When This Dropped

December 20, 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 — December 20, 1954

New York Times
Time
TV Guide
Nat. Geographic

World Events — December 1954

Time Person of the Year — 1954

Konrad Adenauer
Person of the Year
Konrad Adenauer

On the radio

Billboard Charts — December 20, 1954

Mr. Sandman
The Chordettes with Orchestra Conducted by Archie Bleyer
Best Sellers #1
"Mr. Sandman"
The Chordettes with Orchestra Conducted by Archie Bleyer

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 — 1954–55 Season

I Love Lucy
Nielsen #1 TV Show
I Love Lucy
Nielsen
Top 10
TV Shows
Nielsen Ratings
Top 10 TV Shows
1954–55 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 — December 20, 1954

White Christmas
Box Office #1
White Christmas
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 — December 20, 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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