| |
General News: |
|
|
- The Nautilus, the world's first nuclear submarine, is introduced with two engines: a diesel to travel on the surface, and an electric engine to travel while submerged (able to go thousands of miles before recharging its nuclear elements).
- The first vaccine for polio is made commercially available after researcher Jonas Salk has proven it to be safe and effective in mass field trials. At the time, polio (also known as infantile paralysis) was epidemic in our nation.
- The American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organization merge and become the AFL-CIO.
- Actor James Dean dies in a high-speed car crash while on his way to a racing event in which he was to participate in Salinas, CA. He had been stopped by troopers and received a speeding ticket just two hours before the crash.
- Optic fiber cables are invented (but it takes another 15 years to produce a cost-effective product).
- Hurricane Diane is the first billion dollar damage storm, causing 200 deaths along the northeast coast.
- Columbia University scientists develop an atomic clock accurate to within one second in 300 years.
- The first network television Presidential news conference is conducted by Dwight Eisenhower on ABC.
- Marian Anderson becomes the first black singer to perform at the Met in New York City.
- Congress authorizes all United States currency to bear the motto "In God We Trust."
- The federal government moves to ban racial segregation on interstate trains and busses.
- Rosa Parks (black) refuses to move to the back of a public bus in Montgomery, AL.
- The first radio facsimile transmission is sent across the continental United States.
- The first commercial plant to produce synthetic diamonds is announced.
- President Eisenhower raises the minimum wage from $0.75 to $1 an hour.
- The first separation of a virus into its component parts is reported.
- The Supreme Court orders school integration "with all deliberate speed."
- A new USAF Academy is dedicated at Lowry AFB (Colorado) with 300 cadets enrolled.
- The U. S. begins foreign aid to Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos.
- The "hovercraft" is invented by Christopher Cockeral, an Englishman.
- A time bomb aboard a United DC-6 kills 44 in the air above Longmont, CO.
- The U.S. Air Force unveils its first self-guided missile.
- Ray Kroc starts the McDonald's chain of fast food restaurants in Illinois.
- The Tappan Zee Bridge in New York City is completed and opened to traffic.
- The first automobile seat belt legislation is enacted in Illinois.
- RCA demonstrates the first commercial music synthesizer.
- Women are wearing pointed toe shoes and 5-inch stiletto heels.
- Popular hairstyles are the poodle cut and the French pleat.
- The first ever "Walk/Don't Walk" lighted street signal is installed.
- The first Guinness Book of Records is published.
- Scrabble debuts as a new board game.
- Certified mail is introduced in the U.S.
| |
| |
Entertainment News: |
- Movie studios begin to open their vaults for television station rentals and sales; RKO is the first to do so.
- Damn Yankees opens at the 46th Street Theater in New York City (and continues for 1,022 performances).
- Elvis Presley makes his first television appearance on local program called Louisiana Hayride.
- The Tennessee Williams play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof opens on Broadway (runs for 694 performances).
- The McGuire Sisters' single Sincerely goes to No. 1 on the charts (and stays there for 10 weeks).
- The first rock 'n' roll song to ever top a list of hits is Bill Haley's Rock Around the Clock.
- Steve McQueen makes his network television debut on the Goodyear Playhouse.
- A new television program called The $64,000 Question begins in June, hosted Hal March.
- New York psychologist Joyce Brothers answers The $64,000 Question about boxing.
- The Lawrence Welk Show premiers on ABC televsion (you can still see it today).
- The Honeymooners, with Jackie Gleason, appears for the first time on television.
- Barbra Streisand's first recording, You'll Never Know is released; she is only 13.
- The Bob Cummings Show premieres on NBC (it later appears on CBS).
- The Mickey Mouse Club makes its first appearance on network television.
- Carl Perkins records his original version of Blue Suede Shoes.
- The Red Buttons Show airs for the last time on NBC television.
- William Buckley begins his television broadcast The National Review.
- The Bob Cummings Show premieres on NBC (it later appears on CBS).
- In September, Gunsmoke begins a 20-year run on CBS television.
- Walt Disney's movie The Lady and the Tramp is released.
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents premiers on national television.
- William Inge's play Bus Stop premieres in New York City.
- The Millionaire television program premieres on CBS.
| |
| |
Academy Awards: "Oscars"
•
Best Picture - Marty
•
Best Actor - Ernest Borgnine (Marty)
•
Best Actress - Anna Magnani (Rose Tattoo)
Television Awards: "Emmys"
•
Best Series Actor - Danny Thomas
•
Best Series Actress - Loretta Young
•
Best Variety Series - Disneyland
•
Best Comedy Series - Make Room for Daddy
•
Best Mystery Series - Dragnet
•
Best Dramatic Series - The U.S. Steel Hour
•
Best Daytime Series - House Party
Recording Awards: "Grammys"
[Grammys not awarded until 1958]
|
Top Songs of '55:
•
A Blossom Fell, Nat "King" Cole
•
Ain't That A Shame, Pat Boone
•
Autumn Leaves, Roger Williams
•
Ballad Of Davy Crockett, Bill Hayes
•
Cherry Pink (and Apple Blossom White), Perez Prado Orchestra
•
Dance With Me Henry (Wallflower), Georgia Gibbs
•
Hearts Of Stone, The Fontane Sisters
•
I Hear You Knocking, Gale Storm
•
Learnin' the Blues, Frank Sinatra
•
Let Me Go, Lover, Joan Weber
•
Lisbon Antigua, Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra
•
Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing, The Four Aces
•
Memories Are Made Of This, Dean Martin
•
Moments to Remember, The Four Lads
•
(We're Gonna) Rock Around The Clock, Bill Haley & His Comets
•
Sincerely, The McGuire Sisters
•
Sixteen Tons, "Tennessee" Ernie Ford
•
Tweedlee Dee, Georgia Gibbs
•
Unchained Melody, Les Baxter Orchestra & Chorus
•
The Yellow Rose of Texas, Mitch Miller Orchestra & Chorus |
| |
Sports News: |
|
|
- Furman University sets an NCAA basketball single-game scoring record with 154 points.
- Heavyweight Rocky Marciano KO's Don Cockell in San Fransisco to claim the heavyweight boxing title.
- The first NFL sudden death football game is played with the L.A. Rams beating the N.Y. Giants 23-17.
- Heavyweight champ Rocky Marciano KO's Archie Moore in the 9th round to retain his heavyweight title.
- Mickey Mantle hits career home run number 100 at Yankee Stadium.
- Ted Allen throws a record 72 consecutive horseshoe ringers.
|
|
| |
Key Results:
•
MLB World Series - Brooklyn Dodgers
•
NBA Champions - Syracuse Nationals
•
NHL Stanley Cup - Detroit Red Wings
•
NFL Champions - Cleveland Browns
•
Men's U.S. Golf Open - Jack Fleck
|
•
NCAA Basketball Champions - University of San Francisco
•
Heisman Trophy - Howard Cassady, Ohio State University (HB)
•
Indianapolis 500 - Bob Sweikert, at 128.2 mph (average)
•
Kentucky Derby - Bill Shoemaker aboard Swaps, in 2:01.8
•
Women's U.S. Golf Open - Fay Crocker
|
| |
Costs of Living:
- Average House - $17,500
- Average New Car - $1,950
- Gallon of Gasoline - 29¢
- Milk (half-gallon) - 48¢
- Bread (one loaf) - 18¢
- Steak (per pound) - 88¢
- One Dozen Eggs - 69¢
- First Class Mail - 3¢
|
National Statistics:
- U. S. Population - 165,931,000
- Average Annual Income - $5,000
|
|
|
