At A Glance

24 March 1962 at a glance

Day of the week
24 March 1962 was a Saturday.
UK Number One
The UK Number One single was “Wonderful Land” by The Shadows.
Top Film of 1962
The highest-grossing film worldwide released in 1962 was Lawrence of Arabia.
Star sign
The star sign for 24 March is Aries.
Chinese zodiac
In the Chinese zodiac, 24 March 1962 fell in the Year of the Tiger.
Birthstone
The birthstone for March is Aquamarine.
Moon phase
The moon phase on 24 March 1962 was Waning Gibbous.

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)

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Events of 1962 in the United Kingdom

A selection from Wikipedia's '1962 in the United Kingdom'. Not a complete list.

  • 2 January – BBC Television broadcasts the first episode of Z-Cars, noted as a realistic portrayal of the police force.
  • 14 June – BBC Television broadcasts the first episode of the sitcom Steptoe and Son, written by Galton and Simpson.
  • 12 July – The Rolling Stones make their debut at London's Marquee Club, Number 165 Oxford Street, opening for Long John Baldry.

Life in 1962

Prime Minister

Harold Macmillan

Monarch

Elizabeth II

Pint of Beer

12p

Loaf of Bread

7p

Average House

£2,670

Weekly Wage

£15.60

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.

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

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