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Almanac Year: 1955
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 General News: |
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The world's first nuclear submarine, Nautilus, has two engines: a diesel for the surface, and an electric when submerged.
Nuclear power enables it to travel thousands of miles below the surface before being recharged.
Einstein writes his last letter to Bertrand Russell, agreeing to sign a manifesto calling for a ban on nuclear weapons.
The new IBM 704 employs fully automatic floating point arithmetic, the first to use FORTRAN and core memory.
The American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations merged to form the AFL-CIO.
American singer Marian Anderson is the first African American to perform at the Metropolitan Opera House.
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.
Columbia University scientists develop an atomic clock accurate to within one second in 300 years.
Optic fiber cables are invented this year, but it takes 15 years to produce a cost-effective product.
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.
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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.
Disney's first theme park called Disneyland opens in Anaheim, CA.
The US Air Force Academy is dedicated in Colorado Springs, CO.
British engineer Christopher Cockerell patents the first hovercraft.
Ray Kroc opens his first McDonald's restaurant In Des Plains, IL.
The US Air Force unveils its first self-guided missile.
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1955 Ford Crown Victoria |
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Life Style News: |
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Commercial television airs in Britain; six minutes of ads are allowed each hour and Sunday morning TV is not allowed.
Actor James Dean dies in a car crash on his way to Salinas, CA. He had received a speeding ticket two hours earlier.
A show headlined by Fats Domino is canceled in Bridgeport, CT, because "rock and roll dances might be featured."
Vernor Company of Detroit introduces its ginger ale in a 12-ounce flat top can called the "Vernor Picnic Can."
Zenith's "Flashmatic" is the first wireless version of the TV remote, but it makes for problematic operation.
The first synthetic diamond in the US is produced for industrial applications by General Electric Co.
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Marilyn Monroe’s “white dress” scene is filmed over a subway tunnel in New York City.
The first microwave oven suitable for home use is introduced by The Tappan Company.
Mrs. Jules Lederer replaces Ms. Ruth Crowley in the newspapers as "Ann Landers."
Harry Olson and Herbert Belar build the "RCA Mark I," the first music synthesizer.
New York psychologist Joyce Brothers answers The $64,000 Question on boxing.
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.
Certified mail is introduced by the US Postal Service.
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1955 Lionel Train Ad
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Entertainment News: |
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Bill Haley’s Rock Around the Clock is #1 on the charts, the only real rock song in Billboard's Top Ten this year.
You'll Never Be Rich appears on CBS-TV but the name changes two months later to The Phil Silvers Show.
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 a local program called Louisiana Hayride.
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Barbra Streisand's first recording, You'll Never Know is released; she is only 13 years old.
The Ed Sullivan Show appears on CBS-TV (had been The Toast of the Town since 1948).
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.
Bo Diddley makes his first appearance, at the Apollo Theater in New York City.
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.
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.
Alfred Hitchcock Presents debuts on CBS-TV.
The Mickey Mouse Club premiers on ABC-TV.
Captain Kangaroo premiers on CBS-TV.
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1955 RCA TV Color Converter
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Academy Awards: "Oscars"
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Best Picture - Marty
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Best Actor - Ernest Borgnine (Marty)
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Best Actress - Anna Magnani (Rose Tattoo)
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 Action Series - Davy Crockett
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Best Audience Series - The $64,000 Question
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Best Comedy Series - The Phil Silvers Show
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Best Dramatic Series - Producer's Showcase
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Best Daytime Series - Matinee Theatre
Recording Awards: "Grammys"
[Grammys not awarded until 1958]
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Top Songs of 1955:
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Ain't That A Shame
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Autumn Leaves
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Ballad Of Davy Crockett
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Cherry Pink (and Apple Blossom White)
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Dance With Me Henry (Wallflower)
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I Hear You Knockin'
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Let Me Go, Lover
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Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing
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Memories Are Made Of This
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Only You (and You Alone)
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(We're Gonna) Rock Around The Clock Tonight
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Sincerely
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Sixteen Tons
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Tutti Fruitti
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Unchained Melody
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The Yellow Rose of Texas
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Sports News: |
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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.
The first NFL sudden death football game is played; the LA Rams beat the NY Giants 23-17.
It costs the Baltimore Colts just an 80-cent phone call to sign free agent Johnny Unitas for next season.
The NFL experiments with white footballs, but after several bad experiences, they go back to brown in 1956.
The NFL Eastern Conference winner: Cleveland.
The NFL Western Conference winner: LA 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.
Heavyweight Rocky Marciano KO's Don Cockell, and then beats Archie Moore to hold the heavyweight title.
The NBA scoring champion is Neil Johnston, Philadelphia Warriors, at 22.7 points a game.
In the American League, the Athletics move from Philadelphia to Kansas City.
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.
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.
The World Series is televised in color: the New York Yankees versus the Brooklyn Dodgers.
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Big Wins:
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MLB World Series - Brooklyn Dodgers
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NBA Champions - Syracuse Nationals
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NHL Stanley Cup - Detroit Red Wings
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NFL Champions - Cleveland Browns
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Men's U.S. Golf Open - Jack Fleck
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NCAA Basketball Champions - San Francisco
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Heisman Trophy - Howard Cassady, Ohio State
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Indianapolis 500 - Bob Sweikert, at 128.2 mph (average)
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Kentucky Derby - W. Shoemaker on Swaps in 2:01 4/5
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Women's U.S. Golf Open - Fay Crocker
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| National Statistics: |
Costs of Living: |
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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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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