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Free printable kitTurning 65 in 2026

Born in 1961: fun facts, prices and a free printable 65th birthday party kit

Turning 65 in 2026? Look back at their birth year, from the first spaceflights to Roger Maris and his 61 homers, and grab a free party kit to print.

By InviteBird

Published

Reviewed

14 min read

The short answer

In 1961 Yuri Gagarin became the first person in space and Alan Shepard the first American. John F. Kennedy took office, the Peace Corps began and East Germany started building the Berlin Wall. Roger Maris hit 61 home runs, West Side Story and Breakfast at Tiffany's reached theaters, and a first-class stamp cost 4 cents.

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Born in 1961 lettered in dark green among cartoon icons of a transistor radio, a space capsule, a baseball and a birthday cake
Digital illustration. Born in 1961, with a transistor radio, a space capsule, a baseball and a birthday cake.

Anyone born in 1961 arrived the year John F. Kennedy took office. A cosmonaut and an astronaut reached space within weeks of each other, and Yankees slugger Roger Maris went on a home-run tear.

Below you will find the year's major events, everyday prices and famous birthdays, plus the films, songs and shows people talked about. At the end are party ideas and a printable kit of 1961 trivia and games, free for signed-in visitors.

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What’s in the free printable Born in 1961 party kit?

28 printable pages in 3 PDFs for the 65th birthday party: 12 games, a host guide with every answer, and table cards. Print it at home, hand out pens and let the stories start.

Free printable PDFs with an InviteBird account: 3 files, each in US Letter and A4.

A look inside the kit

  • Game 1: Meet & mingle bingo

  • Game 2: The 1961 headline quiz

  • Game 3: What did it cost in 1961?

  • Game 4: The 1961 birthday club

  • Game 5: Movies & music of 1961

  • Game 7: Timeline shuffle

  • The host guide: every answer, explained

  • Table cards: the 1961 history card, welcome sign and place cards

How do you play the 65th 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. 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 1961 twist: The 1961 card has squares like “Can name a hit song from 1961” and “Has seen West Side Story”.

  2. The 1961 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 1961, with answers that spark "I remember that!" stories.

    Play it on this page, no sign-in

  3. What did it cost in 1961?

    Everyday prices from 1961: 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 1961 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 1961 numbers always get a reaction.

  4. The 1961 birthday club

    Eight of these stars were born in 1961. 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 1961, in 1961, or after 1961.
    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. Movies & music of 1961

    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 1961 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 1961 year-end chart.

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

  6. Before or after 1961?

    Toys, games and gadgets: did each arrive before or after 1961?

    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 1961, or on the right for after 1961.
    3. None of these happened in 1961 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. Timeline shuffle

    Put eight milestones in order around the 1961 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 1961 card in the middle of their table.
    3. Place the other eight cards in order from earliest to latest, around the 1961 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. 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 1961 twist: Add a 1961 bonus question: which hit from that year would they pick as their theme song, “Exodus” or “Will You Love Me Tomorrow”?

  9. 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 1961 twist: Guests may swap one statement for a fact from 1961, like “A new president” (January 20), and the room decides whether it really happened that year.

  10. 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 1961 twist: One card is all 1961: “If 1961 had a headline about your arrival, it would say…”

  11. 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 1961 twist: Set the 1961 history card beside the wish box, so guests can tie a wish to a moment like “First person in space” (April 12).

Can you beat the 1961 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.

  1. Who became the first person in space on April 12, 1961?

  2. Who became the first American in space on May 5, 1961?

  3. Who was sworn in as US president on January 20, 1961?

  4. Which program did President Kennedy create on March 1, 1961?

  5. How many home runs did Roger Maris hit in 1961?

  6. Which team beat the Cincinnati Reds in the 1961 World Series?

  7. Which musical won Best Picture among the movies released in 1961?

  8. Which song from Breakfast at Tiffany's won the Oscar for Best Original Song?

  9. What was the No. 1 single of 1961 on Cash Box magazine's year-end chart?

  10. How much did a first-class stamp cost in 1961?

10 questions about 1961. Tap an answer to check it.

How do you run the kit at a 65th birthday party?

Example: a 90-minute 65th birthday party for 16 guests, born-in-1961 style, in four teams of four. Swap games in or out to suit your crowd; the host guide has every answer.

Before the party, print

  • 16 bingo cards, one per guest
  • 4 copies each of the headline quiz, the price game, the birthday club, Movies & music and Before or after
  • 4 timeline sheets, cut into cards
  • 8 two-truths sheets and 8 wish-card sheets (two per sheet)
  • The toast prompts, the scorecard and the host guide
  • The table cards: the 1961 history card, the welcome sign and four sheets of place cards
  1. 0:00
    Guests arrive: Meet & mingle bingo

    Hand each guest a bingo card and a pen at the door, so the mingling starts before the coats are off.

  2. 0:15
    Welcome and teams

    Say a few words about the guest of honor, then split the room into four teams of four, mixing generations.

  3. 0:20
    Round one: The 1961 headline quiz and What did it cost in 1961?

    Read the quiz aloud, then reveal the real prices one at a time and let the gasps do the work.

  4. 0:40
    Round two: The 1961 birthday club and Movies & music of 1961

    Play a few seconds of each song while teams match the hits to their singers.

  5. 0:55
    Cake break: The 1961 word search and Wishes for the next chapter

    Leave the word search and the wish cards on the tables while everyone eats.

  6. 1:05
    Round three: Before or after 1961? and Timeline shuffle

    Hand each team its set of timeline cards and give them five minutes to argue.

  7. 1:20
    All about them: Who knows them best? and Two truths & a tall tale

    Reveal the guest of honor's private answers, then let them read their two truths last.

  8. 1:30
    Toasts and winners: Toasts & memory prompts

    Pass the bowl of toast prompts, add up the scorecard and crown the winning team.

What happened in 1961?

The biggest events of 1961, each with the source it comes from.

A cartoon timeline of 1961: a rocket on a launch pad, a small space capsule hanging under a parachute, a baseball slugger swinging a bat, a film clapperboard and a globe
Digital illustration. 1961 in five moments: the first spaceflights, a record home-run season, West Side Story and the new Peace Corps.
  1. January 17

    Eisenhower's farewell address

    Outgoing President Dwight Eisenhower warned the nation about the growing power of what he called the military industrial complex.

    Source: Miller Center (University of Virginia): Dwight D. Eisenhower, Key Events
  2. January 20

    John F. Kennedy is inaugurated

    Kennedy was sworn in as the 35th president of the United States.

    Source: Miller Center (University of Virginia): John F. Kennedy, Key Events
  3. March 1

    The Peace Corps is created

    Kennedy kept a campaign pledge by creating a temporary Peace Corps and naming Sargent Shriver to lead it.

    Source: Miller Center (University of Virginia): John F. Kennedy, Key Events
  4. March 29

    The 23rd Amendment is ratified

    Washington, D.C., gained electors in presidential elections. The District gets as many as a state of its size would, but never more than the least populous state.

    Source: National Archives: The Constitution, Amendments 11-27
  5. April 12

    Yuri Gagarin reaches space

    Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first person in space.

    Source: Miller Center (University of Virginia): John F. Kennedy, Key Events
  6. April 17

    The Bay of Pigs invasion

    A brigade of about 1,500 Cuban exiles, backed by the United States, landed in Cuba in an invasion that ended in failure.

    Source: Miller Center (University of Virginia): John F. Kennedy, Key Events
  7. May 4

    The first Freedom Ride

    Civil rights activists rode interstate buses to challenge segregated travel and faced violence along the way.

    Source: Miller Center (University of Virginia): John F. Kennedy, Key Events
  8. May 5

    An American in space

    Alan Shepard Jr. became the first American in space, about three weeks after Gagarin's flight.

    Source: Miller Center (University of Virginia): John F. Kennedy, Key Events
  9. May 25

    Kennedy sets a goal of the Moon

    In a speech to Congress, Kennedy asked the nation to commit to landing a man on the Moon before the decade was over.

    Source: Miller Center (University of Virginia): John F. Kennedy, Key Events
  10. August 13

    Construction of the Berlin Wall begins

    East Germany began building a wall between East and West Berlin, which ended the movement of East German citizens into West Berlin.

    Source: Miller Center (University of Virginia): John F. Kennedy, Key Events
  11. October 1

    Roger Maris hits No. 61

    Yankees outfielder Roger Maris hit his 61st home run of the season against Boston pitcher Tracy Stallard.

    Source: Baseball-Reference: Roger Maris Career Home Runs
  12. October 4-9

    Yankees win the World Series

    New York beat the Cincinnati Reds four games to one. Pitcher Whitey Ford was named Series MVP.

    Source: Baseball-Reference: 1961 World Series

How much did things cost in 1961?

A snapshot of the cost of living in 1961, 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.

Cartoon groceries from the early 1960s on a table: a glass milk bottle, a loaf of bread, eggs and a coffee can, with a four-cent stamp, coins and a toy gas pump
Digital illustration. Milk, bread, eggs, coffee, stamps and gas: the everyday prices in the table below.
ItemPrice in 1961Worth todayGood to know
First-class stamp4¢$0.45Rate for the first ounce from August 1, 1958, until January 7, 1963. Source: USPS Postal History: Rates for Domestic Letters Since 1863
Federal minimum wage$1.00 an hour, then $1.15$11.27 an hour, then $12.96$1.00 at the start of the year. From September 3, jobs already covered by the 1938 law paid $1.15, and jobs newly covered by the 1961 amendments paid $1.00. Source: U.S. Department of Labor: History of Federal Minimum Wage Rates, 1938-2009
Gallon of regular gas31¢ (leaded)$3.49 (leaded)Average US retail price for the year (30.8 cents). Unleaded gas was not yet sold. Source: EIA Annual Energy Review, Table 5.24: Retail Motor Gasoline and On-Highway Diesel Fuel Prices
Loaf of white bread (1 lb)21¢$2.37Average US city price for 1961 (20.9 cents). Source: US Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United States 1962, Table 472: average retail prices of selected foods, 1961 (BLS data)
Quart of fresh milk26¢$2.93Delivered to the door. Average US city price for 1961 (26.2 cents). Source: US Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United States 1962, Table 472: average retail prices of selected foods, 1961 (BLS data)
Dozen large eggs57¢$6.42Grade A. Average US city price for 1961 (57.3 cents). Source: US Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United States 1962, Table 472: average retail prices of selected foods, 1961 (BLS data)
Pound of hamburger51¢$5.75Average US city price for 1961 (51.2 cents). Source: US Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United States 1962, Table 472: average retail prices of selected foods, 1961 (BLS data)
Pound of sliced bacon71¢$8.00Average US city price for 1961 (71.2 cents). Source: US Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United States 1962, Table 472: average retail prices of selected foods, 1961 (BLS data)
Pound of coffee74¢$8.34Vacuum-packed coffee. Average US city price for 1961 (73.6 cents). Source: US Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United States 1962, Table 472: average retail prices of selected foods, 1961 (BLS data)
Pound of bananas16¢$1.80Average US city price for 1961 (15.9 cents). Source: US Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United States 1962, Table 472: average retail prices of selected foods, 1961 (BLS data)

Worth today: each 1961 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 1961 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 1961?

Cartoon early-1960s fun: a small television with rabbit-ear antennas, a transistor radio, a stack of 45 rpm records, a drawing toy with two knobs, a baseball glove and a movie clapperboard
Digital illustration. A TV set, a transistor radio, records and a drawing toy: early-1960s fun in one picture.

Movies

Music

TV shows

Sport

Which famous people were born in 1961?

A few familiar faces who share the birth year, all born in 1961.

What are some fun facts about 1961?

  1. Mister Ed was voiced by Allan "Rocky" Lane, who went uncredited at the time. A gelding named Bamboo Harvester played the horse.

    Source: Television Academy Foundation, The Interviews: Mister Ed

  2. West Side Story won 10 of its 11 Oscar nominations, and Rita Moreno and George Chakiris both took home supporting-acting trophies.

    Source: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences: The 34th Academy Awards (1962), honoring movies released in 1961

  3. In the 1960-61 NBA season, Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor and Oscar Robertson became the first trio to each average at least 30 points a game in the same season.

    Source: NBA.com: Season Review, 1960-61

  4. The Lakers moved from Minneapolis to Los Angeles before the 1960-61 season, and the NBA became bicoastal for the first time.

    Source: NBA.com: Season Review, 1960-61

  5. The Yankees hit 240 home runs in 1961, 51 more than the next-best team, the Los Angeles Angels, and the most in the majors.

    Source: Baseball-Reference: 1961 Major League Baseball season

  6. The 23rd Amendment caps Washington, D.C.'s electoral votes at the number of the least populous state, however large the District's population grows.

    Source: National Archives: The Constitution, Amendments 11-27

  7. Carl Reiner, one of the producers of The Dick Van Dyke Show, also appeared on screen as the comedy star Alan Brady.

    Source: Television Academy Foundation, The Interviews: The Dick Van Dyke Show

  8. Wagon Train began on NBC in September 1957 and switched to ABC in September 1962, after its 1961-62 run at No. 1.

    Source: Television Academy Foundation, The Interviews: Wagon Train

  9. A gallon of gas averaged about 31 cents in 1961, which was about the price of eight first-class stamps at 4 cents each.

    Source: EIA Annual Energy Review, Table 5.24: Retail Motor Gasoline and On-Highway Diesel Fuel Prices

  10. Etch A Sketch, introduced at the 1959 Nuremberg toy fair, became a must-have Christmas toy in 1960 after heavy television advertising. The Ohio Art factory worked until noon on Christmas Eve to keep up.

    Source: The Strong National Museum of Play: Etch A Sketch

Can you answer these 1961 trivia questions?

Tap a question to see the answer. The party kit has a full round of 1961 trivia ready to print.

  1. Who became the first person in space on April 12, 1961?

    Answer: Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. Source: Miller Center (University of Virginia): John F. Kennedy, Key Events

  2. Who became the first American in space on May 5, 1961?

    Answer: Alan Shepard Jr. Source: Miller Center (University of Virginia): John F. Kennedy, Key Events

  3. Which new program did President Kennedy create on March 1, 1961, with Sargent Shriver in charge?

    Answer: The Peace Corps. Source: Miller Center (University of Virginia): John F. Kennedy, Key Events

  4. How many home runs did Roger Maris hit in 1961?

    Answer: 61. Source: Baseball-Reference: Roger Maris stats

  5. Which team beat the Cincinnati Reds in the 1961 World Series?

    Answer: The New York Yankees, four games to one. Source: Baseball-Reference: 1961 World Series

  6. Which musical won the Oscar for Best Picture honoring movies released in 1961?

    Answer: West Side Story. Source: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences: The 34th Academy Awards (1962), honoring movies released in 1961

  7. Which song from Breakfast at Tiffany's won the Oscar for Best Original Song?

    Answer: "Moon River," by Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer. Source: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences: The 34th Academy Awards (1962), honoring movies released in 1961

  8. What was the No. 1 single of 1961 on Cash Box magazine's year-end chart?

    Answer: "Exodus" by Ferrante & Teicher. Source: Cash Box magazine archive: Top 100 singles of 1961 (year-end chart)

  9. How much did it cost to mail a first-class letter in 1961?

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

  10. Which team won the 1961 Stanley Cup by beating the Detroit Red Wings?

    Answer: The Chicago Black Hawks, four games to two. Source: Hockey-Reference: 1961 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Summary

How do you throw a 1961-themed 65th birthday party?

Cartoon friends laughing around a table at a birthday party, writing answers on trivia sheets beside a cake with candles, with paper rocket garlands overhead
Digital illustration. Friends playing a pen-and-paper trivia game at a space-age birthday party.

  • Spin the hits of 1961

    Build a playlist from songs that ranked on Cash Box's 1961 year-end chart: "Exodus," "Will You Love Me Tomorrow," "Tossin' and Turnin'," "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" and "Runaway." Add "Travelin' Man," "Blue Moon" and "Quarter to Three."

  • Name-that-tune rounds

    Play the opening bars of each hit and let tables race to name the song and singer. A bonus point goes to anyone who can hum the bridge.

  • A countdown to the cake

    Gagarin and Shepard both reached space in 1961, so count down from ten before the candles are lit. Hang paper rockets over the dessert table and name the cake "Mission Birthday."

  • Backyard home-run derby

    Roger Maris hit 61 homers that year. Give each guest a plastic bat and a foam ball, keep a running tally on a poster and award a trophy to the first team to reach 61.

  • A movie-night corner

    Set up a cozy screening of Breakfast at Tiffany's or West Side Story, with popcorn and a "Moon River" singalong to close the evening.

  • Early-1960s snack table

    Serve party staples from the era: deviled eggs, a relish tray, shrimp cocktail and cheese cubes on toothpicks. Add a pitcher of punch and a pot of coffee.

  • Come as a 1961 favorite

    Invite guests to arrive as an astronaut, a Yankees slugger, a West Side Story dancer or a character from The Dick Van Dyke Show.

  • Then-and-now photo wall

    Tape up baby pictures from 1961 beside headlines from the year, such as the first astronauts and Maris's record. Add recent snapshots so guests can trace the decades.

  • Guess the 1961 price

    Write a gallon of gas, a stamp and a loaf of bread on cards and ask guests to guess what each cost in 1961. The answers are in the prices section above.

Which invitations and cards fit a 65th birthday?

Born in 1961 means turning 65 in 2026. These designs follow the calendar: next year this page shows 66th birthday picks instead. Every invitation here lets you write the age in yourself, so 65 goes right into the wording.

Adult birthday invitations

All 2032 adult birthday invitations

Online cards for turning 65

Milestone birthday cards

What else do people ask about 1961?

How old is someone born in 1961?

A person born in 1961 turns 65 in 2026. Before their birthday arrives this year, they are a year younger.

What generation is someone born in 1961?

Baby Boomer. Pew Research Center counts Boomers as people born from 1946 through 1964.

What is the Chinese zodiac sign for 1961?

The Ox (Metal Ox). The Year of the Ox began on February 15, 1961. Anyone born from January 1 to February 14, 1961, belongs to the Rat year before it.

What happened in 1961?

Yuri Gagarin and Alan Shepard became the first person and the first American in space. John F. Kennedy was inaugurated, the Peace Corps was created, East Germany began the Berlin Wall and Roger Maris hit 61 home runs.

What was the No. 1 song of 1961?

On Cash Box magazine's 1961 year-end chart, "Exodus" by Ferrante & Teicher was No. 1. Lawrence Welk's "Calcutta" was second and The Shirelles' "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" third. Other charts rank the year's songs differently.

How much did things cost in 1961?

A first-class stamp cost 4 cents, and a gallon of leaded regular gas averaged about 31 cents. A loaf of bread averaged 21 cents, a dozen eggs 57 cents, and the federal minimum wage rose from $1.00 to $1.15 an hour on September 3 for jobs already covered.

Who was born in 1961?

Wayne Gretzky, Eddie Murphy, George Clooney, Dennis Rodman, Princess Diana, Carl Lewis, Forest Whitaker, Laurence Fishburne, Barack Obama and Meg Ryan were all born in 1961.

What movies came out in 1961?

West Side Story, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Judgment at Nuremberg and The Hustler all came out in 1961. West Side Story won the Oscar for Best Picture.

What games work for a 65th birthday party?

The free kit includes twelve printable games, such as Meet & mingle bingo, the 1961 headline quiz, What did it cost in 1961? and a word search. It also comes with a host guide that has every answer and a set of table cards. Signed-in visitors can download it from this page.

Where do these facts come from?

The party kit lists the sources behind its games and answers at the back of its host guide.

Planning the 65th?

Pick an invitation, add the details and send it in minutes. Guests RSVP with one tap.

See adult birthday invitations