August 31, 1955
The federal minimum wage stood at $0.75/hr that summer of 1955, and the Dow Jones sat at 488 — the United States was in the middle of a stable postwar economic expansion, with full employment and consumer spending both running high. On screen and over the airwaves, audiences were watching the quiz sensation "The $64,000 Question" dominate television ratings, while Bill Haley & His Comets held the top spot on the charts with "Rock Around the Clock," a song that was beginning to signal a genuine shift in popular music taste. On August 27, the first edition of the "Guinness Book of Records" was published in London, creating what would become one of the bestselling reference books in history and giving the world a single authoritative place to measure human and natural achievement.
On the cover
Magazine Covers — August 31, 1955
NY Times Headlines — Week of August 31, 1955
Dulles Gets Hint Arabs Are Armed By Soviet Union; Declares He Is Informed That Russia May Be Intervening In Conflict With Israel U. S. Takes Quick Action It Asks Egyptians And Israelis To Abstain From Use Of Force -- Moscow Silent Dulles Gets Hint Of Arab Arming
Malone In Soviet, Gets Data Offer; Secret Minerals Information Is Promised To Senator Moscow Offers Data On Its Ores
U. S. Urges Peace On Foes In Gaza; Bids Envoys Warn Egypt And Israel Of Grave Situation
Soviet Asks West To Accept 'Major Points' In Arms Plan; Soviet Asks West To Approve Plan
'Siege' Rules Set For Buenos Aires; Peronist Edict Declares Full 'Severity' Of Security Unit Faces Peace Disturbers 'Siege' Rules Set For Buenos Aires
Israel Accepts Truce Bid After New Gaza Fighting; Arab Town Recoils From Sharp Israeli Attack Israel Accepts Gaza Cease-Fire
World Events — August 1955
Time Person of the Year — 1955
On the radio
Billboard Charts — August 31, 1955
On the bookshelf
On the television
Nielsen Top 10 — 1954–55 Season
Emmy Winners — 1955
At the movies
Box Office & Oscar Winners — August 31, 1955
On the field
Sports Champions — August 31, 1955
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