1963 Flashback
As the year 1963 begins, I am still at Oakland City College but my grades weren’t very good. I was on scholastic probation after my first semester and now, by the summer of 1963, I had failed my probation (I would eventually petition to return in the summer of 1964 and my petition would be accepted-my grades would improve drastically). I always had an interest in radio, being a disc jockey. I went to the Chris Borden School of Radio Broadcasting in San Francisco and decided to see if I could be accepted. I had to read an advertisement-they did this to see if you had any speech impediments. I passed this test but when they told me the cost of the school, I decided it was too expensive and I looked for another job. I took the postal exam and did well enough on it that a month later they called me about an opening as a mail clerk. We had sorting schemes that we had to learn and I learned my first scheme rather quickly. Even though I was doing well on the job, I decided that this wasn’t the job for me. I was working the night shift and one night in November I decided that I would quit tomorrow. I slept in till about 10:00 that morning and before I could get ready to go into downtown Oakland and turn in my resignation, news was coming in from Dallas, Texas. The day I quit the post office (the first time) was November 22, 1963-the day that President John F Kennedy was assassinated.
————————————————News Events——————————————
On May 7, Telstar II was launched from Cape Canaveral, in Florida. On May 15 and 16, Gordon Cooper would become the fourth American to orbit the Earth. On June 12 in Jackson, Mississippi, civil rights activist Medgar Evers was assassinated. On August 28, Dr Martin Luther King would lead his Freedom March on Washington, D.C. However, one of the top news stories of this century would happen on November 22, 1963 in Dallas, Texas.
Then, 2 days later, Kennedy’s assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, would himself be assassinated by Jack Ruby.
———————————————–Cost Of Living———————————————
———————————————–The World Of Sports————————————-
In the world of golf, Julius Boros would defeat Arnold Palmer to win the U.S. Open. In Boxing, Sonny Liston would defeat Floyd Patterson to defend his Heavyweight Boxing Title. In the NBA, The Boston Celtics would defeat The Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 2 to win the NBA Title. Also, this was the year that Boston Celtic Guard, Bob Cousey, would announce his retirement. In baseball, The Los Angeles Dodgers would sweep The New York Yankees 4 games to 0 to win the 60th World Series. Baseball legend, Stan “The Man” Musial would announce his retirement after 22 years in the major leagues. In football, The Chicago Bears would defeat The New York Giants 14 to 0 to win the NFL Title.
——————————————–The World Of Television———————————-
Some of the top shows on TV this year would include “What’s My Line” (CBS, Sunday 10:30-11:00 PM), “To Tell The Truth” (CBS, Monday 7:30-8:00 PM), “McHale’s Navy” (ABC, Tuesday 8:30-9:00 PM), “Hazel” (NBC, Thursday 9:30-10:00 PM), “Walt Disney’s Wonderful World Of Color” (NBC, Sunday 7:30-8:30 PM), “Gunsmoke” (CBS, Saturday 10:00-11:00 PM), “Dr. Kildare” (NBC, Thursday 8:30-9:30 PM), “The Patty Duke Show” (ABC, Wednesday 8:00-8:30 PM), “The Virginian” (NBC, Wednesday 7:30-9:00 PM),
“The Donna Reed Show” (ABC, Thursday 8:00-8:30 PM), “The Jackie Gleason Show” (CBS, Saturday 7:30-8:30 PM), “The Jack Benny Show” (CBS, Tuesday 9:30-10:00 PM), “Lassie” (CBS, Sunday 7:00-7:30 PM), “I’ve Got A Secret” (CBS, Monday 8:00-8:30 PM), “The Red Skelton Show” (CBS, Tuesday 8:00-9:00 PK), “My Favorite Martian” (CBS, Sunday 7:30-8:00 PM), “The Danny Thomas Show” (CBS, Monday 9:00-9:30 PM), “The Ed Sullivan Show” (CBS, Sunday 8:00-9:00 PM), “Candid Camera” (CBS, Sunday 10:00-10:30 PM),”The Lucy Show” (CBS, Monday 8:30-9:00 PM), “The Andy Griffith Show” (CBS, Monday 9:30-10:00 PM), “Petticoat Junction” (CBS, Tuesday 9:00-9:30 PM), “The Dick Van Dyke Show” (CBS, Wednesday 9:30-10:00 PM) and “Bonanza” (NBC, Sunday 9:00-10:00 PM). The top rated show on TV this year was still “Beverly Hillbillies” (CBS,Wednesday 9:00-9:30 PM). Other shows on TV this year would include “The Outer Limits” (ABC, Monday 7:30-8:30 PM), “Mr. Novak” (NBC, Tuesday 7:30-8:30 PM),
“The Travels Of Jamie McPheeters” (ABC, Sunday 7:30-8:30 PM), “Breaking Point” (ABC, Monday 10:00-11:00 PM), “East Side, West Side” (CBS, Monday 10:00-11:00 PM), “Glynis” (CBS, Wednesday 8:30-9:00 PM), “Channing” (ABC, Wednesday 10:00-11:00 PM), “Password” (CBS, Thursday 7:30-8:00 PM), “Kraft Suspense Theater” (NBC, Thursday 10:00-11:00 PM) and “The Twilight Zone” (CBS, Friday 9:30-10:00 PM). 🙂 🙂 🙂
References: “The Complete Directory To Prime Time Network TV Shows 1946-Present” by Tim Brooks & Earle Marsh, “Chronicles Of America” published by Dorling Kindersley and “What Happened When” by Gorton Carruth.
