1963 was the year that the threads that were holding society together started to get frayed. In the US it was still pre British music invasion and we were still only ‘advising’ in Viet Nam. So we will reach back to March of 1963 to see what was popping.

So let’s see if you can remember (or had Mom and Dad tell you) about that wonderful year 1963.

1) A young man is arrested in Phoenix, Ariz. He makes statements to the police that lead to his conviction. He sues claiming he was never advised of his constitutional rights. Three years later the SCOTUS agrees and police now advise people using a warning named after this young man. His name was:

a) Clarence Gideon
b) William Douglas
c) Pedro Ramirez
d) Ernesto Miranda

2) This up and coming heavy weight boxer almost saw what would be a historic career end when he barely outpointed Doug Jones on March 13th. Whose career barely survived that fight?

a) Joe Frazier
b) George Foreman
c) Cassius Clay (later Muhammed Ali)
d) Sugar Ray Robinson

3) On March 21, one of America’s most well-known institutions closed. It is now a tourist attraction. What is this place?

a) The Bijou theater where John Dillinger was shot.
b) The school where evolution was taught leading to the Scopes Monkey Trial
c) Alcatraz
d) Fort Laramie

4) March 22, 1963 this rock group released their first album in Britain. This group is …?

a) the Rolling Stones
b) The Beatles
c) The Kinks
d) The Dave Clark 5

5) The beginnings of a major scandal brews in Canada when Defence Minister John Profumo claims he was not involved with what woman?

a) Christine Keeler
b) Donna Rice
c) Evelyn Nesbitt
d) Fanne Foxe

6) In a decision announced on March 18, the SCOTUS ruled that

a) Police must have a search warrant before entering a private residence
b) Evidence obtained from an illegal search can not be presented in court
c) a person can not be forced to testify against him or her self
d) all defendants must be represented by counsel in court

7) On March 5th what major country music star dies in an airplane crash?

a) Jayne Mansfield
b) Dinah Shore
c) Patsy Cline
d) Skeeter Davis

8) The top rated TV show of the 1962-1963 TV season is

a) The Bevely Hillbillies
b) The Lucy Show
c) The Red Skelton Show
d) Candid Camera

9) The 1962 – 1963 late night line up saw what up & coming comedian take over the Tonight Show?

a) Steve Allen
b) Jack Paar
c) Johnny Carson
d) Joey Bishop

10) The week of March 24th this song took over as #1 and stayed at the top for a month. What was it?

a) “Telstar” by the Tornadoes
b) “He’s So Fine” by the Chiffons
c) “Dominique” by the Singing Nun
d) “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” by the Beatles

Fifty years?? Hope that cake I put in the oven back then is done. Time surely goes by fast, doesn’t it? Well I guess it is time for some answers!

1) d) Ernesto Miranda. The case would make it to the SCOTUS in 1966. And that old liberal Warren court said people needed to be advised of their rights.

2) c) Cassius Clay aka Muhammed Ali nearly had his career stunted by Doug Jones.

3) c) Alcatraz

4) b) The Beatles – the album was rushed because of their popularity and was “Please Please Me”

5) a) Christine Keeler – tough question

6) d) In Gideon V Wainwright SCOTUS ruled that all defendants must be represented by counsel

7) c) Patsy Cline was killed on March 5, 1963

8) a) Yep – The Beverly Hillbillies

9) c) Johnny Carson started his long run in October 1962

10) b) we were still in the pre-Beatles stage and “He’s So Fine” spent a month on top of the charts

Note: On the same day as the Gideon decision the SCOTUS also issued the “one man, one vote” decision.

Note2: March 22 was the 50th anniversary of Dick Cheney’s first deferment.