When This Dropped

May 28, 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 28, 1954

New York Times
Time
TV Guide
Nat. Geographic

NY Times Headlines — Week of May 28, 1954

Indochina Parley Bids 2 Commands Study Regrouping; Nine Powers In Geneva Agree To Summon Military Chiefs On Disposition Of Units

Eisenhower Warns U.S. Of Demagogues Greedy For Power; President, In An Allusion To Mccarthy, Declares Thought Control Imperils Nation Voices Hope For Peace Tells Columbia Dinner Here We Must Be Strong In Heart Against The Reds Eisenhower Warns On Demagoguery

Monroney Rebuts M'Carthy'S View; Denies Law He Wrote Gives Senator Right To Secrets -- Lehman Asks 'Action' Monroney Rebuts M'Carthy'S Claim

Johnston To Talk With Arabs On Aid; Israelis Also Agree To Renew Study Of U. S. Development Plan For Jordan Valley Johnston To Talk With Arabs On Aid

A. E. C. Champions Private Atom Use With Public Funds; Report To Congress Says Time Has Come For Development Of Peacetime Benefits Private Atom Use Spurred By A.E.C.

World Events — May 1954

Time Person of the Year — 1954

Konrad Adenauer
Person of the Year
Konrad Adenauer

On the radio

Billboard Charts — May 28, 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 28, 1954

Executive Suite
Box Office #1
Executive Suite
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 28, 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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