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on January 17, 1968 is close to October 9, 1968.

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Stats for January 17, 1968

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about January 17, 1968:

  • 20,794 days have passed since this date.
  • 2,970 weeks have passed.
  • 1,796,601,600 seconds have passed since January 17, 1968.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 2,096,035,200 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 927,046,425,600 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 299,433,600 times.
  • You have taken approximately 154,507,738 steps. That's roughly 68,670 miles.
  • 21,559,219 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1968?

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