When This Dropped

May 9, 1957

President
Eisenhower
Dow (EOY)
436
Gas/gal
$0.31
Min Wage
$1.00

Gas cost $0.31 a gallon in the spring of 1957, and the Dow Jones stood at 436 — a resurgent American economy was running on steady ground, with the country still adjusting to the aftermath of the 1956 Suez Crisis as Egypt reopened the canal to international shipping that March. On television, "Gunsmoke" was the top-rated drama on American sets, and Elvis Presley's "All Shook Up" was sitting at number one on the charts, marking another milestone in the rise of rock and roll. The Boston Celtics defeated the St. Louis Hawks to claim the NBA championship, and IBM made history that April by selling the first compiler for the Fortran programming language, a development that would quietly reshape the course of modern computing.

On the cover

Magazine Covers — May 9, 1957

New York Times
Time
TV Guide
Nat. Geographic

NY Times Headlines — Week of May 9, 1957

Democrats Score President On Eve Of Budget Appeal; Johnson, In Senate Attack, Cites Contradictory Views Within Administration Plea On The Air Tonight Eisenhower To Talk To Nation --Senators Support Postal, Treasury, Court Cuts Confusion Is Decried Adams Stand Is Cited Democrats Score President'S Plan 'A Night Of Decision' Cut In Aid Recalled

World Events — May 1957

Time Person of the Year — 1957

Hungarian Freedom Fighter
Person of the Year
Hungarian Freedom Fighter

On the radio

Billboard Charts — May 9, 1957

All Shook Up
Elvis Presley with The Jordanaires
Best Sellers #1
"All Shook Up"
Elvis Presley with The Jordanaires

On the bookshelf

By Love Possessed
NYT Fiction #1
"By Love Possessed"
Kids Say the Darndest Things
NYT Non-Fiction #1
"Kids Say the Darndest Things"
The Field of Vision
Wright Morris
National Book Award Fiction
"The Field of Vision"
Wright Morris
Russia Leaves the War
George F. Kennan
National Book Award Nonfiction
"Russia Leaves the War"
George F. Kennan

On the television

Nielsen Top 10 — 1956–57 Season

Gunsmoke
Nielsen #1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Nielsen
Top 10
TV Shows
Nielsen Ratings
Top 10 TV Shows
1956–57 Season

Emmy Winners — 1957

Gunsmoke
Emmy Drama Series
Gunsmoke
The Phil Silvers Show
Emmy Comedy Series
The Phil Silvers Show
Peter Ustinov
Omnibus
Emmy Lead Actor
Peter Ustinov
Omnibus
Jane Wyatt
Father Knows Best
Emmy Lead Actress
Jane Wyatt
Father Knows Best

At the movies

Box Office & Oscar Winners — May 9, 1957

Funny Face
Box Office #1
Funny Face
The Bridge on the River Kwai
Oscar Best Picture
The Bridge on the River Kwai
David Lean
The Bridge on the River Kwai
Oscar Best Director
David Lean
The Bridge on the River Kwai
Alec Guinness
The Bridge on the River Kwai
Oscar Best Actor
Alec Guinness
The Bridge on the River Kwai
Joanne Woodward
The Three Faces of Eve
Oscar Best Actress
Joanne Woodward
The Three Faces of Eve

On the field

Sports Champions — May 9, 1957

NFL Champion
Detroit Lions
World Series
Milwaukee Braves
def. New York Yankees
NBA Champion
Boston Celtics
def. St. Louis Hawks
Stanley Cup
Montreal Canadiens
def. Boston Bruins

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