December 1961 calendar

December 1961
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031

Learn the most interesting events and historical facts that happened in December 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 December 1961: find out below

history

Historical Events

Which were the important events of December 1961?


Events

  • 01 Dec 1961 The independent Republic of West Papua is proclaimed in modern-day Western New Guinea.
  • 02 Dec 1961 Wind Bell, journal of SF Zen Center, begins publishing
  • 03 Dec 1961 Beatles meet future manager Brian Epstein
  • 04 Dec 1961 WXGA TV channel 8 in Waycross, Georgia (PBS) begins broadcasting
  • 05 Dec 1961 U.S. President John F. Kennedy gives support to the Volta Dam project in Ghana.
  • 06 Dec 1961 27th Heisman Trophy Award: Ernie Davis, Syracuse (HB).
  • 08 Dec 1961 Antwerp Belgium diocese forms
  • 09 Dec 1961 From the Second City closes at Royale Theater NYC after 87 performances
  • 10 Dec 1961 Dr Ruth marries Fred Westheimer
  • 11 Dec 1961 Please, Mr. Postman by Marvelettes, released
  • 12 Dec 1961 Ham radio satellite Oscar 1 launched with military Discoverer 36.
  • 13 Dec 1961 Beatles sign a formal agreement to be managed by Brian Epstein
  • 14 Dec 1961 The United Republic of Tanzania joins the United Nations.
  • 15 Dec 1961 Adolf Eichmann convicted of crimes against humanity in Israel
  • 16 Dec 1961 Evening with Yves Montand opens at John Golden NYC after 55 performances
  • 17 Dec 1961 India seizes Goa and 2 other Portuguese colonies
  • 18 Dec 1961 KAIL TV channel 53 in Fresno, CA (IND) begins broadcasting
  • 19 Dec 1961 Indonesian President Sukarno proclaims general mobilization.
  • 20 Dec 1961 Moss Heart, US dramatist (You can't take it with you), dies at age 57.
  • 21 Dec 1961 Beatles record Sweet Georgia Brown andReady Teddy
  • 22 Dec 1961 US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site.
  • 23 Dec 1961 KICU TV channel 43 in Visalia-Fresno, CA (IND) begins broadcasting
  • 24 Dec 1961 Houston Oilers beat San Diego Chargers 10-3 in AFL championship game.
  • 27 Dec 1961 Subways Are for Sleeping opens at St. James Theater NYC for 205 performances
  • 30 Dec 1961 Congolese troops capture Albert Kalonji of South Kasai (who soon escapes).
  • 31 Dec 1961 lrma La Douce closes at Plymouth Theater NYC after 527 performances
  • 09 Dec 1961 Tanganyika becomes independent from Britain.
vinyl songs

Music charts

Which were the top hits in December 1961?
Unlimited, ad-free streaming of over a million songs, 30 day Free Trial


Top #5 songs in the USA

  1. - Big Bad John
  2. - Please Mr. Postman
  3. - The Lion Sleeps Tonight
  4. - Runaround Sue
  5. - Run To Him

Top #5 songs in the UK

  1. - Tower Of Strength
  2. - Poetry In Motion
  3. - Moon River
  4. - I Love You
  5. - His Latest Flame / Little Sisters

Movies

Which were the most popular Movies released in that month?

Books

Which were the most popular books released in December 1961?

The Rise And Fall Of The Third Reich by William L. Shirer

The Rise And Fall Of The Third Reich

By:

This definitive history of Hitler's rise is back in hardcover, hailed by The New York Times as "one the most important works historical of our time"

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

To Kill a Mockingbird

By:

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.

The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford

The Incredible Journey

By:

Their instincts told them to go west. So the Labrador retriever, the bull terrier, and the Siamese, a young Labrador retriever set off through Canada.

The Agony and the Ecstasy by Irving Stone

The Agony and the Ecstasy

By:

Irving Stone's classic biographical novel about Michaelangelo - in which both the artist as well as the man are fully brought to life. This novel is a masterpiece in its own right. It portrays Michelangelo’s passionate, dangerous love life and …

Chairman Of The Bored by Edward Streeter

Chairman Of The Bored

By:

First edition printed by Harper in 1961; pages tight and clean, some yellowing, 274 Pages.