What happened in October 1964?
The top front-page story of each day in October 1964, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Oct 1🌍 China Celebrates 15 Years – Communist China marked the 15th anniversary of its rule with a grand parade in Peking, showcasing national pride and unity.
- Oct 2🚄 World's Fastest Train – Japan inaugurated the world's fastest scheduled train service, with ceremonies attended by Emperor Hirohito and Empress Nagako.
- Oct 3🚀 Rocket Payloads Patented – A new device that forms a plastic bag on descent to create a life preserver for space probe instruments was patented.
- Oct 4🏅 Olympic Preview Event – Tokyo hosted a preview of the upcoming Olympic Games, featuring fireworks and performances, drawing a large crowd.
- Oct 5🏗️ Building Record Predicted – Construction activity is forecasted to be a bright spot in the national economy for 1965, setting another record.
- Oct 6🌍 Hurricane Floods Carolinas – Hurricane Hilda's remnants caused heavy rains, flooding parts of Georgia and the Carolinas, leading to significant damage.
- Oct 7🏅 Hirohito Opens Olympics – Emperor Hirohito inaugurated the Olympic meeting in Tokyo, with IOC President Avery Brundage praising the Olympic movement as a modern religion.
- Oct 8⚾ Shannon's Homer Key Play – Mike Shannon's homer led the St. Louis Cardinals to a 9-5 victory over the Yankees in the first World Series game.
- Oct 9🏅 Olympics Open in Tokyo – The Tokyo Olympic Games commenced today, showcasing athletes from around the world in a highly anticipated event.
- Oct 10🏅 Olympics Open in Tokyo – Emperor Hirohito of Japan officially opened the 18th Olympic Games in Tokyo, showcasing brilliant pageantry under a clear sky.
- Oct 11🏅 Olympics Open in Tokyo – The Tokyo Olympics commenced with a grand opening ceremony, showcasing athletes from around the world, including a record attendance of 75,000.
- Oct 12🏅 U.S. Medals in Olympics – Two Arizona girls won the first U.S. medals in the Tokyo Olympics, with impressive performances in diving events.
- Oct 13🚀 Soviet Spaceship Launched – The Soviet Union successfully launched the Voskhod, the first multi-person spacecraft, marking a significant achievement in space exploration.
- Oct 14🚀 Soviet Space Mission – The Soviet spacecraft Voskhod returned safely after orbiting Earth 16 times, marking a significant achievement in space exploration.
- Oct 15🏅 Mills Wins Olympic Gold – First Lieut. William M. Mills set a new Olympic record in the 10,000-meter run, earning the U.S. its first distance gold medal since 1908.
- Oct 16🛰️ End of Khrushchev Era – Nikita Khrushchev was removed from leadership in the Soviet Union, marking a significant political shift in a major world power.
- Oct 17🏅 Olympic Gold Medals – Americans win four Olympic gold medals in Tokyo, two in track and two in swimming, showcasing their athletic prowess.
- Oct 18🌍 China's Nuclear Test – China detonated its first nuclear device, marking a significant moment in global nuclear proliferation and impacting international relations.
- Oct 19🐘 Elephants Celebrate Relic – Elephants paraded through West London to celebrate the enshrining of the first relic of Buddha outside Asia.
- Oct 20🚀 Rocket Fired Successfully – A Blue Streak rocket was successfully fired at Woomera, Australia, marking a faultless test in the ongoing program.
- Oct 21🖼️ Herbert Hoover Dies – Former U.S. President Herbert Hoover passed away at age 90, remembered for his humanitarian efforts and leadership during the Great Depression.
- Oct 22🎨 Picasso Still Life Sold – A still-life painting by Pablo Picasso from 1919 sold for $117,500 at an auction in New York City.
- Oct 23🏅 Switzerland Wins Gold – Henri Chammartin secured Switzerland's first gold medal at the 1964 Olympics in equestrian dressage.
- Oct 24🌍 Zambia Gains Independence – Northern Rhodesia becomes the Republic of Zambia, marking the end of 73 years of British rule and the birth of Africa's 36th independent country.
- Oct 25🏅 Olympics Conclude – The 1964 Olympics ended in Tokyo, showcasing new records and champions, with over 40 nations winning medals in a spirit of goodwill.
- Oct 26🌍 Hoover Buried – Herbert Hoover, the 31st President of the United States, was buried in Iowa, attended by 75,000 mourners honoring his legacy.
- Oct 27🔬 Japanese Team Climbs Peak – A Japanese team successfully scaled the Glacier Dome in the Annapurna Massif, reaching a height of 23,450 feet in Nepal.
- Oct 28🚢 Liner America Retires – The liner America, the second-largest U.S. passenger ship, completed its final voyage, marking the end of an era for American maritime travel.
- Oct 29🌍 50th Soviet Cosmos Launched – The Soviet Union launched its 50th Cosmos satellite, continuing its space exploration efforts with scientific instruments aboard.
- Oct 30🔬 Nobel Prize for Hodgkin – Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin becomes the third woman to win the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, celebrated for her contributions to science.
- Oct 31🔬 Star of India Stolen – A collection of rare gems, including the famous Star of India sapphire, was stolen from the American Museum of Natural History in a daring burglary.
Happy Birthday! 1964 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1964 in real headlines. See the 1964 book →
Born in October? Pick the day
Every birthday in October has its own On This Day in Headlines book: