When This Dropped

March 15, 1956

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

Gas cost $0.30 a gallon in the spring of 1956, and the Dow Jones stood at 499 — the U.S. was pressing Egypt to join a ceasefire on the Israeli border as tensions in the Middle East kept American diplomats working through the season. On television, "I Love Lucy" remained the country's most-watched show, while readers were picking up William Brinkley's novel "Don't Go Near the Water" from the bestseller lists. The Philadelphia Warriors took the NBA title over the Fort Wayne Pistons that spring, the same season a British test aircraft called the Fairey Delta 2 became the first plane to exceed 1,000 miles per hour in level flight, setting a new world air speed record of 1,132 mph.

On the cover

Magazine Covers — March 15, 1956

New York Times
Time
TV Guide
Nat. Geographic

NY Times Headlines — Week of March 15, 1956

U.S. Drafts Plan For New U.N. Unit In Mideast Crisis; Favors Peace Panel To Report To Council--President Says Fresh Approach Is Aim Warns Of Peril In Area Denies There Is Ban On Arms For Israelis--Voices Hope For A 'Better Solution'

U.N. Council Action Asked By Washington On Mideast; Mission To China Recalled U.N. Council Act On Mideast Asked Build-Up Of Armed Forces

World Events — March 1956

Time Person of the Year — 1956

Harlow Curtice
Person of the Year
Harlow Curtice

On the radio

Billboard Charts — March 15, 1956

Rock and Roll Waltz
Kay Starr with Hugo Winterhalter's Orchestra and Chorus
Best Sellers #1
"Rock and Roll Waltz"
Kay Starr with Hugo Winterhalter's Orchestra and Chorus

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 — March 15, 1956

Picnic
Box Office #1
Picnic
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 — March 15, 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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