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- The IBM 704 employs automatic floating point arithmetic, the first to use FORTRAN and a core memory.
- The world's first nuclear submarine, the Nautilus, has two engines: diesel for the surface and electric when submerged. Nuclear power lets it travel thousands of miles below the surface before recharging.
- Einstein writes to Bertrand Russell, agreeing to sign a manifesto calling for a ban on nuclear weapons.
- General Motors becomes the first US corporation to earn more than one billion dollars in a single year.
- Hurricane Diane is the first billion dollar damage storm, causing 200 deaths along the northeast coast.
- Optic fiber cables are invented this year, but it takes 15 years to produce a cost-effective product.
- Columbia University scientists develop an atomic clock accurate to within one second in 300 years.
- American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations merge to form the AFL-CIO.
- Marian Anderson becomes the first African American to perform at the Metropolitan Opera House.
- Forrest Bird introduces the "Bird Mark 7 Respirator" for acute and chronic cardiopulmonary care.
- The first network television Presidential news conference is conducted by Dwight Eisenhower.
- Congress authorizes all United States currency to bear the motto "In God We Trust."
- Rosa Parks (black) refuses to move to the back of a public bus in Montgomery, AL.
- The Federal government bans racial segregation on interstate trains and busses.
- The US House of Representatives votes to extend Selective Service until 1959.
- The Tappan Zee Bridge (New York City) is completed and opened to traffic.
- British engineer Christopher Cockerell patents the first hovercraft.
- The US Air Force Academy is dedicated in Colorado Springs, CO.
- Disney's first theme park Disneyland opens in Anaheim, CA.
- The US Air Force unveils its first self-guided missile.
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| Life Style: |
- Commercial TV airs in Britain; six minutes of ads allowed per hour; Sunday morning telecasts not allowed.
- Vernor Company of Detroit introduces its ginger ale in a 12-ounce flat-top can (the "Vernor Picnic Can").
- A show by Fats Domino in Bridgeport, CT, is canceled because "rock and roll dances might be featured."
- Actor James Dean dies in a car crash in California. He had received a speeding ticket two hours earlier.
- Zenith's "Flashmatic" is the first wireless version of a TV remote, but makes for problematic operation.
- The first synthetic diamond in the US is produced for industrial applications by General Electric Co.
- The first microwave oven suitable for home use is introduced by The Tappan Company.
- Marilyn Monroe’s “white dress” scene is filmed over a subway tunnel in New York City.
- New York psychologist Joyce Brothers answers The $64,000 Question (about boxing).
- Mrs. Jules Lederer replaces Ms. Ruth Crowley in the newspapers as "Ann Landers."
- Harry Olson and Herbert Belar build the first music synthesizer (the "RCA Mark I").
- Research shows that TV viewing correlates inversely with education and income.
- Jack Benny does his last live network radio broadcast after a run of 23 years.
- Pointed toe shoes and stiletto heels (up to 5 inches) are in fashion this year.
- Movie studios begin to open their vaults for television studio sale and rental.
- A time bomb aboard a United DC-6 kills 44 in the air above Longmont, CO.
- Stereo tape recorders are sold to the home market for the first time.
- The State of Illinois enacts the first automobile seat belt legislation.
- Ray Kroc opens the first McDonald's restaurant in Des Plains, IL.
- Certified mail is introduced by the US Postal Service.
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| Entertainment: |
- Bill Haley’s Rock Around the Clock is #1 on the charts; the only real rock song in Billboard's Top Ten.
- Damn Yankees opens at the 46th Street Theater in New York City (runs for 1,022 performances).
- The Ed Sullivan Show debuts on CBS-TV (had been called The Toast of the Town since 1948).
- Elvis Presley makes his first television appearance on a local program called Louisiana Hayride.
- You'll Never Be Rich appears on CBS-TV; the name is soon changed to The Phil Silvers Show.
- Barbra Streisand's first recording, You'll Never Know is released; she is only 13 years old.
- Bo Diddley makes his first public appearance; at the Apollo Theater in New York City.
- The Lawrence Welk Show premiers on ABC televsion (you can still see reruns today).
- Bert Parks began a 25-year career as host of the Miss America Pageant on NBC-TV.
- Steve McQueen makes his network television debut on The Goodyear Playhouse.
- The Bob Cummings Show premieres on NBC-TV (it later appears on CBS).
- The Honeymooners, starring Jackie Gleason, appears for the first time.
- Carl Perkins records the original version of Blue Suede Shoes.
- William Buckley launches The National Review on television.
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents makes its debut on CBS-TV.
- New York City's The Village Voice begins publication.
- The Millionaire television program premieres on CBS.
- Gunsmoke begins a 20-year run on CBS television.
- The first Guinness Book of Records is published.
- The Mickey Mouse Club premiers on ABC-TV.
- Captain Kangaroo premiers on CBS-TV.
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Academy Awards: "Oscars"
Best Picture - Marty
Best Actor - Ernest Borgnine (Marty)
Best Actress - Anna Magnani (Rose Tattoo)
Television Awards "Emmys"
Best Series Actor - Phil Silvers
Best Series Actress - Lucille Ball
Best Action Series - Davy Crockett
Best Audience Series - The $64,000 Question
Best Comedy Series - The Phil Silvers Show
Best Dramatic Series - Producer's Showcase
Best Daytime Series - Matinee Theatre
Recording Awards "Grammys"
[Not awarded until 1958]
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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
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| Sports: |
- The Rose Bowl in Pasadena: Ohio State 20, Southern Calififornia 7.
- The NCAA Football Champions (per Press and Coaches polls): Oklahoma.
- Furman University sets an NCAA basketball single-game scoring record with 154 points.
- It costs the Baltimore Colts just an 80-cent phone call to sign free agent Johnny Unitas.
- The first NFL sudden death football game is played; the L.A. Rams beat the N.Y. Giants 23-17.
- The NFL experiments with white footballs, but after bad experiences, they return to brown in 1956.
- The NFL Eastern Conference winner: Cleveland.
- The NFL Western Conference winner: Los Angeles Rams.
- The Wales Trophy winner (professionial hockey), for the 6th year in a row: Detroit.
- The Hart Trophy (professional hockey MVP) winner: Ted Kennedy, Toronto.
- Rocky Marciano KO's Don Cockell to win the heavyweight title; then defeats Archie Moore to hold it.
- The NBA scoring champion is Neil Johnston, Philadelphia Warriors, at 22.7 points a game.
- Willie Mays (New York Giants) becomes the youngest player to ever hit 50 home runs in a single season.
- The National League pennant winner: Brooklyn Dodgers (98-55), managed by Walter Alston.
- The National League home run champion is Willie Mays, New York, with 51.
- The National League batting champion is Richie Ashburn, Philadelphia (0.338).
- The National League MVP is Roy Campanella, Brooklyn Dodgers.
- The American League pennant winner: New York Yankees (96-58), managed by Casey Stengel.
- The American League home run champion is Mickey Mantle, New York, with 37.
- The American League batting champion is Al Kaline, Detroit (0.340).
- The American League MVP is Yogi Berra, New York Yankees.
- In the American League, the Athletics move from Philadelphia to Kansas City.
- The World Series is televised in color: the New York Yankees versus the Brooklyn Dodgers.
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Big Wins in '55
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
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NCAA Basketball Champions - San Francisco
Heisman Trophy - Howard Cassady, Ohio State
Indianapolis 500 - Bob Sweikert, at 128.2 mph (average)
Kentucky Derby - W. Shoemaker on Swaps in 2:01 4/5
Women's U.S. Golf Open - Fay Crocker
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| Costs of Living: |
National Statistics: |
- Average House - $17,600
- Average New Car - $2,000
- Gallon of Gasoline - 29¢
- Milk (half-gallon) - 48¢
- Bread (one loaf) - 18¢
- Steak (per pound) - 88¢
- One Dozen Eggs - 69¢
- First Class Mail - 3¢
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- U. S. Population - 164,308,000
- Gross Domestic Product - $414.8 billion
- Federal Spending - $68.4 billion
- The Federal Debt - $280.8 billion
- Federal Debt per Capita - $1,710
- Annual Income per Capita - $1,880
- Consumer Price Index - 26.8
- Unemployment - 4.4%
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