Today in History for October 1961

Months in 1961: January February March April May June July August September November December

Historical Events

Events 1 - 70 of 70

1st - A believed extinct volcanco erupts in Tristan da Cunha
1st - East & West Cameroon merge as Federal Republic of Cameroon
1st - KGIN TV channel 11 in Grand Island, NB (CBS) begins broadcasting
1st - Mickey Wright wins LPGA Mickey Wright Golf Open
1st - Premiere of Dmitri Shostakovitsch' 12nd Symphony
1st - Roger Maris sets record of 61 HRs (off of Tracy Stallard)
1st - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
1st - WOLO TV channel 25 in Columbia, SC (ABC) begins broadcasting
1st - WYAH TV channel 27 in Portsmouth, VA (IND) begins broadcasting
2nd - "Ben Casey" premieres on NBC-TV
2nd - USSR performs nuclear test at Novaya Zemlya USSR
2nd - WETA TV channel 26 in Washington, DC (PBS) begins broadcasting
2nd - WHRO TV channel 15 in Hampton-Norfolk, VA (PBS) begins broadcasting
3rd - "Dick Van Dyke Show" premieres on CBS-TV
3rd - "Mr Ed" premieres
3rd - "Sail Away" opens at Broadhurst Theater NYC for 167 performances
3rd - KMED (now KTVL) TV channel 10 in Medford, OR (CBS) begins broadcasting
4th - USSR performs nuclear test at Novaya Zemlya USSR
4th - Whitey Ford's 3rd straight World Series shutout
American Baseball Player Roger Maris 5th - China & Nepal sign treaty
6th - JFK advises Americans to build fallout shelters
6th - USSR performs nuclear tests at Kapustin Yar & Novaya Zemlya USSR
7th - "Bye Bye Birdie" closes at Martin Beck Theater NYC after 607 perfs
7th - 15th NHL All-Star Game: All-Stars beat Chicago 3-1 at Chicago
8th - Betsy Rawls wins LPGA Bill Brannin's Swing Parade Golf Tournament
8th - US Constellation crashes at Richmond Virginia, 74 die
8th - USSR performs nuclear test at Novaya Zemlya USSR
8th - Whitey Ford breaks Babe Ruth's World Series record of 29 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings, running his streak to 32
9th - NY Yankees beat Cin Reds, 4 games to 1 in 58th World Series
9th - Tanganyika becomes independent within British Commonwealth
9th - US members of communist party obliged to report themselves to Police
9th - Volcano eruptions on Tristan de Cunha (South Atlantic)
9th - Yank Whitey Ford breaks Ruth record of 29 2/3 consecutive inning
9th - World Series scoreless pitching streak Yanks beat Reds 4 games to 1
US President John F. Kennedy 10th - "Milk & Honey" opens at Martin Beck Theater NYC for 543 performances
10th - Expansion draft to stock Houston Astros & NY Mets
10th - Otis M Smith appointed to Michigan Supreme Court
10th - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
11th - USAF Major Robert M White takes X-15 to 66,100m
11th - USSR performs nuclear test
12th - "Let It Ride" opens at Eugene O'Neill Theater NYC for 68 performances
12th - USSR performs nuclear test at Eastern Kazakh/Semipalitinsk USSR
14th - "How to Succeed in Business" opens at 46th St NYC for 1415 perfs
14th - 14th Ryder Cup: US wins, 14½-9½ at Royal Lytham & St Annes, England
17th - 22nd congress of CPSU opens in Moscow
17th - Battle of Paris-police kill 210 Algerians
17th - NASA civilian pilot Joseph A Walker takes X-15 to 33,100 m
17th - NY Museum of Modern Art hangs Henri Matisse's "Le Bateau" upside-down It wasn't corrected until December 3rd
18th - Emergency crisis proclaimed in South Vietnam due to commun attack
Impressionist Painter Henri Matisse 21st - Barbra Striesand opens in "Another Evening with Harry Stones"
21st - USSR performs nuclear test at Sary Shagan USSR
22nd - 75,000 Flemings demand equal rights & Flemish language in Belgium
22nd - Louise Suggs wins LPGA San Antonio Golf Civitan
23rd - "Kwamina" opens at 54th St Theater NYC for 32 performances
23rd - USSR performs nuclear test at Novaya Zemlya USSR
24th - "Evening with Yves Montand" opens at John Golden NYC for 55 perfs
25th - USSR performs nuclear test at Novaya Zemlya USSR
26th - 1st Saturn launch vehicle made a flight test
27th - 1st Saturn launch vehicle makes an unmanned flight test
27th - American Basketball League starts play
27th - Outer Mongolia & Mauritania become 102nd & 103rd members of UN
27th - USSR performs nuclear test at Novaya Zemlya & Sary Shagan USSR
28th - "Fiorello!" closes at Broadhurst Theater NYC after 796 performances
28th - Ground broken for Municipal (Shea) Stadium for NY Mets
29th - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
30th - Soviet Union tests a 58 megaton hydrogen bomb
30th - UN unanimously elects U Thant acting secretary general of the UN
30th - Soviet Party Congress unanimously approves a resolution removing Stalin's body from Lenin's tomb in Red Square
31st - Hurricane Hattie, kills 400 in British Honduras
31st - Federal judge rules that Birmingham, Alabama, laws against integrated playing fields are illegal

Famous Birthdays

Birthdays 1 - 76 of 76

1st - Cornelius Johannes Petrus Gerhardus "Corrie" Van Zyl, cricketer (SAf)
1st - Gary Ablett, Australian rules footballer
1st - Robert Rey, Brazilian-American plastic surgeon and television personality
2nd - Alan Wells, cricketer (England Test batsman v WI in one Test 1995)
2nd - Pablo Arraya, Argentina, tennis star
2nd - Robbie Nevil, rocker (A Place Like This)
4th - David W Harper, Abilene Tx, actor (Jim Bob-Waltons)
4th - John Secada, singer
4th - Mary Ellen Stuart, actress (Frannie Crawford-As the World Turns)
4th - Kazuki Takahashi, Japanese author
5th - Shell Kepler, actress (Amy Vining-General Hospital)
5th - Sharon Cheslow, American musician, composer and artist
5th - Matthew Kauffman, American journalist and George Polk Award winner
5th - David Kirk, New Zealand rugby union footballer
6th - Kathrin Dörre, East German marathoner (Olympic-bronze-1988)
6th - Tim Burgess, rocker
7th - Judy Landers, Phila, actress (Vega$, BJ & the Bear, Madame's Place)
7th - Matthew Roloff, American reality star
7th - Brian Mannix, Australian singer and actor
8th - Ted Kooshian, American jazz pianist
9th - Arlene Boxhall, Zimbabwe, field hockey (Olympic-gold-1980)
9th - Jean Sagal, LA California, actress (Kate-Double Trouble, Grease 2)
9th - Liz Sagal, LA California, actress (Allison-Double Trouble, Grease 2)
9th - Trevor Matich, NFL center/guard (Washington Redskins)
9th - Julian Bailey, British racing driver
10th - Brian Lee Diemer, Grand Rapids Mich, steeplechase (Olymp-bronze-1984)
10th - Martin Kemp, London, rock bassist (Spandau Ballet)
10th - Jodi Benson, American voice actress
10th - Henrik Jørgensen, Danish marathon runner
11th - Steve Young, NFL quarterback (SF 49ers, NFL Player of Year '92)
11th - Neil Buchanan, English television presenter
11th - Amr Diab, Egyptian singer
13th - Derek Harper, NBA guard (NY Knicks, Orlando Magic)
14th - Melanie Wilson, actress (Jennifer-Perfect Strangers)
14th - Mike Tramp, Denmark, heavy metal rocker (White Lion-Mane Attraction)
14th - Isaac Mizrahi American fashion designer
16th - Billy Taylor, Monticello FL, pitcher (Oakland A's)
16th - Chris Doleman, defensive end (San Francisco 49ers)
16th - Wilfried Brookhuis, soccer player (NEC)
16th - Randy Vasquez, American actor
16th - Marc Levy, French novelist
18th - Eric Jespersen, Port Alberni BC, star yachter (Olympics-bronze-92, 96)
18th - Erin Moran, Burbank California, actress (Happy Days, Joanie Loves Chachi)
18th - Gladstone Small, cricketer (in Barbados England quickie with no neck)
18th - Wynton Marsalis, New Orleans La, jazz trumpeter (Grammy 1983)
19th - Tim Belcher, Sparta Ohio, baseball pitcher (Detroit Tigers, KC Royals)
20th - Ian Rush, Welsh footballer
20th - Michie Tomizawa, Japanese voice actress
21st - Mark Finch, film festival organiser
22nd - Barbara Potter, Ct, tennis player (changed shirt on Wimbledon Court)
22nd - Donna Wynd, Auckland NZ, 1k sprint cyclist (Olympics-96)
22nd - Leonard Marshall, NFL defensive end (NY Giants, NY Jets)
22nd - Sanath Kaluperuma, cricketer (four Tests for Sri Lanka 1984-88)
22nd - Robert Torti, American actor
23rd - Laurie Halse Anderson, American writer
23rd - Don and Ron Harris, American professional wrestlers
23rd - Andoni Zubizarreta, Spanish footballer
24th - Rafael Belliard, Pueblo Nuevo Dom Rep, infielder (Atlanta Braves)
24th - Russell Swanson, Sydney NSW, Australasia golfer
24th - Susan Leigh Still, Augusta Ga, lt cmdr USN/astronaut (STS 83, 94)
24th - Mary Bono, American politician
24th - Dave Meltzer, American wrestling journalist
26th - Mark Bucek, Winter Pak FL, Nike golfer (1994 Gary Player Tour)
27th - Rick Gibson, Calgary Alta, Canadian Tour golfer (1990 CPGA)
29th - Cornelia Oschkenat, German DR, hurdler (50m indoor)
29th - Joel Otto, Elk River MN, NHL center (Phila Flyers, Team USA Oly-1998)
29th - Randy Jackson, Gary In, rocker (Jackson 5-ABC)
30th - Hans Segers, soccer goaltender (PSV, Nottingham Forest, Wimbledon)
30th - Scott Garrelts, American baseball player
31st - Alonzo Babers, Montgomery Ala, 400m/4X400m relay (Olympic-gold-1984)
31st - Christine Bridged, Australian European class yachter (Olympics-96)
31st - Glenn "Doc" Rivers, NBA guard (San Antonio Spurs)
31st - Larry Mullen Jr, Dublin Ireland, rock drummer (U2-I Will Follow)
31st - Sterling Hinds, Toronto, 4X100m relayer (Olympic-bronze-1984)
Film Director Peter Jackson (31st) 31st - Peter Jackson, Pukerua Bay, New Zealand, film director (Lord of the Rings - Academy Award, Best Director, 2003)
31st - Kate Campbell, American musician

Famous Weddings

Weddings 1 - 1 of 1

14th - Howard Allen Frances (Anne) O'Brien (20) best-selling author (The Vampire Chronicles) marries poet and painter Stan Rice (21)

Famous Deaths

Deaths 1 - 15 of 15

1st - Donald Cook, actor (Too Young To Go Steady), dies at 60
2nd - Reggie Spooner, cricketer (England centurion v South Africa 1912), dies
4th - Max Weber, Polish/Russ/US painter, dies
4th - Metropolitan Benjamin (Fedchenkov), Orthodox missionary and writer, Exarch of Russian Church in North America (b. 1880)
11th - Leonard "Chico" Marx, comedian (Marx Brothers), dies at 74
14th - Paul Ramadier, French politician (b. 1888)
14th - Harriet Shaw Weaver, English political activist (b. 1876)
18th - Tsuru Aoki, Japanese-born American actress (b. 1892)
19th - Benjamin Merkelbach, architect/city builder of Amsterdam, dies at 60
19th - John Axel Fernstrom, composer, dies at 63
21st - Nils J E Ferlin, Swedish songwriter (Goggles), dies
25th - Peter Jensen, co-inventer (loud speaker), dies at 75
26th - Edgar Mayne, cricketer (4 Tests for Australia around WWI), dies
26th - Milan Stojadinović, Premier of Yugoslavia (1935-39), dies at 73
30th - Luigi Einaudi, economist/1st president Italy, dies