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General News: |
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- Singer Nat Cole is attacked by whites while on stage in a Birmingham, AL, theater.
- U.S. scientists first detect high-temperature microwave radiation from the planet Venus.
- The Federal Highway Act is signed, launching work on a new interstate highway system.
- Marketing separate teenagers into two groups: greasers and preppies. Greasers have the black leather and denim look of Marlon Brando; preppies have the neat, tidy, well-groomed appearance of Gidget.
- The Hush-a-Phone court ruling forces AT&T to allow private equipment to be connected to its network for the first time.
- Prince Ranier marries Grace Kelly, following a Hollywood style romance warmly embraced by the American public.
- Bette Nesmith Graham invents Mistake Out, later renamed Liquid Paper (often called "white out").
- The Supreme Court forces AT&T to license its patents and intellectual property to its competitors.
- Disneyland opens in Anaheim: a 180-acre park on what had been orange and walnut groves in Southern California.
- The first prefrontal lobotomy is performed in Washington, D.C. [Note: I'd rather have a "free bottle in front of me."]
- The Ampex Corporation builds a practical videotape recorder for TV stations, replacing the kinescope.
- A TWA Super Constellation and a United Airlines DC-7 collide over the Painted Desert, killing 128 people.
- The last performance of the Ringling Bros, Barnum & Bailey Circus under a canvas tent takes place.
- The Andrea Doria and the Stockholm collide off the coast of Cape Cod; 51 perish.
- The U.S. drops the first atomic fusion (thermonuclear) bomb from plane in the Bikini Atoll.
- On March 12, the Dow Jones Industrial Averages close above 500 for first time (at 500.24).
- Eisenhower signs farm bill allowing the federal government to store agricultural surplus.
- Abigail Van Buren's "Dear Abby" first appears as a syndicated column in newspapers.
- The first transatlantic telephone cable (between Newfoundland and Scotland) is completed.
- The contraceptive pill is introduced; a breakthrough in simple, reliable methods of birth control.
- President Eisenhower is reelected President of the United States, defeating Adlai E Stevenson.
- A United DC-7 a TWA flight collide over the Grand Canyon killing 128.
- The first non-stop transcontinental helicopter flight is completed.
- The Presbyterian Church begins ordaining women ministers.
- Jay Forrester is issued a patent for computer core memory.
- Solar-powered radios are marketed for the first time.
- Streetcar service comes to an end in Brooklyn, NY.
- The first hard disk drive is developed by IBM.
- Electronic pagers are introduced.
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Entertainment News: |
- John Lennon (age 15) and Paul McCartney (age 13) meet for the first time as Lennon's rock group The Quarrymen perform at a local church dinner in England.
- Elvis Presley spreads rock to a world-wide audience with the release of his first film Love Me Tender.
- My Fair Lady opens at the Mark Hellinger Theater in New York City and runs for 2,715 performances.
- Elvis Presley's records Heartbreak Hotel in Nashville; it becomes his first hit in Billboard's Top 10.
- Elvis Presley's Don't Be Cruel/Hound Dog single goes to No. 1 (and stays there for 11 weeks).
- Buddy Holly records Blue Days Black Night in Nashville in his first formal recording session.
- Dick Clark appears as host of a local program in Los Angeles called American Bandstand.
- Chet Huntley and David Brinkley first appear, bringing a "star" element to TV newscasting.
- Elvis Presley makes his first national television appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show.
- The daytime serials As The World Turns and Edge of Night premier on television.
- Harry Belafonte's album Calypso goes to No. 1 (and stays there for 31 weeks).
- My Friend Flicka premieres on CBS (and later appears on NBC) television.
- Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel" goes to No. 1 on the charts.
- The Bob Hope Show discontinues its run on NBC television.
- The Pinky Lee Show comes to an end on NBC television.
- Elvis Presley records his version of Blue Suede Shoes.
- My Fair Lady begins a six-year run on Broadway.
- Peyton Place steams up the bestseller lists.
- To Tell the Truth debuts on CBS television.
- The Coasters sign with Atlantic Records.
- Little Richard releases Tutti Frutti.
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Academy Awards: "Oscars"
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Best Picture - Around the World in Eighty Days
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Best Actor - Yul Brynner (The King and I)
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Best Actress - Ingrid Bergman (Anastasia)
Television Awards: "Emmys"
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Best Series Actor - Phil Silvers
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Best Series Actress - Lucille Ball
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Best Variety Series - Toast of the Town
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Best Comedy Series - The Phil Silvers Show
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Best Music Series - Your Hit Parade
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Best Dramatic Series - Producers' Showcase
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Best Daytime Series - Matinee Theater
Recording Awards: "Grammys"
[Grammys not awarded until 1958]
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Top Songs of '56:
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Allegheny Moon, Patti Page
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Blue Suede Shoes, Carl Perkins
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Don't Be Cruel, Elvis Presley
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The Great Pretender, The Platters
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Green Door, Jim Lowe
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Heartbreak Hotel, Elvis Presley
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Hot Diggity (Dog Ziggity Boom), Perry Como
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I Almost Lost My Mind, Pat Boone
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I Want You, I Need You, I Love You, Elvis Presley
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Just Walking in the Rain, Johnnie Ray
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Love Me Tender, Elvis Presley
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Moonglow and Theme from Picnic, Morris Stoloff Orchestra
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My Prayer, The Platters
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No, Not Much, The Four Lads
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The Poor People of Paris, Les Baxter Orchestra & Chorus
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Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be), Doris Day
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Rock and Roll Waltz, Kay Starr
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Singing the Blues, Guy Mitchell
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The Wayward Wind, Gogi Grant |
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Sports News: |
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- Fullback Jim Brown (Syracuse University), sets an NCAA record by scoring 43 points vs Colgate University.
- Don Larsen (NY Yankees) pitches the only perfect World Series game (vs. Brooklyn Dodgers).
- Mickey Mantle hits a home run from both sides of plate for a record third time this year.
- Heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano retires from boxing undefeated.
- Willie Mosconi sinks 150 consecutive balls in a billiards tournament.
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Key Results:
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MLB World Series - New York Yankees
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NBA Champions - Philadelphia Warriors
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NHL Stanley Cup - Montreal Canadians
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NFL Champions - New York Giants
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Men's U.S. Golf Open - Cary Middlecoff
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NCAA Basketball Champions - University of San Francisco
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Heisman Trophy - Paul Hornung, University of Notre Dame (QB)
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Indianapolis 500 - Pat Flaherty, at 128.5 mph (average)
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Kentucky Derby - David Erb aboard Needles in 2:03.4
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Women's U.S. Golf Open - Kathy Cornelius
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Costs of Living:
- Average House - $17,800
- Average New Car - $2,100
- Gallon of Gasoline - 29¢
- Milk (half-gallon) - 51¢
- Bread (one loaf) - 18¢
- Steak (per pound) - 91¢
- One Dozen Eggs - 69¢
- First Class Mail - 3¢
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National Statistics:
- U. S. Population - 168,903,000
- Average Annual Income - $5,300
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