Sunday, March 30, 2014

Fifty Years Ago This Month: March 1964


It's March 1964, and the Beatles are still the big news (surprise!)


Music: 
The Beatles continued their domination of the record charts that began the previous month:
 - "I Want to Hold Your Hand" spent two weeks at #1, then two weeks at #2.
 - "She Loves You" spent two weeks at #2, then two weeks at #1.
 - "Please Please Me" spent two weeks at #3 and two weeks at #4.
 - In the 4th week, "Twist and Shout" was #3, giving the Beatles the top 4 songs that week.


Movies: 
The only major film released in March was "The Pink Panther" starring Peter Sellers and David Niven, the first of many Pink Panther movies. [Wow, no new movies last month, and only one this month. I wonder if Hollywood was planning to wait out Beatlemania?]


News: 
3/9 - The first Ford Mustang rolls off the assembly line in Detroit.
3/15 - Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton marry (for the first time).
3/24 - John Lennon's book "In His Own Write" is published.
3/30 - First TV broadcast of "Jeopardy".


Births: 
3/7 - Comedienne Wanda Sykes
3/17 - Actor Rob Lowe


Deaths: 
3/23 - Actor Peter Lorre (age 59)