May 1962 calendar
Learn the most interesting events and historical facts that happened in May 1962.
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 May 1962: find out below
Historical Events
Which were the important events of May 1962?
Events
- 01 May 1962 JFK authorizes Area Redevelopment Act (ARA)
- 02 May 1962 OAS strikes in Algeria
- 03 May 1962 Express train crashes into wreckage of a commuter train and a freight, killing 163, injuring 400 (Tokyo, Japan).
- 04 May 1962 US performs atmospheric nuclear test at Christmas Island.
- 05 May 1962 West Side Story soundtrack album goes to #1 and stays #1 for 54 weeks which is more than 20 weeks longer than any other album
- 06 May 1962 Pathet Lao breaks cease fire / conquerors Nam Tha Laos
- 07 May 1962 Pulitzer prize awarded to Theodore H White (Making of President 1960)
- 08 May 1962 Funny Thing Happened opens at Alvin Theater NYC for 965 performances
- 09 May 1962 Beatles sign their 1st contract with EMI Pstlophone
- 11 May 1962 US performs atmospheric nuclear test at Christmas Island.
- 12 May 1962 Grevelingendam closes
- 13 May 1962 Mickey Wright wins LPGA Western Golf Open.
- 14 May 1962 Ex-pres Milovan Djilas sentenced to 5 years
- 15 May 1962 US marines arrive in Laos.
- 17 May 1962 Marin County withdraws from BART district
- 19 May 1962 Bravo, Giovanni opens at Broadhurst Theater NYC for 76 performances
- 20 May 1962 Patty Berg wins LPGA Muskogee Civitan Golf Open.
- 21 May 1962 3 more Cleveland HR set AL record for most HR (26) over 8 games
- 22 May 1962 14th Emmy Awards: Bob Newhart Show, E G Marshall and Shirley Booth
- 23 May 1962 Scott Carpenter orbits Earth 3 times in US Aurora 7
- 24 May 1962 M Scott Carpenter aboard Aurora 7 launched into earth orbit.
- 25 May 1962 Isley Brothers release Twist & Shout
- 26 May 1962 All American closes at Winter Garden Theater NYC after 80 performances
- 27 May 1962 Ruth Jessen wins LPGA Dallas Civitan Golf Open.
- 28 May 1962 Wide World of Sports with Chris Schenkel premieres on CBS radio
- 29 May 1962 Barbra Streisand appears on Garry Moore Show
- 30 May 1962 69 killed in bus crash (Ahmedabad, India).
- 31 May 1962 Tell It To Groucho last airs on CBS-TV
- 10 May 1962 Marvel Comics publishes the first issue of The Incredible Hulk.
Famous Birthday
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Famous Deaths
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Music charts
Which were the top hits in May 1962?
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Top #5 songs in the USA
- The Shirelles - Soldier Boy
- Mr. Acker Bilk - Stranger On The Shore
- Ray Charles - I Can't Stop Loving You
- Dee Dee Sharp - Mashed Potato Time
- Shelley Fabares - Johnny Angel
Top #5 songs in the UK
- B Bumble & The Stingers - Nut Rocker
- Elvis Presley - Good Luck Charm
- The Shadows - Wonderful Land
- Cliff Richard - Do You Want To Dance / I'm Looking Out The Window
- Mike Sarne With Wendy Richard - Come Outside
Movies
Which were the most popular Movies released in that month?
Books
Which were the most popular books released in May 1962?
The Last Plantagenets
By: Thomas B. Costain
The developments that characterized England's reigns as monarchs, from Richard II through Henry VII are detailed
Why Not Victory?
By: Barry M. Goldwater
"THE ONLY OPTION TO VICTORY IS-OBVIOUSLY DEFEAT" This one sentence from Senator Arizona cuts through the theories that coexistence, compromise, and containment have been obscured by US thinking about cold.
The Fox In The Attic
By: Richard Hughes
The Fox in the Attic is a tale of great suspense, growing horror, and Richard Hughes's historic historical fiction "The Human Predicament" is widely acclaimed.
The Guns Of August
By: Barbara W. Tuchman
The Modern Library selected Barbara as one of 100 best nonfiction books of the century. The Proud Tower, The Guns of August, which won the Pulitzer Prize, and The Zimmerman Telegram were all included in the selection.
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.