Eisenhower is starting his second term as US President. The Cold War is in full swing. Steve Allen is the host of "The Tonight Show". Elvis is doing his thing.
The '57 Chevy is the car of choice. Free nuclear energy is in the popular imagination. The transistor is only 10 years old. The mysteries of DNA are yielding to scientific investigation.
The New York Giants move to San Francisco; the Brooklyn Dodgers move to Los Angeles; and Milwaukee beats the New York Yankees in the World Series. The newest shows on TV are American Bandstand, Leave It To Beaver, & Perry Mason.
The Hula Hoop is one of the biggest marketing success of all time. The price of a first class stamp is 3 cents. National unemployment is 4.1% The Baby Boom is well under way.
&
The Catholic Alumni Club of Detroit is founded!!!
1957 in History
POLITICS:
The Cold War was getting colder.
President Eisenhower announced the "Eisenhower Doctrine," pledging defense of Middle Eastern nations against communism.
Three B-52 bombers leave California for 1st non-stop round-the-world flights.
B-52 bombers begin full-time flying alert in case of USSR attack.
Britain detonates their 1st hydrogen bomb; U.S. conducts its first underground nuclear test.
Soviet Union launches Sputnik I, the world's first artificial satellite. A month later Sputnik II carries a dog into orbit, making that dog the first living being to enter space. The 1st US attempt to launch a satellite fails as the Vanguard rocket blows up. The �Space Race� has begun.
US Congress passed the Civil Rights Act.
Schools in Little Rock, Arkansas were forcibly integrated by Federal troops.
Israel withdraws from Sinai Peninsula. The Suez Canal was closed due to conflicts.
Willy Brandt became mayor of West Berlin.
Mao Tse Tung was in control in China
"Papa Doc" Francois Duvalier was elected President of Haiti.
Anthony Eden resigned as Prime Minister of England and was replaced by Harold MacMillan.
Gamal Abdel Nasser was elected President of Egypt.
Juan Batista was in control in Cuba.
John Diefenbaker was Prime Minister of Canada.
The country of Ghana won its independence.
The country of Malaya attained sovereignty.
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) was organized.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY:
The "European Economic Community" (EEC) was established.
Teamsters union expelled from the AFL-CIO for failing to deal with organized crime.
Richfield Oil established Alaska's first commercially viable oil production on the Swanson River.
Ford introduced the Edsel.
1st electric portable typewriter was placed on sale (Syracuse NY).
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY:
67 nations participated in the International Geophysical Year of Earth Science Research. It brought about a great amount of research into the environment.
Scientist Roger Revelle ignited the Global Warming debate by discovering that sea water can�t readily absorb the additional CO2 put into the atmosphere by human activity.
Growth-producing hormone was discovered.
Interferon was discovered.
Daniel Bovet won the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his research into antihistamines.
The first commercial nuclear reactor was opened in Shippingport, PA.
The International Atomic Energy Agency was established to oversee the development and spread of nuclear technology and materials.
SPORTS:
At age 13, Bobby Fischer became a chess champion.
New York Giants moved to San Francisco; Brooklyn Dodgers moved to Los Angeles; Milwaukee beat the New York Yankees in the World Series 4-3.
Hank Aaron was the National League's most valuable player.
Althea Gibson became 1st black tennis player to win Wimbledon
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT:
Movies: The Bridge on the River Kwai, The Prince and the Showgirl, Twelve Angry Men, Love in the Afternoon.
Popular TV Shows: Phil Silvers Show, Father Knows Best, Price is Right, Twenty-One, The Nat "King" Cole Show.
These TV shows premiered: American Bandstand, Leave It To Beaver, Perry Mason.
West Side Story and The Music Man opened in New York.
Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn starred in Funny Face.
"I Love Lucy" was in its last year on TV. (Original episodes)
"West Side Story" opened on Broadway.
Albert Camus won the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Dr. Seuss wrote The Cat in the Hat.
Ayn Rand wrote Atlas Shrugged.
Jack Kerouac wrote On the Road.
The "Everly Brothers" released their hit single Wake Up Little Susie. Buddy Holly & the Crickets record "That'll Be the Day". Elvis shimmies with the Jailhouse Rock.
TV production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, starring Julie Andrews.
BIRTHS & DEATHS:
Joe McCarthy (held Senate Communism hearings) died.
Laura Ingalls Wilder (author Little House on the Prairie author) died.
Oliver Hardy, comedian died.
Christian Dior, French designer died.
Humphrey Bogart died.
Antarctica explorer Richard Byrd died.
"Bloom County" cartoonist Berkeley Breathed was born.
Donny Osmond was born.
Eddie Van Halen was born.
Fran Drescher was born.
Gloria Estefan was born.
Future Detroit Tiger star Kirk Gibson was born.
Future Detroit Piston star Bill Laimbeer was born.