When This Dropped

October 13, 1953

President
Eisenhower
Dow (EOY)
281
Gas/gal
$0.29
Min Wage
$0.75

That fall of 1953, gas ran $0.29 a gallon and Eisenhower was in the White House — the Soviet Union's growing nuclear capabilities were forcing the Western powers to reassess their Cold War strategy. On the newsstands, "The Robe" was the top-selling novel and the top-grossing film of the season, while "I Love Lucy" was pulling in massive television audiences and taking home the Emmy for best comedy. The New York Yankees defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers in the World Series for their fifth consecutive championship, and in the world of science, researchers Eugene Aserinsky and Nathaniel Kleitman published the first study describing REM sleep, fundamentally changing what scientists understood about how the human body rests.

On the cover

Magazine Covers — October 13, 1953

New York Times
Time
TV Guide
Nat. Geographic

NY Times Headlines — Week of October 13, 1953

Soviet Alleges Treaty Breach By U.S. And Britain In Trieste; Says Granting Zone A To Italy Violates Peace Pact -- Accuses The West Of Setting Up An Illegal Base In Territory Soviet Sees Treaty On Peace Violated

Dulles On His Way To London Parley; Stresses Peace Aim; Secretary Says Path To World Concord Is 'Broad' And 'Open To All' Who Would Take It Allies Plan Wide Talks U. S.-British-Canadian Pledge To Avoid Warfare In Europe Urged To Assure Soviet Dulles On His Way To London Parley

Both Parties View Vote In Wisconsin As Farmer Protest; Republicans Consider Defeat In Congressional Election As 'Warning' To Party Democrats Are Jubilant Interpret Victory As A Portent Of Capitol Control Next Fall -- 2 Seats At Stake Soon Protest Is Sensed In Wisconsin Vote

Allies To Hand U. N. Israeli Raid Issue; British Hit Attack; Foreign Heads In London Act In Killing Of 56 Jordanians -- Invoke 1950 Declaration Allies To Hand U.N. Israeli Raid Issue

French Make Indo-China Landings To Aid Drive On Big Vietminh Base; No Opposition Met As Other Troops Cross Mountains Toward Thanhhoa French Make Indo-China Landings To Aid Drive On Big Vietminh Base

World Events — October 1953

Time Person of the Year — 1953

Queen Elizabeth II
Person of the Year
Queen Elizabeth II

On the radio

Billboard Charts — October 13, 1953

St. George and the Dragonet
Stan Freberg
Best Sellers #1
"St. George and the Dragonet"
Stan Freberg

On the bookshelf

The Robe
NYT Fiction #1
"The Robe"
The Power of Positive Thinking
NYT Non-Fiction #1
"The Power of Positive Thinking"
The Old Man and the Sea
Ernest Hemingway
Pulitzer Prize Fiction
"The Old Man and the Sea"
Ernest Hemingway
Invisible Man
Ralph Ellison
National Book Award Fiction
"Invisible Man"
Ralph Ellison
The Course of Empire
Bernard DeVoto
National Book Award Nonfiction
"The Course of Empire"
Bernard DeVoto

On the television

Nielsen Top 10 — 1953–54 Season

I Love Lucy
Nielsen #1 TV Show
I Love Lucy
Nielsen
Top 10
TV Shows
Nielsen Ratings
Top 10 TV Shows
1953–54 Season

Emmy Winners — 1953

The U.S. Steel Hour
Emmy Drama Series
The U.S. Steel Hour
I Love Lucy
Emmy Comedy Series
I Love Lucy
Donald O'Connor
The Colgate Comedy Hour
Emmy Lead Actor
Donald O'Connor
The Colgate Comedy Hour
Eve Arden
Our Miss Brooks
Emmy Lead Actress
Eve Arden
Our Miss Brooks

At the movies

Box Office & Oscar Winners — October 13, 1953

The Robe
Box Office #1
The Robe
From Here to Eternity
Oscar Best Picture
From Here to Eternity
Fred Zinnemann
From Here to Eternity
Oscar Best Director
Fred Zinnemann
From Here to Eternity
William Holden
Stalag 17
Oscar Best Actor
William Holden
Stalag 17
Audrey Hepburn
Roman Holiday
Oscar Best Actress
Audrey Hepburn
Roman Holiday

On the field

Sports Champions — October 13, 1953

NFL Champion
Detroit Lions
World Series
New York Yankees
def. Brooklyn Dodgers
NBA Champion
Minneapolis Lakers
def. New York Knicks
Stanley Cup
Montreal Canadiens
def. Boston Bruins

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