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- Fidel Castro and his revolutionaries march into Havana and take over as Cuban dictator Batista flees.
- Castro signs agreements with the USSR; confiscates agrarian holdings; is recognized as a Communist.
- US Astronauts selected for Project Mercury: Shepard, Grissom, Glenn, Carpenter, Schirra and Cooper.
- A fully transistorized IBM 7090 computer system appears; runs five times faster than its predecessor.
- Vice-President Nixon argues with Nikita Khrushchev in what becomes known as the "Kitchen Debate."
- Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is completed in New York City.
- The first atomic powered cruiser vessel, the Long Beach, is launched by the US Navy in Quincy, MA.
- American Airlines offers its first transcontinental commercial jet flight (Los Angeles - New York City).
- The integrated circuit is invented independently by engineer Jack Kilby and physicist Robert Noyce.
- Charles de Gaulle, first elected president of the newly formed Fifth Republic of France, takes office.
- The Supreme Court rules that a Louisiana law prohibiting blacks boxing whites is unconstitutional.
- The St Lawrence Seaway is opened allowing ships access to American and Canadian lake ports.
- Nikita Khruschev is not allowed to visit Disneyland for security reasons; he reacts with anger.
- The Soviet Union launches Luna II, which becomes the first space probe to reach the moon.
- The first atomic powered merchant ship, the Savannah is christened in Camden, NJ.
- The world's first hovercraft (the SR-N1) is successfully tested at Cowes, England.
- Pan American World Airways announces the start of its global airline service.
- Anthropologist Leakey discovers a human skull said to be 600,000 years old.
- The Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO, graduates its first class.
- Magnetic ink character recognition is developed to process bank checks.
- The 49-star flag debuts, but it's replaced next year with a 50-star flag.
- Texas Instruments files for a patent on the integrated circuit board.
- Ford Motor Company discontinues production of the Edsel.
- Pioneer IV becomes the first orbiting satellite of the US.
- Alaska becomes the 49th State admitted to the Union.
- Hawaii (the "Aloha State") becomes the 50th State.
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| Life Style: |
- In an event heralded by postal officials as "historically significant" a Navy submarine fired a guided missile carrying 3,000 letters at a Naval Air Station in Florida trying to demonstrate high-speed mail delivery.
- Super Glue sales soar after I've Got a Secret host Garry Moore is lifted by plates bonded with one drop.
- Philadelphia closes the last US reduction plant (turns organic wastes into fat, grease and oil products).
- The Barbie Doll appears, named for daughter of creators Ruth & Elliot Handler. Mattel sells 800 million.
- E I du Pont de Nemours & Company begins the first commercial production of spandex fiber in the US.
- Princess telephones are introduced in five colors, the first color telephones offered by Bell Telephone.
- The US Air Force "Blue Book" project concludes that less than 1% of all UFO's are actually unknown.
- Fred Mennen develops a special yellow hulless hybrid corn in La Porte, IN; he calls it Jiffy Pop.
- Vic Mills of Procter and Gamble invents "Pampers" but they are not marketed until 1961.
- Local announcements, weather data, and local ads begin to appear on cable television.
- Oklahoma is the last State to end prohibition, 51 years after the rest of the nation.
- The first house with a built-in bomb shelter is exhibited in Pleasant Hills, PA.
- Richard Starkey, later to use the name Ringo Starr, buys his first drum set.
- General Mills became the first corporation to use closed-circuit television.
- Sony brings the Model 8-301, the first transistor television to the market.
- A Vatican edict forbids Roman Catholics from voting for communists.
- Parker Brothers first markets the "Risk Continental Game" in the US.
- US Congress passes a bill authorizing the creation of food stamps.
- The word "Frisbee" becomes a registered trademark of Wham-O.
- The Xerox 914 is produced; it's the first plain paper copier.
- Vinyl lunch boxes are introduced but they don't last long.
- The Four Seasons Restaurant Opens in New York City.
- Kodak Ektachrome slide film is introduced this year.
- Aluminum Christmas trees are first sold this year.
- Kenner introduces the "Give-a-Show" projector.
- Rock and roll music begins to decline.
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| Entertainment: |
- Charles Van Doren, Twenty-One game show contestant, admits having answers to questions in advance.
- Patty Duke, at age 12, makes her Broadway debut in The Miracle Worker (she made 700 performances).
- Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and J P "Big Bopper" Richardson perish in a plane crash near Clear Lake, IA.
- The play A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry, premiers with Sidney Poitier and Claudia McNeil.
- The Twilight Zone, with Rod Serling, debuts on CBS-TV; it continues for 5 years (154 episodes).
- Some Like it Hot, with Marilyn Monroe and Jack Lemmon, premieres on Broadway.
- Bonanza premiers as the first western television program to be telecast in color.
- The Kraft Music Hall, with Milton Berle, airs for the last time on NBC television.
- Groucho, Chico & Harpo Marx make their final television appearance together.
- Bozo the Clown, a live children's television production, premieres this year.
- The Grammys are awarded for the first time, recognizing music of 1958.
- America's first prime time cartoon show Rocky and his Friends debuts.
- Rawhide, starring Clint Eastwood, premieres on CBS television.
- Satirists Bob and Ray are the top radio program this year.
- Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty is released to theaters.
- In the Peanuts comic strip, Sally debuts as an infant.
- The Untouchables premieres on television.
- The Sound of Music opens on Broadway.
- Everly Brothers record Let It Be Me.
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Academy Awards: "Oscars"
Best Picture - Ben-Hur
Best Actor - Charlton Heston (Ben-Hur)
Best Actress - Simone Signoret (Room at the Top)
Television Awards "Emmys"
Best Series Actor - Raymond Burr
Best Series Actress - Loretta Young
Best Panel Series - What's My Line?
Best Comedy Series - Father Knows Best
Best Music Series - The Dinah Shore Show
Best Dramatic Series - Alcoa Theatre
Best Western Series - Have Gun - Will Travel
Recording Awards "Grammys"
Best Song - The Battle Of New Orleans
Best Record - Mack The Knife (Bobby Darin)
Best Album - Come Dance With Me (Frank Sinatra)
Male Vocalist - Frank Sinatra (Come Dance With Me)
Female Vocalist - Ella Fitzgerald (But Not For Me)
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Top Songs of '59:
A Big Hunk O' Love, Elvis Presley
A Fool Such As I, Elvis Presley
The Battle Of New Orleans, Johnny Horton
Charlie Brown, The Coasters
Come Softly to Me, The Fleetwoods
El Paso, Marty Robbins
The Happy Organ, Dave "Baby" Cortez
Heartaches By the Number, Guy Mitchell
Kansas City, Wilbert Harrison
Lonely Boy, Paul Anka
Mack the Knife, Bobby Darin
Mr. Blue, The Fleetwoods
Running Bear, Johnny Preston
Sixteen Candles, The Crests
Sleep Walk, Santo & Johnny
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, The Platters
Stagger Lee, Lloyd Price
The Three Bells (Les Trois Cloches), The Browns
Venus, Frankie Avalon
Why, Frankie Avalon
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| Sports: |
- The Rose Bowl in Pasadena: Iowa 38, California 12.
- The NCAA Football Champions (per Press and Coaches polls): Syracuse.
- Alf Dean lands the largest fish ever caught with a rod and reel: a 2,664 lb, 16'10" great white shark.
- Tom Landry begins coaching the Cowboys and Vince Lombardi begins coaching the Packers.
- The NFL Eastern Conference winner: New York Giants.
- The NFL Western Conference winner: Baltimore Colts.
- Once again, a rival pro football league is formed (called the American Football League the third time) with franchises in Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York City, Buffalo and Boston.
- Lee Petty wins the inaugural Daytona 500 in a 1959 Olds 88 at the Int'l Speedway in Daytona Beach, FL.
- Eddie Lubanski rolls 24 consecutive strikes (2 perfect games) in a bowling tournament in Miami, FL.
- The Wales Trophy winner (in professional hockey): Montreal.
- The Hart Trophy (professional hockey MVP) winner: Andy Bathgate, NY Rangers.
- Jacques Plante (after taking a puck to the face) is the first goalie to wear face protection in a game.
- Floyd Patterson KO's Brian London in the 11th round to win the world's heavyweight boxing title.
- Ingemar Johansson of Sweden defeats Floyd Patterson to become the next heavyweight champ.
- Boston Celtics' Bill Sharman hits an NBA record 56 consecutive free-throws this year.
- Elgin Baylor (Minneapolis Lakers) scores 64 points, setting an NBA scoring record.
- Bob Cousy sets an NBA record of 28 assists as the Celtics score 173 points vs the Minneapolis Lakers.
- The NBA scoring champion this year is Bob Pettit, St. Louis Hawks, with 29.2 points a game.
- The MVP of the NBA is Bob Pettit, St. Louis Hawks.
- Yankee catcher Yogi Berra's errorless streak of 148 games comes to an end.
- During a Chicago Cubs game in Wrigley Field, 2 balls were in play at same time.
- Sandy Koufax set a National League baseball record by striking out 18 batters in one game.
- The National League pennant winner: Los Angeles Dodgers (88-68), managed by Walter Alston.
- The National League home run champion is Ed Mathews, Milwaukee, with 46.
- The National League batting champion is Hank Aaron, Milwaukee (0.355).
- The National League MVP is Ernie Banks, Chicago Cubs.
- The American League pennant winner: Chicago White Sox (94-60), managed by Al Lopez.
- The American League HR co-champs with 42: Rocky Colavito, Cleveland; Harmon Killebrew, Washington.
- The American League batting champion is Harvey Kuenn, Detroit (0.353).
- The American League MVP is Nellie Fox, Chicago White Sox.
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Big Wins in '59
MLB World Series - Los Angeles Dodgers
NBA Champions - Boston Celtics
NHL Stanley Cup - Montreal Canadians
NFL Champions - Baltimore Colts
Men's U.S. Golf Open - Billy Casper
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NCAA Basketball Champions - University of California
Heisman Trophy - Billy Cannon, LSU
Indianapolis 500 - Rodger Ward at 135.9 mph (average)
Kentucky Derby - Bill Shoemaker aboard Tomy Lee in 2:02.2
Women's U.S. Golf Open - Mickey Wright
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| Costs of Living: |
National Statistics: |
- Average House - $18,500
- Average New Car - $2,200
- Gallon of Gasoline - 30¢
- Milk (half-gallon) - 53¢
- Bread (one loaf) - 20¢
- Steak (per pound) - $1.02
- One Dozen Eggs - 68¢
- First Class Mail - 4¢
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- U. S. Population - 176,289,000
- Gross Domestic Product - $506.6 billion
- Federal Spending - $92.1 billion
- The Federal Debt - $290.8 billion
- Federal Debt per Capita - $1,650
- Annual Income per Capita - $2,200
- Consumer Price Index - 29.1
- Unemployment - 5.5%
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