The almanac

The 1959 Edition

Limited to about 102 million copies: the babies born worldwide in 1959. About 59 million are still in circulation.

Estimates from the UN World Population Prospects 2024. How we count

What happened in 1959

Berry Gordy founded Motown RecordsThe Detroit label went on to turn out hits that crossed over from R&B to pop.January · Source: EBSCO Research Starters
Disney's Sleeping Beauty openedDisney's widescreen animated fairy tale about Princess Aurora reached theaters.January 29 · Source: Box Office Mojo
The X-15 rocket plane first flewTest pilot Scott Crossfield made the first glide flight of the hypersonic research plane.June 8 · Source: EBSCO Research Starters
The hovercraft was officially launchedChristopher Cockerell's craft, able to travel over water and land, was unveiled off England's coast.June 11 · Source: BBC On This Day
Johansson took the heavyweight crownSweden's Ingemar Johansson knocked down Floyd Patterson seven times to win the world title.June 26 · Source: EBSCO Research Starters
Luna 2 launched toward the MoonThe Soviet probe soon became the first human-made object to reach the Moon's surface.September 12 · Source: BBC On This Day
Bonanza premiered on NBCThe Western about the Cartwright family was the first Western filmed in color.September 12 · Source: EBSCO Research Starters

Famous people born in 1959

"Weird Al" YankovicAmerican comedy musician · born October 23
Bryan AdamsCanadian singer-songwriter and musician · born November 5
Kevin SpaceyAmerican actor · born July 26
Carlo AncelottiItalian football player and manager · born June 10
Emma ThompsonEnglish actress and screenwriter · born April 15
Val KilmerAmerican actor · born December 31
Magic JohnsonAmerican basketball player and entrepreneur · born August 14
Hugh LaurieEnglish actor, comedian, director, musician and writer · born June 11

From Wikidata, ranked by how many Wikipedia languages write about them. Spotted a mistake?

No. 1 songs of 1959

The Chipmunk SongThe Chipmunks With David Seville · first week at No. 1: January 5, 1959
Smoke Gets In Your EyesThe Platters · first week at No. 1: January 19, 1959
Stagger LeeLloyd Price · first week at No. 1: February 9, 1959
VenusFrankie Avalon · first week at No. 1: March 9, 1959
Come Softly To MeThe Fleetwoods · first week at No. 1: April 13, 1959
The Happy OrganDave "Baby" Cortez · first week at No. 1: May 11, 1959
Kansas CityWilbert Harrison · first week at No. 1: May 18, 1959
The Battle Of New OrleansJohnny Horton · first week at No. 1: June 1, 1959
Lonely BoyPaul Anka · first week at No. 1: July 13, 1959
A Big Hunk O' LoveElvis Presley With The Jordanaires · first week at No. 1: August 10, 1959
The Three BellsThe Browns · first week at No. 1: August 24, 1959
Sleep WalkSanto & Johnny · first week at No. 1: September 21, 1959
Mack The KnifeBobby Darin · first week at No. 1: October 5, 1959
Mr. BlueThe Fleetwoods · first week at No. 1: November 16, 1959
Heartaches By The NumberGuy Mitchell · first week at No. 1: December 14, 1959
WhyFrankie Avalon · first week at No. 1: December 28, 1959

Billboard Hot 100, chart weeks of 1959. Spotted a mistake?

If you were born in 1959

Older than the laserTheodore Maiman built and operated the first laser, in Malibu, California (month only; the day is not given by the source) on May 1, 1960.
Older than the first human in spaceYuri Gagarin became the first human to fly into space and orbit the Earth on April 12, 1961.
Older than the Beatles on Ed SullivanThe Beatles made their first live American TV appearance, on The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964.
Older than the Ford MustangThe Ford Mustang was unveiled to the public at the New York World's Fair on April 17, 1964.
Younger than NASANASA officially opened for business on October 1, 1958.
Younger than the microchipJack Kilby demonstrated the first working integrated circuit (microchip) at Texas Instruments on September 12, 1958.
Younger than the LEGO brickThe LEGO Group filed the patent for the modern interlocking LEGO brick on January 28, 1958.