May 8, 1961
Gas cost $0.31 a gallon in the spring of 1961, and the Dow Jones stood at 731 — a young Navy test pilot named Alan Shepard had just become the first American in space, riding a Freedom 7 capsule on a 15-minute suborbital flight that May and returning to a hero's welcome in Washington. On the cultural front, "Blue Moon" by The Marcels was climbing the charts with its distinctive doo-wop sound, while "The Apartment" had just taken home the Oscar for Best Picture. In sports, the Boston Celtics claimed the NBA championship over the St. Louis Hawks, and on the golf course that April, South African Gary Player became the first non-American to win the Masters Tournament.
On the cover
Magazine Covers — May 8, 1961
NY Times Headlines — Week of May 8, 1961
Washington Cheers Shepard As Hero; Astronaut Decorated By Kennedy -- Tells Story Of Flight Washington Hails Shepard As A Hero And Hears Him Tell Story Of Space Flight Astronaut Says Trip Was 'Smooth' No 'Bad Moments At All,' Flier Relates On Day Of Plaudits And Honors The Time Had Come To Present The Medal To The Astronaut, And The President -- Oops -- Did His Duty
Senate Authorizes Red-Satellite Aid; Senate Passes Bill Authorizing President To Aid Soviet Satellites
World Events — May 1961
Time Person of the Year — 1961
On the radio
Billboard Charts — May 8, 1961
Grammy Awards
On the bookshelf
On the television
Nielsen Top 10 — 1960–61 Season
Emmy Winners — 1961
At the movies
Box Office & Oscar Winners — May 8, 1961
On the field
Sports Champions — May 8, 1961
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