When This Dropped

December 18, 1963

President
Kennedy
Dow (EOY)
762
Gas/gal
$0.30
Min Wage
$1.25

By the winter of 1963, Kennedy was in the White House and the federal minimum wage stood at $1.25/hr — the Pentagon was requesting funds for a new network of radio satellites designed to keep American military forces connected around the world, part of a broader push to modernize strategic communications during the Cold War. On screen and on the radio, audiences were watching "The Dick Van Dyke Show" take home the Emmy for comedy while Steve Lawrence held the top spot on the charts with "Go Away Little Girl." The Chicago Bears had claimed the NFL championship, and halfway around the world, the Second Vatican Council had completed its second session in Rome, marking a landmark moment in the history of the Catholic Church.

On the cover

Magazine Covers — December 18, 1963

New York Times
Time
TV Guide
Nat. Geographic

World Events — December 1963

Time Person of the Year — 1963

Pope John XXIII
Person of the Year
Pope John XXIII

On the radio

Billboard Charts — December 18, 1963

Dominique
The Singing Nun (Soeur Sourire)
Hot 100 #1
"Dominique"
The Singing Nun (Soeur Sourire)
The Singing Nun
The Singing Nun (Soeur Sourire)
Billboard 200 #1
"The Singing Nun"
The Singing Nun (Soeur Sourire)

Grammy Awards

The Barbra Streisand Album
Barbra Streisand
Grammy Album of the Year
"The Barbra Streisand Album"
Barbra Streisand
Days of Wine and Roses
Henry Mancini
Grammy Song of the Year
"Days of Wine and Roses"
Henry Mancini
Days of Wine and Roses
Henry Mancini
Grammy Record of the Year
"Days of Wine and Roses"
Henry Mancini
Ward Swingle
Grammy Best New Artist
Ward Swingle

On the bookshelf

The Shoes of the Fisherman
Morris West
NYT Fiction #1
"The Shoes of the Fisherman"
Morris West
Happiness Is a Warm Puppy
Charles M. Schulz
NYT Non-Fiction #1
"Happiness Is a Warm Puppy"
Charles M. Schulz
The Reivers
William Faulkner
Pulitzer Prize Fiction
"The Reivers"
William Faulkner
Morte d'Urban
J.F. Powers
National Book Award Fiction
"Morte d'Urban"
J.F. Powers
Henry James, Vol. II and III
Leon Edel
National Book Award Nonfiction
"Henry James, Vol. II and III"
Leon Edel

On the television

Nielsen Top 10 — 1963–64 Season

Wagon Train
Nielsen #1 TV Show
Wagon Train
Nielsen
Top 10
TV Shows
Nielsen Ratings
Top 10 TV Shows
1963–64 Season

Emmy Winners — 1963

The Defenders
Emmy Drama Series
The Defenders
The Dick Van Dyke Show
Emmy Comedy Series
The Dick Van Dyke Show
Cliff Robertson
The Defenders
Emmy Lead Actor
Cliff Robertson
The Defenders
Mary Tyler Moore
The Dick Van Dyke Show
Emmy Lead Actress
Mary Tyler Moore
The Dick Van Dyke Show

At the movies

Box Office & Oscar Winners — December 18, 1963

Under the Yum Yum Tree
Box Office #1
Under the Yum Yum Tree
Lawrence of Arabia
Oscar Best Picture
Lawrence of Arabia
Tony Richardson
Tom Jones
Oscar Best Director
Tony Richardson
Tom Jones
Sidney Poitier
Lilies of the Field
Oscar Best Actor
Sidney Poitier
Lilies of the Field
Patricia Neal
Hud
Oscar Best Actress
Patricia Neal
Hud

Ebert 4-Star Films — December 18, 1963

8 1/2
4-Star Review
8 1/2
Les Carabiniers
4-Star Review
Les Carabiniers
My Life to Live
4-Star Review
My Life to Live
The Leopard
4-Star Review
The Leopard
The Silence
4-Star Review
The Silence

On the field

Sports Champions — December 18, 1963

NFL Champion
Chicago Bears
AFL Champion
San Diego Chargers
World Series
Los Angeles Dodgers
def. New York Yankees
NBA Champion
Boston Celtics
def. Los Angeles Lakers
Stanley Cup
Toronto Maple Leafs
def. Detroit Red Wings

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