1960s Timeline

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Nov 3, 2022

TV: Special Telecast on Proposed National Cultural Center

Nov. 3, 1962 - Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy (pictured with composer Igor Stravinsky) will have a major role on NBC’s one-hour telecast Sunday about the proposed National Cultural Center in Washington. “A Stage for Excellence,” which will explain how the center will be used by the performing arts, will be presented in color at 4:30 p.m. Mrs. Kennedy will introduce the entertainment segments that have been filmed by NBC in different locales as examples of the type of performances th

Sep 30, 2021

TV: "Gunsmoke" Season Premiere, 10 p.m. on CBS

Sept. 30, 1961 - The seventh season of "Gunsmoke" premieres tonight in its new hour-long format. Ex-con Perce McCall (Ed Nelson) helps save Matt's life in a shootout, and then falls for a beautiful but greedy saloon girl (Norma Crane), who puts him under great pressure to return to a life of crime. 10 p.m. on CBS. #tv #classictv #classictelevision #western #westernmovie #westerns #entertainment #podcast

Sep 30, 2021

Movies: "Spartacus" Marks First Anniversary

Sept. 30, 1961 - "Spartacus," the spectacle-adventure starring Kirk Douglas, will mark its first anniversary at New York's DeMille Theatre on Thursday and complete its stand there on Sunday. It started as a reserved-seat engagement and changed last June to an unreserved-seat policy. During the 743 showings of the film at the DeMille, more than 500,000 persons paid more than $1,350,000 to see it. #movie #movies #film #films #classicmovies #celebrities #entertainment

Sep 28, 2021

TV: Series Premiere of "Dr. Kildare" on NBC

Sept. 28, 1961 - The series premiere of the medical drama "Dr. Kildare" will air at 8:30 p.m. tonight on NBC-TV. Like the earlier Kildare film series, the show tells the story of intern Dr. James Kildare (Richard Chamberlain, pictured), who is trying to learn his profession at the fictional Blair General Hospital and win the respect of the senior Dr. Leonard Gillespie (Raymond Massey). On tonight's episode, Dr. Kildare's ability to get along with his patients is tested by a d

Sep 28, 2021

TV: Arness of Gunsmoke to Host CBS Special

Sept. 28, 1961 - James Arness will check his guns, doff his United States marshal's badge, and turn television host for an hour-long special on CBS. The occasion will be Chevrolet's salute to itself, on the occasion of its 50th anniversary in the automobile business. The show will appear Nov. 3, at 8:30 p.m. Mr. Arness usually shows up on TV as Marshal Dillon, in the dusty environs of Dodge City, on "Gunsmoke." #tv #classictv #classictelevision #western #westernmovie #western

Sep 28, 2021

Hollywood Gets Mass Fallout Shelter

Sept. 28, 1961 - The stars and other figures who live near Hollywood's Sunset Strip have become the most fallout-proof citizens of California with the opening of a fully-equipped mass shelter. Former Vice President Richard M. Nixon, Dinah Shore, Pat Boone, Eartha Kitt, George Montgomery, and Cornel Wilde all have homes within 10-minute walking distance of the shelter. Those with offices near it include Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Bob Hope. State, county, and city official

Sep 27, 2021

TV: "The Joey Bishop Show," 8:30 p.m. on NBC

Sept. 27, 1961 - Tonight on "The Joey Bishop Show," Joey expects to be doing publicity work for Marilyn Monroe, but his new client is a chimp who recently appeared in a film. Joey manages to get the chimp on the "Tonight" show with Jack Paar. But, when the trainer doesn't show, Joey must join his new client before the cameras. 8:30 p.m. on NBC. #tv #classictv #classictelevision #sitcom #situationcomedy #comedy #entertainment #podcast

Sep 27, 2021

Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward Parents to Second Daughter

Sept. 27, 1961 - Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman, the film performers, became parents of a daughter today at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Hollywood. The child has been named Melissa. The Newmans have another daughter, Nell. Scott Newman, the actor's only son, was born to Mr. Newman and his first wife, Jackie Witte, in 1950. #movie #movies #film #films #classicmovies #celebrities #entertainment #babies

Sep 25, 2021

Movie: "The Hustler," with Paul Newman, Piper Laurie, George C. Scott, and Jackie Gleason

Sept. 25, 1961 - Opening in local theatres today is "The Hustler," a CinemaScope drama directed by Robert Rossen from Walter Tevis's 1959 novel of the same name. It tells the story of small-time pool hustler "Fast" Eddie Felson (Paul Newman) and his desire to break into the "major league" of professional hustling and high-stakes wagering. He throws his considerable but undisciplined talent up against the best player in the country, "Minnesota Fats" (Jackie Gleason). Along th

Sep 24, 2021

TV: Series Premiere of "87th Precinct" on NBC

Sept. 24, 1961 - Premiering tonight on NBC-TV is "87th Precinct," a crime drama starring Robert Lansing, Gena Rowlands, Ron Harper, Gregory Walcott, and Norman Fell. The characters of the show previously appeared in a series of novels and stories written by Ed McBain. Lansing portrays Detective Steve Carella, who works in Manhattan's 87th precinct. The character of Roger Havilland (played by Walcott), in the books, is violent, corrupt, and thoroughly disliked by other members

Sep 23, 2021

TV: William Shatner Guest Star on "The Defenders"

Sept. 23, 1961 - On tonight's episode of "The Defenders," when mild-mannered Jim McLeery (William Shatner) kills an abusive stranger, it seems a clear-cut case of self-defense. However, the prosecution reveals that, in his army days, McCleery was trained to kill. 8:30 p.m. on #CBS. #tv #classictv #classictelevision #legaldrama #lawyers #law #entertainment

Sep 22, 2021

TV: Tonight on "The Twilight Zone"

Tonight's "Twilight Zone" episode: "The Arrival" Sept. 22, 1961 - Tonight on "The Twilight Zone," Federal aviation investigator Grant Sheckly (Harold J. Stone) must deal with the following mystery: a plane has landed at an airport without pilots, passengers, or luggage. 10 p.m. on #CBS. #tv #classictv #classictelevision #scifi #sciencefiction #fantasy #entertainment

Sep 22, 2021

Marion Davies, Star of Old Hollywood and Hearst Paramour, Dies

Sept. 22, 1961 - Marion Davies (pictured in 1936), a star of the old Hollywood, died today of cancer. A friend said that Miss Davies, early in her illness, had been told she had cancer but tried not to believe it. Her age has been given variously as 61 or 64. As a teenager, she appeared in several Broadway musicals and one film, "Runaway Romany" (1917). She soon became a featured performer in the Ziegfeld Follies. While performing in the 1916 Follies, the 19-year-old Marion m

Sep 22, 2021

Movie: "Back Street," with Susan Hayward, John Gavin, and Vera Miles

Sept. 22, 1961 - "Back Street," Ross Hunter's film version of the sentimental 1931 novel by Fannie Hurst, will open at the Capitol Theatre on Oct. 12. Susan Hayward, John Gavin, and Vera Miles have leading roles in the Universal-International release, which was directed by David Miller. The story follows two lovers who have limited opportunities to get together because one of them is married. #movie #movies #film #films #classicmovies #celebrities #entertainment

Sep 21, 2021

Movie: "King of Kings" with Jeffrey Hunter

Sept. 21, 1961 - Two public previews of the film "King of Kings" have been scheduled for Oct. 8 and 9, before the official opening at New York's Loew's State Theatre on Oct. 11. The first preview will be for the benefit of the Cardinal's Campaign, the fund-raising organization for a new seminary and high schools. The second screening will be for the benefit of the Protestant Council of the City of New York. #movie #movies #film #films #classicmovies #celebrities #entertainmen

Sep 20, 2021

Movie: Rod Serling's "Requiem for a Heavyweight"

Sept. 20, 1961 - Mickey Rooney (pictured with Rod Serling) has been signed for a leading role in Serling's "Requiem for a Heavyweight," which will start filming in New York in November. Mr. Rooney will play the role of the fight trainer, which was played by Ed Wynn on television. Anthony Quinn and Jackie Gleason are also in the cast. #movie #movies #film #films #classicmovies #celebrities #entertainment

Sep 20, 2021

Former Film Star Marion Davies Given Last Rites

Sept. 20, 1961 - Marion Davies (pictured in 1935) has been given the last rites of the Roman Catholic Church and was reported to be near death today after a long illness. A church spokesman confirmed that the 61-year-old actress had been given the last rites at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Hollywood, where she has been confined since May. When Joseph P. Kennedy, father of the President, learned of her illness in June, he had three New York specialists flown to her bedside fo

Sep 20, 2021

Movie: "Town without Pity" with Kirk Douglas and E.G. Marshall

Sept. 20, 1961 - "Town Without Pity," a United Artists release filmed in Germany, will open Oct. 10 at New York's Astor Theatre, following the current "The Young Doctors." Kirk Douglas, E.G. Marshall, and Christine Kaufmann play leading roles in the production. Four American soldiers stationed near a German village face death for the rape of a local girl. They are defended by outside counsel Major Steve Garrett (Douglas). #movie #movies #film #films #classicmovies #celebritie

Jul 11, 2021

Movies: "Trouble in the Sky"

July 11, 1961 - Today's new film is "Trouble in the Sky," a British-made melodrama with Peter Cushing (right), Michael Craig, Delphi Lawrence (left) and George Sanders. Charles Frend directed the Universal-International release. In Britain, at the dawn of jet-powered commercial aviation, an aircraft manufacturer tries to shift the blame from mechanical failure to pilot error when its newest jet airliner has a series of accidents. #movie #movies #film #films #classicmovies #ce