Leon High School
Tallahassee, Florida
Class of 1959
This is a countdown to the 50th Reunion planned May 15-16, 2009. Below, you'll (eventually) find a summary of each year from 1955-1959. I start below with 1955 and will be adding info for each month of each year until we reach the June 5, 2009 anniversary of our graduation. At the bottom of the page, I've included links to websites where you'll find gobs of more info on 1955 (and whatever other year you're interested in) that I discovered while researching these countdown pages.
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Quick-Look at 1955
Like all the lists of important events, music, etc. that I found, this one may be tainted by my own preferences. Check the links at the bottom of the page to read the lists of others. Click these links for details on months: JUNE, JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER
1955 SUMMARY:
·Dwight Eisenhower is president of the US, Richard Nixon is vice-president
Dwight Eisenhower is president of the US, Richard Nixon is vice-president·Hurricane "Diane" claims 184 lives form North Carolina to New England
Hurricane "Diane" claims 184 lives form North Carolina to New England·Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat, which leads to bus segregation being declared unconstitutional
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat, which leads to bus segregation being declared unconstitutional·The AFL merges with the CIO, creating the nation's largest labor union
The AFL merges with the CIO, creating the nation's largest labor union·Dr. Jonas Salk discovers a vaccine for polio
Dr. Jonas Salk discovers a vaccine for polio·The Scrabble board game debuts
The Scrabble board game debuts·Disneyland opens in Anaheim, California
Disneyland opens in Anaheim, California·Kevin Costner, John Grisham, Arsenio Hall, Steve Jobs, and Billy Bob Thornton are born
Kevin Costner, John Grisham, Arsenio Hall, Steve Jobs, and Billy Bob Thornton are born·Charlie Parker, Albert Einstein, and James Dean die
Charlie Parker, Albert Einstein, and James Dean die·Brooklyn Dodgers win the World Series
Brooklyn Dodgers win the World Series·Cleveland Browns win the NFL championship
Cleveland Browns win the NFL championship·Detroit Red Wings win the Stanley Cup
Detroit Red Wings win the Stanley Cup·Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov is published
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov is publishedMAJOR EVENTS:
·Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. leads the first major event of the U.S. civil rights movement, a bus
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. leads the first major event of the U.S. civil rights movement, a bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama
·President Eisenhower suffers heart attack, is hospitalized for three weeks
President Eisenhower suffers heart attack, is hospitalized for three weeks ·World War II Allies sign treaty restoring Austria's independence
World War II Allies sign treaty restoring Austria's independence·Interstate Commerce Commission orders all U.S. interstate trains and buses to end segregation
Interstate Commerce Commission orders all U.S. interstate trains and buses to end segregation practices
BUSINESS & ECONOMY:
·The AFL and CIO labor unions merge
The AFL and CIO labor unions mergeSCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY:
·UHF television developed
UHF television developed·Artificial diamonds created for the first time
Artificial diamonds created for the first time·Albert Einstein dies
Albert Einstein diesSPORTS:
·World Series: Brooklyn over New York Yankees, 4-3
World Series: Brooklyn over New York Yankees, 4-3·"Sugar" Ray Robinson wins world boxing championship
"Sugar" Ray Robinson wins world boxing championshipARTS & ENTERTAINMENT:
·Movies: Marty, The Seven Year Itch, The Rose Tattoo, Smiles of a Summer Night
Movies: Marty, The Seven Year Itch, The Rose Tattoo, Smiles of a Summer Night·Songs: Rock Around the Clock, The Yellow Rose of Texas, Davy Crockett, Love is a Many
Songs: Rock Around the Clock, The Yellow Rose of Texas, Davy Crockett, Love is a Many Splendored Thing (* another list of songs is included below)
·TV Shows: Truth or Consequences, Lawrence Welk Show, The Honeymooners, Gunsmoke, Name that
TV Shows: Truth or Consequences, Lawrence Welk Show, The Honeymooners, Gunsmoke, Name that Tune, $64,000 Question, Lassie, You'll Never Get Rich, George Burns and Gracie Allen Show,
People are Funny, You Bet Your Life, Ed Sullivan Show, Loretta Young Show, Topper, Dragnet,
The Millionnaire, Roy Rogers Show, Jack Benny Show, Your Hit Parade, I Love Lucy
·Books: The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit, Sloan Wilson; Lolita, Vladimir Nabokov; Witness for the
Books: The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit, Sloan Wilson; Lolita, Vladimir Nabokov; Witness for the Prosecution, Agatha Christie
·Academy Award Winners: Best Picture: Marty, Directed By Delbert Mann; Best Actor: Ernest
Academy Award Winners: Best Picture: Marty, Directed By Delbert Mann; Best Actor: Ernest Borgnine in Marty; Best Actress: Anna Magnani in The Rose Tattoo
·Hot New Toys in 1955: Scrabble, View-Master, Duncan Yo-Yo, Frisbee, Play-doh, Monopoly,
Hot New Toys in 1955: Scrabble, View-Master, Duncan Yo-Yo, Frisbee, Play-doh, Monopoly, Slinky, Parker Brothers', "Sorry!"
EVERYDAY LIFE:
·Disneyland opens in Anaheim, California
Disneyland opens in Anaheim, California·Rudolph Flesch publishes Why Johnny Can't Read, a stinging criticism of U.S. education
Rudolph Flesch publishes Why Johnny Can't Read, a stinging criticism of U.S. educationFUN FACTS:
·Pink clothes for men become a fashion rage
Pink clothes for men become a fashion rage* ALTERNATE LIST OF TOP SONGS:
Top Songs 1955: Learnin' the Blues by Frank Sinatra Sixteen Tons by Tennessee Ernie Ford Rock Around the Clock by Bill Haley & His Comets I Hear You Knocking by Gale Storm Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing by Four Aces The Yellow Rose of Texas by Mitch Miller Ain't That a Shame by Fats Domino Autumn Leaves by Roger Williams A Blossom Fell by Nat King Cole Moments to Remember by Four Lads (* other top songs lists can be found in the links at the bottom of this page)
1955 Prices:
Bread: $0.18/loaf
$0.18/loafMilk: $0.92/gal
$0.92/galEggs: $0.79/doz
$0.79/dozCar: $1,950
$1,950Gas: $0.29/gal
$0.29/galHouse: $17,600
$17,600Stamp: $0.03/ea
$0.03/eaAvg Income: $4,962/yr
$4,962/yrMin Wage: $0.75/hr
$0.75/hrDOW Avg: 488
488COUNTDOWN TO THE 50TH REUNION OF THE CLASS OF '59
LINKS TO WEBSITES WITH GOBS OF MORE 1955 INFO
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Here is where the links will live - If they ain't italic & underlined, they ain't active yet!
