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Welcome
To
The Fifties in Review
The United States is drawn into the war in Korea. Start of the Joseph McCarthy era. Bell Laboratories and Western Electric create the first telephone answering machine. Drive-in movies become 'passion pits'. Charles Shultz introduces 'Peanuts'. Chain Supermarkets replace Mom and Pop stores. Maxwell House introduces the first instant coffee. |
THE NUMBERS
US POPULATION - 151,684,000
NEW BIRTHS - 3,632,000
MEDIAN PRICE NEW HOME - $8,450
AVERAGE COST NEW CAR - $1,270
QUART OF MILK - $.21
LOAF OF BREAD - $.14
STEAK PER POUND - $.93
PER CAPITA INCOME - $1,501
SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS
NFL - Cleveland Browns
WORLD SERIES - New York Yankees
NBA - Minneapolis Lakers
WIMBLEDON - Budge Patty, A. Louise Brough
KENTUCKY DERBY - Middleground
INDY 500 - Johnny Parsons
STANLEY CUP - Detroit
COLLEGE FOOTBALL - Oklahoma
COLLEGE BASKETBALL - CCNY
ENTERTAINMENT
BEST PICTURE - All About Eve
BEST ACTOR - Jose Ferrer
BEST ACTRESS - Judy Holladay
TOP TV SHOW - Texaco Star Theater
AMERICAN THEATER -
Peter Pan - Boris Karloff
The Country Girl - Uta Hager
Call Me Madam - Ethel Merman |
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg are sentenced to die in the electric chair for stealing atomic-bom secrets. Bobby Thompson's ninth inning home run wins the pennant for the Giants. Crew cuts and the two-tone do become popular. Paperback book sales boom. Dennis the Menace debuts. Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays join baseball. Power steering becomes popular. The Univac computer is introduced. |
THE NUMBERS
US POPULATION - 154,287,000
NEW BIRTHS - 3,823,000
MEDIAN PRICE NEW HOME - $8,975
AVERAGE COST NEW CAR - $1,356
QUART OF MILK - $.23
LOAF OF BREAD - $.16
STEAK PER POUND - $1.09
PER CAPITA INCOME - $1,577
SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS
NFL - Los Angeles Rams
WORLD SERIES - New York Yankees
NBA - Rochester Royals
WIMBLEDON - Rich Savitt, Doris Hart
KENTUCKY DERBY - Count Turf
INDY 500 - Lee Wallard
STANLEY CUP - Toronto
COLLEGE FOOTBALL - Tennessee
COLLEGE BASKETBALL - Kentucky
ENTERTAINMENT
BEST PICTURE - An American in Paris
BEST ACTOR - Humphrey Bogart
BEST ACTRESS - Vivian Leigh
TOP TV SHOW - Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
AMERICAN THEATER -
Darkness At Noon - Jack Palance
The Rose Tattoo - Eli Wallach
The King and I - Yul Brynner |
Ike gets elected. Puerto Rico becomes a self-governing U.S. commonwealth. The hydrogen or H-bomb is exploded in the South Pacific. Christine Jorgensen announces her sex-change operation. Panty raids occur in college dorms across America. American Bandstand debuts. Mohawk haircuts come into style. Dragnet captures the attention of viewers. MAD magazine makes its' debut. |
THE NUMBERS
US POPULATION - 156,954,000
NEW BIRTHS - 3,913,000
MEDIAN PRICE NEW HOME - $9,050
AVERAGE COST NEW CAR - $1,493
QUART OF MILK - $.24
LOAF OF BREAD - $.16
STEAK PER POUND - $1.11
PER CAPITA INCOME - $1,653
SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS
NFL - Detroit Lions
WORLD SERIES - New York Yankees
NBA - Minneapolis Lakers
WIMBLEDON - Frank Sedgman, Maureen Connolly
KENTUCKY DERBY - Hill Gail
INDY 500 - Troy Ruttman
STANLEY CUP - Detroit
COLLEGE FOOTBALL - Georgia Tech / Michigan State
COLLEGE BASKETBALL - Kansas
ENTERTAINMENT
BEST PICTURE - The Greatest Show on Earth
BEST ACTOR - Gary Cooper
BEST ACTRESS - Shirley Booth
TOP TV SHOW - I Love Lucy
AMERICAN THEATER -
The Shrike - Jose Ferrer
Mrs. McThing - Helen Hayes
The Grass Harp - Mildred Natwick |
Joseph Stalin dies. Hugh Hefner published the first issue of Playboy. The first issue of TV Guide is published. Dr. Jonas Salk develops the Polio Vaccine. The Korean War ends. Scientology becomes a religion. The first IBM computer enters the market. Americans love the Corvette. The first James Bond book is published. Kellogg's Sugar Smacks are an instant success. |
THE NUMBERS
US POPULATION - 159,565,000
NEW BIRTHS - 3,965,000
MEDIAN PRICE NEW HOME - $9,500
AVERAGE COST NEW CAR - $1,471
QUART OF MILK - $.23
LOAF OF BREAD - $.16
STEAK PER POUND - $.91
PER CAPITA INCOME - $1,729
SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS
NFL - Detroit Lions
WORLD SERIES - New York Yankees
NBA - Minneapolis Lakers
WIMBLEDON - Vic Siexas, Maureen Connolly
KENTUCKY DERBY - Dark Star
INDY 500 - Bill Vukovich
STANLEY CUP - Montreal
COLLEGE FOOTBALL - Maryland
COLLEGE BASKETBALL - Indiana
ENTERTAINMENT
BEST PICTURE - From Here to Eternity
BEST ACTOR - William Holden
BEST ACTRESS - Audrey Hepburn
TOP TV SHOW - I Love Lucy
AMERICAN THEATER -
The Crucible - EG Marshall
Picnic - Paul Newman
|
Groton, Connecticut launches the first nuclear submarine, the 'Nautilus'. The Surpreme Court rules that segregated education is illegal. Elvis Presley makes his first record. I Love Lucy continues to capture the heart of America. TV dinners are a quick success. The cha-cha arrives from Cuba. The first issue of Sports Illustrated is published. Ellis Island closes. |
THE NUMBERS
US POPULATION - 162,391,000
NEW BIRTHS - 4,078,000
MEDIAN PRICE NEW HOME - $10,225
AVERAGE COST NEW CAR - $1,478
QUART OF MILK - $.23
LOAF OF BREAD - $.17
STEAK PER POUND - $.91
PER CAPITA INCOME - $1,805
SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS
NFL - Cleveland Browns
WORLD SERIES - New York Giants
NBA - Minneapolis Lakers
WIMBLEDON - Jaroslav Drobny, Maureen Connolly
KENTUCKY DERBY - Determine
INDY 500 - Bill Vukovich
STANLEY CUP - Detroit
COLLEGE FOOTBALL - Ohio State / UCLA
COLLEGE BASKETBALL - LaSalle
ENTERTAINMENT
BEST PICTURE - On the Waterfront
BEST ACTOR - Marlon Brando
BEST ACTRESS - Grace Kelly
TOP TV SHOW - I Love Lucy
AMERICAN THEATER -
The Cain Mutiny Court Marshall - Henry Fonda
The Immoralist - Geraldin Page
The Pajama Game - John Raitt |
Nikita Khrushchev emerges as leader of the U.S.S.R. The Warsaw Pact is born. West Germany is granted independence. President Eisenhower signs a bill that requires the inscription 'In God We Trust' on all U.S. currency. Dr. Jonas Salk tests the Polio vaccine. Disneyland opens to the public. Chuck Berry makes it big. James Dean dies. Gunsmoke begins the era of TV westerns. |
THE NUMBERS
US POPULATION - 165,275,000
NEW BIRTHS - 4,104,000
MEDIAN PRICE NEW HOME - $10,950
AVERAGE COST NEW CAR - $1,572
QUART OF MILK - $.23
LOAF OF BREAD - $.18
STEAK PER POUND - $.90
PER CAPITA INCOME - $1,881
SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS
NFL - Cleveland Browns
WORLD SERIES - Brooklyn Dodgers
NBA - Syracuse Nationals
WIMBLEDON - Troy Trabert, A. Louise Brough
KENTUCKY DERBY - Swaps
INDY 500 - Bill Sweikert
STANLEY CUP - Detroit
COLLEGE FOOTBALL - Oklahoma
COLLEGE BASKETBALL - San Francisco
ENTERTAINMENT
BEST PICTURE - Marty
BEST ACTOR - Ernest Borgnine
BEST ACTRESS - Anna Magnani
TOP TV SHOW - The $64,000 Question
BILLBOARD'S #1 HIT - Rock Around the Clock
AMERICAN THEATER -
The Dark is Light Enough - Tyrone Power
Inherit the Wind - Tony Randall
The Grass Harp - Mildred Natwick |
Grace Kelly marries Prince Rainier III. Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey Circus folds up its last canvas circus tent in Pittsburgh. The 'Andrea Doria', an Italian cruise liner, sinks. Chevrolet introduces fuel injection. 'My Fair Lady' charms Broadway. Harry Belafonte's 'Calypso' album sets a new standard. Bouffant hairstyles pop up out of thin air. |
THE NUMBERS
US POPULATION - 168,221,000
NEW BIRTHS - 4,218,000
MEDIAN PRICE NEW HOME - $11,700
AVERAGE COST NEW CAR - $1,677
QUART OF MILK - $.24
LOAF OF BREAD - $.18
STEAK PER POUND - $.88
PER CAPITA INCOME - $1,949
SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS
NFL - New York Giants
WORLD SERIES - New York Yankees
NBA - Philadelphia Warriors
WIMBLEDON - Lewis Hoad, Shirley Fry
KENTUCKY DERBY - Needles
INDY 500 - Pat Flaherty
STANLEY CUP - Montreal
COLLEGE FOOTBALL - Oklahoma
COLLEGE BASKETBALL - San Francisco
ENTERTAINMENT
BEST PICTURE - Around the World in 80 Days
BEST ACTOR - Yul Brynner
BEST ACTRESS - Ingrid Bergman
TOP TV SHOW - I Love Lucy
BILLBOARD'S #1 HIT - Memories Are Made of This
AMERICAN THEATER -
The Lovers - Darrin McGavin
|
A U.S. B-52 Superfortress makes the first nonstop round the globe flight. The U.S.S.R. launches Sputnik. The U.S.A. makes its first successful ICBM launch. The first American nuclear power plant goes into operation. Elvis is King! Ducktails are sported by the young. The Edsel flops. The Volkswagon becomes an instantly popular import. |
THE NUMBERS
US POPULATION - 171,274,000
NEW BIRTHS - 4,308,000
MEDIAN PRICE NEW HOME - $12,175
AVERAGE COST NEW CAR - $1,831
QUART OF MILK - $.25
LOAF OF BREAD - $.19
STEAK PER POUND - $.94
PER CAPITA INCOME - $2,017
SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS
NFL - Detroit Lyons
WORLD SERIES - Milwaukee Braves
NBA - Boston Celtics
WIMBLEDON - Lewis Hoad, Althea Gibson
KENTUCKY DERBY - Iron Liege
INDY 500 - Sam Hanks
STANLEY CUP - Montreal
COLLEGE FOOTBALL - Auburn / Ohio State
COLLEGE BASKETBALL - North Carolina
ENTERTAINMENT
BEST PICTURE - The Bridge on the River Kwai
BEST ACTOR - Alec Guinness
BEST ACTRESS - Joanne Woodward
TOP TV SHOW - Gunsmoke
BILLBOARD'S #1 HIT - Too Much
AMERICAN THEATER -
A New Gal in Town - Gwen Verdon
|
The first American satellite, the 'Explorer1', is launched into orbit. NASA is created. American Marines are ordered into Lebanon. Major League Baseball makes its debut on the west coast with the San Francisco Giants and the L.A. Dodgers. The Hula-hoop becomes a craze. LP's come into widespread use. Permanent press clothes make their debut. |
THE NUMBERS
US POPULATION - 174,141,000
NEW BIRTHS - 4,255,000
MEDIAN PRICE NEW HOME - $12,000
AVERAGE COST NEW CAR - $1,881
QUART OF MILK - $.26
LOAF OF BREAD - $.19
STEAK PER POUND - $1.02
PER CAPITA INCOME - $2,085
SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS
NFL - Baltimore Colts
WORLD SERIES - New York Yankees
NBA - St. Louis Hawks
WIMBLEDON - Ashley Cooper, Althea Gibson
KENTUCKY DERBY - Tim Tam
INDY 500 - Jimmy Bryan
STANLEY CUP - Montreal
COLLEGE FOOTBALL - LSU/Iowa
COLLEGE BASKETBALL - Kentucky
ENTERTAINMENT
BEST PICTURE - Gigi
BEST ACTOR - David Niven
BEST ACTRESS - Susan Hayward
TOP TV SHOW - Gunsmoke
BILLBOARD'S #1 HIT - At The Hop
AMERICAN THEATER -
J.B. - Pat Hingle
|
Alaska becomes the 49th state of the union. Fidel Castro becomes premier of Cuba. The original Barbie Doll is introduced by Mattel, Inc. Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the 'Big Bopper' die in a plane crash. Hawaii becomes the 50th state of the union. Motown Records is founded by Barry Gordy. Folk singing makes a brief return. Velcro is introduced. Sony introduces the trasisterized TV set. |
THE NUMBERS
US POPULATION - 177,873,000
NEW BIRTHS - 4,295,000
MEDIAN PRICE NEW HOME - $12,400
AVERAGE COST NEW CAR - $1,822
QUART OF MILK - $.25
LOAF OF BREAD - $.20
STEAK PER POUND - $1.05
PER CAPITA INCOME - $2,153
SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS
NFL - Baltimore Colts
WORLD SERIES - L.A. Dodgers
NBA - Boston Celtics
WIMBLEDON - Alex Olmeda, Maria Bueno
KENTUCKY DERBY - Tomy Lee
INDY 500 - Rodger Ward
STANLEY CUP - Montreal
COLLEGE FOOTBALL - Syracuse
COLLEGE BASKETBALL - California
ENTERTAINMENT
BEST PICTURE - Ben Hur
BEST ACTOR - Charlton Heston
BEST ACTRESS - Simone Signoret
TOP TV SHOW - Gunsmoke
BILLBOARD'S #1 HIT - Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
AMERICAN THEATER -
A Majority of One - Cedrick Hardwick
Gypsy - Ethel Merman
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