Timeline October 1961

Events in October 1961 9

• 1887 – 1961 Chico Marx (1887-1961) Died 11 October 1961, aged 74 American comedian and actor, the eldest of the Marx Brothers, known for his piano playing and Italian-accented comic character in the group's films. He appeared in classics including Duck Soup and A Night at the Opera.
• 1961 Bob Dylan signs with Columbia Records Signed by John Hammond Producer John Hammond signs the 20-year-old to Columbia.
• 1961 – present The Beach Boys American rock band Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, Mike Love and Al Jardine — from surf hits to Pet Sounds and Good Vibrations.
• 1961 The Beach Boys record Surfin' Hawthorne, California Three Wilson brothers, their cousin Mike Love and Al Jardine record their first single.
• 1961 Roger Maris breaks Babe Ruth's home run record Hits 61st home run of the season New York Yankees outfielder Roger Maris hit his 61st home run of the season on the final day, surpassing Babe Ruth's 1927 single-season record. The achievement was controversial at the time because Maris played a longer schedule than Ruth had.
• 1961 Ray Charles tops the charts with Hit the Road Jack Number one His second pop number one.
• 1961 – present David Mitchell British novelist Mitchell writes interconnected novels blending genres, time periods, and narrative structures.
• 1961 West Side Story premieres Film adaptation of the Broadway musical opens The film adaptation of West Side Story, transposing Romeo and Juliet to rival street gangs in New York City, opened in theaters to widespread acclaim. It went on to win ten Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
• 1961 Tsar Bomba detonated Largest nuclear weapon ever tested The Soviet Union detonated Tsar Bomba over Novaya Zemlya, a roughly 50-megaton hydrogen bomb that remains the most powerful nuclear device ever exploded. The test dramatically escalated Cold War fears about the scale of the nuclear arms race.