Well, I was still hanging out in my maternal pad (i.e. I would not be born for another three weeks), but things were still happening in the world this week in 1963:
In national news, President John F. Kennedy celebrated his 46th (and sadly his last) birthday. What presents did he get? He received a Civil War carbine repeater rifle and a keg of 46-year-old brandy. The Vatican finally disclosed that Pope John XXIII had been fighting stomach cancer for a year. He would pass away from the disease on June 3, 1963 at the age of 81.
In sporting new, LA Dodger Sandy Koufax pitches a shut out as the Dodgers beat the Milwaukee Braves (yes, I saw Milwaukee) 7 – 0. The winner of the Indianapolis 500 was Parnelli Jones.
Over in Television Land, Pernell Roberts is making news – he wants out of the Western series “Bonanza,” but won’t be allowed to leave until his contract is up in two years. Roberts wanted out because he feels the writing of the show is bad. After he leaves in 1965, the show will continue to run for another eight years without him.
This week is the Emmy Awards show. Who were some of the winners? “The Tunnel” took home the prize for Best Program, the Outstanding Actress award goes to Shirley Booth for “Hazel,” and “The Dick Van Dyke Show” (which was cancelled after its first season in 1961, then picked up again) wins Outstanding Comedy.
It was the end of an era as the old Hal Roach studios in Culver City were purchased and torn down. The studio had been around for 43 years and hosted such comedy classics as Lauren & Hardy and Our Gang.
Music hits of May 1963 included “It’s My Party” by Lesley Gore, “If You Wanna Be Happy” by Jimmy Soul, “Surfin’ USA” by the Beach Boys, and “Puff (The Magic Dragon)” by the folk trio Peter, Paul, and Mary. Peter, Paul, & Mary’s song “If I Had a Hammer” wins them their first Grammy this week.
The movie theaters were showing Hud with Paul Newman, Bye, Bye Birdie with Janet Leigh, Dick Van Dyke, and Ann-Margaret, and Sean Connery graced the screen as 007 in Dr. No.