Significant Events
- Feb 8 Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom issued an Order-in-Council, stating that she and her family would be known as the House of Windsor, and that her descendants will take the name "Mountbatten-Windsor".
- Feb 29 Agadir earthquake in Morocco kills a third of the population (12,000-15,000)
- Mar 25 1st guided missile launched from nuclear powered sub (Halibut)
- Apr 13 France becomes 4th nuclear nation exploding an A-Bomb in Sahara
- May 9 US becomes the first country to legalize the birth control pill
- May 10 US atomic submarine USS Triton completes 1st submerged circumnavigation of the globe
- Jun 23 1st contraceptive pill is made available for purchase in the U.S.
- Sep 14 Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi-Arabia and Venezuela form the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
- Dec 20 The National Liberation Front, better known as the Viet Cong, is officially formed in South Vietnam
1960 in Film & TV
- Feb 3 "La Dolce Vita" directed by Federico Fellini and starring Marcello Mastroianni and Anita Ekberg has its film premiere in Italy
- Sep 8 Nationwide release (US) of Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" starring Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh
- Oct 6 "Spartacus", directed by Stanley Kubrick and starring Kirk Douglas and Laurence Olivier, premieres in NYC
- Oct 12 Japanese politician Inejiro Asanuma is assassinated with a sword during a televised debate live on TV by 17-year old nationalist Otoya Yamaguchi
- Dec 9 1st broadcast of "Coronation Street" on British ITV
1960 in Music
- Jan 1 Johnny Cash plays first of many free concerts behind bars
- Aug 18 The Beatles give their 1st public performance at the Kaiserkeller in Hamburg
- Sep 19 Chubby Checker's "Twist" hits #1 on the Billboard Hot 100
- Oct 27 Singer Ben E King records "Spanish Harlem" & "Stand By Me"
- Nov 14 Ray Charles' "Georgia On My Mind" reaches #1
1960 in Sport
- Jan 11 LaMar Clark sets pro boxing record of 44 consecutive knockouts
- Feb 1 48th Men's Australian Championships: Rod Laver beats Neale Fraser (5-7, 3-6, 6-3, 8-6, 8-6) Laver's first major win
- Aug 25 AFL begins placing players names on back of their jerseys
- Sep 15 Maurice Richard announces his retirement. He finishes his career with 544 goals, an NHL record at the time.
- Oct 29 Muhammad Ali's [Cassius Clay] 1st professional fight, beats Tunney Hunsaker in 6
Did You Know?
"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee is first published by J. B. Lippincott & Co.
On July 11, 1960
World Leaders in 1960
Dwight D. Eisenhower
34th US President & WWII General
Mao Zedong
Chinese Revolutionary and Chairman of the Communist Party
Nikita Khrushchev
Soviet First Secretary
Famous People in 1960
Arnold Palmer
Sportsperson
of the Year
Burt Lancaster
Oscar for Best Actor
Elizabeth Taylor
Oscar for Best Actress
Cal Ripken Jr
Colin Firth
Jean-Claude Van Damme
Jeffrey Dahmer
John Elway
John F. Kennedy Jr.Would You Believe?
"The Flintstones" the first animated sitcom created by Hanna-Barbera premieres on ABC in the US
On September 30, 1960
Famous Weddings
- Jan 22 Comedic actor Bob Denver (25) weds Maggie Ryan in California
- Jan 31 Songwriter Adolph Green marries actress/singer Phyllis Newman in NYC
- Mar 31 Actor Yul Brynner (44) weds fashion house executive Doris Kleiner (32) in Mexico City
- Apr 10 NBA guard Jerry West (21) weds his college sweetheart Martha Kane in Morgantown, West Virginia
- May 6 English Princess Margaret marries Antony Armstrong-Jones (later Lord Snowdon) at Westminster Abbey
Famous Divorces
- Mar 4 Lucille Ball files divorce from Desi Arnaz
- Mar 26 Academy award-winning actor Yul Brynner (39) divorces actress Virginia Gilmore (40) after 15 years of marriage
- Jun 14 Actress Laraine Day (39) divorces manager Leo Durocher (53) due to incompatibility after 12 years of marriage
- Jul 6 Actress Bette Davis (52) divorces actor Gary Merrill (46) after almost 10 years of marriage
- Sep 2 Actress Tammy Grimes (26) divorces actor Christopher Plummer (30) after 4 years of marriage
Albert Camus
Arthur Meighen
Boris Pasternak
Clark Gable
John D. Rockefeller Jr
Otto Frederick RohwedderArticles on Events in 1960
Coronation Street, King of the Soaps
Thought to have no great future when launched on this day, Coronation Street still reigns supreme
December 9, 1960
How Britain Fell in Love with Lady Chatterley
After a sensational trial, the courts cleared the way for the controversial novel Lady Chatterley's Lover to go on sale in Britain, causing a stampede.
November 10, 1960