April 1961 calendar
Learn the most interesting events and historical facts that happened in April 1961.
The US president was John F. Kennedy (Democrat), the UK Prime Minister was Harold Macmillan (Conservative), Pope John XXIII was leading the Catholic Church.
But much more happened on April 1961: find out below
Historical Events
Which were the important events of April 1961?
Events
- 01 Apr 1961 Jim Bakker marries Tammy Faye
- 03 Apr 1961 Happiest Girl in the World opens at Martin Beck NYC for 97 performances
- 05 Apr 1961 Barbra Streisand appears on Jack Paar Show
- 08 Apr 1961 British liner Dara explodes in Persian Gulf, kills 236
- 09 Apr 1961 The Pacific Electric Railway in Los Angeles, once the largest electric railway in the world, ends operations.
- 10 Apr 1961 Adolf Eichmann tried as a war criminal in Israel
- 11 Apr 1961 Adolf Eichmann trial begins in Israel
- 12 Apr 1961 Yuri Alexeyevich Gagarin becomes 1st person to orbit Earth
- 13 Apr 1961 Carnival! opens at Imperial Theater NYC for 719 performances
- 14 Apr 1961 US element 103 (Lawrencium) discovered.
- 15 Apr 1961 Music Man closes at Majestic Theater in New York City after 1375 performances.
- 16 Apr 1961 15th Tony Awards: Becket and Bye Bye Birdie win.
- 17 Apr 1961 33rd Academy Awards - Apartment, Burt Lancaster and Elizabeth Taylor win.
- 18 Apr 1961 CONCP is founded in Casablanca as a united front of African movements opposing Portuguese colonial rule.
- 19 Apr 1961 65th Boston Marathon won by Eino Oksanen of Finland in 2:23:39.
- 20 Apr 1961 American Harold Graham makes first rocket belt flight.
- 21 Apr 1961 French army revolts in Algeria
- 22 Apr 1961 Uprising of French parachutist of General Salan/Challe in Algeria.
- 23 Apr 1961 Tenderloin closes at 46th St. Theater NYC after 216 performances
- 24 Apr 1961 JFK accepts sole responsibility following Bay of Pigs
- 25 Apr 1961 Mercury / Atlas rocket lifted off with an electronic mannequin
- 26 Apr 1961 Roger Maris hits 1st of 61 homers in 1961
- 27 Apr 1961 NASA launches Explorer 11 into Earth orbit to study gamma rays.
- 28 Apr 1961 Lt Col Gueorgui Mossolov takes E-66A to 34,714 m altitude
- 30 Apr 1961 1st shuttle flights between Washington DC, Boston and NYC begin
Famous Birthday
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Famous Deaths
![Gail Russell]()
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Music charts
Which were the top hits in April 1961?
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Top #5 songs in the USA
- Elvis Presley - Surrender
- The Marcels - Blue Moon
- Del Shannon - Runaway
- Chubby Checker - Pony Time
- Jorgen Ingmann and His Guitar - Apache
Top #5 songs in the UK
- Elvis Presley - Wooden Heart
- The Marcels - Blue Moon
- Allisons - Are You Sure
- The Temperance Seven - You're Driving Me Crazy
- Bobby Darin - Lazy River
Movies
Which were the most popular Movies released in that month?
Books
Which were the most popular books released in April 1961?
Profiles In Courage
By: John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy's Profiles in Courage was written in 1955 by the junior senator of Massachusetts. It served as a clear call to all Americans.
Fate Is The Hunter
By: Ernest K. Gann
Ernest K. Gann's classic memoir gives an intimate and exciting account of the turbulent early days of commercial aviation. Gann takes you into the cockpit and recounts it in his unique style.
To Kill a Mockingbird
By: Harper Lee
To Kill A Mockingbird, the unforgettable story of a Southern childhood and the conscience crisis that rocked it became a bestseller immediately and was critically acclaimed when it was published for the first time in 1960.
