MARCH 16, 1961

THURSDAY
$1,000 INVESTED IN COKE STOCK (KO) IN 1961
WOULD HAVE MADE YOU $1,184,600 IN THE 2025 DATASET
Min_Wage_Hourly: $1.06
Median_Home_Price: $13,070.00
Gas_Price_Avg: $0.32
Bread_Price_Avg: $0.22
Movie_Ticket_Avg: $0.78
First_Class_Stamp: $0.04
Milk_Price_Avg: $1.02
Top Movies From 1961
1 West Side Story
Learn More
West Side Story
2 The Guns of Navarone
Learn More
The Guns of Navarone
3 El Cid
Learn More
El Cid
4 The Parent Trap
Learn More
The Parent Trap
5 The Absent-Minded Professor
Learn More
The Absent-Minded Professor
6 King of Kings
Learn More
King of Kings
7 Lover Come Back
Learn More
Lover Come Back
8 One Hundred and One Dalmatians
Learn More
One Hundred and One Dalmatians
9 La Dolce Vita
Learn More
La Dolce Vita
10 Come September
Learn More
Come September
The Misfits
Learn More
The Misfits
Underworld U.S.A.
Learn More
Underworld U.S.A.
Spartacus
Learn More
Spartacus
Exodus
Learn More
Exodus
Psycho
Learn More
Psycho
The Magnificent Seven
Learn More
The Magnificent Seven
The Sundowners
Learn More
The Sundowners
The Grass Is Greener
Learn More
The Grass Is Greener
The 3 Worlds of Gulliver
Learn More
The 3 Worlds of Gulliver
Swiss Family Robinson
Learn More
Swiss Family Robinson
March 16, 1961 Trivia
Multiple choice - Sign in to save + leaderboard - View all-time leaderboard
Score: 0 / 0
All-time leaderboard
Your results
Television On March 16, 1961
Perry Mason poster
Learn More
Perry Mason
Bonanza poster
Learn More
Bonanza
The Twilight Zone poster
Learn More
The Twilight Zone
The Flintstones poster
Learn More
The Flintstones
The Rifleman poster
Learn More
The Rifleman
Lassie poster
Learn More
Lassie
Tony Awards poster
Learn More
Tony Awards
Wagon Train poster
Learn More
Wagon Train
'Way Out poster
Learn More
'Way Out
The Story of March 16, 1961

On March 16, 1961, significant shifts in the U.

Inventions & Breakthroughs of March 1961

Gadgets, lab surprises, odd bets, and future-shocks from this slice of the calendar.

1 First Human Spaceflight
Learn More
First Human Spaceflight
2 Industrial Robot (Unimate)
Learn More
Industrial Robot (Unimate)
3 Early Word Processor
Learn More
Early Word Processor
4 Integrated Circuit Computer
Learn More
Integrated Circuit Computer
5 Commercial Satellite Communications
Learn More
Commercial Satellite Communications
6 Space Food Systems
Learn More
Space Food Systems
7 Disposable Medical Gloves
Learn More
Disposable Medical Gloves
8 Electronic Fuel Injection
Learn More
Electronic Fuel Injection
9 Programmable Logic Controller Concept
Learn More
Programmable Logic Controller Concept
10 Ultrasound Fetal Monitoring
Learn More
Ultrasound Fetal Monitoring

The Sounds of

Popular recordings and roots/country selections associated with the year

HEADLINES ON March 16, 1961

Full News Archive

  • Headline: Harvester Notes Equipment Output Increase. Impact: Thanks to Harvester's improved orders, the auto industry saw a boost, leading to a surplus of Scout Trucks. This, in turn, inspired a new generation of off-road enthusiasts who thought they could conquer the wilderness with nothing more than a sandwich and a questionable GPS.. Fact: Scout Trucks were so beloved that they almost became the unofficial vehicle of nature documentaries. I mean, who wouldn't want to see a bear driving one?.
  • Headline: Commercial Paper Interest Rate Cut Announcement. Impact: The interest rate cut on commercial paper triggered a wave of borrowing, leading to a delightful financial bubble that would eventually pop spectacularly, marking the beginning of 'Why did we think this was a good idea?' parties across America.. Fact: Commercial paper probably sounds more interesting than it actually is. It’s not a paper that you read while lounging, but rather a short-term unsecured debt instrument. Boring, right?.
  • Headline: Texas Oil Output Surge Reported Last Week. Impact: Texas's oil output climb led to a global obsession with oil which, spoiler alert, culminated in wars and a whole lot of environmental devastation. Who knew a little Texas crude could steer the world into chaos?. Fact: Texans love their oil so much, they probably consider it a food group. Just remember, crude oil is not the same as crude humor, though both can leave a bad taste in your mouth..
  • Headline: BRITISH SHOW RADIO SEIZED IN SPY CASE. Impact: The British espionage trial highlighted just how paranoid governments can get, leading to a newfound obsession with surveillance that would eventually evolve into your average smartphone tracking your every move. Thanks, spies!. Fact: The only thing more entertaining than a spy trial is the fact that some of the 'high-powered radio equipment' was probably just a fancy walkie-talkie. Real James Bond stuff, right?.
  • Headline: BRITISH AIM JOURNAL AT LEADERS ABROAD. Impact: The launch of a British journal aimed at leaders abroad kickstarted a series of cross-cultural exchanges, which later led to awkward dinner parties where everyone pretended to enjoy each other's traditional dishes.. Fact: This journal is the precursor to all those 'exotic' travel blogs you hate scrolling through on Instagram. You know, the ones with avocado toast that costs more than your rent..
  • Headline: GLOOM IS LIFTING FOR AUTO MAKERS; Industry Officials Discern an Improvement in Sales and Output Picture GLOOM IS LIFTING FOR AUTO MAKERS. Impact: Auto makers feeling the 'gloom lift' led to an explosion of car sales that contributed to a multi-decade obsession with gas-guzzling vehicles, resulting in climate change debates that we're still having today. Thanks, optimism!. Fact: Every time someone bought a new car during this 'spring upturn,' a tree probably cried somewhere in the world. But hey, who needs trees when you've got horsepower?.
  • Headline: GERMANS PRINT BOOK ON ISRAEL IN ENGLISH. Impact: The publication of a book on Israel in English opened the floodgates for discussions on Middle Eastern politics, leading to endless debates at family gatherings that nobody really wanted to have.. Fact: The book probably contained more drama than a reality TV show. Spoiler: Everyone ends up needing therapy after reading it, just like after watching 'The Real Housewives.'.

Wall Street Time Machine

The Right Call: If you'd invested $1,000 in any one of these companies in 1961, here's what the stored 2025 dataset estimates.
Rank #1
PG
Procter & Gamble
Price in 1961
$0.25
2025 dataset value
$586,657

Procter & Gamble - If you invested $1,000 in 1961, it would be worth $586,657 today (586.7x return)

Rank #3
MO
Philip Morris
Price in 1961
$0.00
2025 dataset value
$23,651,354

Philip Morris - If you invested $1,000 in 1961, it would be worth $23,651,354 today (23651.4x return)

🦸 Top 5 Comics
Fantastic Four #1
Fantastic Four #1
$65,000
Journey into Mystery #69
Journey into Mystery #69
$3,000
Strange Adventures #124
Strange Adventures #124
$300
Action Comics #283
Action Comics #283
$250
Showcase #30
Showcase #30
$42,000
🧸 Top 5 Toys
Ken (Barbie's Boyfriend)
Ken (Barbie's Boyfriend)
$200.00
Chatty Cathy
Chatty Cathy
$425.00
Matchbox Cars
Matchbox Cars
$100.00
Nutty Mads
Nutty Mads
$200.00
Etch A Sketch
Etch A Sketch
$250.00
⚾ Top 5 Trading Cards
1961 Topps Mickey Mantle #300
1961 Topps Mickey Mantle #300
$12,000
1961 Fleer Wilt Chamberlain #8
1961 Fleer Wilt Chamberlain #8
$1,220,000
1961 Topps Roger Maris #2
1961 Topps Roger Maris #2
$250,000
1961 Nu-Cards Scoops Bobby Thompson #10
1961 Nu-Cards Scoops Bobby Thompson #10
$1,500
1961 Parkhurst Jean Beliveau #34
1961 Parkhurst Jean Beliveau #34
$1,500