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:
- 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.
- 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.
- The two U.S. trade unions—the American Federation of Labor (AFL) and the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO)—merged into the AFL-CIO.
- 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.
- 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.)
- Because of health problems, Winston Churchill resigned as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He was succeeded by Anthony Eden.
- 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.”
- 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.”
- Marian Anderson became the first African American to perform with the New York Metropolitan Opera.
- One foot of hail fell in Rushmore, Minnesota, and 20.33" of rain fell in one day in Axis, Alabama.
- 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.
- 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.
- Eugene Polley, an American engineer, invented the first wireless remote control for television, and velcro was created by the Swiss engineer George de Mestral.
- 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.)
- 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.
- 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.
- Brooklyn catcher Roy Campanella won his 3rd MVP Award, and MLB legend Stan Musial hit his 300th career home run.
- Car and Driver magazine, the Village Voice, and the Guinness Book of World Records all began publishing.
- 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.”
- 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.
- 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.
- Tennessee Williams was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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:
- Grocery Prices in the Year 1955
- History Facts From the USA and World
- Entertainment News
- Sports Facts and Trivia From 1955
- Miscellaneous Fun Facts, Trivia, and Pop Culture Trends
- Nobel Prize Winners
- Best-Selling Novels
- 1955 in American Television
- 1955 in American Radio
- Popular Movies
- Ten Best Horror Films
- Animated Films Released in 1955
- Biggest Pop Music Artists
- Top 30 Songs for the Year
- Food and Beverage Trivia
- Famous Birthdays
- Notable Weddings
- Famous People Who Died
- America's Largest Companies in 1955
- U.S. Automobile Production Figures for the Year
- 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.
- Apples (Winesap): Two pounds for 27 cents
- Bananas: Two pounds for 29 cents
- Beans (Van Camp’s, baked): 10 cents for a 16-ounce can
- Beef (ground): 39 cents a pound
- Bread: 18 cents for a one-pound loaf
- Butter (Swift’s Brookfield): 63 cents for a one-pound package
- Cake mix (Swans Down): 33 cents for a large box
- Cheese (Kraft Velveeta): 79 cents for a two-pound package
- Chicken (frying): 45 cents a pound
- Coffee (Eight O’Clock): 95 cents for a one-pound bag
- Cookies (Nabisco Oreos): 39 cents a package
- Crackers (Ritz): 32 cents for a one-pound box
- Crisco: 22 cents for a one-pound can
- Eggs: 57 cents a dozen
- Fish (cod steaks): 29 cents a pound
- Flour (Gold Seal): 41 cents for a five-pound bag
- Fruit cocktail (Del Monte): 49 cents for two 17-ounce cans
- Ham (boiled): 69 cents a pound
- Jelly: 45 cents for a 32-ounce jar
- Juice (orange, frozen): 19 cents for two four-ounce cans
- Marshmallows (Campfire): 33 cents for a one-pound package
- Milk: 22 cents a quart
- Oranges (Temple): 49 cents a dozen
- Peanut butter (Beech Nut): 39 cents for an 11-ounce jar
- Pickles (kosher-style spears): 25 cents for a 32-ounce jar
- Pineapples (fresh): 29 cents apiece
- Potato chips (Wise): 25 cents for a 4.5-ounce package
- Potatoes: Three pounds for 20 cents
- Ravioli (canned, Chef Boyardee): 26 cents for a 15.5-ounce can
- Soda (Canada Dry): 45 cents for two 28-ounce bottles
- SPAM: 39 cents for a 12-ounce can
- Tea (Lipton): 63 cents for a 48-count box

In 1955, Kellogg’s introduced Special K cereal, which only had 4.5% sugar. On the other hand, Trix—a General Mills’ cereal that was launched in 1954—had 46% sugar.
2. History Facts From the USA and World
- 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.
- 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.”
- 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.
- On March 16, President Eisenhower upheld the use of nuclear weapons in the event of war.
- On March 24, daytime British army patrols in Belfast, Ireland ended after 20 years.
- On April 5, because of health problems, Winston Churchill resigned as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
- On April 6, Anthony Eden succeeded Winston Churchill as the Prime Minister of the UK.
- 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.
- On April 13, 20.33" of rain fell in Axis, Alabama, setting a state record.
- On April 15, Ray Kroc opened the first McDonald's restaurant franchise in Des Plaines, Illinois.
- 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.
- 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.”
- On May 25, a series of twisters destroyed most of Udall, Kansas and Blackwell, Oklahoma.
- On May 26, conservatives led by British Prime Minister Anthony Eden won the British parliamentary election.
- On June 3, MLB legend Stan Musial hit his 300th career home run.
- On June 9, the temperature hit 100°F in Seattle, Washington, making it the hottest day on record up to then.
- On June 19, baseball legend Mickey Mantle hit his 100th career HR.
- 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.)
- On July 11, President Eisenhower signed legislation requiring that “In God We Trust” appear on all U.S. currency.
- 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.”
- On July 22, Richard Nixon became the first U.S. vice president to preside over a cabinet meeting.
- On July 17, Arco, Idaho became the first city in the world to be lit by nuclear power.
- On August 7, Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering—the precursor to Sony—began selling their first transistor radios in Japan.
- On August 12, President Eisenhower raised the minimum wage from 75 cents to $1 an hour.
- 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.
- On September 24, President Eisenhower suffered a heart attack while on vacation in Denver.
- 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.”
- 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.)
- On December 8, Brooklyn catcher Roy Campanella won his 3rd MVP Award.
- On December 14, Austria, Finland, Italy, and Spain all joined the United Nations.

In 1955, General Motors employed 576,667 workers, and occupied over 50% of the American vehicle market.
3. Entertainment News
- On January 2, the Bob Cummings Show, a sitcom that ran until September 15, 1959—premiered on NBC.
- On January 7, Marian Anderson became the first African American to perform with the New York Metropolitan Opera.
- On January 19, The Millionaire, an anthology series that ran until June 8, 1960, debuted on CBS.
- On February 24, Cole Porter’s musical, Silk Stockings, opened at the Imperial Theater in New York City for 478 performances.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- On April 11, the romantic drama Marty—a film that starred Ernest Borgnine and Betsy Blair—premiered in New York.
- On May 2, Tennessee Williams was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
- On May 5, the musical comedy—Damn Yankees—opened at the 46th Street Theater in New York City for 1,022 performances.
- On June 7, The $64,000 Question, a game show hosted by Hal March, premiered on CBS.
- On June 22, Walt Disney's animated film—Lady and the Tramp—was released.
- On June 25, the musical Can Can closed at the Shubert Theater in New York City after 892 performances.
- On June 30, the late-night talk show—The Johnny Carson Show—premiered on CBS.
- On July 2, the musical variety show, the Lawrence Welk Show, debuted on ABC.
- On August 27, the Guinness Book of World Records was first published.
- On September 10, the western drama Gunsmoke premiered on CBS.
- On September 29, Arthur Miller’s play—A View from the Bridge—debuted in New York City.
- On September 30, actor James Dean was killed in a car accident.
- On October 2, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, an anthology series, premiered on CBS.
- On October 3, the children’s television series, Captain Kangaroo, debuted on CBS.
- On October 3, the Mickey Mouse Club—a variety show that aired intermittently until 1994—debuted on ABC.
- On October 26, the first edition of the alternative newspaper, the Village Voice, was published.
- 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.”
4. Sports Facts and Trivia From 1955
Generally suitable for all age groups, sports questions are a welcome addition to any trivia quiz.
- Kentucky Derby: Swaps
- NBA Champions: Syracuse Nationals
- NCAA Basketball: San Francisco
- NCAA Football Champs: Oklahoma
- NFL Champions: Cleveland Browns
- Orange Bowl: Duke over Nebraska
- Rose Bowl: Ohio State over USC
- Stanley Cup Champs: Detroit Red Wings
- Sugar Bowl: Navy over Ole Miss
- U.S. Open Golf: Jack Fleck
- U.S. Open Tennis (men/women): Tony Trabert/Doris Hart
- Wimbledon (men/women): Tony Trabert/Louis Brough
- World Series Champions: Brooklyn Dodgers

In 1955 and 1956, Dodge manufactured the “Dodge La Femme,” a full-sized automobile specifically designed for women.
5. Miscellaneous Fun Facts, Trivia, and Pop Culture Trends
- In 1955, popular baby names were Michael, David, James, Robert, Mary, Deborah, Linda, and Debra.
- The average life expectancy at birth in the U.S. was 74.2 years.
- The most popular holiday gifts included Tonka trucks, Play-Doh, and Bild Lilli dolls.
- 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.
- Lee Meriwether (San Francisco) was crowned Miss America.
- Charlene King Johnson (Vermont) became Miss USA.
- Time magazine’s “Person of the Year” was Harlow Curtice, who led General Motors (GM) from 1953 to 1958.
- A McDonald’s cheeseburger cost 19 cents, and French fries were 10 cents.
- A black and white TV was $99.95.
- A five-pound bag of flour cost 54 cents, butter was 71 cents a pound, and a dozen eggs were 61 cents.
- The American engineer Eugene Polley invented the television remote.
- Velcro was invented by the Swiss engineer George de Mestral.
- In 1955 and 1956, Dodge manufactured the “Dodge La Femme,” a full-sized automobile specifically designed for women.
- Alexander Fleming, a Scottish bacteriologist who discovered penicillin while working at St. Mary's Hospital in London, passed away.
- On August 23, one foot of hail fell in Rushmore, Minnesota.
- Ray Kroc opened the first franchised McDonald's in Des Plaines, Illinois.
- The Tappan Stove Company introduced the first microwave oven for home use. It cost about $1,300.
- 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.
- Kellogg’s introduced Special K breakfast cereal, which only had 4.5% sugar.
- Car and Driver magazine began publishing.
- Average income per year: $4,130
- Average cost of a new house: $10,950
- Average monthly rent: $87.00
- Average cost of a new car: $1,900
- Average cost of a gallon of gas: 23 cents
- A first-class postage stamp cost three cents.
- Unemployment averaged 4.2%.
- 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%.”)
- The minimum wage increased from 75 cents to $1.00 an hour.
- The price of gold averaged $35.15 per troy ounce.

On July 17, 1955, 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.”
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.
- Marjorie Morningstar by Herman Wouk
- Auntie Mame by Patrick Dennis
- Andersonville by MacKinlay Kantor
- Bonjour Tristesse by Françoise Sagan
- The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit by Sloan Wilson
- Something of Value by Robert Ruark
- Not as a Stranger by Morton Thompson
- No Time for Sergeants by Mac Hyman
- The Tontine by Thomas B. Costain
- Ten North Frederick by John O'Hara
McDonald's: 1955 vs. 2015
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:
- Amos ‘n’ Andy
- Bing Crosby
- Dragnet
- Fibber McGee & Molly
- Gunsmoke
- Have Gun, Will Travel
- Lone Ranger
- Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons
- Sherlock Holmes
- Suspense
- Whistler
- Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar
10. Popular Movies
This movie trivia from 1955 has been made available courtesy of IMDB.
- Abbot and Costello Meet the Mummy
- All That Heaven Allows
- Artists and Models
- Bad Day at Black Rock
- Blackboard Jungle
- Diabolique
- East of Eden
- Guys and Dolls
- I’ll Cry Tomorrow
- Interrupted Melody
- It’s Always Fair Weather
- Kiss Me Deadly
- Lady and the Tramp
- Love Me or Leave Me
- Marty
- Mister Roberts
- Oklahoma!
- Picnic
- Rebel Without A Cause
- Richard III
- Summertime
- The Court Jester
- The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell
- The Dam Busters
- The Man From Laramie
- The Man With the Golden Arm
- The Night of the Hunter
- The Pickwick Papers
- The Rose Tattoo
- The Seven Year Itch
- The Virgin Queen
- To Catch a Thief
- Trial
- Ugets
- Unchained
11. Ten Best Horror Films
This film trivia has been made available courtesy of IMDB.com
- Diabolique
- The Night of the Hunter
- The Quatermass Xperiment
- Dementia
- Three Cases of Murder
- Tarantula
- Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy
- It Came From Beneath the Sea
- Godzilla Raids Again
- This Island Earth

In 1955, Disney’s Lady and the Tramp, an animated film about a pampered cocker spaniel named Lady, was released.
12. Animated Films Released in 1955
- Beanstalk Bunny (Warner Bros.)
- Barely Asleep (Disney)
- Bedtime Bedlam (Woody Woodpecker series)
- Beezy Bear (Disney)
- Blinkity Blank (Norman McLauren)
- Bunco Busters (Woody Woodpecker series)
- Designs on Jerry (Tom and Jerry series)
- Dime to Retire (Warner Bros.)
- Double or Mutton (Warner Bros.)
- Feather Dusted (Warner Bros.)
- Hare Brush (Warner Bros.)
- Heir-Conditioned (Warner Bros.)
- Helter Skelter (Woody Woodpecker series)
- Lady and the Tramp (Disney)
- Lighthouse Mouse (Warner Bros.)
- No Hunting (Disney)
- Pappy’s Puppy (Warner Bros.)
- Smarty Cat (Tom and Jerry series)
- Speedy Gonzales (Warner Bros.)
- Stork Naked (Warner Bros.)
- The Tree Medic (Woody Woodpecker series)
- This Is Life? (Warner Bros.)
- Tweety’s Circus (Warner Bros.)
- Up a Tree (Disney)
- Witch Crafty (Woody Woodpecker series)

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.
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:
- Apple pie
- Armour Star corned beef hash
- Baked Alaska
- Baked beans
- Baked ham
- Beef Bourguignon
- Beef Stroganoff
- Braised pork chops
- Champagne punch
- Chicken a la king
- 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.”
- Chiffon cake
- Chili con carne
- Clam dip
- Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Royal Crown (RC) Cola
- Creamed chipped beef on toast
- Daiquiris
- Deviled ham
- Dinty Moore beef stew
- Egg salad
- Fried chicken
- Fruit cocktail cake
- Gelatin molds
- Green bean casseroles
- Ham and eggs
- Hamburgers and French fries
- Meatloaf
- Minute rice
- Pineapple upside down cake
- Relish trays
- Shrimp cocktail
- Snowballs: TheDailyMeal.com describes this dessert as “a scoop of vanilla ice cream rolled in shredded coconut and usually drizzled with chocolate sauce.”
- SPAM
- Stuffed celery
- Swanson pot pies (chicken, beef, and turkey)
- Swanson TV dinners
- Swedish meatballs
- Tuna noodle casseroles
- Tunnel of fudge cake
- V-8 vegetable juice
- Wacky cake
- Waffles

In 1955, Joe Rogers and Tom Forkner opened the first Waffle House restaurant in the Atlanta suburb of Avondale Estates.
16. Famous Birthdays
Here are some of the famous people who were born in 1955:
- Bill Gates: Entrepreuner
- Bill Nye: TV show host
- Bill Paxton: Movie actor
- Bruce Willis: Movie actor
- Gary Sinise: Movie actor
- Howie Mandel: Game show host
- Jeff Daniels: Movie actor
- Kevin Costner: Movie actor
- Kris Jenner: Reality star
- Mark Thompson: Radio host
- Moses Malone: Basketball player
- Paul O’Grady: Comedien
- Reba McEntire: Country singer
- Steve Jobs (1955-2011): Entrepreuner
- Tanya Roberts (1955-2021): TV actress
- Tom Bergeron: Game show host
- Tommy Wiseau: Director
- Whoopi Goldberg: Movie actress
- Yo-Yo Ma: Cellist
- Yolanda King: Civil rights advocate
17. Notable Weddings
This marriage trivia has been made available courtesy of OnThisDay.com.
- On January 15, film director Stanley Kubrick married theatrical designer Ruth Sobotka.
- On February 17, novelist J. D. Salinger wed Claire Douglas.
- On April 5, musician Ray Charles married Della Beatrice Howard.
- On July 2, NFL placekicker Pat Summerall wed Kathy Jacobs.
- On July 11, actor Clark Gable (Gone with the Wind) married former fashion model and actress Kay Williams Spreckles.
- On August 25, actor Bela Lugosi (Dracula) wed Hope Lininger.
- On August 29, actress Mamie Van Doren (Untamed Youth) married trumpeter and actor Ray Anthony.
- On September 18, actress and singer Debbie Reynolds wed singer Eddie Fisher.
- On October 2, actress Joyce Randolph married publisher Richard Charles.
- On November 23, physicist William Shockley wed psychiatric nurse Emmy Lanning.
- On December 17, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall married Cecilia Suyat.
- 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.
- Albert Einstein: Scientist
- Alexander Fleming: Scientist
- Bill Yokovich: Racing car driver
- Carmen Miranda: Actor, singer, and dancer
- Charlie Parker: Musician
- Cordell Hull: Former U.S. Secretary of State
- Cy Young: Baseball player
- Dale Carnegie: Self-help writer and motivational speaker
- Emma Jung: Psychologist
- George Skakel: Businessman
- Grace Gifford: Artist
- Honus Wagner: Baseball player
- James Agee: Novelist
- James Dean: Actor
- James P. Johnson: Composer, pianist, and jazz musician
- Jim Corbett: Hunter, naturalist, and writer
- John W. Davis: Politician
- Mary McLeod Bethune: Educator
- Matthew Henson: First African American to explore the North Pole
- Robert R. McCormick: Media personality
- Ruth Ellis: Model
- Shemp Howard: Actor
- Theda Bara: Actress
- Thomas Mann: Author
- 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:
- General Motors
- Exxon Mobil
- U.S. Steel
- General Electric
- Esmark
- Chrysler
- Armour
- Gulf Oil
- Mobil
- DuPont
Comparatively, let’s look at America’s 10 biggest companies for 2021:
- Walmart
- Amazon
- Apple
- CVS
- UnitedHealth Group
- Berkshire Hathaway
- McKesson
- AmerisourceBergen
- Alphabet
- Exxon Mobil
20. U.S. Automobile Production Figures for the Year
Here are the U.S. automobile production figures for 1955:
- Chevrolet: 1,704,667
- Ford: 1,451,157
- Buick: 738,814
- Plymouth: 705,455
- Oldsmobile: 583,179
- Pontiac: 554,090
- Mercury: 329,808
- Dodge: 276,936
- Chrysler: 152,777
- Cadillac: 140,777
- Studebaker: 116,333
- DeSoto: 115,485
- Nash: 96,156
- Packard: 55,247
- Hudson: 45,535
- Lincoln: 27,222
- Imperial: 11,432
- Willys: 6,565
- Metropolitan: 6,096
- Kaiser: 1,291
21. American Companies and Brands Established During 1955
- 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.”
- Double-H Boots: A company that manufacturers western footwear.
- 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.”
- 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.
- MGM Television: An American television production/distribution studio that was launched as a division of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
- Vitamin Cottage Natural Grocers: A Colorado-based health food chain.
- VSP Vision Care: A vision care health insurance company operating in the United States, Australia, Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.
- Warner Bros. Television Studios: A television production company.
- Wellcraft: A manufacturer of power boats.
- Worthington Industries: A diversified metals manufacturing company that is based in Columbus, Ohio.

In 1955, H&R Block—an American tax preparation company operating in the United States, Canada, and Australia—was founded by brothers Henry W. Bloch and Richard Bloch.
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 '
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!