At A Glance

24 March 1959 at a glance

Day of the week
24 March 1959 was a Tuesday.
Australian No. 1 (Kent retrospective)
“Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” by The Platters was No. 1 on David Kent's retrospective Australian chart. This chart was compiled later by David Kent from radio station charts.
Top Film of 1959
The highest-grossing film worldwide released in 1959 was Ben-Hur.
Star sign
The star sign for 24 March is Aries.
Chinese zodiac
In the Chinese zodiac, 24 March 1959 fell in the Year of the Pig.
Birthstone
The birthstone for March is Aquamarine.
Moon phase
The moon phase on 24 March 1959 was Full Moon.

On this day: 24 March

  • 1944 World War II: In an event later dramatized in the movie The Great Escape, 76 Allied prisoners of war begin breaking out of the German camp Stalag Luft III.
  • 1946 A British Cabinet Mission arrives in India to discuss and plan for the transfer of power from the British Raj to Indian leadership.
  • 1972 Direct rule is imposed on Northern Ireland by the Government of the United Kingdom under Edward Heath.
  • 1976 In Argentina, the armed forces overthrow the constitutional government of President Isabel Perón and start a seven-year dictatorial period self-styled the National Reorganization Process.
  • 1977 Morarji Desai becomes the prime minister of India, the first prime minister not to belong to Indian National Congress.

Famous people born on 24 March

  • Bob Mackie, American fashion designer (1940–2026)
  • Steve McQueen, American actor and producer (1930–1980)
  • Jim Parsons, American actor (born 1973)
  • Steve Ballmer, American businessman (born 1956)

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Choose your country: the charts, news and leaders change to match.

Events of 1959 in Australia

A selection from Wikipedia's '1959 in Australia'. Not a complete list.

  • 26 January – (Australia Day) – Darwin was granted city status
  • 12 February – The Melbourne outdoor performance venue the Sidney Myer Music Bowl is officially opened by Prime Minister Robert Menzies.
  • 15 February – American evangelist Billy Graham begins a tour of Australia.
More events of 1959 →Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Life in Australia in 1959

Prime Minister

Robert Menzies

Monarch

Queen Elizabeth II

Petrol (per litre)

$0.04

Loaf of Bread

$0.12

Average House

$5,300

Weekly Wage

$13.00

Or

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Famous Faces Born in the 1950s

Well-known people born in the same decade as you, not on your birthday.

Angus Young31 March 1955GuitaristView their day →Nick Cave22 September 1957Musician & singerView their day →Pauline Hanson27 May 1954PoliticianView their day →Geoffrey Rush6 July 1951ActorView their day →Deborra-Lee Furness30 November 1955ActressView their day →Chrissy Amphlett25 October 1959SingerView their day →Judy Davis23 April 1955ActressView their day →Malcolm Young6 January 1953GuitaristView their day →

Sources: Wikidata and Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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