When This Dropped

May 2, 1954

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

Gas cost $0.29 a gallon in the spring of 1954, and the Dow Jones stood at 404 — the French garrison at Dien Bien Phu was under sustained Viet Minh assault, with U.S. aircraft ferrying reinforcements in a conflict that was testing American foreign policy in Southeast Asia. Perry Como's "Wanted" was holding at number one on the charts, while the film "Rose Marie" was drawing steady crowds at the box office. The Minneapolis Lakers claimed the NBA championship over the Syracuse Nationals, and on April 12, Bill Haley and His Comets recorded "Rock Around the Clock" at a New York City studio, a track that would sit quietly as a B-side before igniting a nationwide rock and roll movement the following year.

On the cover

Magazine Covers — May 2, 1954

New York Times
Time
TV Guide
Nat. Geographic

NY Times Headlines — Week of May 2, 1954

Indo-China Parley Spurred By West; List Of 8 Proposed Members Of Panel Given To Soviet -Talks Likely This Week

Dulles To Review Asia Policy Today With Eisenhower; Secretary, Home, Will Face Congress Critics Of Policy On Indo-China War Knowland For Firmness Wants Line Drawn Against Asian Aggression--Britain And U. S. Agree To Talk Dulles To Review Asia Policy Today

Arabs Lose Fight In U. N. To Confine Palestine Debate; Won'T Walk Out Despite Action By Council -- Malik Urges Boycotts Of Israel Arabs Lose Fight On Debate In U. N.

Taft Act Changes Killed By Senate; Democrats Solid; Party Prevails In 50-42 Vote To Return Bill -- President Rebuffed On Program Taft Act Changes Killed By Senate

World Events — May 1954

Time Person of the Year — 1954

Konrad Adenauer
Person of the Year
Konrad Adenauer

On the radio

Billboard Charts — May 2, 1954

Wanted
Perry Como with Hugo Winterhalter's Orchestra and Chorus
Best Sellers #1
"Wanted"
Perry Como 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 — May 2, 1954

Prince Valiant
Box Office #1
Prince Valiant
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 — May 2, 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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