What Happened on October 20, 1964

Historical Events

  • Ann Packer of Great Britain runs a world record 2:01.1 to win the women's 800m gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics

Golden Boy

Lee Adams and Charles Strouse's musical adaptation of Clifford Odet's "Golden Boy", starring Sammy Davis Jr. opens at Majestic Theater, NYC; runs for 569 performances

  • Mad Dog Vachon beats Verne Gagne in Minneapolis, to become NWA champ
  • Riot at Rolling Stones conecrt in Paris leads to 150 arrests
  • Tamara Press of the Soviet Union wins her second gold medal in 2 days by taking out the women's shot put at the Tokyo Olympics; Press' second consecutive Olympic shot put title

Famous Birthdays

Kamala Harris (59 years old)

American lawyer, politician and 49th Vice President of the United States (2021-) who was the 1st African-American, Asian-American attorney general of California, born in Oakland, California

  • Zap Mama [Marie Daulne], Belgian-Congolese Afro-pop and world music singer-songwriter, born in Isiro, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Famous Deaths

  • Ben Simpson, Canadian Football HOF running back, placekicker (Queen's University, Hamilton Tigers), dies at 86

Herbert Hoover (1874-1964)

American politician and 31st President of the United States (Republican: 1929-33), dies in NY at 90

  • Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn, English diplomat (High Commissioner of Egypt and the Sudan), dies at 84
Died in 1964 1964 Highlights

About October 20, 1964

Day of the Week: Tuesday
How Long Ago? 59 years, 6 months and 8 days
Leap Year: Yes

Generation: Baby Boomer
Chinese Zodiac: Dragon
Star Sign: Libra

Music Charts

  • US #1 Song: Do Wah Diddy Diddy - Manfred Mann
  • UK #1 Song: (There's) Always Something There To Remind Me - Sandie Shaw