When This Dropped

January 12, 1956

President
Eisenhower
Dow (EOY)
499
Gas/gal
$0.30
Min Wage
$1.00

By the winter of 1956, Eisenhower was in the White House and the federal minimum wage stood at $1.00/hr — the U.S. was actively working to ease tensions in the Middle East, advising nations involved in the Syria crisis that it did not believe a military confrontation was imminent. On the cultural front, Dean Martin's "Memories Are Made of This" sat at the top of the music charts, while television audiences were tuning in weekly to "I Love Lucy," which remained the country's most-watched program. On the sports page, the New York Giants had just claimed the NFL championship, and American athletes had competed at the Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, bringing home 7 medals, including 2 gold.

On the cover

Magazine Covers — January 12, 1956

New York Times
Time
TV Guide
Nat. Geographic

NY Times Headlines — Week of January 12, 1956

Policies Averted 3 Wars, Dulles Quoted As Saying; Magazine Reports He Declared Threats To Use Nuclear Weapons Saved Peace For Korea, Indochina And Formosa Dulles Is Quoted On Warning Reds British Disappoint Dulles

West And Soviet Bid U.N. Condemn Attack By Israel; They Warn Repetition Of Raid On Syria Dec. 11 Would Bring Punitive Action Moscow Asks Damages Is Resolution Is Stronger, In Line With Russian Policy Of Wooing Arabs' Favor Israeli Contention Assailed Russian Backs Syria West And Soviet Urge The U.N. To Condemn Israel Raid On Syria France Opposes Indemnities Jordanian Firing Charged

Vice President Applauds Administration Moves As Keeping Peace; Dulles' Policies Backed By Nixon Senator Asks Assurance

World Events — January 1956

Time Person of the Year — 1956

Harlow Curtice
Person of the Year
Harlow Curtice

On the radio

Billboard Charts — January 12, 1956

Sixteen Tons
Tennessee Ernie Ford with Orchestra Conducted by Jack Fascinato
Best Sellers #1
"Sixteen Tons"
Tennessee Ernie Ford with Orchestra Conducted by Jack Fascinato

On the bookshelf

Don't Go Near the Water
NYT Fiction #1
"Don't Go Near the Water"
Arthritis and Common Sense
NYT Non-Fiction #1
"Arthritis and Common Sense"
Andersonville
MacKinlay Kantor
Pulitzer Prize Fiction
"Andersonville"
MacKinlay Kantor
Ten North Frederick
John O'Hara
National Book Award Fiction
"Ten North Frederick"
John O'Hara
An American in Italy
Herbert Kubly
National Book Award Nonfiction
"An American in Italy"
Herbert Kubly

On the television

Nielsen Top 10 — 1955–56 Season

I Love Lucy
Nielsen #1 TV Show
I Love Lucy
Nielsen
Top 10
TV Shows
Nielsen Ratings
Top 10 TV Shows
1955–56 Season

Emmy Winners — 1956

Requiem for a Heavyweight
Emmy Drama Series
Requiem for a Heavyweight
The Phil Silvers Show
Emmy Comedy Series
The Phil Silvers Show
Robert Young
Father Knows Best
Emmy Lead Actor
Robert Young
Father Knows Best
Loretta Young
The Loretta Young Show
Emmy Lead Actress
Loretta Young
The Loretta Young Show

At the movies

Box Office & Oscar Winners — January 12, 1956

Guys and Dolls
Box Office #1
Guys and Dolls
Around the World in 80 Days
Oscar Best Picture
Around the World in 80 Days
George Stevens
Giant
Oscar Best Director
George Stevens
Giant
Yul Brynner
The King and I
Oscar Best Actor
Yul Brynner
The King and I
Ingrid Bergman
Anastasia
Oscar Best Actress
Ingrid Bergman
Anastasia

On the field

Sports Champions — January 12, 1956

NFL Champion
New York Giants
World Series
New York Yankees
def. Brooklyn Dodgers
NBA Champion
Philadelphia Warriors
def. Fort Wayne Pistons
Stanley Cup
Montreal Canadiens
def. Detroit Red Wings
Winter Olympics
Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy
🥇2🥈3🥉2
Summer Olympics
Melbourne, Australia
🥇32🥈25🥉17

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