When This Dropped

March 30, 1955

President
Eisenhower
Dow (EOY)
488
Gas/gal
$0.29
Min Wage
$0.75

Gas cost $0.29 a gallon in the spring of 1955, and the Dow Jones stood at 488 — a newly independent Austria signed a freedom treaty guaranteeing its permanent neutrality, marking a rare diplomatic breakthrough in the early Cold War. On screen and on the radio, Delbert Mann's film "Marty" had just won the Oscar for Best Picture, and Bill Hayes was dominating the charts with "The Ballad of Davy Crockett." In the NBA, the Syracuse Nationals defeated the Fort Wayne Pistons to claim the championship, and on April 15, Ray Kroc opened the first franchised McDonald's restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois, laying the foundation for what would become the largest fast food chain in the world.

On the cover

Magazine Covers — March 30, 1955

New York Times
Time
TV Guide
Nat. Geographic

NY Times Headlines — Week of March 30, 1955

West'S Big 3 Plan Talks In Advance Of Soviet Parley; West'S Big 3 Plan Advance Parley Foreign Ministers' Sessions Suggested For Time When Atlantic Council Convenes U. S. Aides Still Wary Senate Committee Approves Paris Pacts--Upper House Vote To Be Sought Today

Senators Learn President'S View On Quemoy Issue; Senators Learn President'S View Conferees Told Intervention Rests On Intention Of Reds --Curbs Put On 'War Talk'

Vietnam Blames French In Crisis; Vietnam Blames French In Crisis

2 Israelis Killed In Egyptian Clash; 2 Israelis Killed In Egyptian Clash

Wilson, Radford Adamant On Plan To Cut Manpower; Wilson Adamant On Military Cuts Urge 'Tremendous' Defense Strength Be Forged Using Weapons As Well As Men Further Slash Barred Admiral Reassures Senators --Secretary Warns Arms Costs Will Stay High

World Events — March 1955

Time Person of the Year — 1955

John Foster Dulles
Person of the Year
John Foster Dulles

On the radio

Billboard Charts — March 30, 1955

The Ballad of Davy Crockett
Bill Hayes with Orchestra Conducted by Archie Bleyer
Best Sellers #1
"The Ballad of Davy Crockett"
Bill Hayes with Orchestra Conducted by Archie Bleyer

On the bookshelf

Marjorie Morningstar
NYT Fiction #1
"Marjorie Morningstar"
Gift from the Sea
NYT Non-Fiction #1
"Gift from the Sea"
A Fable
William Faulkner
Pulitzer Prize Fiction
"A Fable"
William Faulkner
A Fable
William Faulkner
National Book Award Fiction
"A Fable"
William Faulkner
The Measure of Man
Joseph Wood Krutch
National Book Award Nonfiction
"The Measure of Man"
Joseph Wood Krutch

On the television

Nielsen Top 10 — 1954–55 Season

The $64,000 Question
Nielsen #1 TV Show
The $64,000 Question
Nielsen
Top 10
TV Shows
Nielsen Ratings
Top 10 TV Shows
1954–55 Season

Emmy Winners — 1955

Producers' Showcase
Emmy Drama Series
Producers' Showcase
The Phil Silvers Show
Emmy Comedy Series
The Phil Silvers Show
Lloyd Nolan
The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial
Emmy Lead Actor
Lloyd Nolan
The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial
Loretta Young
The Loretta Young Show
Emmy Lead Actress
Loretta Young
The Loretta Young Show

At the movies

Box Office & Oscar Winners — March 30, 1955

The Country Girl
Box Office #1
The Country Girl
Marty
Oscar Best Picture
Marty
Delbert Mann
Marty
Oscar Best Director
Delbert Mann
Marty
Ernest Borgnine
Marty
Oscar Best Actor
Ernest Borgnine
Marty
Anna Magnani
The Rose Tattoo
Oscar Best Actress
Anna Magnani
The Rose Tattoo

On the field

Sports Champions — March 30, 1955

NFL Champion
Cleveland Browns
World Series
Brooklyn Dodgers
def. New York Yankees
NBA Champion
Syracuse Nationals
def. Fort Wayne Pistons
Stanley Cup
Detroit Red Wings
def. Montreal Canadiens

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