Year 1955 Fun Facts, Trivia, and History

Gregory DeVictor is a trivia enthusiast who loves to write articles on American nostalgia.

What Happened During the Year 1955?

What are some fun facts, trivia, and history events from the year 1955? What were some of the top news stories in the U.S. and around the world, and what major events took place in the business and financial sectors? What was popular in everyday life, and what happened in science, technology, sports, and in the entertainment industry? From world leaders to pioneers to innovators, who were the most influential people in 1955? What about famous birthdays, marriages, and deaths that year, as well as the cost of living? Finally, what was the year 1955 best known for, and was it a good or bad year overall? Let's find out.

Here is a summary of the news and history events that took place in 1955:

1. Much like a year earlier, Americans were buying houses in the suburbs, and were also busy purchasing new cars, televisions, and refrigerators. Unemployment averaged 4.2%, inflation was -0.37%, and the average household income was $4,130.00. The average cost of a new home was $10,950.00, the average cost of a new car was $1,900.00, and a gallon of gas averaged 23 cents. Fast food and TV dinners were all the rage, and Coca-Cola was now being sold in cans. Rocking around the clock with Elvis, playing the card game canasta, reading Lolita, and watching The $64,000 Question and Search for Tomorrow had also become immensely popular.
2. The polio vaccine—developed and tested by Jonas Salk—was given full approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Soon after, a nationwide inoculation campaign began.
3. The two U.S. trade unions—the American Federation of Labor (AFL) and the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO)—merged into the AFL-CIO.
4. President Eisenhower signed legislation requiring that “In God We Trust” appear on all U.S. currency, and Adlai Stevenson announced that he would run for president in 1956.
5. In Montgomery, Alabama, Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to move to the back of a bus and give her seat to a white passenger. Consequently, Martin Luther King, Jr. led a 381-day black boycott against the Montgomery bus system. (Desegregated service began on December 21, 1956.)
6. Because of health problems, Winston Churchill resigned as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He was succeeded by Anthony Eden.
7. The Soviet Union and seven socialist republics of Central and Eastern Europe signed the Warsaw Pact, a mutual defense treaty. NATO explains that “The Warsaw Pact embodied what was referred to as the Eastern bloc, while NATO and its member countries represented the Western bloc. NATO and the Warsaw Pact were ideologically opposed, and, over time, built up their own defenses by starting an arms race that lasted throughout the Cold War.”
8. Disneyland opened in Anaheim, California. History.com tells us that “the $17 million theme park was built on 160 acres of former orange groves, and soon brought in staggering profits.”
9. Marian Anderson became the first African American to perform with the New York Metropolitan Opera.
10. One foot of hail fell in Rushmore, Minnesota, and 20.33" of rain fell in one day in Axis, Alabama.
11. Arco, Idaho became the first city in the world to be lit by nuclear power, and Illinois enacted the nation's first automobile seat belt law.
12. Ray Kroc opened the first McDonald's fast food restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois. On opening day, hamburgers cost 15 cents and French fries were 10 cents.
13. Eugene Polley, an American engineer, invented the first wireless remote control for television, and velcro was created by the Swiss engineer George de Mestral.
14. Kellogg’s introduced Special K breakfast cereal, which only had 4.5% sugar, and the first cans of Coke were sold. (Up until then, Coca-Cola was only available in bottles.)
15. In 1955 and 1956, Dodge manufactured the “Dodge La Femme,” a full-sized automobile specifically designed for women. Dodge sold about 1,500 “La Femmes” over a two year period, which ultimately led to the vehicle’s cancellation for 1957.
16. Here are some sports facts from 1955: The Cleveland Browns were the NFL champs, the Detroit Red Wings clinched the Stanley Cup, and the Brooklyn Dodgers won the World Series.
17. Brooklyn catcher Roy Campanella won his 3rd MVP Award, and MLB legend Stan Musial hit his 300th career home run.
18. Car and Driver magazine, the Village Voice, and the Guinness Book of World Records all began publishing.
19. RCA Records paid $35,000 to Sun Records for Elvis Presley's contract. So why was Elvis’ deal with RCA so important? UltimateClassicRock.com explains that “Included in the deal were all of the sides Presley recorded at Sun. Shortly after signing, RCA re-released Presley's five Sun singles, and the label had the strength to promote its new star's records in the country, R&B and pop markets.”
20. At the 27th Academy Awards—which honored the best films released in 1954—On the Waterfront won eight Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Film Editing, and Best Original Score.
21. At the 7th Primetime Emmy Awards, Make Room for Daddy (ABC) won an Emmy for Best Situation Comedy, and The United States Steel Hour (ABC) won an Emmy for Best Dramatic Program.
22. Tennessee Williams was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
23. The Johnny Carson Show, Gunsmoke, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The $64,000 Question, the Lawrence Welk Show, Captain Kangaroo, and the Mickey Mouse Club all premiered on network television.
24. In 1955, Bill Gates, Bill Paxton, Bruce Willis, Jeff Daniels, Kevin Costner, Mark Thompson, Moses Malone, Steve Jobs, Whoopi Goldberg, and Yolanda King were all born.
25. At the 28th Scripps National Spelling Bee, the winner was 13-year-old Sandra Sloss of Granite City, Illinois, who correctly spelled the word crustaceology.

This article teaches you fun facts, trivia, and history events from the year 1955. Find out about popular TV shows, movies, music, books, foods, sports facts, political and economic news, advances in science and medicine, famous birthdays, and other cool pop culture trends to get the right mix of questions and answers for your 1950s-themed trivia game. Enjoy your reading!

Table of Contents

For easier reading and referencing, I have divided this article into the following categories:

1. Grocery Prices in the Year 1955
2. History Facts From the USA and World
3. Entertainment News
4. Sports Facts and Trivia From 1955
5. Miscellaneous Fun Facts, Trivia, and Pop Culture Trends
6. Nobel Prize Winners
7. Best-Selling Novels
8. 1955 in American Television
9. 1955 in American Radio
10. Popular Movies
11. Ten Best Horror Films
12. Animated Films Released in 1955
13. Biggest Pop Music Artists
14. Top 30 Songs for the Year
15. Food and Beverage Trivia
16. Famous Birthdays
17. Notable Weddings
18. Famous People Who Died
19. America's Largest Companies in 1955
20. U.S. Automobile Production Figures for the Year
21. American Companies and Brands Established During 1955

1. Grocery Prices in the Year 1955

These grocery facts have been made available courtesy of the Morris County Public Library in Whippany, NJ.

1. Apples (Winesap): Two pounds for 27 cents
2. Bananas: Two pounds for 29 cents
3. Beans (Van Camp’s, baked): 10 cents for a 16-ounce can
4. Beef (ground): 39 cents a pound
5. Bread: 18 cents for a one-pound loaf
6. Butter (Swift’s Brookfield): 63 cents for a one-pound package
7. Cake mix (Swans Down): 33 cents for a large box
8. Cheese (Kraft Velveeta): 79 cents for a two-pound package
9. Chicken (frying): 45 cents a pound
10. Coffee (Eight O’Clock): 95 cents for a one-pound bag
11. Cookies (Nabisco Oreos): 39 cents a package
12. Crackers (Ritz): 32 cents for a one-pound box
13. Crisco: 22 cents for a one-pound can
14. Eggs: 57 cents a dozen
15. Fish (cod steaks): 29 cents a pound
16. Flour (Gold Seal): 41 cents for a five-pound bag
17. Fruit cocktail (Del Monte): 49 cents for two 17-ounce cans
18. Ham (boiled): 69 cents a pound
19. Jelly: 45 cents for a 32-ounce jar
20. Juice (orange, frozen): 19 cents for two four-ounce cans
21. Marshmallows (Campfire): 33 cents for a one-pound package
22. Milk: 22 cents a quart
23. Oranges (Temple): 49 cents a dozen
24. Peanut butter (Beech Nut): 39 cents for an 11-ounce jar
25. Pickles (kosher-style spears): 25 cents for a 32-ounce jar
26. Pineapples (fresh): 29 cents apiece
27. Potato chips (Wise): 25 cents for a 4.5-ounce package
28. Potatoes: Three pounds for 20 cents
29. Ravioli (canned, Chef Boyardee): 26 cents for a 15.5-ounce can
30. Soda (Canada Dry): 45 cents for two 28-ounce bottles
31. SPAM: 39 cents for a 12-ounce can
32. Tea (Lipton): 63 cents for a 48-count box

2. History Facts From the USA and World

1. On January 19, President Eisenhower presided over the first televised presidential news conference, which took place in the Indian Treaty Room at the White House.
2. On January 25, the United States and Panama signed the Remon–Eisenhower Treaty. It “updated and amended the original Hay–Bunau-Varilla Treaty of 1903 for the Panama Canal and Panama Canal Zone.”
3. On February 9, the two U.S. trade unions—the American Federation of Labor (AFL) and the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO)—merged into the AFL-CIO. New York University explains that “The Congrss of Industrial Organizations (CIO) originally split from the American Federation of Labor (AFL) because it favored industrial unions over craft unions.” After years of rivalry, however, the two organizations agreed to merge.
4. On March 16, President Eisenhower upheld the use of nuclear weapons in the event of war.
5. On March 24, daytime British army patrols in Belfast, Ireland ended after 20 years.
6. On April 5, because of health problems, Winston Churchill resigned as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
7. On April 6, Anthony Eden succeeded Winston Churchill as the Prime Minister of the UK.
8. On April 12, the polio vaccine—developed and tested by Jonas Salk—was given full approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Soon after, a nationwide inoculation campaign began.
9. On April 13, 20.33" of rain fell in Axis, Alabama, setting a state record.
10. On April 15, Ray Kroc opened the first McDonald's restaurant franchise in Des Plaines, Illinois.
11. On May 5, the Federal Republic of West Germany became a sovereign state. According to the NewWorldEncyclopedia.org, the British, French, and U.S. militaries remained in the country, just as the Soviet army remained in East Germany. However, four days after becoming fully sovereign, West Germany joined NATO, which was established in 1949 for the defense of Europe.
12. On May 14, the Soviet Union and seven socialist republics of Central and Eastern Europe signed the Warsaw Pact, a mutual defense treaty. NATO explains that “The Warsaw Pact embodied what was referred to as the Eastern bloc, while NATO and its member countries represented the Western bloc. NATO and the Warsaw Pact were ideologically opposed, and, over time, built up their own defenses by starting an arms race that lasted throughout the Cold War.”
13. On May 25, a series of twisters destroyed most of Udall, Kansas and Blackwell, Oklahoma.
14. On May 26, conservatives led by British Prime Minister Anthony Eden won the British parliamentary election.
15. On June 3, MLB legend Stan Musial hit his 300th career home run.
16. On June 9, the temperature hit 100°F in Seattle, Washington, making it the hottest day on record up to then.
17. On June 19, baseball legend Mickey Mantle hit his 100th career HR.
18. On June 27, Illinois enacted the first automobile seat belt legislation. (The law did not require cars to have seat belts, but that they be made seat belt-ready.)
19. On July 11, President Eisenhower signed legislation requiring that “In God We Trust” appear on all U.S. currency.
20. On July 17, Disneyland opened in Anaheim, California. History.com tells us that “the $17 million theme park was built on 160 acres of former orange groves, and soon brought in staggering profits.” Nevertheless, Disneyland’s opening day was hardly dreamy. History.com explains that to the disappointment of many children, some of the park’s attractions weren’t ready to operate on opening day. For example, the Rocket to the Moon, Peter Pan, and the Dumbo the Flying Elephant rides were all closed. Visitors to the unfinished Tomorrowland, which was to depict life in 1986 when a trip to the moon would be an everyday occurrence, remained stuck in 1955. However, Disneyland soon recovered, “and attractions such as the Castle, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, Snow White’s Adventures, Space Station X-1, Jungle Cruise, and Stage Coach drew countless children and their parents.”
21. On July 22, Richard Nixon became the first U.S. vice president to preside over a cabinet meeting.
22. On July 17, Arco, Idaho became the first city in the world to be lit by nuclear power.
23. On August 7, Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering—the precursor to Sony—began selling their first transistor radios in Japan.
24. On August 12, President Eisenhower raised the minimum wage from 75 cents to $1 an hour.
25. On August 28, Emmett Till, a black teenager from Chicago who was visiting family in Mississippi, was murdered by two white men for allegedly flirting with a white woman four days earlier. His killers were eventually acquitted, but the case helped to ignite the U.S. civil rights movement.
26. On September 24, President Eisenhower suffered a heart attack while on vacation in Denver.
27. On November 22, RCA Records paid $35,000 to Sun Records for Elvis Presley's contract. So why was Elvis’ deal with RCA so important? UltimateClassicRock.com explains that “Included in the deal were all of the sides Presley recorded at Sun. Shortly after signing, RCA re-released Presley's five Sun singles, and the label had the strength to promote its new star's records in the country, R&B and pop markets.”
28. On December 1, Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to move to the back of a bus and give her seat to a white passenger in Montgomery, Alabama. Consequently, Martin Luther King, Jr., led a 381-day black boycott of the Montgomery bus system. (Desegregated service began on December 21, 1956.)
29. On December 8, Brooklyn catcher Roy Campanella won his 3rd MVP Award.
30. On December 14, Austria, Finland, Italy, and Spain all joined the United Nations.

3. Entertainment News

1. On January 2, the Bob Cummings Show, a sitcom that ran until September 15, 1959—premiered on NBC.
2. On January 7, Marian Anderson became the first African American to perform with the New York Metropolitan Opera.
3. On January 19, The Millionaire, an anthology series that ran until June 8, 1960, debuted on CBS.
4. On February 24, Cole Porter’s musical, Silk Stockings, opened at the Imperial Theater in New York City for 478 performances.
5. On February 26, the musical Peter Pan, which starred Mary Martin and Cyril Ritchard, closed at the Winter Garden Theater in New York City after 152 performances.
6. On March 7, at the 7th Primetime Emmy Awards, Make Room for Daddy (ABC) won an Emmy for Best Situation Comedy, and The United States Steel Hour (ABC) won an Emmy for Best Dramatic Program. By the same token, Danny Thomas won an Emmy for Best Actor Starring in a Regular Series, and Loretta Young won an Emmy for Best Actress Starring in a Regular Series.
7. On March 24, the original Broadway production of Tennessee Williams' play, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, opened at the Morosco Theater for 694 performances.
8. On March 30, at the 27th Academy Awards—which honored the best films released in 1954—On the Waterfront won eight Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Film Editing, and Best Original Score.
9. On April 11, the romantic drama Marty—a film that starred Ernest Borgnine and Betsy Blair—premiered in New York.
10. On May 2, Tennessee Williams was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
11. On May 5, the musical comedy—Damn Yankees—opened at the 46th Street Theater in New York City for 1,022 performances.
12. On June 7, The $64,000 Question, a game show hosted by Hal March, premiered on CBS.
13. On June 22, Walt Disney's animated film—Lady and the Tramp—was released.
14. On June 25, the musical Can Can closed at the Shubert Theater in New York City after 892 performances.
15. On June 30, the late-night talk show—The Johnny Carson Show—premiered on CBS.
16. On July 2, the musical variety show, the Lawrence Welk Show, debuted on ABC.
17. On August 27, the Guinness Book of World Records was first published.
18. On September 10, the western drama Gunsmoke premiered on CBS.
19. On September 29, Arthur Miller’s play—A View from the Bridge—debuted in New York City.
20. On September 30, actor James Dean was killed in a car accident.
21. On October 2, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, an anthology series, premiered on CBS.
22. On October 3, the children’s television series, Captain Kangaroo, debuted on CBS.
23. On October 3, the Mickey Mouse Club—a variety show that aired intermittently until 1994—debuted on ABC.
24. On October 26, the first edition of the alternative newspaper, the Village Voice, was published.
25. On November 22, RCA Records paid $35,000 to Sun Records for Elvis Presley's contract. So why was Elvis’ deal with RCA so important? UltimateClassicRock.com explains that “Included in the deal were all of the sides Presley recorded at Sun. Shortly after signing, RCA re-released Presley's five Sun singles, and the label had the strength to promote its new star's records in the country, R&B and pop markets.”

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4. Sports Facts and Trivia From 1955

Generally suitable for all age groups, sports questions are a welcome addition to any trivia quiz.

1. Kentucky Derby: Swaps
2. NBA Champions: Syracuse Nationals
3. NCAA Basketball: San Francisco
4. NCAA Football Champs: Oklahoma
5. NFL Champions: Cleveland Browns
6. Orange Bowl: Duke over Nebraska
7. Rose Bowl: Ohio State over USC
8. Stanley Cup Champs: Detroit Red Wings
9. Sugar Bowl: Navy over Ole Miss
10. U.S. Open Golf: Jack Fleck
11. U.S. Open Tennis (men/women): Tony Trabert/Doris Hart
12. Wimbledon (men/women): Tony Trabert/Louis Brough
13. World Series Champions: Brooklyn Dodgers

5. Miscellaneous Fun Facts, Trivia, and Pop Culture Trends

1. In 1955, popular baby names were Michael, David, James, Robert, Mary, Deborah, Linda, and Debra.
2. The average life expectancy at birth in the U.S. was 74.2 years.
3. The most popular holiday gifts included Tonka trucks, Play-Doh, and Bild Lilli dolls.
4. Fashion icons in 1955 were Brigitte Bardot, Doris Day, Ava Gardner, Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Sophia Loren, Jayne Mansfield, Audrey Meadows, Marilyn Monroe, Julie Newmar, Kim Novak, Elizabeth Taylor, Lana Turner, and Jane Wyatt.
5. Lee Meriwether (San Francisco) was crowned Miss America.
6. Charlene King Johnson (Vermont) became Miss USA.
7. Time magazine’s “Person of the Year” was Harlow Curtice, who led General Motors (GM) from 1953 to 1958.
8. A McDonald’s cheeseburger cost 19 cents, and French fries were 10 cents.
9. A black and white TV was $99.95.
10. A five-pound bag of flour cost 54 cents, butter was 71 cents a pound, and a dozen eggs were 61 cents.
11. The American engineer Eugene Polley invented the television remote.
12. Velcro was invented by the Swiss engineer George de Mestral.
13. In 1955 and 1956, Dodge manufactured the “Dodge La Femme,” a full-sized automobile specifically designed for women.
14. Alexander Fleming, a Scottish bacteriologist who discovered penicillin while working at St. Mary's Hospital in London, passed away.
15. On August 23, one foot of hail fell in Rushmore, Minnesota.
16. Ray Kroc opened the first franchised McDonald's in Des Plaines, Illinois.
17. The Tappan Stove Company introduced the first microwave oven for home use. It cost about $1,300.
18. Home economists at the Campbell Soup Company developed the recipe for the Green Bean Bake, which is still one of the company’s most popular recipes.
19. Kellogg’s introduced Special K breakfast cereal, which only had 4.5% sugar.
20. Car and Driver magazine began publishing.
21. Average income per year: $4,130
22. Average cost of a new house: $10,950
23. Average monthly rent: $87.00
24. Average cost of a new car: $1,900
25. Average cost of a gallon of gas: 23 cents
26. A first-class postage stamp cost three cents.
27. Unemployment averaged 4.2%.
28. Inflation was -0.37%. (The Bureau of Labor Statistics tells us that “$1 in 1955 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $10.14 today, an increase of $9.14 over 66 years. The dollar had an average inflation rate of 3.57% per year between 1955 and today, producing a cumulative price increase of 913.79%.”)
29. The minimum wage increased from 75 cents to $1.00 an hour.
30. The price of gold averaged $35.15 per troy ounce.

6. Nobel Prize Winners

Beth Rowen tells us that winning a Nobel Prize is a life-changing honor. Whether the laureate is an internationally known figure (such as Mother Teresa) or a scientist from obscurity (like Richard R. Ernst), the award brings worldwide recognition that highlights one's life work and provides the funds to continue the mission.

This Nobel Prize information from 1955 has been made available courtesy of NobelPrize.com.

• Chemistry: Vincent du Vigneaud
• Literature: Halldór Laxness
• Physics: Polykarp Kusch
• Physiology or medicine: Hugo Theorell

7. Best-Selling Novels

This book trivia from 1955 has been made available courtesy of PublishersWeekly.com.

1. Marjorie Morningstar by Herman Wouk
2. Auntie Mame by Patrick Dennis
3. Andersonville by MacKinlay Kantor
4. Bonjour Tristesse by Françoise Sagan
5. The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit by Sloan Wilson
6. Something of Value by Robert Ruark
7. Not as a Stranger by Morton Thompson
8. No Time for Sergeants by Mac Hyman
9. The Tontine by Thomas B. Costain
10. Ten North Frederick by John O'Hara

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8. 1955 in American Television

Encyclopedia.com tells us that “Television was introduced to Americans in 1939 and began to gain a foothold after World War II (1939–45). In the 1950s, the sale of TV sets and the boom in programming made TV America's favorite source of entertainment. Consider the numbers: in 1946, 7,000 TV sets were sold; in 1948, 172,000 sets were sold; and in 1950, 5 million sets were sold. In 1950, just under 20 percent of American homes contained a TV set. Ten years later, nearly 90 percent of homes contained a TV—and some even had color TVs.”

Courtesy of Nielsen TV Research, here were the most popular television shows for the 1955-56 season:

1. The $64,000 Question (CBS)
2. I Love Lucy (CBS)
3. The Ed Sullivan Show (CBS)
4. Disneyland (ABC)
5. The Jack Benny Show (CBS)
6. December Bride (CBS)
7. You Bet Your Life (NBC)
8. Dragnet (NBC)
9. The Millionaire (CBS)
10. I've Got A Secret (CBS)

Here were the most popular soaps for the 1955-56 TV season:

1. Search for Tomorrow
2. The Guiding Light
3. Love of Life
4. The Brighter Day
5. The Secret Storm
6. Valiant Lady
7. Modern Romances
8. First Love
9. Date with Life
10. Way of the World

9. 1955 in American Radio

Encyclopedia.com tells us that “Television changed the American entertainment landscape. In towns where TV was introduced, movie attendance and book sales dropped off dramatically. Radio, which had been America's favorite form of at-home amusement, declined in importance in the 1950s. Variety, comedy, and dramatic shows left the airwaves for TV. Radio increasingly focused on news, talk shows, and sports broadcasting.”

Here were some of the most popular radio programs in 1955:

1. Amos ‘n’ Andy
2. Bing Crosby
3. Dragnet
4. Fibber McGee & Molly
5. Gunsmoke
6. Have Gun, Will Travel
7. Lone Ranger
8. Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons
9. Sherlock Holmes
10. Suspense
11. Whistler
12. Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar

10. Popular Movies

This movie trivia from 1955 has been made available courtesy of IMDB.

1. Abbot and Costello Meet the Mummy
2. All That Heaven Allows
3. Artists and Models
4. Bad Day at Black Rock
5. Blackboard Jungle
6. Diabolique
7. East of Eden
8. Guys and Dolls
9. I’ll Cry Tomorrow
10. Interrupted Melody
11. It’s Always Fair Weather
12. Kiss Me Deadly
13. Lady and the Tramp
14. Love Me or Leave Me
15. Marty
16. Mister Roberts
17. Oklahoma!
18. Picnic
19. Rebel Without A Cause
20. Richard III
21. Summertime
22. The Court Jester
23. The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell
24. The Dam Busters
25. The Man From Laramie
26. The Man With the Golden Arm
27. The Night of the Hunter
28. The Pickwick Papers
29. The Rose Tattoo
30. The Seven Year Itch
31. The Virgin Queen
32. To Catch a Thief
33. Trial
34. Ugets
35. Unchained

11. Ten Best Horror Films

This film trivia has been made available courtesy of IMDB.com

1. Diabolique
2. The Night of the Hunter
3. The Quatermass Xperiment
4. Dementia
5. Three Cases of Murder
6. Tarantula
7. Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy
8. It Came From Beneath the Sea
9. Godzilla Raids Again
10. This Island Earth

12. Animated Films Released in 1955

1. Beanstalk Bunny (Warner Bros.)
2. Barely Asleep (Disney)
3. Bedtime Bedlam (Woody Woodpecker series)
4. Beezy Bear (Disney)
5. Blinkity Blank (Norman McLauren)
6. Bunco Busters (Woody Woodpecker series)
7. Designs on Jerry (Tom and Jerry series)
8. Dime to Retire (Warner Bros.)
9. Double or Mutton (Warner Bros.)
10. Feather Dusted (Warner Bros.)
11. Hare Brush (Warner Bros.)
12. Heir-Conditioned (Warner Bros.)
13. Helter Skelter (Woody Woodpecker series)
14. Lady and the Tramp (Disney)
15. Lighthouse Mouse (Warner Bros.)
16. No Hunting (Disney)
17. Pappy’s Puppy (Warner Bros.)
18. Smarty Cat (Tom and Jerry series)
19. Speedy Gonzales (Warner Bros.)
20. Stork Naked (Warner Bros.)
21. The Tree Medic (Woody Woodpecker series)
22. This Is Life? (Warner Bros.)
23. Tweety’s Circus (Warner Bros.)
24. Up a Tree (Disney)
25. Witch Crafty (Woody Woodpecker series)

13. Biggest Pop Music Artists

Popular music artists from 1955 included Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Don Cornell, the Drifters, the Four Aces, Frank Sinatra, Georgia Gibbs, Jaye P. Morgan, Joe Turner, LaVern Baker, the McGuire Sisters, Mitch Miller, the Moonglows, Nat King Cole, Pat Boone, Perry Como, Ray Charles, Sarah Vaughan, Tennessee Ernie Ford, and Teresa Brewer.

14. Top 30 Songs for the Year

This music trivia has been made available courtesy of Music-Outfitters.com.

1. Cerezo Rosa (Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White): Perez Prado

2. Rock Around the Clock: Bill Haley & His Comets

3. The Yellow Rose Of Texas: Mitch Miller

4. Autumn Leaves: Roger Williams

5. Unchained Melody: Les Baxter

6. The Ballad of Davy Crockett: Bill Hayes

7. Love Is A Many Splendored Thing: The Four Aces

8. Sincerely: The McGuire Sisters

9. Ain't That a Shame: Pat Boone

10. Dance With Me Henry: Georgia Gibbs

11. Crazy Otto I & II: Crazy Otto

12. Melody of Love: Billy Vaughn

13. Sixteen Tons: Tennessee Ernie Ford

14. Learnin' the Blues: Frank Sinatra

15. Heart of Stone: The Fontaine Sisters

16. Tweedle Dee: Georgia Gibbs

17. Moments To Remember: The Four Lads

18. Mr. Sandman: The Chordettes

19. Let Me Go Lover: Joan Weber

20. A Blossom Fell: Nat King Cole

21. Unchained Melody: Al Hibbler

22. The Ballad of Davy Crockett: Fess Parker

23. Honey Babe: Art Mooney

24. The Ballad of Davy Crockett: Tennessee Ernie Ford

25. Ko Ko Mo (I Love You So): Perry Como

26. Hard To Get: Gisele Mackenzie

27. The Naughty Lady of Shady Lane: The Ames Brothers

28. That's All I Want From You: Jaye P. Morgan

29. I Only Have Eyes for You: The Platters

30. It's a Sin to Tell a Lie: Somethin' Smith & The Redheads

15. Food and Beverage Trivia

GoodHousekeeping.com tells us that “Like fashion, food falls in and out of style. Back when kids of the '50s and '60s were growing up, family dinners meant these dishes were front and center at every family get-together, holiday meal, or cocktail party your parents threw. Many of these recipes evolved from the appeal of new ‘convenience’ foods ranging from canned soups to boxed cake mixes.”

Courtesy of TheDailyMeal.com and GoodHousekeeping.com, here are some foods and beverages that were popular in 1955:

1. Apple pie
2. Armour Star corned beef hash
3. Baked Alaska
4. Baked beans
5. Baked ham
6. Beef Bourguignon
7. Beef Stroganoff
8. Braised pork chops
9. Champagne punch
10. Chicken a la king
11. Chicken Tetrazzini: TheDailyMeal tells us that “Named after opera singer Luisa Tetrazzini, Tetrazzini is a dish made with poultry or seafood (usually chicken or turkey) and mushrooms in a creamy sauce flavored with wine or sherry, served over pasta.”
12. Chiffon cake
13. Chili con carne
14. Clam dip
15. Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Royal Crown (RC) Cola
16. Creamed chipped beef on toast
17. Daiquiris
18. Deviled ham
19. Dinty Moore beef stew
20. Egg salad
21. Fried chicken
22. Fruit cocktail cake
23. Gelatin molds
24. Green bean casseroles
25. Ham and eggs
26. Hamburgers and French fries
27. Meatloaf
28. Minute rice
29. Pineapple upside down cake
30. Relish trays
31. Shrimp cocktail
32. Snowballs: TheDailyMeal.com describes this dessert as “a scoop of vanilla ice cream rolled in shredded coconut and usually drizzled with chocolate sauce.”
33. SPAM
34. Stuffed celery
35. Swanson pot pies (chicken, beef, and turkey)
36. Swanson TV dinners
37. Swedish meatballs
38. Tuna noodle casseroles
39. Tunnel of fudge cake
40. V-8 vegetable juice
41. Wacky cake
42. Waffles

16. Famous Birthdays

Here are some of the famous people who were born in 1955:

1. Bill Gates: Entrepreuner
2. Bill Nye: TV show host
3. Bill Paxton: Movie actor
4. Bruce Willis: Movie actor
5. Gary Sinise: Movie actor
6. Howie Mandel: Game show host
7. Jeff Daniels: Movie actor
8. Kevin Costner: Movie actor
9. Kris Jenner: Reality star
10. Mark Thompson: Radio host
11. Moses Malone: Basketball player
12. Paul O’Grady: Comedien
13. Reba McEntire: Country singer
14. Steve Jobs (1955-2011): Entrepreuner
15. Tanya Roberts (1955-2021): TV actress
16. Tom Bergeron: Game show host
17. Tommy Wiseau: Director
18. Whoopi Goldberg: Movie actress
19. Yo-Yo Ma: Cellist
20. Yolanda King: Civil rights advocate

17. Notable Weddings

This marriage trivia has been made available courtesy of OnThisDay.com.

1. On January 15, film director Stanley Kubrick married theatrical designer Ruth Sobotka.
2. On February 17, novelist J. D. Salinger wed Claire Douglas.
3. On April 5, musician Ray Charles married Della Beatrice Howard.
4. On July 2, NFL placekicker Pat Summerall wed Kathy Jacobs.
5. On July 11, actor Clark Gable (Gone with the Wind) married former fashion model and actress Kay Williams Spreckles.
6. On August 25, actor Bela Lugosi (Dracula) wed Hope Lininger.
7. On August 29, actress Mamie Van Doren (Untamed Youth) married trumpeter and actor Ray Anthony.
8. On September 18, actress and singer Debbie Reynolds wed singer Eddie Fisher.
9. On October 2, actress Joyce Randolph married publisher Richard Charles.
10. On November 23, physicist William Shockley wed psychiatric nurse Emmy Lanning.
11. On December 17, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall married Cecilia Suyat.
12. On December 31, actor Gregory Peck wed philanthropist Veronique Passani.

18. Famous People Who Died

This information has been made available courtesy of TheFamousPeople.com.

1. Albert Einstein: Scientist
2. Alexander Fleming: Scientist
3. Bill Yokovich: Racing car driver
4. Carmen Miranda: Actor, singer, and dancer
5. Charlie Parker: Musician
6. Cordell Hull: Former U.S. Secretary of State
7. Cy Young: Baseball player
8. Dale Carnegie: Self-help writer and motivational speaker
9. Emma Jung: Psychologist
10. George Skakel: Businessman
11. Grace Gifford: Artist
12. Honus Wagner: Baseball player
13. James Agee: Novelist
14. James Dean: Actor
15. James P. Johnson: Composer, pianist, and jazz musician
16. Jim Corbett: Hunter, naturalist, and writer
17. John W. Davis: Politician
18. Mary McLeod Bethune: Educator
19. Matthew Henson: First African American to explore the North Pole
20. Robert R. McCormick: Media personality
21. Ruth Ellis: Model
22. Shemp Howard: Actor
23. Theda Bara: Actress
24. Thomas Mann: Author
25. Wallace Stevens: Poet

19. America's Largest Companies in 1955

247WallSt.com tells us that "Today’s corporate America is dominated by service companies, tech firms, and huge retailers which have thousands of locations and hundreds of thousands of workers. At the end of the decade following WWII, corporate America looked very different from it does now. Fifty five years ago, most of the largest corporations in the US built cars, supplied car parts, or provided fuel for America’s vehicles."

Here were America’s biggest companies in 1956:

1. General Motors
2. Exxon Mobil
3. U.S. Steel
4. General Electric
5. Esmark
6. Chrysler
7. Armour
8. Gulf Oil
9. Mobil
10. DuPont

Comparatively, let’s look at America’s 10 biggest companies for 2021:

1. Walmart
2. Amazon
3. Apple
4. CVS
5. UnitedHealth Group
6. Berkshire Hathaway
7. McKesson
8. AmerisourceBergen
9. Alphabet
10. Exxon Mobil

20. U.S. Automobile Production Figures for the Year

Here are the U.S. automobile production figures for 1955:

1. Chevrolet: 1,704,667
2. Ford: 1,451,157
3. Buick: 738,814
4. Plymouth: 705,455
5. Oldsmobile: 583,179
6. Pontiac: 554,090
7. Mercury: 329,808
8. Dodge: 276,936
9. Chrysler: 152,777
10. Cadillac: 140,777
11. Studebaker: 116,333
12. DeSoto: 115,485
13. Nash: 96,156
14. Packard: 55,247
15. Hudson: 45,535
16. Lincoln: 27,222
17. Imperial: 11,432
18. Willys: 6,565
19. Metropolitan: 6,096
20. Kaiser: 1,291

21. American Companies and Brands Established During 1955

1. Blain’s Farm & Fleet: “A regional chain of 44 retail stores in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and Michigan. The stores sell tires, agricultural supplies and equipment, hunting and fishing equipment and licenses, kitchen appliances, housewares, automotive goods, men's and women's clothing, household, hardware, lawn and garden supplies, outdoor power tools, pumps and generators, paint, pet supplies, candy, sporting goods, tools and toys.”
2. Double-H Boots: A company that manufacturers western footwear.
3. Foodtown: “A northeastern United States supermarket cooperative that was founded by Twin County Grocers in New Jersey. Currently, there are 66 Foodtown stores in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and eastern Pennsylvania.”
4. H&R Block: An American tax preparation company operating in the United States, Canada, and Australia. The company was founded by brothers Henry W. Bloch and Richard Bloch.
5. MGM Television: An American television production/distribution studio that was launched as a division of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
6. Vitamin Cottage Natural Grocers: A Colorado-based health food chain.
7. VSP Vision Care: A vision care health insurance company operating in the United States, Australia, Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.
8. Warner Bros. Television Studios: A television production company.
9. Wellcraft: A manufacturer of power boats.
10. Worthington Industries: A diversified metals manufacturing company that is based in Columbus, Ohio.

References:

• 1955 | Morris County Library
  Automobiles New Buick, 2 door, 6 passenger sedan, 2,395.00 Dodge, 6 passenger sedan, 2,183.00 Used Ford, Victoria, 1953, 598.00 Ford, station wagon, 1948, 325.00 Pontiac, 2 door sedan, 1947, 160.00 Tires, Allstate, 75.00-99.80/each Brake fluid, .39/1
• Famous Weekly Old Time Radio Shows
  Short Soundbytes and histories of famous weekly Old Time Radio Shows
• Famous Weddings & Divorces in 1955 - On This Day
  Famous weddings and divorces in 1955. See which famous celebrities and historical figures married and divorced in 1955.
• https://fortune.com/fortune500/
  This year’s Fortune 500 marks the 67th running of the list.
• Famous People Who Died in 1955
  Discover the most famous people who died in 1955. The list includes people like Albert Einstein, Emmett Till, James Dean, Alexander Fleming, Shemp Howard and many more.
• Born in 1955 | Famous Birthdays
  Famous people born in 1955 including Kris Jenner, Bill Gates, Rowan Atkinson, Steve Jobs, Bill Nye and many more.
• If You Grew Up in the ’50s, You’ll Definitely Remember These Foods Slideshow
  Food sure has changed a lot since the 1950s, and if you grew up during the decade you'll definitely remember all of these.
• 20 Most Iconic Foods Kids from the '50s and '60s Grew Up With - '50s and &#039
  Whether you hated them (or you still secretly crave them!), here’s the iconic foods kids from the '50s and '60s remember.
• Best Movies of 1955 - IMDb
  Best Movies of 1955
• 1955 65 Years Ago | History, Trivia and Fun Facts
  1955 History, Pop Culture, Trivia and Fun Facts.
• https://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1955.htm
  Top 30 songs for the year 1955 from the Billboard Year-End Hot 30 charts.

© 2021 Gregory DeVictor

Comments

Gregory DeVictor (author) from Pittsburgh, PA on August 04, 2021:

Louise, thanks for the comment. Yes, the music was sensational, and grocery prices were a fraction of what they are today. Potatoes were only three pounds for 20 cents, and Kraft Velveeta cheese was only 79 cents for a two-pound package.

Louise Powles from Norfolk, England on August 04, 2021:

I can't believe the price of groceries back then lol. Life was a lot easier back then, I think. I love the music from the 50's. I really enjoyed reading this, thankyou!