Category Archives: 1960s

‘Mister Ed’ TV sitcom debuts in syndication 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 5 1961)

1960s, Television 1960s

Video: 'Mister Ed S1e1 The First Meeting'

(Thursday, January 5, 1961, first episode scheduled to air at 7:00 p.m. EST on WRCA-TV in New York) — Mister Ed, a situation comedy TV series starring Alan Young as an eccentric and enormously klutzy yet friendly architect named Wilbur Post whose horse Mister Ed (“played” by gelding Bamboo Harvester and voiced by Allan Lane) could talk, debuted tonight in syndication.
Continue reading ‘Mister Ed’ TV sitcom debuts in syndication 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 5 1961) →

U.S. breaks diplomatic relations with Fidel Castro’s Cuba 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 3 1961)

1960s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'U.S. breaks Relations with Cuba, 1961'

(Tuesday, January 3, 1961, 8:30 p.m. EST; during the Cold War) — The United States formally terminated diplomatic and consular relations with the government of Cuba tonight.
Continue reading U.S. breaks diplomatic relations with Fidel Castro’s Cuba 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 3 1961) →

‘You’re Sixteen’ by Johnny Burnette peaks at #8 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 26 1960)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s

(Monday, December 26, 1960) — “You’re Sixteen” by Johnny Burnette peaked at #8 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks.
Continue reading ‘You’re Sixteen’ by Johnny Burnette peaks at #8 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 26 1960) →

‘Viet Cong’ formed to oppose South Vietnamese government of President Ngo Dinh Diem 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 20 1960)

1960s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History - America's Mandarin [2/11]' (NLF formed at 20:18)

(Tuesday, December 20, 1960; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — The National Liberation Front (NLF) was created today as an armed communist political revolutionary organization in South Vietnam and Cambodia to oppose the government of President Ngo Dinh Diem, who gave the group the nickname “Viet Cong.”
Continue reading ‘Viet Cong’ formed to oppose South Vietnamese government of President Ngo Dinh Diem 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 20 1960) →

50 people killed when fire breaks out aboard USS Constellation at Brooklyn Navy Yard 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 19 1960)

1960s, Cold War


Video: 'Carrier Ablaze (1960)'

(Monday, December 19, 1960, 10:30 a.m. EST; during the Cold War) — Fifty shipyard workers were killed and more than 300 were injured today when fire broke out on the hangar deck of the nearly completed aircraft carrier USS Constellation at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York City.
Continue reading 50 people killed when fire breaks out aboard USS Constellation at Brooklyn Navy Yard 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 19 1960) →

134 die as two airliners collide over foggy New York Harbor 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 16 1960)

1960s


Video: 'New York Mid-Air Collision'

(Friday, December 16, 1960, 10:37 a.m. EST; during the 1960 New York mid-air collision) — A United Airlines Douglas DC-8, bound for Idlewild Airport (now John F. Kennedy International Airport) in New York City collided in midair with a TWA Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation descending into the city’s LaGuardia Airport today in fog and sleet, killing all 128 people on the two aircraft and six people on the ground. Continue reading 134 die as two airliners collide over foggy New York Harbor 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 16 1960) →

‘A Thousand Stars’ by Kathy Young with The Innocents peaks at #3 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 12 1960)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s

(Monday, December 12, 1960) — “A Thousand Stars” by Kathy Young with The Innocents peaked at #3 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for one week. Continue reading ‘A Thousand Stars’ by Kathy Young with The Innocents peaks at #3 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 12 1960) →

‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’ by Brenda Lee debuts at #64 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 12 1960)

1960s, Christmas, Popular Music 1960s

(Monday, December 12, 1960) — “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” by Brenda Lee debuted at #64 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. Continue reading ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’ by Brenda Lee debuts at #64 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 12 1960) →

‘He Will Break Your Heart’ by Jerry Butler peaks at #7 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 5 1960)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s

(Monday, December 5, 1960) — “He Will Break Your Heart” by Jerry Butler peaked at #7 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks. Continue reading ‘He Will Break Your Heart’ by Jerry Butler peaks at #7 in USA 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 5 1960) →

Jackie Wilson, Mort Sahl perform on ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 4 1960)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s, Television 1960s


Video: 'Jackie Wilson "Lonely Teardrops" on The Ed Sullivan Show'

(Sunday, December 4, 1960, 8:00-9:00 p.m. EST) — Jackie Wilson performed “Lonely Teardrops” and comedian Mort Sahl talked about the Korean War on tonight’s CBS-TV variety show The Ed Sullivan Show live from CBS Studio No. 50 in New York City. Continue reading Jackie Wilson, Mort Sahl perform on ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 4 1960) →