When This Dropped

January 8, 1954

President
Eisenhower
Dow (EOY)
404
Gas/gal
$0.29
Min Wage
$0.75

By the winter of 1954, Eisenhower was in the White House and the federal minimum wage stood at $0.75/hr — the McCarthy hearings were dividing the Senate along party lines, with Republicans and Democrats locked in open conflict over censure proceedings against the Wisconsin senator. On the cultural front, Eddie Fisher's "Oh, Mein Papa" sat at the top of the music charts while "I Love Lucy" remained the dominant force in American living rooms. The Cleveland Browns won the NFL championship that season, and on January 21, First Lady Mamie Eisenhower launched the USS Nautilus in Groton, Connecticut — the first nuclear-powered submarine ever built.

On the cover

Magazine Covers — January 8, 1954

New York Times
Time
TV Guide
Nat. Geographic

NY Times Headlines — Week of January 8, 1954

President To Send Labor, Farm Plans To Capitol Today; Extremists Expected To Fight Details Of Taft Act Changes And Flexible Crop Aid 4 More Reports Follow Senate Braces For Busy Week -- Talks Being Resumed To Soften Treaty Curb Congress Awaits Union, Farm Plans

World Events — January 1954

Time Person of the Year — 1954

Konrad Adenauer
Person of the Year
Konrad Adenauer

On the radio

Billboard Charts — January 8, 1954

Oh! My Pa-Pa (O Mein Papa)
Eddie Fisher with Hugo Winterhalter 's Orchestra and Chorus
Best Sellers #1
"Oh! My Pa-Pa (O Mein Papa)"
Eddie Fisher with Hugo Winterhalter 's Orchestra and Chorus

On the bookshelf

Not as a Stranger
NYT Fiction #1
"Not as a Stranger"
The Holy Bible: Revised Standard Version
NYT Non-Fiction #1
"The Holy Bible: Revised Standard Version"
The Adventures of Augie March
Saul Bellow
National Book Award Fiction
"The Adventures of Augie March"
Saul Bellow
A Stillness at Appomattox
Bruce Catton
National Book Award Nonfiction
"A Stillness at Appomattox"
Bruce Catton

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 — 1954

The U.S. Steel Hour
Emmy Drama Series
The U.S. Steel Hour
Make Room for Daddy
Emmy Comedy Series
Make Room for Daddy
Robert Cummings
Twelve Angry Men
Emmy Lead Actor
Robert Cummings
Twelve Angry Men
Loretta Young
The Loretta Young Show
Emmy Lead Actress
Loretta Young
The Loretta Young Show

At the movies

Box Office & Oscar Winners — January 8, 1954

This Is Cinerama
Box Office #1
This Is Cinerama
On the Waterfront
Oscar Best Picture
On the Waterfront
Elia Kazan
On the Waterfront
Oscar Best Director
Elia Kazan
On the Waterfront
Marlon Brando
On the Waterfront
Oscar Best Actor
Marlon Brando
On the Waterfront
Grace Kelly
The Country Girl
Oscar Best Actress
Grace Kelly
The Country Girl

On the field

Sports Champions — January 8, 1954

NFL Champion
Cleveland Browns
World Series
New York Giants
def. Cleveland Indians
NBA Champion
Minneapolis Lakers
def. Syracuse Nationals
Stanley Cup
Detroit Red Wings
def. Montreal Canadiens

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