Category Archives: 1960s

South African anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela was arrested, beginning of 27 years of imprisonment 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 5 1962)

1960s


Video: '5th August 1962: Nelson Mandela arrested and jailed'

(Sunday, August 5, 1962) — South African anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela, disguised as a chauffeur while on his way from Durban to Johannesburg, was arrested today when armed police at a roadblock flagged down his car outside Howick in Natal, the beginning of 27 years of imprisonment and jailed in Johannesburg’s Marshall Square prison. Continue reading South African anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela was arrested, beginning of 27 years of imprisonment 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 5 1962) →

Legendary film actress Marilyn Monroe, 36, dies of ‘probable suicide’ in her Los Angeles home 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 4 1962)

1960s, Movies 1960s


Video: 'Archive newsreel announces the death of Marilyn Monroe in '62 - Daily Mail'

(Saturday, August 4, 1962, between 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. PDT) — American actress, singer, and model Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jeane Mortenson), 36, died tonight from an overdose of barbiturates at her 12305 Fifth Helena Drive home in Brentwood, a suburban neighborhood in the Westside region of Los Angeles, California. Continue reading Legendary film actress Marilyn Monroe, 36, dies of ‘probable suicide’ in her Los Angeles home 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 4 1962) →

‘Ahab the Arab’ by Ray Stevens peaks at #5 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 4 1962)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s

(Saturday, August 4, 1962) — “Ahab the Arab” by Ray Stevens peaked at #5 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks. Continue reading ‘Ahab the Arab’ by Ray Stevens peaks at #5 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 4 1962) →

‘Sealed with a Kiss’ by Brian Hyland peaks at #3 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 28 1962)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s

(Saturday, July 28, 1962) — “Sealed with a Kiss” by Brian Hyland peaked at #3 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks. Continue reading ‘Sealed with a Kiss’ by Brian Hyland peaks at #3 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 28 1962) →

‘Speedy Gonzales’ by Pat Boone peaks at #6 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 28 1962)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s

(Saturday, July 28, 1962) — “Speedy Gonzales” by Pat Boone peaked at #6 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for three weeks. Continue reading ‘Speedy Gonzales’ by Pat Boone peaks at #6 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 28 1962) →

‘The Wah-Watusi’ by The Orlons peaks at #2 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 21 1962)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s

(Saturday, July 21, 1962) — “The Wah-Watusi” by The Orlons peaked at #2 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks. Continue reading ‘The Wah-Watusi’ by The Orlons peaks at #2 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 21 1962) →

‘Boom Boom’ by John Lee Hooker peaks at #60 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 21 1962)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s

(Saturday, July 21, 1962) — “Boom Boom” by John Lee Hooker peaked at #60 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for one week. Continue reading ‘Boom Boom’ by John Lee Hooker peaks at #60 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 21 1962) →

‘Roses Are Red (My Love)’ by Bobby Vinton peaks at #1 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 14 1962)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s

(Saturday, July 14, 1962) — “Roses Are Red (My Love)” by Bobby Vinton peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for four consecutive weeks (July 14/21/28, Aug. 4, 1962). Continue reading ‘Roses Are Red (My Love)’ by Bobby Vinton peaks at #1 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 14 1962) →

The Rolling Stones play first-ever gig at Marquee Club in London 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 12 1962)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s


Video: 'The Rolling Stones Story (TV Documentary)' (Stones' debut gig mentioned at 6:20, mistakenly referred to as being on July 21, 1962)

(Thursday, July 12, 1962, evening British Summer Time) — The English rock band The Rolling Stones played their first-ever gig tonight — billed as “Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones” at the Marquee Club in London. Continue reading The Rolling Stones play first-ever gig at Marquee Club in London 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 12 1962) →

Telstar 1 experimental communications satellite rockets into orbit 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 10 1962)

1960s, space exploration, Television 1960s


Video: 'Telstar Satellite Brings World Closer 1962/7/12'

(Tuesday, July 10, 1962, 4:35:00 a.m. EDT) — Telstar 1, the world’s first commercial communications satellite, was launched today from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on top of a Thor-Delta rocket, marking a historic, highly successful first step toward achieving a revolutionary new global communications system in space. Continue reading Telstar 1 experimental communications satellite rockets into orbit 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 10 1962) →