May 20, 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 20, 1961
NY Times Headlines — Week of May 20, 1961
Senate Set To Act On Aid To Schools; Administration Is Confident Its Forces Can Defeat Major Amendments Senate Set To Act On Aid To Schools
Kennedy Asks 1.8 Billion This Year To Accelerate Space Exploration, Add Foreign Aid, Bolster Defense; Moon Trip Urged He Assures Congress Nation Is Ready To Take On Burden President Asks 1.8 Billion This Year To Push Space Tasks, Foreign Aid And Arms Moon Trip Urged As A Major Goal Kennedy Tells Congressmen Nation Is Ready To Make Necessary Sacrifices
World Events — May 1961
Time Person of the Year — 1961
On the radio
Billboard Charts — May 20, 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 20, 1961
On the field
Sports Champions — May 20, 1961
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