When This Dropped

December 13, 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 — December 13, 1959

New York Times
Time
TV Guide
Nat. Geographic

NY Times Headlines — Week of December 13, 1959

Eisenhower Hints U.S. Is Duty-Bound To Defend India; 1,000,000 At Park Hear Him Assert 'We Who Are Free' Must Help Each Other He Departs For Iran Chinese Invasion Discussed With Nehru, But Military Aid Is Not Promised Eisenhower Hints U.S. Feels Duty-Bound To Help Defend India From Red Attack Gandhi'S Views Invoked In Talk ' We Who Are Free' Must Aid Each Other, Hosts Told -- 1,000,000 In Audience

Herter Stresses Nato Integration As Parley Opens; Urges Allies To Keep Forces Unified And Pledges U.S. Will Remain In Europe

Chou Asks Nehru To Meet Dec. 26; Seeks Talks About Border Crisis And Offers Some Concessions To India

World Events — December 1959

Time Person of the Year — 1959

Charles de Gaulle
Person of the Year
Charles de Gaulle

On the radio

Billboard Charts — December 13, 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 — 1959–60 Season

Gunsmoke
Nielsen #1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Nielsen
Top 10
TV Shows
Nielsen Ratings
Top 10 TV Shows
1959–60 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 — December 13, 1959

A Summer Place
Box Office #1
A Summer Place
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 — December 13, 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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