30th December

The Steven Sondheim musical Gypsy, starring Ethel Merman, is performed on Broadway, New York City, USA, during a run of 702 performances.

The musical Irma La Douce is running at The Plymouth Theatre, Broadway, New York City, USA. It runs at The Plymouth for more than a year before transferring to The Alvin Theatre.

Teddy Randazzo, Molly Bee, Jo-Ann Campbell and Carding Cruz with his 24-piece orchestra play at Araneta Coliseum, The Philippines, Asia, during The Christmas Cavalcade Of International Stars.

The Noel Coward-composed musical Sail Away is presented at The Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway, New York City, USA, during a run of 167 performances.

The musical Milk And Honey, with music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, is playing at The Martin Beck Theater on Broadway, New York City, USA, during a run of 543 performances.

The stage musical Do-Re-Mi, starring Max Bygraves, with music by Jule Styne, is playing at the Prince Of Wales Theatre, London, England, Europe, during a run of 169 performances.

The stage musical How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, starring Rudy Vallee, is playing at the 46th Street Theater on Broadway, New York City, USA, during a run of 1,417 performances.

The musical Irma La Douce is presented at The Alvin Theatre, Broadway, New York City, USA during a total of 524 Broadway performances.

The musical Kean, based on the life of 18th Century Shakespearean actor Edmund Kean, is playing at The Broadway Theater, New York City, USA, during a run of 92 performances.

Musical comedy The Gay Life is presented at The Shubert Theater, Broadway, New York City, USA, during a run of 113 performances.

Roy Acuff is undertaking a one-month tour of Spain, Europe, and Morocco, Africa, where he is performing for American troops, sponsored by the United Service Organizations.

Sarah Vaughan is playing during a three-week engagement at the My Fair Lady club in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Lambert, Hendricks And Ross are playing during a two-week engagement at The Village Vanguard, Greenwich Village, New York City, USA.

Louis Jordan plays during a lengthy engagement at Danny's Lounge, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA.

Paul Anka is playing throughout Christmas and New Year at The Caribe Room, Caribe Hilton Hotel, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Caribbean.

Gene McDaniels plays during an eight-night run at The Fox Theater, Detroit, Michigan, USA.

Vincent Lopez And His Orchestra are playing during a residency in The Grille Room of the Hotel Taft, New York City, USA.

Brenda Lee, Dion, Johnny Tillotson, Freddy Cannon, The Casuals, Frank Gari, Clarence 'Frogman' Henry and others play in the week-long Big Show at Medinah Temple, Chicago, Illinois, USA. The show is promoted by Sid Bernstein.

The Willis Brothers are playing during a week of shows at The Showboat, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

Don Holly, The Hi-Riders and Patty Boyd are playing three shows a day at The Rod And Custom Automobile Show, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.

George Brunis And His All-Star Dixieland Band is playing at Basin Street, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

"Sizzling, soulful, singing sensation" Rosette Shaw is appearing at Mister Kelly's, Chicago, Illinois, USA, as support to Professor Irwin Corey.

Pianist Don Shirley and his trio are playing at The London House, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Josh White is playing at The Gate Of Horn, Chicago, Illinois, USA, supported by Judy Collins.

A UK Silver Disc is awarded to the single The Time Has Come by Adam Faith.

Dodo And His Band are playing at The Goodwood Hotel, Singapore, Asia.

Bill Anderson is playing in Ottumwa, Iowa, USA.

King Curtis is playing at Small's Paradise, Harlem, New York City, USA.

Brenda Lee, Dion, Johnny Tillotson, Freddy Cannon, Ral Donner, Solomon Burke, Clarence 'Frogman' Henry and Eddie Hodges play the last of five nights at the Medinah Temple, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

According to today's edition of Cashbox magazine in the USA, the Top 10 Best-Selling records of 1961 were as follows :



1. Exodus - Ferrante And Teicher (United Artists)

2. Calcutta - Lawrence Welk (Dot)

3. Will You Love Me Tomorrow - The Shirelles (Scepter)

4. Tossin' And Turnin' - Bobby Lewis (Beltone)

5. Wonderland By Night - Bert Kaempfert (Decca)

6. Are You Lonesome Tonight - Elvis Presley (RCA)

7. Travelin' Man - Ricky Nelson (Imperial)

8. Michael - The Highwaymen (United Artists)

9. Runaway - Del Shannon (Big Top)

10. Last Date - Floyd Cramer (RCA)

The Twist-themed movie Twist Around The Clock is released to cinemas in the USA. The movie stars Chubby Checker, Dion, The Marcels, Clay Cole and Vicki Spencer.

Cliff Richard And The Shadows perform The Young Ones on the ABC-tv show Thank Your Lucky Stars in the UK.

The Beatles and The White Eagles Jazz Band play at The Cavern Club, Liverpool, England, UK, Europe.

The Beach Boys make their first television appearance, lip-synching their song Surfin' at The Olive Recreation Center, Burbank, California, USA, for the KTLA-tv show Dance Party. Also on the show are The Platters, The Olympics and Dick And Dee Dee.

Patsy Cline and George Hamilton IV play in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Billy Fury appears on the BBC-tv show A Pair Of Jacks, with Woolf Phillips And His Orchestra and Harry Rabinowitz and "an orchestra". The show is presented by Jack Payne and Jack Jackson.

Jim Reeves And The Blue Boys, LeRoy Van Dyke, The Duke Of Paducah, Mother Maybelle, Helen, June and Anita Carter, The Cates Sisters, Dianne Hamilton, Gary Van And The Western Starliters, Mack Sanders And The Ranch Boys, Jeannie Pierson and Herkimer Pushbroom play a live show in St. Joseph, Missouri, USA.

Ray Charles plays at Russ Auditorium, San Diego, California, USA.

Anita Harris, Carole Carr, Bunny Lewis and Sid James are the panel on BBC-tv's record-rating show Juke Box Jury, presented by David Jacobs, in London, England, UK, Europe.

The highest new entry in the Cash Box magazine chart of the best-selling singles in the US is the re-issued perennial White Christmas by Bing Crosby, entering at No85.

UK Silver Discs are awarded simultaneously to five Elvis Presley singles - Are You Lonesome Tonight?, Wooden Heart, Surrender, Wild In The Country and His Latest Flame.

Gary U.S. Bonds, Timi Yuro, Joey Dee And The Starliters, The Isley Brothers, Jan And Dean, Bobby Lewis, The Crystals, The Vibrations and The Chantels play in Murray The K's Gigantic Christmas Show at the Academy Of Music, New York City, USA. Dion headlines today's show.

It is reported that Prestige Records has signed blues guitarist and harmonica player Eddie 'Blues Boy' Kirkland, from Detroit, Michigan, USA, to its Tru-Sound label.

Frankie Vaughan and The King Brothers play at the City Hall, Sheffield, England, UK, Europe.

Alma Cogan, Josh Macrae, Russ Sainty, Michael Redway, The Rhet Stroller Group, The Del-Fi's, Tommy Sanderson And The Sandmen, The Monty Sunshine Band and Beryl Bryden perform live on the BBC Light Programme radio show Saturday Club, from London, England, UK, Europe. The show is presented by Brian Matthew.