When This Dropped

October 18, 1956

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

That fall of 1956, gas ran $0.30 a gallon and Eisenhower was in the White House — and the Suez Crisis was dominating the headlines, as British, French, and Israeli forces moved against Egypt while the United Nations pressed all three to withdraw their troops. On the cultural front, Elvis Presley held the top spot on the music charts with "Don't Be Cruel" backed by "Hound Dog," and television audiences were tuning in each week to "I Love Lucy," which remained the country's most-watched show. The New York Yankees defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers in the World Series that October, and in Melbourne, Australia, American athletes brought home 32 gold medals as part of a 74-medal total at the Summer Olympic Games.

On the cover

Magazine Covers — October 18, 1956

New York Times
Time
TV Guide
Nat. Geographic

NY Times Headlines — Week of October 18, 1956

Britain To Send Jets To Bolster R.A.F. In Jordan; Forces In Amman Under Aid Pact Reported Due To Get Latest Fighters Soon Move Linked To Peace Diplomats Also Hail Warning To Israel And Delaying Of Entry Of Iraqi Troops British Manning Guns No Red Arms To Jordan Britain To Send Jets To Jordan

Nasser Says Moscow Still Would Aid Dam; Nasser Says Bid Of Soviet Stands Many Subjects Discussed

Warsaw Is In 'Peaceful Revolutionary Mood To Ease Regime; Polish Ferment Portends Change Soviet Tie At Stake Two Aides Dismissed

Soviet Leaders Rush To Poland To Demand Pro-Moscow Regime; Said To Post Troops At Warsaw; Urgent Talk Held Khrushchev And Four Arrive As Gomulka Regains Party Post Rokossovsky Posts Troops Soviet Talks Last 6 Hours Soviet'S Leaders Rush To Warsaw Gomulka Called Traitor Rebuff To Moscow Related Moscow Issues Communique

Withdrawal On; Peril Of Moscow Coup Appears Waning, But Debate Continues Move From The East Khrushchev'S Demands Poles Reported Barring Troops Debate Resumes Today Gomulka Goes To Airport

Warsaw Is Calm; People Show Relief As Danger Of Armed Conflict Fades Other Members Listed Soviet Troops Withdrawn Poland Prevailing Over Soviet; Rokossovsky Out Of Politburo; Gomulka Heads Party Workers Waited Emergency Call Remained All Night In Auto Plant--Danger Of Civil War Was Feared Most Dramatic Three-Day Session Danger Of Military Action Speculation On Ousters People'S Mood Shown

World Events — October 1956

Time Person of the Year — 1956

Harlow Curtice
Person of the Year
Harlow Curtice

On the radio

Billboard Charts — October 18, 1956

Don't Be Cruel
/"Hound Dog" Elvis Presley
Best Sellers #1
"Don't Be Cruel"
/"Hound Dog" Elvis Presley

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 — 1956–57 Season

I Love Lucy
Nielsen #1 TV Show
I Love Lucy
Nielsen
Top 10
TV Shows
Nielsen Ratings
Top 10 TV Shows
1956–57 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 — October 18, 1956

War and Peace
Box Office #1
War and Peace
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 — October 18, 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

Interested in postcards, posters or t-shirts? Leave your email and we’ll let you know.