Category Archives: 1960s

Cuban Missile Crisis begins as U.S. President John F. Kennedy is informed that reconnaissance photographs reveal the presence of nuclear missile bases in Cuba 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 16 1962)


Video: 'Shall we wipe Cuba off the Map? | The Cuban Missile Crisis I Day 01' (October 16, 1962 at 0:23)

(Tuesday, October 16, 1962, 8:45 a.m. EDT; during the Cuban missile crisis, part of the Cold War) — The Cuban Missile Crisis, a confrontation between between the United States and the Soviet Union that is often considered the closest the Cold War came to escalating into a full-scale nuclear war, began this morning when National Security Adviser McGeorge Bundy informed U.S. President John F. Kennedy that a U-2 mission flown over western Cuba two days before had taken photographs of (not yet operational) Soviet nuclear missile sites. Continue reading Cuban Missile Crisis begins as U.S. President John F. Kennedy is informed that reconnaissance photographs reveal the presence of nuclear missile bases in Cuba 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 16 1962)

‘I Remember You’ by Frank Ifield peaks at #5 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 13 1962)

(Saturday, October 13, 1962) — “I Remember You” by Australian singer Frank Ifield peaked at #5 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks. Continue reading ‘I Remember You’ by Frank Ifield peaks at #5 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 13 1962)

‘If I Had a Hammer’ by Peter, Paul and Mary peaks at #10 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 13 1962)

(Saturday, October 13, 1962) — “If I Had a Hammer” by Peter, Paul and Mary peaked at #10 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for one week. Continue reading ‘If I Had a Hammer’ by Peter, Paul and Mary peaks at #10 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 13 1962)

‘Surfin’ Safari’ by The Beach Boys peaks at #14 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 13 1962)

(Saturday, October 13, 1962) — “Surfin’ Safari” by The Beach Boys peaked at #14 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks. Continue reading ‘Surfin’ Safari’ by The Beach Boys peaks at #14 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 13 1962)

‘409’ by The Beach Boys peaks at #76 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 13 1962)

(Saturday, October 13, 1962) — “409” by The Beach Boys peaked at #76 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for one week. Continue reading ‘409’ by The Beach Boys peaks at #76 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 13 1962)

Columbus Day Storm batters U.S. West Coast 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 12 1962)


Video: 'The Columbus Day Storm 1962'

(Friday, October 12, 1962, weather observer writes “Abandoned Station” on the weather observation form in Corvallis, Oregon, at 4:15 p.m. PDT) — The devastating Columbus Day Storm, a contender for the title of most powerful extratropical cyclone recorded in the U.S. in the 20th century, struck the West Coast of Canada and the Pacific Northwest coast of the United States today, resulting in some 46 deaths. Continue reading Columbus Day Storm batters U.S. West Coast 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 12 1962)

‘Let’s Dance’ by Chris Montez peaks at #4 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 6 1962)

(Saturday, October 6, 1962) — “Let’s Dance” by Chris Montez peaked at #4 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks. Continue reading ‘Let’s Dance’ by Chris Montez peaks at #4 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 6 1962)

‘It Might As Well Rain Until September’ by Carole King peaks at #22 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 6 1962)

(Saturday, October 6, 1962) — “It Might As Well Rain Until September” by Carole King peaked at #22 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks. Continue reading ‘It Might As Well Rain Until September’ by Carole King peaks at #22 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 6 1962)

‘Dr. No,’ first James Bond feature film, premieres in London 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 5 1962)


Video: 'Dr. No' trailer

(Friday, October 5, 1962, evening British Summer Time)Dr. No, the first feature film in the James Bond series about a fictional secret agent — created by British novelist Ian Fleming in 1953 — who works for the UK’s foreign intelligence service commonly known as MI6 under the codename 007, license to kill, premiered tonight at the 1,186-seat London Pavilion, Piccadilly Circus. Continue reading ‘Dr. No,’ first James Bond feature film, premieres in London 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 5 1962)

The Beatles release their first single ‘Love Me Do’/’P.S. I Love You’ 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 5 1962)


Video: 'Love Me Do'

(Friday, October 5, 1962) — “Love Me Do,” the official debut single by the English rock band The Beatles, backed by “P.S. I Love You,” was released today in the United Kingdom on Parlophone. Continue reading The Beatles release their first single ‘Love Me Do’/’P.S. I Love You’ 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 5 1962)