January 17, 1957
By the winter of 1957, Eisenhower was in the White House and the federal minimum wage stood at $1.00/hr — the U.S. Navy's Vanguard rocket had just exploded on the launch pad in a failed attempt to put America's first satellite into orbit, leaving the country scrambling to close the gap with the Soviet Union in the early space race. On television, "Gunsmoke" was the top-rated show in the country, while moviegoers were buying tickets to see "The Bridge on the River Kwai" take home the Academy Award for Best Picture. The Detroit Lions had claimed the NFL championship, and on December 20, Boeing's new 707 jet airliner completed its first flight, marking the beginning of the commercial jet age in America.
On the cover
Magazine Covers — January 17, 1957
World Events — January 1957
Time Person of the Year — 1957
On the radio
Billboard Charts — January 17, 1957
On the bookshelf
On the television
Nielsen Top 10 — 1956–57 Season
Emmy Winners — 1957
At the movies
Box Office & Oscar Winners — January 17, 1957
On the field
Sports Champions — January 17, 1957
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