What Happened in 1963

Major Events

1963 in Film & TV

  • Aug 24 24th Venice Film Festival: "Hands Over the City" directed by Francesco Rosi wins Golden Lion

1963 in Music

  • Jan 11 Beatles release single "Please Please Me" / "Ask Me Why"; peaks at #2 in UK, and #3 in US
  • Jan 16 Los Angeles night club and music venue The Whiskey A-Go-Go opens (inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2006)
  • Feb 16 Beatles top British rock charts with "Please, Please Me"
  • Feb 23 Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti makes his debut at the Vienna State Opera in Giuseppe Verdi's "La traviata"
  • Mar 22 The Beatles release their 1st album, "Please Please Me"
  • May 10 Decca Records sign The Rolling Stones on advice of Beatle George Harrison [1]
  • Jun 22 "Little" Stevie Wonder aged 13 releases his first single "Fingertips" (first live non-studio recording to go to No. 1 on Billboard)
  • Oct 17 The Beatles record "I Want to Hold Your Hand" at EMI Studios in London

1963 in Sport

Did You Know?

Hotline communication link between the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and the Kremlin in Moscow installed. Often known as the "red telephone" no phones were ever used, relying instead on Teletype equipment, fax machines and most recently secure email.

August 30, 1963


More People Born in 1963

Fun Fact About 1963

John Lennon utters his famous quip at a Royal Variety Performance "For our last number, I'd like to ask your help. The people in the cheaper seats clap your hands? And for the rest of you, if you’ll just rattle your jewelry…" at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London

November 4, 1963


More 1963 Deaths

Famous Weddings in 1963

  • Jan 12 American comedian and actor Bob Newhart (33) weds American actress Virginia "Ginnie" Quinn (22), until her death in 2023
  • Jan 12 Country singer Willie Nelson (29) weds singer Shirley Collie (31) in Las Vegas; divorce in 1971
  • Feb 2 Filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola (23) weds documentary filmmaker Eleanor Jessie Neil (26) in Las Vegas, Nevada

More Weddings in 1963