World Events in 1961
Yuri Gagarin in Space
Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to travel into outer space on 12 April 1961. His single orbit of the Earth aboard Vostok 1 was a monumental triumph for the Soviet Union in the space race.
Berlin Wall Constructed
East German authorities began building a barrier dividing East and West Berlin on 13 August. The Wall became the most potent symbol of the Iron Curtain and Cold War division for nearly three decades.
Bay of Pigs Invasion
A CIA-backed force of Cuban exiles attempted to overthrow Fidel Castro's government. The invasion was a catastrophic failure that embarrassed the Kennedy administration and strengthened Castro's position.
Freedom Rides in the American South
Civil rights activists rode interstate buses into the segregated southern United States to challenge non-enforcement of desegregation rulings. The riders faced extreme violence but drew national attention to racial injustice.
Dag Hammarskjöld Killed in Plane Crash
The UN Secretary-General died when his plane crashed in Northern Rhodesia while on a peace mission during the Congo Crisis. He was posthumously awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Music in 1961
"Walkin' Back to Happiness"
Helen Shapiro
Helen Shapiro was only 14 years old when this hit reached number one, making her one of the youngest chart-toppers in UK history.
"Tossin' and Turnin'"
Bobby Lewis
Topped the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks and became the best-selling single of 1961 in the United States.
#1 Film of 1961
101 Dalmatians
Box Office: $153 million (lifetime)
Walt Disney's animated feature was the highest-grossing film of 1961 and saved the studio financially after the expensive Sleeping Beauty underperformed.
Born in 1961
Barack Obama
44th President of the United States, first African American to hold the office
Princess Diana
Princess of Wales, major humanitarian figure and member of the British royal family
George Clooney
American actor and filmmaker known for ER, Ocean's Eleven, and humanitarian work
Eddie Murphy
American comedian and actor known for Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America, and Saturday Night Live
Boy George
English singer and songwriter, frontman of Culture Club
Lost in 1961
Ernest Hemingway
American Nobel Prize-winning author of The Old Man and the Sea and A Farewell to Arms
Age 61
Carl Jung
Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst who founded analytical psychology
Age 85
Dag Hammarskjöld
Swedish diplomat and second Secretary-General of the United Nations
Age 56
Gary Cooper
American actor known for High Noon and Sergeant York
Age 60
Technology in 1961
Space exploration dominated the headlines as both superpowers pushed to put humans in orbit. Domestic appliances like washing machines and refrigerators were becoming standard in Western homes.
- ● Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space aboard Vostok 1
- ● Alan Shepard became the first American in space
- ● IBM introduced the Selectric typewriter with its golf-ball element
- ● The first industrial robot, Unimate, was installed at a General Motors plant
Cost of Living in 1961
| Item | UK | US |
|---|---|---|
| Average house price | £2,770 | $12,500 |
| Average salary | £750 | $5,505 |
| Pint of milk | 4½d | $0.13 |
| Loaf of bread | 5½d | $0.21 |
| Dozen eggs | 3s 8d | $0.57 |
| Pint of beer | 1s 2d | $0.30 |
| Gallon of petrol/gas | 4s 8d | $0.31 |
| Cinema ticket | 2s 9d | $0.69 |
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The Zeitgeist of 1961
A youthful optimism pervaded both sides of the Atlantic as JFK's Camelot era began. The Twist dance craze swept dance halls, Audrey Hepburn charmed in Breakfast at Tiffany's, and Tottenham Hotspur became the first club in the 20th century to win the English league and FA Cup double. Mods and rockers were emerging as distinct youth tribes in Britain.
In the News in 1961
Adolf Eichmann went on trial in Jerusalem for war crimes. The Bay of Pigs invasion in Cuba was a humiliating failure for the US. The contraceptive pill became available on the NHS in Britain. The farthing coin was discontinued.