What Happened in 1960

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
More Historical Events

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
  • Feb 26 Vera Miles stars in the famous "Mirror Image" episode of the classic CBS television series "The Twilight Zone"
  • Mar 17 One of the first French New Wave films, "Breathless", directed by Jean-Luc Godard, starring Jean-Paul Belmondo and Jean Seberg is released in France
  • May 3 Musical "Fantasticks" by Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones, premieres in NYC (world's longest running musical)
  • Jun 16 "Psycho", psychological horror film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Janet Leigh, Anthony Perkins, and Vera Miles, opens in New York City

1960 in Music

  • Jan 1 Johnny Cash plays first of many free concerts behind bars
  • Apr 3 Elvis Presley records ‘It's Now Or Never’, ‘Fever’ and ‘Are You Lonesome Tonight’ at RCA studios in Nashville, Tennessee
  • May 3 Musical "Fantasticks" by Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones, premieres in NYC (world's longest running musical)
  • Jun 19 Loretta Lynn records "I'm a Honky Tonk Girl"
  • Aug 18 The Beatles give their 1st public performance at the Kaiserkeller in Hamburg

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

Famous People in 1960

Famous People Born in 1960

More Famous Birthdays

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

More Weddings & Divorces

Famous Deaths

More Famous Deaths

Articles on Events in 1960