Yogi Berra had recently published his first book titled 'Yogi: The Autobiography of a Professional Baseball Player' (1961), with Ed Fitzgerald as co-writer.
Michael Lanigan, the first contestant, was a Peace Corps volunteer who would be leaving to serve for the next two years in rural community development efforts in the Colombian towns of Andes, Antoquia, and Cali.
Kristjana Magnúsdóttir would represent Iceland in the upcoming Miss Universe Pageant (1961) at the Miami Beach Auditorium on the 15th. The event would be hosted by John Daly and Magnúsdóttir was one of the 15 semi-finalists.