Born in 1959: fun facts, prices and a free printable 67th birthday party kit

How do you play the 67th birthday party games in the kit?

Here is what each game asks of your guests, how to play it and why it lands, so you can pick the ones that suit your crowd before you print.

1. 01

   Meet & mingle bingo

   Find a guest for every square. The perfect icebreaker.

   Players

   Everyone, on their own

   Time

   10 to 15 minutes

   In the kit

   Page 3

   You need

   • One card per guest
   • Pens

   How to play

   1. Hand everyone a card and a pen as they arrive.
   2. Mingle! When a guest fits a square, ask them to sign their name in it.
   3. Each guest can sign your card only once. The guest of honor may sign twice.
   4. First to fill a row, column or diagonal calls "Bingo!" and the host checks the names.

   Why it’s fun: Strangers become friends in minutes, and everyone ends up swapping stories about the guest of honor.

   The 1959 twist: The 1959 card has squares like “Can name a hit song from 1959” and “Has seen the movie Ben-Hur”.

2. 02

   The 1959 headline quiz

   Ten questions about the year it all began.

   Players

   Teams of 2 to 6

   Time

   10 minutes

   In the kit

   Page 4

   You need

   • One sheet per team
   • Pens

   How to play

   1. Split into teams and pick a team name.
   2. Read each question aloud, or let teams work through the sheet at their own pace.
   3. Fill in one bubble per question. Changed your mind? Cross it out clearly.
   4. Swap sheets to mark them: one point per right answer. Answers are in the host guide.

   Why it’s fun: Big moments from 1959, with answers that spark "I remember that!" stories.

   Play it on this page, no sign-in
3. 03

   What did it cost in 1959?

   Everyday prices from 1959: guess what they cost.

   Players

   Teams or solo

   Time

   10 minutes

   In the kit

   Page 5

   You need

   • One sheet per team
   • Pens

   How to play

   1. Every price is a real 1959 figure; the host guide says where each one comes from.
   2. Write your best guess in dollars and cents on each tag.
   3. The host reveals the real prices one at a time, for maximum gasps.
   4. The closest guess on each tag wins a point. For extra drama, play closest without going over.

   Why it’s fun: Everyone has an opinion about prices, and the real 1959 numbers always get a reaction.

4. 04

   The 1959 birthday club

   Eight of these stars were born in 1959. Can you spot them?

   Players

   Teams or solo

   Time

   5 to 10 minutes

   In the kit

   Page 6

   You need

   • One sheet per team
   • Pens

   How to play

   1. Read each famous name.
   2. Decide whether they were born before 1959, in 1959, or after 1959.
   3. Fill in one bubble for each person.
   4. One point per right answer. Watch out for the close calls!

   Why it’s fun: Quick to play and full of surprises: it is hard to believe some of these stars share the guest of honor's birth year.

5. 05

   Movies & music of 1959

   Match the films to their stars and the hits to their singers.

   Players

   Teams or solo

   Time

   10 minutes

   In the kit

   Page 7

   You need

   • One sheet per team
   • Pens

   How to play

   1. Match each film to a famous name from the box, writing the letter beside it.
   2. Do the same for each 1959 hit song and its artist.
   3. Each letter is used once per side.
   4. One point per match, plus a bonus point for naming the song that was No. 1 on Cash Box magazine's 1959 year-end chart.

   Why it’s fun: It turns into a sing-along. Play the songs as you reveal the answers.

6. 06

   Before or after 1959?

   Toys, games and gadgets: did each arrive before or after 1959?

   Players

   Teams or solo

   Time

   5 to 10 minutes

   In the kit

   Page 8

   You need

   • One sheet per team
   • Pens

   How to play

   1. Read each milestone.
   2. Fill in the bubble on the left for before 1959, or on the right for after 1959.
   3. None of these happened in 1959 itself.
   4. One point per right answer. Some of them are very close calls!

   Why it’s fun: Everyone has a memory of these, and the close calls start friendly arguments.

7. 07

   Timeline shuffle

   Put eight milestones in order around the 1959 card.

   Players

   Teams of 2 to 6

   Time

   10 minutes

   In the kit

   Page 9

   You need

   • One sheet per team
   • Scissors
   • A table to lay the cards on

   How to play

   1. Before the party, cut out one set of cards per team along the dashed lines.
   2. Each team lays the 1959 card in the middle of their table.
   3. Place the other eight cards in order from earliest to latest, around the 1959 card.
   4. The host reads out the right order: one point for each card in the right spot.

   Why it’s fun: Hands-on and loud: teams debate, shuffle and change their minds right up to the reveal.

8. 08

   The 1959 word search

   Fifteen words from 1959 are hidden in the grid.

   Players

   Solo or pairs

   Time

   10 to 15 minutes

   In the kit

   Page 10

   You need

   • One sheet per player
   • Pens or pencils

   How to play

   1. Find each word from the list in the grid.
   2. Words run across, down or diagonally, and some run backwards.
   3. Circle each word in the grid and tick it off the list.
   4. First to find all fifteen wins. The solution is in the host guide.

   Why it’s fun: A calm game for anyone who wants a break from the crowd, including the youngest guests.

9. 09

   Who knows them best?

   How well do you really know the guest of honor?

   Players

   Teams or solo

   Time

   10 minutes

   In the kit

   Page 11

   You need

   • One sheet per team
   • Pens
   • The guest of honor's answers

   How to play

   1. Before the party, ask the guest of honor to answer the questions privately.
   2. Teams write down what they think the guest of honor said.
   3. The guest of honor reveals each answer, with the story behind it.
   4. One point per match. The host decides on close answers.

   Why it’s fun: The reveals are the best part: every answer comes with a story.

   The 1959 twist: Add a 1959 bonus question: which hit from that year would they pick as their theme song, “Mack the Knife” or “The Battle of New Orleans”?

10. 10

    Two truths & a tall tale

    Two true stories and one invention. Spot the tall tale.

    Players

    Everyone, on their own

    Time

    10 to 15 minutes

    In the kit

    Page 12

    You need

    • One slip per guest (two per sheet)
    • Pens

    How to play

    1. Write three short statements about yourself: two true, one made up.
    2. Fill in the bubble for your tall tale, then fold that corner over to hide it.
    3. Take turns reading your three statements aloud.
    4. Everyone guesses the tall tale. Fool the room and you win a point.

    Why it’s fun: Guests learn surprising things about each other, and the guest of honor's turn is always a highlight.

    The 1959 twist: Guests may swap one statement for a fact from 1959, like “Alaska joins the Union” (January 3), and the room decides whether it really happened that year.

11. 11

    Toasts & memory prompts

    Twelve prompts that turn shy guests into storytellers.

    Players

    Everyone

    Time

    Any time, 10 minutes or more

    In the kit

    Page 13

    You need

    • One sheet, cut into cards
    • A bowl or hat

    How to play

    1. Cut the cards apart along the dashed lines and put them in a bowl.
    2. When it is time for toasts, pass the bowl around.
    3. Draw a card and finish the sentence, out loud, to the guest of honor.
    4. Raise a glass after each one. No points, just good stories.

    Why it’s fun: Nobody has to prepare a speech, yet everyone ends up saying something lovely.

    The 1959 twist: One card is all 1959: “If 1959 had a headline about your arrival, it would say…”

12. 12

    Wishes for the next chapter

    A keepsake card for every guest to fill in.

    Players

    Everyone

    Time

    Any time

    In the kit

    Page 14

    You need

    • One card per guest (two per sheet)
    • Pens
    • A box or envelope to collect them

    How to play

    1. Cut each sheet in half along the dashed line.
    2. Put the cards out on a table with pens, or hand them out at the start.
    3. Guests write a wish, a memory and their name.
    4. Collect them in a box for the guest of honor to read later.

    Why it’s fun: The one thing from the party the guest of honor will keep for years.

    The 1959 twist: Set the 1959 history card beside the wish box, so guests can tie a wish to a moment like “Meet the Mercury Seven” (April 9).

Can you beat the 1959 headline quiz?

This is game 2 from the kit, playable right here with no sign-in. Tap an answer to see whether you got it, and why. At the party, teams play it on paper and the host guide holds the answers.

How do you run the kit at a 67th birthday party?

Example: a 90-minute 67th birthday party for 16 guests, born-in-1959 style, in four teams of four. Swap games in or out to suit your crowd; the host guide has every answer.

What happened in 1959?

The biggest events of 1959, each with the source it comes from.

1. January 3

   Alaska joins the Union

   Eisenhower's proclamation made Alaska a state on an equal footing with the others. It followed a July 1958 act of Congress, an August statehood vote and a November general election.

   Source: The American Presidency Project: Proclamation 3269, Admission of the State of Alaska Into the Union
2. January 29

   Sleeping Beauty opens

   Disney's animated fairy tale opened in theaters across the United States. Its budget topped $6 million, making it the studio's most expensive feature to that point.

   Source: D23 (Disney): Sleeping Beauty Premieres
3. February 3

   The Day the Music Died

   A chartered plane crashed in Iowa after leaving Mason City, killing rock and roll stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, and the pilot.

   Source: HISTORY: Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and "The Big Bopper" die in a plane crash
4. March 9

   Barbie makes her debut

   Mattel introduced Barbie at the New York Toy Fair. The first doll wore a black and white bathing suit and was billed as a teenage fashion model.

   Source: Mattel: The original 1959 Barbie doll (reproduction product page)
5. March 18

   Hawaii statehood bill signed

   Eisenhower signed the bill admitting Hawaii as the fiftieth state.

   Source: Miller Center (University of Virginia): Dwight D. Eisenhower, Key Events
6. April 9

   NASA introduces the Mercury Seven

   At a press conference in Washington, NASA introduced its first astronauts: Carpenter, Cooper, Glenn, Grissom, Schirra, Shepard and Slayton.

   Source: NASA: Project Mercury Overview, Astronaut Selection
7. July 24

   The kitchen debate

   Vice President Richard Nixon and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev argued over capitalism and communism in a model kitchen at the American National Exhibition in Moscow.

   Source: Miller Center (University of Virginia): Dwight D. Eisenhower, Key Events
8. August 21

   Hawaii is admitted

   Eisenhower proclaimed Hawaii a state at 4 p.m. EDT. Hawaii's voters had approved the terms on June 27 and held a general election on July 28.

   Source: The American Presidency Project: Proclamation 3309, Admission of the State of Hawaii Into the Union
9. September 14

   Luna 2 reaches the Moon

   The Soviet probe reached the lunar surface, making it the first object of human origin to make contact with another celestial body.

   Source: NASA: Deep Space Chronicle, A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958-2000 (SP-2002-4524)
10. September 25-26

    Khrushchev at Camp David

    Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev toured the United States and met President Eisenhower at Camp David.

    Source: Miller Center (University of Virginia): Dwight D. Eisenhower, Key Events
11. October 7

    First look at the Moon's far side

    Luna 3's cameras began taking pictures of the side of the Moon that never faces Earth. Seventeen of the 29 images were usable.

    Source: NASA: Deep Space Chronicle, A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958-2000 (SP-2002-4524)
12. November 18

    Ben-Hur premieres

    The epic had its world premiere in New York City. At about $15 million, its budget was a record at the time.

    Source: AFI Catalog: Ben-Hur (1959)
13. December 1

    The Antarctic Treaty is signed

    Twelve countries signed the treaty in Washington. It set aside Antarctica for peaceful purposes and free scientific research.

    Source: Antarctic Treaty Secretariat: The Antarctic Treaty

How much did things cost in 1959?

A snapshot of the cost of living in 1959, from a stamp to a pound of coffee. Every price is a US figure from a government source, shown next to what that money is worth in September 2026.

Worth today: each 1959 price scaled up by the rise in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U, U.S. city average, all items) from its 1959 average to September 2026, the newest month published. It shows what that money is worth now, not what the item costs today. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U (series CUUR0000SA0), via FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (CPIAUCNS).

What was popular in 1959?

Which famous people were born in 1959?

A few familiar faces who share the birth year, all born in 1959.

• January 16, 1959SadeNigerian-born singer behind "Smooth Operator" and the 1984 debut album Diamond Life. She won the Best New Artist Grammy in 1986.Source: Biography.com: Sade
• February 16, 1959John McEnroeTennis champion with seven Grand Slam singles titles: three at Wimbledon and four at the US Open.Source: International Tennis Hall of Fame: John McEnroe
• March 17, 1959Danny AingeNBA guard who won two championships and spent eight seasons with the Boston Celtics.Source: Basketball-Reference: Danny Ainge
• May 4, 1959Randy TravisGrammy-winning country singer credited with reviving traditional country sounds on Storms of Life and Always & Forever.Source: Biography.com: Randy Travis
• August 14, 1959Magic JohnsonLakers point guard with three NBA Finals MVP awards and three regular-season MVP awards, in 1987, 1989 and 1990.Source: Biography.com: Magic Johnson
• September 18, 1959Ryne SandbergChicago Cubs second baseman who won the 1984 National League MVP award and nine Gold Gloves.Source: Baseball-Reference: Ryne Sandberg
• October 7, 1959Simon CowellMusic executive and TV judge on American Idol, The X Factor and America's Got Talent.Source: Biography.com: Simon Cowell
• November 5, 1959Bryan AdamsCanadian rock singer behind "Summer of '69" and "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You."Source: The Canadian Encyclopedia: Bryan Adams

What are some fun facts about 1959?

1. NASA's search for astronauts started with 110 men who met the minimum standards. Thirty-two became candidates for medical and environmental testing, and seven were chosen.

   Source: NASA: Project Mercury Overview, Astronaut Selection

2. Since her 1959 debut as a teenage fashion model, Barbie has held more than 75 jobs, from dentist to paleontologist.

   Source: The Strong National Museum of Play: Barbie

3. Luna 3 photographed about 70 percent of the Moon's far side, and its pictures led scientists to revise their theories of how the Moon evolved.

   Source: NASA: Deep Space Chronicle, A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958-2000 (SP-2002-4524)

4. Pioneer 4 weighed just 6.1 kilograms. It missed its goal of photographing the Moon but became the first American spacecraft to enter orbit around the Sun.

   Source: NASA: Deep Space Chronicle, A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958-2000 (SP-2002-4524)

5. The Ben-Hur chariot arena covered more than 18 acres, and sources report 6,000 to 7,000 extras filled the stands.

   Source: AFI Catalog: Ben-Hur (1959)

6. While Bonanza was in color, Rawhide stayed in black and white for all 217 of its episodes, which ran until January 4, 1966.

   Source: Television Academy Foundation, The Interviews: Rawhide

7. Rod Serling's CBS contract required him to write 80 percent of The Twilight Zone's first-season scripts.

   Source: Television Academy Foundation, The Interviews: Twilight Zone, The

8. The Twilight Zone won three Hugo Awards for Dramatic Presentation between 1960 and 1962.

   Source: Television Academy Foundation, The Interviews: Twilight Zone, The

9. On the way to the Moon, Luna 2 released one kilogram of sodium into a cloud 650 kilometers wide that was clearly visible from the ground.

   Source: NASA: Deep Space Chronicle, A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958-2000 (SP-2002-4524)

10. SRI designed ERMA, a machine for Bank of America that read account numbers printed in magnetic ink on checks, which automated check processing.

    Source: Computer History Museum: Timeline, 1959

11. Under Article VII of the Antarctic Treaty, every station and piece of equipment in Antarctica is open to inspection at all times.

    Source: Antarctic Treaty Secretariat: The Antarctic Treaty

Can you answer these 1959 trivia questions?

Tap a question to see the answer. The party kit has a full round of 1959 trivia ready to print.

1. 1

   Which Soviet probe became the first human-made object to reach the Moon in September 1959?

   Answer: Luna 2. Source: NASA: Deep Space Chronicle, A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958-2000 (SP-2002-4524)

2. 2

   How many astronauts did NASA introduce at its April 9, 1959, press conference?

   Answer: Seven, later called the Mercury Seven. Source: NASA: Project Mercury Overview, Astronaut Selection

3. 3

   Which doll debuted at the New York Toy Fair on March 9, 1959?

   Answer: Barbie. Source: Mattel: The original 1959 Barbie doll (reproduction product page)

4. 4

   Which film won Best Picture for 1959, taking home 11 Oscars in all?

   Answer: Ben-Hur. Source: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences: The 32nd Academy Awards (1960), honoring 1959 films

5. 5

   Which song was No. 1 on Cash Box magazine's 1959 year-end chart?

   Answer: "Mack the Knife" by Bobby Darin. Source: Cash Box magazine archive: Top 50 singles of 1959 (year-end chart)

6. 6

   Which team won the 1959 World Series, beating the Chicago White Sox four games to two?

   Answer: The Los Angeles Dodgers. Source: Baseball-Reference: 1959 World Series, Los Angeles Dodgers over Chicago White Sox

7. 7

   How much did it cost to mail a first-class letter in 1959?

   Answer: 4 cents for the first ounce. Source: USPS Postal History: Rates for Domestic Letters Since 1863

8. 8

   Which NBC Western that began in the fall of 1959 was described as the first Western televised in color?

   Answer: Bonanza. Source: Television Academy Foundation, The Interviews: Bonanza

9. 9

   Which continent did twelve countries set aside for peaceful purposes in a treaty signed on December 1, 1959?

   Answer: Antarctica. Source: Antarctic Treaty Secretariat: The Antarctic Treaty

10. 10

    Which Disney animated film opened across the United States on January 29, 1959?

    Answer: Sleeping Beauty. Source: D23 (Disney): Sleeping Beauty Premieres

How do you throw a 1959-themed 67th birthday party?

• Spin the chart-toppers of 1959

  Queue up the year's big hits: "Mack the Knife," "The Battle of New Orleans," "Venus," "There Goes My Baby" and "Sleep Walk." Add "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" for a slow dance.

• Name-that-tune rounds

  Play a few seconds of each 1959 hit and let tables race to name the song and the singer. Score a bonus point for the first guest who can hum the bridge.

• Mercury Seven mission control

  Hang a countdown clock, set out a toy rocket and give each table an astronaut's name: Carpenter, Cooper, Glenn, Grissom, Schirra, Shepard or Slayton. Ask guests to "launch" with a toast.

• A Hawaiian luau

  Hawaii became a state in their birth year, so string paper leis and tiki torches (the battery kind), and serve pineapple skewers and tropical punch. Hand out a lei to every guest on arrival.

• Western night

  Bonanza and Rawhide ruled the TV dial, so set out bandanas and cowboy hats, play a round of horseshoes and serve chili and cornbread.

• Soda-fountain menu

  Offer cheeseburgers, French fries, root beer floats and chocolate malts, with paper straws and checkerboard napkins. Cover the table in newspaper-style place mats of 1959 headlines.

• Dress code: 1959

  Invite everyone to dress for 1959: poodle skirts and saddle shoes, a cowboy from Bonanza, an astronaut in a silver jumpsuit or a Barbie-style fashion model.

• Then-and-now photo wall

  Tape baby photos from 1959 beside the year's headlines: the Mercury Seven, Barbie and Ben-Hur. Add snapshots from recent years to show how the story unfolded.

• Guess the 1959 price

  Write a stamp, a quart of milk and a pound of coffee on cards and let guests guess what each cost in 1959. The prices table higher up has the answers.

Which invitations and cards fit a 67th birthday?

Born in 1959 means turning 67 in 2026. These designs follow the calendar: next year this page shows 68th birthday picks instead.

What else do people ask about 1959?