August 12, 1958
The federal minimum wage stood at $1.00/hr that summer of 1958, and the Dow Jones sat at 584 — right as the U.S. Congress was formally debating Alaska statehood, which it approved that session along with a civil rights bill, marking a rare stretch of bipartisan cooperation in Washington. On screens and turntables, Americans were watching "Gunsmoke" as the top-rated show on television while lining up at theaters to see "The Vikings," the sword-and-ship adventure that led the summer box office. On July 29, Congress created the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, establishing NASA as a permanent civilian agency and setting the institutional foundation for the American space program.
On the cover
Magazine Covers — August 12, 1958
NY Times Headlines — Week of August 12, 1958
Soviet Reported Planning To Send China Atom Arms; Peiping Also Is Likely To Get Missiles, Warsaw Hears -- Earth Satellite Slated
World Events — August 1958
Time Person of the Year — 1958
On the radio
Billboard Charts — August 12, 1958
Grammy Awards
On the bookshelf
On the television
Nielsen Top 10 — 1957–58 Season
Emmy Winners — 1958
At the movies
Box Office & Oscar Winners — August 12, 1958
On the field
Sports Champions — August 12, 1958
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