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December 17, 1968

December 17, 1968, was a Tuesday. It was the 352nd day of 1968. The decade was the swinging sixties.

55 years, 3 months, and 11 days have passed since December 17, 1968.

The zodiac star sign for this date is Sagittarius.

Song charts

Top songs

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

  • United States: "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye
  • United Kingdom: "Lily The Pink" by Scaffold

The Billboard Hot 100 on December 17, 1968

These songs were dominating the music charts:

  • I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Marvin Gaye
  • Love Child - Diana Ross & The Supremes
  • For Once In My Life - Stevie Wonder
  • Abraham, Martin And John - Dion
  • Who's Making Love - Johnnie Taylor
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.
Funny Girl

Top movie

The movie "Funny Girl" was at the top of the box office on this day.

Facts

This date occurred 20,190 days ago. Approximately 673 months have passed. It was the 352nd day of 1968, in week 51. The decade was the swinging sixties. The end of 1968 was just 14 days away. People who were born on December 17, 1968, are now 55 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 224 seasons of weather since this date.

Take me back to December 17, 1968

Let's take a walk down memory lane.

The date is December 17, 1968, and it's a Tuesday. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Sagittarius. The Christmas season of 1968 is in full swing. People are putting up their decorations and festive songs are playing on the radio.

In America, the song "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye is at the top of the singles charts, while "Lily The Pink" by Scaffold is the number-one song in the UK. Lyndon Baines Johnson is the President of the United States, and the movie Funny Girl 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?", "Steptoe and Son", "Columbo", and "Hawaii Five-O". 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 Dwight D. Eisenhower, Judy Garland, Brian Jones, and Sharon Tate would all still be alive. Kids and teenagers are watching TV shows such as "My Three Sons", "Cool McCool", "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood", and "The Banana Splits". Children are playing with toys such as G.I. Joe: America's Movable Fighting Man, Barrel of Monkeys, Suzy Homemaker, and Twister mat.

News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on December 17, 1968.

  • Christmas 1968.

    Christmas 1968

    The Christmas period of 1968 was in full swing by this stage. The decorations were up, festive music was playing on the radio, people were feeling stressed, retail stores were filled with shoppers, and everyone was making plans for the big day.
  • 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 December 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 December 17, 1968.

  • November 17, 1968: Heidi Game: Thousands of viewers call into complain after NBC cuts away from an AFL game between the Oakland Raiders and the New York Jets to show the film "Heidi".
  • November 20, 1968: 79 miners lose their lives after an explosion occurs at a coal mine near Farmington, West Virginia.
  • November 22, 1968: One of television's first interracial kisses occurs when the Star Trek episode "Plato's Stepchildren" is aired.
  • December 10, 1968: The "300 million yen robbery" takes place in Tokyo, Japan.
  • This date: December 17, 1968
  • December 20, 1968: The Zodiac Killer shoots high school students Betty Lou Jensen and David Faraday in Benicia.
  • December 23, 1968: North Korea releases 82 American sailors after 11 months of internment.
  • December 24, 1968: The crew of Apollo 8 become the first humans to orbit around the Moon.
  • January 12, 1969:
    • Super Bowl III: The New York Jets defeat the Baltimore Colts at the Miami Orange Bowl in Miami, Flordia.
    • Led Zeppelin release their first album.
  • January 14, 1969: Manchester United manager Matt Busby announces that he will retire at the end of the season.
Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on December 17, 1968, will have the star sign Sagittarius.
  • Zodiac Element: Fire.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1968 was the year of the Monkey (Yang Water).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 8.
  • Native American Zodiac: December 17, 1968 falls under the Owl.
  • Birthstone: A person during the month of December will have the birthstones Tanzanite, Zircon and Turquoise.
  • Birth flower (December): The Narcissus and the Holly.

1960s fashion

Photographs of 1960s fashion and hairstyles.

1960s fashion

Television shows

TV series on December 17, 1968

People in December 1968 were watching the following TV series:

TV shows from December 1968.

Here's Lucy
Here's Lucy
Adam-12
Adam-12
Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O
Columbo
Columbo
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Dark Shadows
Dark Shadows
I Dream of Jeannie
I Dream of Jeannie
Gilligan's Island
Gilligan's Island
Steptoe and Son
Steptoe and Son
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 December 1968

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

Joe 90
Joe 90
The Adventures of Gulliver
The Adventures of Gulliver
The Archie Show
The Archie Show

The Banana Splits
The Banana Splits
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
Skippy the Bush Kangaroo
Skippy the Bush Kangaroo
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
Atom Ant
Atom Ant
Thunderbirds
Thunderbirds
Underdog
Underdog
Top Cat
Top Cat
The Bugs Bunny Show
The Bugs Bunny Show
My Three Sons
My Three Sons
Heckle and Jeckle
Heckle and Jeckle
Captain Kangaroo
Captain Kangaroo
Lassie
Lassie
Looney Tunes
Looney Tunes
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
Army men
Army men
G.I. Joe: America's Movable Fighting Man
G.I. Joe: America's Movable Fighting Man
The Easy-Bake Oven
The Easy-Bake Oven
Ken (doll)
Ken (doll)
Etch A Sketch
Etch A Sketch
Troll doll
Troll doll
Tonka trucks
Tonka trucks
Matchbox toy cars
Matchbox toy cars

Were you born on December 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 December 17, 1974, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

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

Pope Francis

Pope Francis

Pope
Born on December 17, 1936
He turned 32 on this day in 1968.

Bill Pullman

Bill Pullman

Actor
Born on December 17, 1953
He turned 15 on this day in 1968.

Chuck Liddell

Chuck Liddell

MMA fighter
Born on December 17, 1969
He was born exactly one year after this date.

Manny Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao

Boxer
Born on December 17, 1978
He was born exactly 10 years after this date.

Chelsea Manning

Chelsea Manning

Whistleblower
Born on December 17, 1987
She was born exactly 19 years after this date.

USA

US President

Lyndon Baines Johnson was the President of the United States on December 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 December 17, 1968 was most likely conceived around March 26, 1968.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on December 17, 1968 is close to September 9, 1969.

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Stats for December 17, 1968

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about December 17, 1968:

  • 20,190 days have passed since this date.
  • 2,884 weeks have passed.
  • 1,744,419,600 seconds have passed since December 17, 1968.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 2,035,156,200 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 900,120,513,600 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 290,736,600 times.
  • You have taken approximately 150,020,086 steps. That's roughly 66,676 miles!
  • Since this date, 20,933,035 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere!
  • How many years ago was 1968?

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