The No. 1s of
1961
Pick a day for its No. 1 song, film, and book — or scan every reign of 1961 below.
No. 1 songs · Billboard Hot 100
- Are You Lonesome To-night?Elvis Presley With The JordanairesJan 2, 19611 week
- Wonderland By NightBert Kaempfert And His OrchestraJan 9, 19613 weeks
- Will You Love Me TomorrowThe ShirellesJan 30, 19612 weeks
- CalcuttaLawrence Welk And His OrchestraFeb 13, 19612 weeks
- Pony TimeChubby CheckerFeb 27, 19613 weeks
- SurrenderElvis Presley With The JordanairesMar 20, 19612 weeks
- Blue MoonThe MarcelsApr 3, 19613 weeks
- RunawayDel ShannonApr 24, 19614 weeks
- Mother-In-LawErnie K-DoeMay 22, 19611 week
- Travelin' ManRicky NelsonMay 29, 19611 week
- Running ScaredRoy OrbisonJun 5, 19611 week
- Travelin' ManRicky NelsonJun 12, 19611 week
- Moody RiverPat BooneJun 19, 19611 week
- Quarter To ThreeU.S. BondsJun 26, 19612 weeks
- Tossin' And Turnin'Bobby LewisJul 10, 19617 weeks
- Wooden HeartJoe DowellAug 28, 19611 week
- MichaelThe HighwaymenSep 4, 19612 weeks
- Take Good Care Of My BabyBobby VeeSep 18, 19613 weeks
- Hit The Road JackRay Charles And His Orchestra With The RaelettesOct 9, 19612 weeks
- Runaround SueDionOct 23, 19612 weeks
- Big Bad JohnJimmy DeanNov 6, 19615 weeks
- Please Mr. PostmanThe MarvelettesDec 11, 19611 week
- The Lion Sleeps TonightThe TokensDec 18, 19612 weeks
No. 1 films · U.S. weekend box office
- SpartacusJan 4, 19612 weekends
- ExodusJan 18, 19611 weekend
- SpartacusJan 25, 19611 weekend
- Swiss Family RobinsonFeb 1, 19611 weekend
- The MisfitsFeb 8, 19611 weekend
- ExodusFeb 15, 19611 weekend
- The MisfitsFeb 22, 19611 weekend
- ExodusMar 1, 19617 weekends
- The Absent-Minded ProfessorApr 19, 19616 weekends
- The Young SavagesMay 31, 19611 weekend
- The Pleasure of His CompanyJun 7, 19614 weekends
- The Parent TrapJul 5, 19611 weekend
- FannyJul 12, 19613 weekends
- The Guns of NavaroneAug 2, 19614 weekends
- Come SeptemberAug 30, 19616 weekends
- The HustlerOct 11, 19611 weekend
- Breakfast at Tiffany'sOct 18, 19615 weekends
- King of KingsNov 22, 19611 weekend
- The ComancherosNov 29, 19611 weekend
- King of KingsDec 6, 19612 weekends
- West Side StoryDec 20, 19611 weekend
- Flower Drum SongDec 27, 19611 weekend
No. 1 books · NYT fiction best sellers
- HawaiiJames MichenerJan 1, 196112 weeks
- The Last of the JustAndré Schwarz-BartMar 26, 19614 weeks
- The Agony and the EcstasyIrving StoneApr 23, 196127 weeks
- Franny and ZooeyJ. D. SalingerOct 29, 196110 weeks