CFW Holiday Bonus – What Year Was It?
‘Here’s my story, it’s sad but true’
“It’s about a girl that I once knew”
A famous rock band was surfacing, Barbie got a boyfriend and American television programming was called “a vast wasteland.” It was a year that a legendary actor died, a legendary singer made a comeback, and a famous tenor had his debut.
The space activity between the U.S. and the Soviet Union was competitive, a theme park opened in Texas and construction began on a famous wall. It was a bad year for the B-52. A ballet dancer defected and movies were shown on airplane flights for the first time.
There was a famous trial, the 23rd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified and a morning show host announced his retirement. The year marked the birth of modern genetics and Amnesty International.
What year was it?
The first day of the year was a Sunday. Two days later, January 3, the United States severed diplomatic and consular relations with Cuba. And two days after that, “Mister Ed” debuted on CBS TV.
As January was drawing to a close, a B-52 carrying two nuclear bombs crashed near Goldsboro, North Carolina. The bombs did not explode. Three days later, Soviet submarine S-80 sank in the Barents Sea, killing the crew of 68.
On the last day of January, Ham, a 37-pound male chimpanzee was rocketed into space aboard Mercury-Redstone 2. It was a test of the Project Mercury spacecraft, designed to carry U.S. astronauts into space.
The following day, February 1, the United States tested its first Minuteman I intercontinental ballistic missile.
Eight days later, The Beatles performed for the first time since their return to England from Hamburg, Germany. And they were performing for the first time under the name The Beatles. The performance took place at an old favorite location – The Cavern Club in Liverpool. It was George Harrison’s first appearance at The Cavern Club.
In mid-February, The Miracles “Shop Around” became Motown’s first million-selling single. Sabena Flight 548 crashed near Brussels, Belgium, killing 73, including the entire U.S. figure skating team and several of the team’s coaches. Still in mid-February, soul singer Jackie Wilson was shot and seriously wounded at his Manhattan apartment by Juanita Jones, a jealous girlfriend.
Near the end of February, Elvis Presley made his first public appearance in four years, playing two shows in Memphis, Tennessee.
On March 8, aviator Max Conrad circumnavigated the earth in a light plane in eight days, 18 hours and 49 minutes, setting a new world record.
Three days later, Barbie got a boyfriend. Ken doll was introduced.
Then it happened again. On March 13, a B-52 crashed near Yuba City, California, after cabin pressure was lost and the fuel ran out. The two nuclear bombs did not explode.
“She took my love, then ran around
With every single guy in town”
The 6th Annual Eurovision Song Contest was held on March 18 in Cannes, France. Luxembourg’s entry, “Nous Les Amoureux” sung by Jean-Claude Pascal, won the Best Song Award.
A week later, the Final Four of the NCAA Basketball Championship took place in Kansas City, Missouri. Cincinnati beat Ohio State, 70-65, in the championship game. Cincinnati was coached by Ed Jucker. Ohio State was coached by Fred Taylor. Ohio State’s Jerry Lucas was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. The other two teams in the Final Four were Utah and St. Joseph’s. St. Joseph’s was later forced to vacate its Final Four spot due to a cheating scandal.
On the same day – March 25 – Elvis Presley performed a benefit concert at the Block Arena in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The show raised $62,000 for the USS Arizona Memorial Fund.
Four days later, the 23rd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified. The amendment gave residents of Washington, DC, the right to vote in presidential elections.
In Augusta, Georgia, on April 10, Gary Player became the first international player to win the Masters Golf Tournament. Player beat Arnold Palmer and amateur Charles Coe by one stroke. Heavy rains and flooding forced the fourth round to be played on Monday.
The following day, the trial of Nazi Adolph Eichmann began in Jerusalem. Also, the Boston Celtics won the NBA Championship. The Celtics beat the St. Louis Hawks, 4 games to 1. The Celtics were coached by Red Auerbach. The Hawks were coached by Paul Seymour.
On April 12, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space. Gagarin orbited the earth once before parachuting to the ground.
The next day, the 3rd Annual Grammy Awards Show was held in Los Angeles. Ray Charles won the most awards with four. It was a night for themes. Percy Faith’s “Theme from a Summer Place” won Record of the Year. Ernest Gold’s “Theme from Exodus” won Song of the Year.
The Chicago Black Hawks won the Stanley Cup on April 16. The Black Hawks beat the Detroit Red Wings, 4 games to 2.
A day later, the 33rd Academy Awards presentation was held at the Santa Monica Auditorium in Santa Monica, California. “The Apartment,” directed by Billy Wilder, won the Best Picture Award. For her role in “Butterfield 8,” Elizabeth Taylor won the Best Actress Award. Burt Lancaster won the Best Actor Award for his role in “Elmer Gantry.”
On April 23, Judy Garland performed a legendary comeback concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
The following day, the Swedish warship Vasa, which sank on its maiden voyage in 1628, was recovered from Stockholm Harbor.
As April came to an end, Sierra Leone became independent from the United Kingdom, Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti made his operatic debut and “Wide World of Sports” debuted on ABC TV.
May began with a bang. National Airlines Flight 337 was hijacked to Cuba.
Four days later on May 5, Alan Shepard became the first American in space, aboard Mercury-Redstone 3.
The next day, the Tottenham Hotspurs became the first English soccer team in the 20th century to win the English League 1 and the FA Cup in the same year. The Spurs won the FA Cup, beating Leicester City, 2-0. Earlier, Tottenham won the English Division I League.
On the same day – May 6 – the 87th running of the Kentucky Derby took place at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Carry Back, ridden by jockey Johnny Sellers won the roses.
“Yes, I should have known it from the very start
This girl would leave me with a broken heart”
On May 8, British intelligence officer George Blake was sentenced to 42 years imprisonment for spying for the Soviet Union.
The next day, in a speech to the National Association of Broadcasters titled “Television and the Public Interest,” FCC Chairman Newton Minow called commercial television programming in the United States “a vast wasteland.”
In mid-May, legendary actor Gary Cooper died in Los Angeles at the age of 60. Cooper died from colon and prostate cancer. A Freedom Riders bus was firebombed near Anniston, Alabama. Civil rights protestors were beaten by an angry mob of Ku Klux Klan members. Still in mid-May, J. Heinrich Matthaei became the first person to recognize and understand the genetic code. May 15 became the birth date of modern genetics.
Six days later, Alabama Governor John Patterson declared martial law in Alabama, after race riots broke out around the state.
At the French Open Tennis Championships at Roland Garros Stade in Paris on May 27, Great Britain’s Ann Haydon defeated Mexico’s Yola Ramirez, 2-0, to win the Women’s Singles Title. The next day, Spain’s Manuel Santana defeated Italy’s Nicola Pietrangeli, 3-2, to win the Men’s Singles Title.
Peter Benenson’s article “The Forgotten Prisoners” was published in several international newspapers. May 28 became the founding date of the human rights organization Amnesty International.
As May was winding down, Dave Garroway announced his decision to leave NBC’s “Today Show,” and Rafael Leonidas Trujillo, ruler of the Dominican Republic since 1930, was killed in an ambush.
On the final day of May, Benfica of Lisbon, Portugal, beat FC Barcelona, 3-2, at Wankdorf Stadium in Bern, Switzerland, to win the European Cup.
Summer was underway, and while not yet able to listen to the games on the radio, college football fans were listening and singing along to “A Hundred Pounds Of Clay” by Gene McDaniels; “Mother-In-Law” by Ernie K-Doe; “Bonanza” by Al Caiola and His Orchestra; “Lullaby Of Love” by Frank Gari; “Hello Walls” by Faron Young; “Running Scared” by Roy Orbison; “Tragedy” by The Fleetwoods; “I’m A Fool To Care” by Joe Barry; “Peanut Butter” by The Marathons; “Travelin’ Man” by Ricky Nelson; “Tossin’ and Turnin’” by Bobby Lewis, and “Little Devil” by Neil Sedaka.
Two weeks into June, Patsy Cline was hospitalized as the result of a car collision. While she was in the hospital, her song “I Fall to Pieces” became a big hit.
Two days later on June 16, Soviet ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev defected to the West at Le Bourget Airport in Paris. Nureyev was on tour with the Kirov Ballet.
The following day, a Paris to Strasbourg train derailed near Vitry-le-Francois, France, killing 24 and injuring 105. Also, on the same day, at the Oakland Hills Country Club in Birmingham, Michigan, Gene Littler won the U.S. Open Golf Championship. Littler beat out Bob Goalby and Doug Sanders by one stroke.
“Now, listen people what I’m telling you
I’d keep away from a Runaround Sue”
Meantime, the preseason college football magazines were on the shelves, while the radio stations were playing “That Old Black Magic” by Bobby Rydell; “Those Oldies But Goodies” by Little Caesar and The Romans” “Moody River” by Pat Boone; “Hello Mary Lou” by Ricky Nelson; “Raindrops” by Dee Clark “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King; “I Feel So Bad” by Elvis Presley; “Barbara-Ann” by The Regents; “You Always Hurt The One You Love” by Clarence Henry; “The Writing On The Wall” by Adam Wade; “It’s Keep Rainin’” by Fats Domino; “Every Beat Of My Heart” by Gladys Knight & The Pips, and “The Boll Weevil Song” by Brook Benton.
As July began, Stu Sutcliffe left The Beatles and returned to Hamburg, Germany.
On July 4, Soviet submarine K-19 suffered a reactor leak in the North Atlantic.
Three days later, at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, England, Great Britain’s Angela Mortimer defeated Great Britain’s Christine Truman, 2-1, to win the Women’s Singles Title. The next day, Australia’s Rod Laver defeated America’s Chuck McKinley, 3-0, to win the Men’s Singles Title at Wimbledon.
As the summer air grew warmer and thicker, the DJs were playing and college football fans were listening to “Heart And Soul” by The Clefftones; “Tell Me Why” by The Belmonts; “Quarter To Three” by Gary U.S. Bonds; “I Fall To Pieces” by Patsy Cline; “Dance On Little Girl” by Paul Anka; “Sacred” by The Castells; “Yellow Bird” by The Arthur Lyman Group, and “My Kind Of Girl” by Matt Munro.
A Czechoslovakian Airline plane crashed while attempting to land at Casablanca, Morocco, on July 12. All 72 on board the Ilyushin II-18 aircraft were killed. A few days later, at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England, Arnold Palmer won the British Open Golf Championship. Palmer beat Dai Rees by one stroke.
In mid-July, Billboard Magazine published its first Easy Listening chart. The first No. 1 song on the chart was “The Boll Weevil Song” by Brook Benton. Several years later, the chart was renamed the Adult Contemporary chart.
“I might miss her lips and the smile on her face
The touch of her hand and this girl’s warm embrace”
Airline news made the headlines on July 19. Trans World Airlines became the first airline to show regularly scheduled movies to first class passengers. The initial showings were “Come September” starring Rock Hudson, Gina Lollobrigida, Sandra Dee, Bobby Darin, Walter Slezak and Joel Grey, and “By Love Possessed,” starring Lana Turner, George Hamilton, Jason Robards, Efrem Zimbalist Jr, Carroll O’Connor and Barbara Bel Geddes.
And on the same day, Aerolineas Argentinas Flight 644, a Douglas DC-6, encountered severe turbulence not long after takeoff from Buenos Aires, Argentina. The plane crashed, killing all 67 on board.
The summer airwaves continued to be filled with good music, including “Wild In The Country” by Elvis Presley; “Ole Buttermilk Sky” by Bill Black’s Combo; “Please Stay” by The Drifters; “San Antonio Rose” by Floyd Cramer; “Cupid” by Sam Cooke; “Hats Off To Larry” by Del Shannon, and “I’m Comin’ On Back To You” by Jackie Wilson.
On July 21, Gus Grissom, piloting the Mercury-Redstone 4 spacecraft Liberty Bell 7, became the second American to go into space. After splashdown, the hatch prematurely opened. Grissom escaped before the spacecraft sank. Thirty-eight years later, the spacecraft was retrieved from the ocean floor.
Three noteworthy events occurred on the last day of July. Ireland submitted the first application from a non-founding member country to join the European Economic Community. At the Olympia Fields Country Club in Olympia Fields, Illinois, Jerry Barber won the PGA Championship. Barber beat Don January by one stroke in an 18-hole Monday playoff. And finally, on July 31, at Fenway Park in Boston, the first Major League All-Star Game tie occurred. With the score 1-1, the game was halted in the 9th inning due to heavy rain.
On the first day of August, the Six Flags Over Texas theme park officially opened to the public.
Five days later – on August 6 – Soviet cosmonaut Gherman Titov became the second human to orbit the earth and the first to be in outer space for more than one day.
The United Kingdom applied for membership in the European Economic Union on August 10.
As summer was coming to an end, college football fans could not wait for the season to begin. In the preseason polls, the Iowa Hawkeyes were the No. 1 team in the country. The top songs on the radio were “Never On Sunday” by The Chordettes; “Dum Dum” by Brenda Lee; “I’m Gonna Knock On Your Door” by Eddie Hodges; “Sea Of Heartbreak” by Don Gibson; “Let’s Twist Again” by Chubby Checker; “Quite A Party” by The Fireballs; “Together” by Connie Francis, and “Wooden Heart” by Joe Dowell.
In mid-August, construction of the Berlin Wall began, restricting movement between East Berlin and West Berlin. The wall formed a clear boundary between East Germany and West Germany.
“So, if you don’t wanna cry like I do
I’d keep away from Runaround Sue”
Near the end of August, a French military airplane clipped a cable of the aerial tramway connecting Pointe Helbronner and the Aiguille du Midi in the French Alps. Three cars of the tramway fell, killing five people. The remaining 63 cable car passengers were rescued. The pilot of the airplane landed safely.
Just days before the first games of the season, college football fans were grillin’ and chillin’ to “I’ll Be There” by Damita Joe; “I Dreamed Of A Hill-Billy Heaven” by Tex Ritter; “Last Night” by The Mar-Keys; “Don’t Bet Money Honey” by Linda Scott; “My True Story” by The Jive Five; “As If I Didn’t Know” by Adam Wade; “Michael” by The Highwaymen, and “The Astronaut” by Jose Jimenez.
Seven days into September, “Tom and Jerry” made a return with their first cartoon short in three years – “Switchin’ Kitten.”
On September 9, at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, New York City, America’s Darlene Hard defeated Great Britain’s Ann Haydon, 2-0, to win the Women’s Singles Title at the U.S. Open Tennis Championship. The next day, Australia’s Roy Emerson defeated Australia’s Rod Laver, 3-0, to win the Men’s Singles Title.
The same day Emerson won at Forest Hills, a crash occurred during the F1 Italian Grand Prix. German Wolfgang von Trips, driving a Ferrari, crashed into a stand, killing himself and 14 spectators.
The following day – September 11 – Hurricane Carla made landfall on Matagorda Island in Texas as a strong Category 4 storm, killing 34 and causing $300 million in damage to the state.
“She likes to travel around
She’ll love you but she’ll put you down”
Meanwhile, the college football season was underway and fans were tailgating to “I’m A Telling You” by Jerry Butler; “Let The Four Winds Blow” by Fats Domino; “School Is Out” by Gary U.S. Bonds; “I Just Don’t Understand” by Ann-Margaret; “I’ll Never Smile Again” by The Platters; “Hurt” by Timi Yuro; “Amor” by Ben E. King; “It’s Gonna Work Out Fine” by Ike & Tina Turner, and “When We Get Married” by The Dreamlovers.
Two weeks into September, London police arrested more than 1,300 protestors in Trafalgar Square during a rally for nuclear disarmament. Also, the world’s first retractable roof stadium – the Civic Arena – opened in Pittsburgh.
On September 18, Secretary-General of the United Nations Dag Hammarskjold was killed in an airplane crash en route to Katanga, Congo.
The next day, an American couple from New Hampshire – Barney and Betty Hill – claimed they saw a UFO, as they were driving home from Canada. The sighting occurred in New Hampshire. The couple claimed they were abducted by the aliens.
College football fans were celebrating their wins and mourning their losses to “The Mountain’s High” by Dick and DeeDee; “Let Me Belong To You” by Brian Highland; “Who Put The Bomp (In The Bomp, Bomp, Bomp)” by Barry Mann; “Without You” by Johnny Tillotosn; “Take Good Care Of My Baby” by Bobby Vee; “Bless You” by Tony Orlando; “More Money For You And Me” by The Four Preps; “Mexico” by Bob Moore and His Orchestra; “Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavor (On The Bedpost Over Night)” by Lonnie Donegan and His Skiffle Group, and “Crying” by Roy Orbison.
During the final week of September, the Walt Disney television series – renamed “Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color” – moved from ABC to NBC, after seven years on the air. The show began telecasting in color for the first time. Years later, the program was renamed “The Wonderful World of Disney.”
In late September, “Car 54 Where Are You?” and “Hazel” debuted on NBC TV.
In early October, “Ben Casey” debuted on ABC TV and “The Dick Van Dyke Show” debuted on CBS TV.
On October 5, the film “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” was released by Paramount Pictures to critical and commercial success.
On October 7 at the Los Angeles Coliseum, No. 1 Iowa struggled to beat USC, 35-34. Two days later, following its 33-0 win over Florida State, Ole Miss became the No. 1 team in the country.
A few days later, the New York Yankees won the World Series, beating the Cincinnati Reds, 4 games to 1. The Yankees were managed by Ralph Houk. The Reds were managed by Fred Hutchinson. Yankees pitcher Whitey Ford was named the most valuable player of the series.
The death penalty was abolished in New Zealand on October 12.
On October 14, No. 1 Ole Miss beat Houston, 47-7, while Michigan State beat Michigan 28-0. The pollsters were more impressed by Michigan State’s win. On October 16, Michigan State replaced Ole Miss as the No. 1 team in the country.
In mid-October, former schoolmates Mick Jagger and Keith Richards met by chance at the Dartford Railway Station in Kent, England. The two were on their way to their respective colleges.
The film “West Side Story” was released on October 18.
About a week later, a standoff between Soviet and American tanks at Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin heightened cold war tensions.
“Now, people let me put you wise
Sue goes out with other guys”
With Halloween approaching, college football fans were carving their pumpkins, while listening to “Frankie And Johnny” by Brook Benton; “Little Sister” by Elvis Presley; “One Track Mind” by Bobby Lewis; “You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby” by Bobby Darin; “The Way You Look Tonight” by The Lettermen; “Sad Movies (Make Me Cry) by Sue Thompson; “Let’s Get Together” by Hayley Mills; “Marie’s The Name, His Latest Flame” by Elvis Presley; “I Love How You Love Me” by The Paris Sisters; “Please Mr. Postman” by The Marvelettes; “Take Five” by The Dave Brubeck Quartet; “Hit The Road Jack” by Ray Charles; “Ya Ya” by Lee Dorsey, and “Bristol Stomp” by The Dovells.
On the last day of October – Halloween – Joseph Stalin’s body was removed from the Lenin Mausoleum in Moscow. Also, Hurricane Hattie devastated Belize City, Belize, killing more than 270 people.
The price of a first-class postage stamp was 4 cents, and the price of a gallon of gas was 29 cents. A single edition of the New York Times was 5 cents. A loaf of bread cost 21 cents, a gallon of milk was $1.04, while a dozen eggs were 43 cents. The inflation rate was 1.07%.
On the first day of November, the Interstate Commerce Commission’s federal order banning segregation at all Interstate public facilities went into effect.
Two days later, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously elected Burmese diplomat U Thant to the position of Secretary-General.
On November 4, unranked Minnesota upset No. 1 Michigan State, 13-0. Two days later, following its 27-0 win over SMU, Texas became the No. 1 team in the country.
The U.S. Postal Service issued a stamp on November 6, honoring the 100th birthday of James Naismith, the inventor of basketball.
Two days later, Imperial Airlines Flight 2018 crashed while attempting to land at Richmond, Virginia, killing 77 people on board.
“Here’s the moral and the story from the guy who knows
I fell in love and my love still grows”
“Catch 22,” by Joseph Heller, was published. The following day, on November 11, Stalingrad was renamed Volgograd.
In mid-November, Michael Rockefeller, son of New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller, disappeared in the jungles of New Guinea. Lucille Ball married Gary Morton in New York City. And “La Ronde,” the first revolving restaurant in the United States, opened in Honolulu.
On November 18, unranked TCU upset No. 1 Texas, 6-0. Two days later, following its 10-0 win over Georgia Tech, Alabama became the No. 1 team in the country.
At Thanksgiving, college football fans were stuffing themselves on turkey and pumpkin pie, while listening to “This Time” by Troy Shondell; “I Understand (Just How You Feel)” by The G-Clefs; “(He’s My) Dreamboat” by Connie Francis; “Moon River” by Jerry Butler; “The Fly” by Chubby Checker; “Runaround Sue” by Dion; “Everlovin’” by Ricky Nelson; “Tower Of Strength” by Gene McDaniels; “Fool #1” by Brenda Lee; “Big Bad John” by Jimmy Dean; “Town Without Pity” by Gene Pitney; “Heartaches” by The Marcels; “A Wonder Like You” by Ricky Nelson, and “Moon River” by Henry Mancini.
Near the end of November, the Everly Brothers enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve.
Alabama (10-0) and Rutgers (9-0) were the only Division I teams to finish the regular season undefeated.
The consensus All-American college football first-team consisted of end Gary Collins – Maryland (6-3, 205) Williamstown, PA; end Bill Miller – Miami (Florida) (6-0, 188) McKeesport, PA; tackle Billy Neighbors – Alabama (5-11, 229) Tuscaloosa, AL; tackle Merlin Olsen – Utah State (6-5, 265) Logan, UT; guard Roy Winston – LSU (6-1, 225) Baton Rouge, LA; guard Joe Romig – Colorado (5-10, 199) Lakewood, CO; center Alex Kroll – Rutgers (6-2, 228) Leechburg, PA; running back Ernie Davis – Syracuse (6-2, 210) Elmira, NY; running back Bob Ferguson – Ohio State (6-0, 217) Troy, OH; running back Jimmy Saxton – Texas (5-11, 160) Palestine, TX, and quarterback Sandy Stephens – Minnesota (6-0, 215) Uniontown, PA.
On December 8, the Beach Boys released their debut 45rpm single “Surfin’.” The very next day, The Beatles played their first gig in the south of England at Aldershot. Only 18 people turned out for the show.
Syracuse running back Ernie Davis won the Heisman Trophy. In the balloting, Davis beat out (2) Ohio State running back Bob Ferguson, (3) Texas running back Jimmy Saxton and (4) Minnesota quarterback Sandy Stephens.
The Maxwell Ward for the most outstanding college football player went to Bob Ferguson. Utah State’s Merlin Olsen won the Outland Trophy for the most outstanding interior lineman.
Some of the best albums of the year were “Wonderland by Night” by Bert Kaempfert; “Exodus” by Ernest Gold; “Lonely and Blue” by Roy Orbison; “Runaround Sue” by Dion; “New Juke Box Hits” by Chuck Berry; “Runaway” by Del Shannon; “The Shadows” by The Shadows, and “The Ventures” by The Ventures.
Also, “The Genius Sings the Blues” by Ray Charles; “Two Steps from the Blues” by Bobby Bland; “West Side Story” by Various Artists; “Something for Everybody” by Elvis Presley; “My Kind of Blues” by Sam Cooke; “Please Mr. Postman” by The Marvelettes, and “Ring-A-Ding Ding!” by Frank Sinatra.
The Soviet Union severed diplomatic relations with Albania on December 10.
“Ask any fool that she ever knew
They’ll say keep away from Runaround Sue”
Some of the more popular movies of the year were “101 Dalmatians;” “The Absent Minded Professor;” “The Misfits;” “One-Eyed Jacks;” “La Dolce Vita;” “Return to Peyton Place:” “The Parent Trap;: “The Guns of Navarone;” “Come September;” “Splendor in the Grass;” “The Hustler;” “Breakfast at Tiffany’s;” “West Side Story,” and “Flower Drum Song.”
December 11 marked the official beginning of America’s involvement in the Vietnam War. The first American helicopters arrived in Saigon, along with 400 U.S. military personnel. Also, Adolph Eichmann was found guilty of crimes against humanity for his part in the Holocaust.
Four days later, Adolph Eichmann was sentenced to death.
The best reads of the year included “Hawaii” by James Michener; “Advise and Consent” by Allen Drury; “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee; “Decision at Delphi” by Helen MacInnes; “Sermons and Soda Water” by John O’Hara; “The Last of the Just” by Andre Schwartz-Bart; “A Burnt-Out Case” by Graham Greene; “The Agony and the Ecstasy” by Irving Stone; “The Rise and the Fall of the Third Reich” by William L. Shirer, and “Fate is the Hunter” by Earnest K. Gahn.
Also, “Who Killed Society?” by Cleveland Amory; “Midcentury” by John Dos Passos; “China Court” by Rumer Godden; “A Nation of Sheep” by William J. Lederer; “Mila 18” by Leon Uris; “The Edge of Sadness” by Edwin O’Connor; “The Winter of Our Discontent” by John Steinbeck; “Tropic of Cancer” by Henry Miller; “The Carpetbaggers” by Harold Robbins; “Inside Europe Today” by John Gunther; “Franny and Zooey” by J.D. Salinger, and “Spirit Lake” by MacKinlay Kantor;
With Christmas and bowl games in the air, college football fans were doing their holiday shopping to “I Wanna Thank You” by Bobby Rydell; “God, Country And My Baby” by Johnny Burnette; “September In The Rain” by Dinah Washington; “Gypsy Woman” by The Impressions; “Till” by The Angels; “Tonight” by Ferrante & Teicher; “Goodbye Cruel World” by James Darren; “Crazy” by Patsy Cline; “Walk On By” by Larry Van Dyke; “Let There Be Drums” by Sandy Nelson, and “Unchain My Heart” by Ray Charles.
In mid-December, a circus tent fire in Niteroi, Brazil, killed 323 people.
On December 16, Syracuse won the Liberty Bowl, beating Miami (Florida), 15-14.
Three days before Christmas, the first U.S. soldier was killed in Vietnam.
“So, if you don’t wanna cry like I do
I’d keep away from Runaround Sue”
Well-known people who were born during the year included Julia Louis-Dreyfus; Mark Messier; Wayne Gretzky; James Worthy; Mike Leach; Susan Boyle; Eddie Murphy; Boomer Esiason; George Clooney; Dennis Rodman; Melissa Etheridge; Michael J. Fox; Aaron Sorkin; Boy George; Ricky Gervais, and Greg LeMond.
Also, Diana, Princess of Wales; Carl Lewis; Toby Keith; Forest Whitaker; Elizabeth McGovern; Woody Harrelson; Laurence Fishburne; Brad Gilbert; Billy Ray Cyrus; James Gandolfini; Bonnie Hunt; Heather Locklear; Wynton Marsalis; Dylan McDermott; k.d. lang; Meg Ryan; Mariel Hemingway, and Kim Delaney.
Famous people who died during the year included Dashell Hammett; Gary Cooper; Joan Davis; Carl Jung; Jeff Chandler; Ernest Hemingway; Whitaker Chambers; Ty Cobb; Marion Davies; Sumner Welles; Chico Marx; James Thurber; Sam Rayburn, and Moss Hart.
The most popular TV shows of the year were “Wagon Train;” “Bonanza;” “Gunsmoke;” “Hazel;” “The Red Skelton Show;” “Perry Mason;” “Dr. Kildare;” “My Three Sons;” “The Gary Moore Show;” “Rawhide;” “Real McCoys;” “Ben Casey,” and “Car 54 Where Are You?”
On December 29, Lamar beat Middle Tennessee, 21-14, to win the Tangerine Bowl. The following day, Villanova won the Sun Bowl, beating Wichita State, 17-9, and Penn State beat Georgia Tech, 30-15, in the Gator Bowl.
During the last few days of the year and on New Year’s Eve, college football fans were partying, drinking, celebrating, dancing and singing to “Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen” by Neil Sedaka; “Run To Him” by Bobby Vee; “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” by The Tokens; “The Twist” by Chubby Checker; “Revenge” by Brook Benton; “There’s No Other (Like My Baby)” by The Crystals; “When The Boy In Your Arms (Is The Boy In Your Heart)” by Connie Francis; “When I Fall In Love” by The Lettermen; “Peppermint Twist” by Joey Dee & The Starliters; “Cotton Fields” by The Highwaymen; “Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Elvis Presley; “Small Sad Sam” by Phil McLean; “Norman” by Sue Thompson, and “The Wanderer” by Dion.
On December 31, Ireland’s first national television station began broadcasting.
“Now, listen people what I’m telling you
I’d keep away from a Runaround Sue”
At the end of the year, the unemployment rate was 5.5%. The GDP growth rate was 2.6%. On the last day of the year, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 691.73. The year-end Federal Reserve rate was 5.13%.
On January 1 of the following year, Texas beat Ole Miss, 12-7, in the Cotton Bowl, while Alabama downed Arkansas, 10-3, to win the Sugar Bowl. Minnesota won the Rose Bowl, beating UCLA, 21-3, and LSU beat Colorado, 25-7, in the Orange Bowl.
Finishing first in the AP and UPI Polls, Alabama (11-0), coached by Paul “Bear” Bryant, was named the national champion.
“Runaround Sue” is a rock and roll song, in a modified doo-wop style, recorded by Dion DiMucci. It was written by Dion and Ernie Maresca. According to Dion, he started putting the song together at a friend’s birthday party. He later took what he had started to his friend Ernie Maresca. Together they developed the tune and lyrics. This was about a year after Dion split from The Belmonts. The song was recorded at the Bell Sound Studios in New York City. A vocal group called The Del-Satins provided the background vocals on the recording.
“Runaround Sue” entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart on September 25, during the first month of the college football season. It peaked at No. 1 on October 23, where it remained for two weeks. The song was on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart for 14 weeks, throughout the football season, until January 1. “Runaround Sue” also peaked at No. 1 on the charts in Canada, New Zealand and the UK. It peaked at No. 2 in Australia. The song was Dion’s second solo hit single after leaving The Belmonts. His first was “Lonely Teenager.”
In his autobiography, The Wanderer, Dion said the inspiration for “Runaround Sue” came from the song “Quarter To Three” by Gary U.S. Bonds. Sixteen years later, “Runaround Sue” was covered by then 15-year-old singer Leif Garrett. Garrett’s recording of the song reached No. 13 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. Many other singers and groups covered the song, including Chubby Checker, Del Shannon, Gary Glitter and Human Nature.
“Now, people let me put you wise
Sue goes out with other guys”
The year was 1961
Happy New Year!
Touchdown Tom
December 27, 2025
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The next CFW – Week 18 Results/19 Forecast – will be posted on Monday morning, December 29.
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