Cost of Living 1961
Yearly Inflation Rate 1.07%
Average Cost of new house $12,500.00
Average Income per year $5,315.00
Cost of a gallon of Gas 27 cents
Average Cost of a new car $2,850.00
Bacon for 1LB 67 cents
Eggs per dozen 30 cents
Popular Songs
1. "Wonderland by Night" ... Bert Kaemfert
2. "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" ... The Shirelles
3. "Calcutta" ... Lawrence Welk
4. "Pony Time" ... Chubby Checker
5. "Surrender" ... Elvis Presley
6. "Blue Moon" ... The Marcles
7. "Runaway" ... Del Shannon
8. "Mother-in-Law" ... Ernie K-Doe
9. "Travelin' Man" ... Ricky Nelson
10. "Running Scared" ... Roy Orbison
Popular Movies
1. The Guns of Navarone
2. The Absent-Minded Professor
3. The Parent Trap
4. Swiss Family Robinson
5. Exodus
6. The World of Suzie Wong
7. Alamo
8. Gone With the Wind (reissue)
9. 101 Dalmations
10. Splendor in the Grass
Academy Awards
Best Picture: "West Side Story"
Best Director: Robert Wise & Jerome Robbins ... "West Side Story"
Best Actor: Maximilian Schell ... "Judgement at Nuremberg"
Best Actress: Sophia Loren ... "Two Women"
Grammy Awards
Record of the Year: "Moon River" ... Henry Mancini
Song of the Year: "Moon River" ... Henry Mancini
Album of the Year: "Judy at Carnegie Hall" ... Judy Garland
Male Vocalist: Jack Jones ... "Lollipops and Roses"
Female Vocalist: Judy Garland ... "Judy at Carnegie Hall"
Most Popular Television Shows
1. Wagon Train (NBC)
2. Bonanza (NBC)
3. Gunsmoke (CBS)
4. Hazel (NBC)
5. Perry Mason (CBS)
6. The Red Skelton (CBS)
7. The Andy Griffith Show (CBS)
8. The Danny Thomas Show (CBS)
9. Dr. Kildare (NBC)
10. Candid Camera (CBS)
Sports
NBA: Boston Celtics vs. St. Louis Hawks Series: 4-1
NCAA Football: Alabama & Ohio State Records: 11-0-0 & 8-0-1
Heisman Trophy: Ernie Davis, Syracuse, HB points: 824
Stanley Cup: Chicago Blackhawks vs. Detroit Red Wings Series: 4-2
US Open Golf: Gene Littler Score: 281 Course: Oakland Hills CC Location: Birmingham, MI
World Series: New York Yankees vs. Cincinnati Reds Series: 4-1
NCAA Basketball Championship: Cincinnati d. Ohio St. (70-65 OT)
Wimbledon:
Women: Angela Mortimer d. C. Truman (4-6 6-4 7-5)
Men: Rod Laver d. C. McKinley (6-3 6-1 6-4)
What Events Happened in 1961
Fidel Castro declares Cuba is to adopt Communism and bans free elections
US Cuban Exiles and CIA mount unsuccessful attempt to overthrow Castro known as the ( Bay of Pigs )
John F. Kennedy inaugurated as President of the United States
President John F. Kennedy advises American families to build bomb shelters
The Peace Corps is established by John F. Kennedy
President Kennedy asks Congress for $531 million to put a man on the moon
Race Riots in Cities throughout the United States
Segregation on railways in the south ends
Texas Sales Tax Introduced
Construction of the Berlin Wall begins.
East German Authorities close the border between east and west Berlin
Estimate of the World Population reaches 4 billion
First Direct US Military Involvement in Vietnam
The first six flags theme parks opens "Six Flags Over Texas" at Arlington, Texas
Pampers the first disposable diaper are introduced