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- The first test of signal communications using orbiting relay equipment (a satellite) is successful this year.
- A Swedish team implants the first pacemaker but it fails in three hours. A second one last two days. The patient survives these early efforts and the implant of 20 more in his lifetime (he lives to 2001).
- The new Gold Dome Bank (150-foot wide gold dome) becomes a landmark building in Oklahoma City.
- The first welded girder bridge of the interstate highway system is completed in Maryland (on I-83).
- The US puts its first satellite Explorer I into orbit, responding to the "missile gap" with the USSR.
- The first US domestic jet airline passenger service (NYC to Miami) is offered by National Airlines.
- US Army launches America's second and third successful satellites: Explorer II and Explorer III.
- Pan Am introduces transatlantic jet service (its "Clipper America") from Idlewild, NY, to Europe.
- The United Press and International News Service merge to become United Press International.
- Martin Luther King, Jr., is stabbed in the chest by a deranged black woman in New York City.
- Robert H W Welch, Jr, and eleven others meet in Indianapolis to form the John Birch Society.
- Physicist Werner Heisenberg develops the "Uncertainty Principle" of quantum mechanics.
- The "neutron bomb" is developed by a government team headed up by Samuel Cohen.
- The modem is invented to provide computer data transmission over telephone lines.
- Gordon Gould, doctoral student at Columbia University, invents the laser.
- The IBM 632 Electronic Typing Calculator with card output is produced.
- Sputnik III, the first space laboratory, is launched by the Soviet Union.
- The integrated circuit is invented by Jack Kilby and Robert Noyce.
- The US manned space-flight project is named "Project Mercury."
- The National Advisory Council on Aeronautics is renamed NASA.
- Nikita Khrushchev becomes prime minister of the Soviet Union.
- James van Allen discovers the Van Allen radiation belt.
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| Life Style: |
- Willy Higinbotham (Brookhaven) invents the first video game called "Tennis for Two" (on an oscilloscope).
- Bobby Fischer, two months shy of 15, is the youngest international grandmaster in the history of chess.
- WD-40 (a name derived from Water Displacement perfected on the 40th try) is first sold in San Diego.
- A Danish toy company patents a unique system of building blocks that fasten together called LEGOS.
- Vince DeDomenico places rice and pasta in a box, adds a dry seasoning mix, and calls it Rice-a-Roni.
- Wham-O sells 25 million "Hula Hoops" in the first few weeks; over 100 million are sold in two years.
- Coca-Cola test markets their product in 16-ounce and 32-ounce "cone top" cans in five US cities.
- The sack style dress continues to catch on and designer Quant introduces the "mini shift" dress.
- Eastman Kodak developers find a use for cyanoacrylates (discovered in 1943): Super Glue.
- Elvis Presley, the "King of Rock and Roll," enters the US Army as serial number 53310761.
- Hush Puppies are born; the shoes get their name from treats used to quiet barking dogs.
- Stereophonic long-play (33-rpm) vinyl records are introduced by RCA and CBS this year.
- Diet-Rite Cola is the first commercial diet cola to be nationally distributed.
- The number of drive-in theaters in the US peaks this year at about 5,000.
- General Electric introduces the first automatic electric can opener.
- Surfing inspired skateboards are made by Bill and Mark Richards.
- Pizza Hut is founded by Dan and Frank Carney in Wichita, KS.
- The milk carton is improved with a polyethylene coating.
- Dymo produces the first personal embossing labelmaker.
- Cable TV begins to carry FM radio station broadcasts.
- The first potato flake plant is built in Grand Forks, ND.
- The first Burger Chef is opened in Indianapolis, IN.
- A new box of Crayolas comes with 64 colors.
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| Entertainment: |
- The Recording Industry Association certifies the first gold record: Perry Como's Catch A Falling Star.
- The first color videotaped program is aired: The Betty Freezor Show on WBTV-TV in Charlotte, NC.
- "The Chipmunks" (Alvin, Simon and Theodore) and David Seville hit No. 1 with Christmas Song.
- The Andy Williams Show premiers on ABC television (it later appears on CBS and then NBC).
- The Royal Teens hit Short Shorts enters the "Top 40" chart and peaks at No. 3.
- The first computer-arranged marriage takes place on The Art Linkletter Show.
- The last Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts program airs on CBS-TV.
- Jackpot Bowling premieres on NBC-TV; Leo Durocher is the host.
- Richard Burton makes his television debut in Wuthering Heights.
- Boris Pasternak's Doctor Zhivago is first published in the US.
- Dick Dale invents "surfing music" with his Let's Go Trippin'.
- Billboard magazine begins publishing its "Hot 100 Chart."
- The comic strip BC appears in papers for the first time.
- The Smurfs are created by Belgian cartoonist Peyo.
- Vladimir Nabokov's novel Lolita is published.
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Academy Awards: "Oscars"
Best Picture - Gigi
Best Actor - David Niven (Separate Tables)
Best Actress - Susan Hayward (I Want to Live!)
Television Awards "Emmys"
Best Series Actor - Robert Young
Best Series Actress - Jane Wyatt
Best Variety Series - The Jack Paar Tonight Show
Best Comedy Series - Father Knows Best
Best Music Series - The Dinah Shore Show
Best Dramatic Series - Perry Mason
Best Western Series - Gunsmoke
Recording Awards "Grammys"
Best Song - Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu ("Volare")
Best Record - Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Domenico Modugno)
Best Album - The Music From Peter Gunn (Henry Mancini)
Male Vocalist- Perry Como (Catch a Falling Star)
Female Vocalist- Ella Fitzgerald (Ella Sings Irving Berlin)
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Top Songs of '58:
All I Have To Do Is Dream, The Everly Brothers
At the Hop, Danny & the Juniors
Bird Dog, The Everly Brothers
Catch A Falling Star, Perry Como
Chipmunk's Christmas Don't Be Late, David Seville
Don't, Elvis Presley
Get a Job, The Silhouettes
Hard Headed Woman, Elvis Presley
He's Got the Whole World, Laurie London
It's All in the Game, Tommy Edwards
It's Only Make Believe, Conway Twitty
Little Star, The Elegants
Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare), Domenico Modugno
Patricia, Perez Prado & His Orchestra
Poor Little Fool, Rickey Nelson
The Purple People Eater, Sheb Wooley
Tequila, The Champs
To Know Him, Is To Love Him, The Teddy Bears
Tom Dooley, The Kingston Trio
Twilight Time, The Platters
The Witch Doctor, David Seville
Yakety Yak, The Coasters
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| Sports: |
- The Rose Bowl in Pasadena: Ohio State 10, Oregon 7.
- The NCAA Football Champions (per Press and Coaches polls): Louisiana State University.
- The NCAA adds the two-point conversion option to college football this year.
- Jim Brown of the Cleveland Browns gaines an NFL-record 1,527 yards rushing for the season.
- The NFL Eastern Conference winner: Cleveland Browns.
- The NFL Western Conference winner: Baltimore Colts.
- Arnold Palmer wins his first major tournament: the 22nd Golf Masters Championship.
- Jockey Eddie Arcaro rides his 4,000th winner.
- The Wales Trophy winner (professional hockey): Montreal.
- The Hart Trophy (professional hockey MVP) winner: Gordie Howe, Detroit.
- the first major league baseball game is played on the West Coast: San Francisco vs Los Angeles.
- The National League pennant winner: Milwaukee Braves (92-62), managed by Fred Haney.
- The National League home run champion is Ernie Banks, Chicago, with 47.
- The National League batting champion is Richie Ashburn, Philadelphia (0.350).
- The National League MVP is Ernie Banks, Chicago Cubs.
- The American League pennant winner: New York Yankees (92-62), managed by Casey Stengel.
- The American League home run champion is Mickey Mantle, New York, with 42 homers.
- The American League batting champion, for the 6th time, is Ted Williams, Boston (0.328).
- The American League MVP is Jackie Jensen, Boston.
- American League batters are required to wear batting helmets for the first time this year.
- Catcher Roy Campanella (Los Angeles Dodgers) is paralyzed in an automobile accident.
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Big Wins in '58
MLB World Series - New York Yankees
NBA Champions - St. Louis Hawks
NHL Stanley Cup - Montreal Canadians
NFL Champions - Baltimore Colts
Men's U.S. Golf Open - Tommy Bolt
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NCAA Basketball Champions - University of Kentucky
Heisman Trophy - Peter Dawkins, U.S. Military Academy
Indianapolis 500 - Jimmy Bryan at 133.8 mph (average)
Kentucky Derby - Ismael Valenzuela aboard Tim Tam in 2:05.0
Women's U.S. Golf Open - Mickey Wright
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| Costs of Living: |
National Statistics: |
- Average House - $18,200
- Average New Car - $2,200
- Gallon of Gasoline - 30¢
- Milk (half-gallon) - 53¢
- Bread (one loaf) - 19¢
- Steak (per pound) - 99¢
- One Dozen Eggs - 69¢
- First Class Mail - 4¢
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- U. S. Population - 173,320,000
- Gross Domestic Product - $467.2 billion
- Federal Spending - $82.4 billion
- The Federal Debt - $282.9 billion
- Federal Debt per Capita - $1,630
- Annual Income per Capita - $2,100
- Consumer Price Index - 28.9
- Unemployment - 6.8%
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