When This Dropped

January 3, 1959

President
Eisenhower
Dow (EOY)
679
Gas/gal
$0.31
Min Wage
$1.00

By the winter of 1959, Eisenhower was in the White House and the federal minimum wage stood at $1.00/hr — the United States and Soviet Union jointly proposed a permanent United Nations space agency, reflecting a rare moment of cooperation amid the Cold War. On television, "Gunsmoke" continued its run as the country's top-rated show, while Frank Sinatra's album "Come Dance with Me" took home the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. The Baltimore Colts were the reigning NFL champions, and on January 2, the Soviet lunar probe Luna 1 became the first human-made object to escape Earth's gravitational pull and enter orbit around the sun.

On the cover

Magazine Covers — January 3, 1959

New York Times
Time
TV Guide
Nat. Geographic

NY Times Headlines — Week of January 3, 1959

Eisenhower Hails Soviet Space Shot; Congratulates The Russians -- Congress Wants U. S. To Spur Its Program

President To Seek 41 Billion In Arms; Outlines Defense And Space Aims To Congress Chiefs -- Democrats Critical President To Seek 41 Billion In Arms

U.S. Sees Loophole In Atom Ban Plan; Tests Show Difficulty In Distinguishing A Blast From Earthquake U.S. Sees Loophole In Atom Ban Plan

Old Guard G. O. P. Retains Party Control In Senate;; Congress Opened Dirksen Is Elected As Minority Leader Over Cooper Old Guard Rules G. O. P. In Senate

Mikoyan Appeals For A 'Hot Peace'; Tells Detroit Dinner 'We'Re All Tired Of Cold War' -President Asks Courtesy

World Events — January 1959

Time Person of the Year — 1959

Charles de Gaulle
Person of the Year
Charles de Gaulle

On the radio

Billboard Charts — January 3, 1959

April Love
Pat Boone with Orchestra Conducted by Billy Vaughn
Best Sellers #1
"April Love"
Pat Boone with Orchestra Conducted by Billy Vaughn

Grammy Awards

Come Dance with Me
Frank Sinatra
Grammy Album of the Year
"Come Dance with Me"
Frank Sinatra
The Battle of New Orleans
Johnny Horton
Grammy Song of the Year
"The Battle of New Orleans"
Johnny Horton
Mack the Knife
Bobby Darin
Grammy Record of the Year
"Mack the Knife"
Bobby Darin
Bobby Darin
Grammy Best New Artist
Bobby Darin

On the bookshelf

Exodus
NYT Fiction #1
"Exodus"
Twixt Twelve and Twenty
NYT Non-Fiction #1
"Twixt Twelve and Twenty"
The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters
Robert Lewis Taylor
Pulitzer Prize Fiction
"The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters"
Robert Lewis Taylor
The Magic Barrel
Bernard Malamud
National Book Award Fiction
"The Magic Barrel"
Bernard Malamud
Mistress to an Age
J. Christopher Herold
National Book Award Nonfiction
"Mistress to an Age"
J. Christopher Herold

On the television

Nielsen Top 10 — 1958–59 Season

Gunsmoke
Nielsen #1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Nielsen
Top 10
TV Shows
Nielsen Ratings
Top 10 TV Shows
1958–59 Season

Emmy Winners — 1959

Playhouse 90
Emmy Drama Series
Playhouse 90
The Art Carney Special
Emmy Comedy Series
The Art Carney Special
Raymond Burr
Perry Mason
Emmy Lead Actor
Raymond Burr
Perry Mason
Jane Wyatt
Father Knows Best
Emmy Lead Actress
Jane Wyatt
Father Knows Best

At the movies

Box Office & Oscar Winners — January 3, 1959

The Buccaneer
Box Office #1
The Buccaneer
Ben-Hur
Oscar Best Picture
Ben-Hur
William Wyler
Ben-Hur
Oscar Best Director
William Wyler
Ben-Hur
Charlton Heston
Ben-Hur
Oscar Best Actor
Charlton Heston
Ben-Hur
Simone Signoret
Room at the Top
Oscar Best Actress
Simone Signoret
Room at the Top

On the field

Sports Champions — January 3, 1959

NFL Champion
Baltimore Colts
World Series
Los Angeles Dodgers
def. Chicago White Sox
NBA Champion
Boston Celtics
def. Minneapolis Lakers
Stanley Cup
Montreal Canadiens
def. Toronto Maple Leafs

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