President

Vice President

Events in 1955

President Dwight Eisenhower allows a presidential press conference to be filmed for television and newsreels for the first time.   The Atomic Energy Commission announces that nuclear power plants will be available for private ownership. Yale University's Albert Sabin reports that he is testing live polio vaccine.  American scientists introduce Thorazine and Reserpine for mental patients.  Panama and the United States sign a pact which established cooperation over canal issues.  Disneyland opens in Anaheim, California. The new amusement park was built by Walt Disney and cost $17 million. In Washington D.C., the A.F.L. and C.I.O. agrees to merge. The United States government announces that it plans to launch the world´s first orbiting satellite in 1957. In other news, French and British foreign ministers create a plan to include the Eastern bloc nations in a new Council of Europe. Austria formally regains its sovereignty. About 1,000 Catholic demonstrators are arrested in Buenos Aires for protesting the Peron "tyranny." Alfred E. Neumann appears on the cover of MAD as a write-in candidate for President. His campaign slogan is 'What, Me Worry?'  Ann Landers' advice column first appears in newspapers.   Disneyland opens for business in California.  Marilyn Monroe shows a lot of leg in The Seven-Year Itch.   James Dean is killed while driving his new Porsche Spider at high speed. His movie, Rebel Without A Cause, has just been released and he becomes an instant icon for teens.   Average ticket price is 50¢ at one of America's 19,000 movie theaters

This year in sports, Brooklyn defeats New York in the seventh game to clinch the World Series. Seven-foot-two-inch Wilt Chamberlain is scheduled to attend the University of Kansas. In the NBA, Syracuse beats out Ft. Wayne to become NBA Champs. The Rams defeat the Browns 38-14 for football title. For the third consecutive year, Louison Bobet wins the Tour de France. Ken Rosewall wins Australian tennis title. "Swaps" ridden by W. Shoemaker wins the Kentucky Derby.

On TV in 1955

Mama	The Lineup
Martin	I Married Joan
Topper	Fireside Theater
Climax	This Is Your Life
Dragnet	I´ve Got a Secret
Disneyland	Private Secretary
Private Eye	Toast of the Town
I Love Lucy	You Bet Your Life
Life of Riley	Milton Berle Show
Ford Theater	Lux Video Theater
The Big Story	Two for the Money
December Bride	Loretta Young Show
What´s My Line	Philco TV Playhouse
Your Hit Parade	Jackie Gleason Show
Our Miss Brooks	Colgate Comedy Hour
My Little Margie	Treasury Men in Action
People are Funny	Kraft Television Theater
Jack Benny Show	Goodyear TV Playhouse
Roy Rogers Show	General Electric Theater
Ed Sullivan Show	Pabst Blue Ribbon Bouts
Red Buttons Show	Adventures of Rin Tin Tin
Perry Como Show	Gillette Cavalcade of Sports
Buick-Berle Show	Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
Red Skelton Show	Arthur Godfrey and His Friends
George Gobel Show	George Burns & Gracie Allen Show
American Bandstand	Host: Bob Horn
Aired on WFIL-TV	September 1952

Shows Debuting in 1955

Gunsmoke
The Millionaire
The Honeymooners
Phil Silvers Show
The $64,000 Question
The Mickey Mouse Club
The Lawrence Welk Show
Adventures of Robin Hood
Alfred Hitchcock Presents

"The Drive Inns"

Boy do I miss them. This younger generation
will never experience the great times that we
used to have going to the Drive Inn. Click here
for a history on Drive-ins.

Movies in 1955

Best Movie: "Marty"
Directed by Delbert Ann
Best Actor: Ernest Borgnine - "Marty"
Best Actress: Anna Magnani - "The Rose Tattoo"

This is the Academy Award-winning story of a middle-aged New York City butcher who has given up on personal happiness until love catches him by surprise. Screenplay by Paddy Chayevsky.

Cost of Living in 1955

Gallon of Milk	.92
Loaf of Bread	.18
New Auto	1,950.00
Gallon of Gas	.23
New Home	22,000.00
Average Income	4,137.00

Last update: 02 Oct 2003