Here in America we are descended in blood and in spirit from revolutionists and rebels - men and women who dare to dissent from accepted doctrine. As their heirs, may we never confuse honest dissent with disloyal subversion. – Dwight D. Eisenhower Dwight David “Ike” Eisenhower ( October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969) was a five-star general in the United States Army and the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961, and the last to be born in the 19th century. During World War II, he served as Supreme Commander of the Allied forces in Europe, with responsibility for planning and supervising the successful invasion of France and Germany in 1944–45, from the Western Front. In 1951, he became the first supreme commander of NATO. 1955 consumerism takes off in a big way with the sale of some 7.9 million cars in the US with 7 out of 10 families now owning a motor car, and new laws were put in place requiring seat belts to be installed on all new cars. The
average wages were now $3,851 per year, and the minimum wage was raised to $1.00 per hour. The first McDonalds was erected in 1955 and more fast foods and TV dinners are appearing including fish fingers. The first cans of Coca-Cola are sold up till then it had only been sold in bottles. Rock and Roll music continues to grow in popularity with more idols including Elvis Presley , Bill Haley and the Comets, Chuck Berry and The Platters, and young men’s fashion matches the times with pink shirts and charcoal grey suits. The 1955 World Series matched the Brooklyn Dodgers against the New York Yankees, with the Dodgers winning the Series in seven games to capture their first championship in franchise history. It would be the only Series the Dodgers won in Brooklyn
James Dean killed in car accident near Cholame, California
(the team relocated to Los Angeles after the 1957 season). The last time the Brooklyn franchise won a World Championship was in 1900. The team was called the Brooklyn Superbas, the event was called the Chronicle-Telegraph Cup, and the opponent was their fellow National League Pittsburgh Pirates. This series would also mark the end of a long period of invulnerability for the Yankees in the World Series. It was the Yankees’ first loss in a World Series since 1942 and only their second since 1926. While the Yankees were 15-2 in Series Appearances during that time, they would lose again in 1957, 1960, 1963, and 1964, for a record of 4-5 in World Series over the next decade. The two teams were meeting in a World Series for the fifth time in nine years, with the Yankees having won in 1947, 1949, 1952 and 1953.
What Events Happened In 1955 US military intervention in Iran Hurricane Diane hits the northeast United States, killing 200 and causing over $1 billion in damage Great Britain declares State of Emergency due to National Rail Strike The first Commercial TV Station with advertisements starts in London, England UK British Newspapers Not Printed for 1 month due to strike in Fleet Street By Maintenance Workers Clement Attlee who oversaw the creation of the British Welfare System resigns as leader of the Labour Party Princess Margaret announces she will not marry divorced Group Captain Peter Townsend. Canada The St. Lawrence Seaway opens to Ocean Vessels from Montreal to US ports on the Great Lakes The Soviet Union and its Eastern Bloc allies sign the Warsaw Pact giving integration of military, economic and cultural policy between the eight Communist nations. Great Britain effected by worst winter storms causing roads, rail and problems with food and medical supplies Disneyland opens in California on July 17th ‘In God We Trust’ is added to all US paper currency
United Airlines Flight 629 is blown up shortly after takeoff over Longmont, Colorado Ruth Ellis the last woman in England to be executed is hung at Holloway Prison 77 Die in a disaster at 24hr Le Mans Race The New Synthetic Material Polyurethane used in more and more everyday goods Emmett Till, a black fourteen year old teenager is murdered for not showing respect to a white woman in Money, Miss. West Germany Joins NATO The Military seizes control in Argentina forcing Juan Peron to flee. African American Rosa Parks is arrested after refusing to give up her bus seat to a white person in Montgomery Alabama
Cost Of Living Yearly Inflation Rate USA 0.28% Yearly Inflation Rate UK 3.5% Average Cost of new house $10.950.00 Average Monthly Rent $87.00 Average Yearly Wages $4.130.00 Minimum Hourly Rate $1.00 Average Cost of a new car $1,900.00 Cost of a gallon of Gas 23 cents Ladies Swim Suits $12.95 Black and White TV $99.95 Average House Price 2,064
Technology
“The Mickey Mouse Club” debuts on ABC
If a man can bridge the gap between life and death, if he can live on after he’s dead, then maybe he was a great man. – James Dean Page 34 October 1, 2010 THE MILITARY PRESS
1955
remember when . . .
First pocket transistor radios available Fish Fingers are marketed by Bird’s Eye The first Atomically generated power is used in the US Inventions Invented by Inventors and Country ( or attributed to First Use ) Atomic Clock England Hovercraft England by Christopher Cockerell Lego by Kirk Christiansen Velcro Switzerland by George De Mestral
First Guinness Book of World Records Published “The Mickey Mouse Club” debuts on ABC
Disneyland opens in California on July 17th
Popular Films Oklahoma The Quatermass Xperiment Rebel without a Cause To Catch A Thief The Quatermass Xperiment The seven year itch
Adam and the Ants
Popular Culture
Who can forget Marilyn Monroe in “The Seven Year Itch”?
Ray Kroc starts the McDonald’s fast food restaurant chain. First riot at an Elvis Presley concert takes place in Jacksonville, FL “The $64,000 Question” the popular US television game show starts James Dean’s stars in the movie East of Eden
The first cans of Coca-Cola are sold
I don’t mind living in a man’s world as long as I can be a woman in it. – Marilyn Monroe
Daniel Craig
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October 1, 2010 THE MILITARY PRESS Page 35