At A Glance

11 October 1961 at a glance

Day of the week
11 October 1961 was a Wednesday.
UK Number One
The UK Number One single was “Michael” by The Highwaymen.
Top Film of 1961
The highest-grossing film worldwide released in 1961 was One Hundred and One Dalmatians.
Star sign
The star sign for 11 October is Libra.
Chinese zodiac
In the Chinese zodiac, 11 October 1961 fell in the Year of the Ox.
Birthstone
The birthstone for October is Opal.
Moon phase
The moon phase on 11 October 1961 was Waxing Crescent.

On this day: 11 October

  • 1950 CBS's field-sequential color system for television is the first to be licensed for broadcast by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission.
  • 1954 In accord with the 1954 Geneva Conference, French troops complete their withdrawal from North Vietnam.
  • 1958 NASA launches Pioneer 1, its first space probe, although it fails to achieve a stable orbit.
  • 1962 The Second Vatican Council becomes the first ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church in 92 years.
  • 1968 NASA launches Apollo 7, the first successful crewed Apollo mission.

Famous people born on 11 October

  • Michelle Trachtenberg, American actress (1985–2025)
  • Peter Thiel, German and American entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and political activist (born 1967)
  • Arman Tsarukyan, Armenian professional mixed martial artist (born 1996)
  • Joan Cusack, American actress (born 1962)

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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Events of 1961 in the United Kingdom

A selection from Wikipedia's '1961 in the United Kingdom'. Not a complete list.

  • 7 January – The Avengers television series first screened on ITV.
  • 15 March – The Jaguar E-Type, a sports car capable of reaching speeds of 150 mph, is launched as a two-seater roadster or 2+2 coupé (at the Geneva Motor Show). On 3 April it makes its racing debut by winning at Oulton Park.
  • 20 March – Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, becomes the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and its company the Royal Shakespeare Company (Peter Hall (director)).
More events of 1961 →Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Life in 1961

Prime Minister

Harold Macmillan

Monarch

Elizabeth II

Pint of Beer

11p

Loaf of Bread

7p

Average House

£2,670

Weekly Wage

£14.90

Or

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Famous Faces Born in the 1960s

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

Guy Ritchie10 September 1968FilmmakerView their day →Diana, Princess of Wales1 July 1961Member of the British royal familyView their day →Nigella Lawson6 January 1960Food writer & television cookView their day →Jason Statham26 July 1967ActorView their day →Catherine Zeta-Jones25 September 1969ActressView their day →Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer20 May 1964Peer & authorView their day →Kenneth Branagh10 December 1960Actor & filmmakerView their day →George Michael25 June 1963SingerView their day →

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

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