Category Archives: 1960s

The Beach Boys complete nine songs for ‘Surfer Girl’ album 50 years ago today (1963)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s


Video: 'Our Car Club by the Beach Boys'

(Tuesday, July 16, 1963) — The Beach Boys recorded (or completed recording) nine songs today at Western Recorders Studio in Hollywood for their third studio album Surfer Girl, including “Our Car Club,” “The Rocking Surfer,” “South Bay Surfer (The Old Folks at Home),” “Surfer’s Rule,” “Your Summer Dream,” “Boogie Woodie,” “Catch a Wave,”  “Hawaii,” and “In My Room.” Continue reading The Beach Boys complete nine songs for ‘Surfer Girl’ album 50 years ago today (1963) →

‘Blood Feast’ premieres at Peoria drive-in theater 50 years ago today (1963)

1960s, Movies 1960s


Video: 'Blood Feast (1963) - Full Movie'

(Friday, July 6, 1963) — Blood Feast, the cult horror film about a psychopathic food caterer who kills people so that he can include their body parts in his meals and perform sacrifices to his “Egyptian goddess” Ishtar, had its world premiere at a drive-in theater in Peoria, Illinois. Continue reading ‘Blood Feast’ premieres at Peoria drive-in theater 50 years ago today (1963) →

‘Lilies of the Field’ opens in West Germany 50 years ago today (1963)

1960s, Movies 1960s


Video: 'Lilies of the Field' trailer

(Friday, July 5, 1963) — Lilies of the Field, a film about an African American itinerant worker who encounters a group of East German nuns, who believe he has been sent to them by God to build them a new chapel, opened today in West Germany.

Directed by Ralph Nelson, the film stars Sidney Poitier and Lilia Skala.

Kennedy meets with Pope Paul VI at the Vatican 50 years today (1963)

1960s, U.S. Presidents


Audio: 'July 2, 1963 - President John F. Kennedy visits Pope Paul VI in the Vatican City'

(Tuesday July 2, 1963) — U.S. President John F. Kennedy met Pope Paul VI today at the Vatican, the first meeting between a Catholic U.S. chief executive and the head of the Roman Catholic Church. The new pontiff told the young president that he had prayed for Kennedy’s efforts to end segregation in the United States.

Kennedy ends trip to Ireland with emotional farewell 50 years ago today (1963)

1960s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'June 29, 1963 - President John F. Kennedy arrives at Galway's sports ground, Ireland'

(Saturday, June 29, 1963) — U.S. President John F. Kennedy, grinning like a kid who has had the time of his life, said farewell today to Ireland. Continue reading Kennedy ends trip to Ireland with emotional farewell 50 years ago today (1963) →

First Lennon-McCartney composition to make American charts debuts 50 years ago today (1963)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s, The Beatles 1960s

(Saturday, June 29, 1963) — The first song written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney of the British rock band The Beatles debuted on today’s Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart at #96 in the form of “From Me To You” by Del Shannon.

Kennedy urges Irish to move into Allied camp 50 years ago today (1963)

1960s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'June 28, 1963 - President John F. Kennedy in Cork, Ireland'

(Friday, June 28, 1963) — U.S. President John F. Kennedy, on the second full day of his visit to ancestral land, today urged Ireland to move away from isolation toward a role of “maker and shaper of world peace” during an unprecedented address to a joint session of the Dail, Ireland’s parliament, in Dublin (click here for more videos from this day). Continue reading Kennedy urges Irish to move into Allied camp 50 years ago today (1963) →

Kennedy visits great-grandfather’s home in Ireland 50 years ago today (1963)

1960s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'June 27, 1963 - President John F. Kennedy presented with old Irish Silver and New Ross Lace'

(Thursday, June 27, 1963) — U.S. President John F. Kennedy spent the first full day of a visit to Ireland, the land of his ancestors, stopping by the County Wexford home of his great-grandfather, Patrick Kennedy, who’d emigrated to America in 1848. Kennedy was hosted by his third cousin, widow Mary Ann Ryan (click here for more videos from this day). Continue reading Kennedy visits great-grandfather’s home in Ireland 50 years ago today (1963) →

John Lennon makes solo appearance on ‘Juke Box Jury’ 50 years ago this hour (1963)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s, Television 1960s, The Beatles 1960s



Audio: 'The Beatles - Juke Box Jury (29th June 1963)'

(Saturday, June 22, 1963, 8:30-9:15 p.m. BST) — John Lennon appeared without the other Beatles tonight on the BBC television show Juke Box Jury for broadcast on June 29, 1963, at 6:35 p.m. (only some of the audio survives).

Montini chosen as pontiff, Pope Paul VI 50 years ago today (1963)

1960s


Video: 'elezione Papa Paolo VI (1963)'

(Friday, June 21, 1963) — Giovanni Battista Montini, the Archbishop of Milan was elected today as the 262nd pope, succeeding the late Pope John XXIII, who died June 3, 1963. Cardinal Montini would take the regnal name Pope Paul VI and would lead the Roman Catholic Church until his death in 1978.