Oct 4
Sputnik Launched
The Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the first artificial satellite. Its beep-beep signal terrified Americans. Overnight, the space race — and a crisis of national confidence — began.
🇺🇸United States · 50s
Sputnik Shock
The Soviets launch Sputnik, Little Rock erupts, and West Side Story opens.
What happened
5 milestones of 1957
Sep 25
Little Rock Nine
Nine Black students integrated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, under the protection of the 101st Airborne. Governor Faubus had tried to stop them. Eisenhower sent the Army.
civil rights
Sep 9
Civil Rights Act of 1957
The first federal civil rights legislation since Reconstruction. It was modest — mainly protecting voting rights — but it broke the legislative dam that had held since 1875.
civil rights
Sep 26
West Side Story Opens on Broadway
Bernstein, Sondheim, and Robbins reimagined Romeo and Juliet on the streets of New York. The most influential American musical since Oklahoma!
Sep-Dec
Flu Pandemic Hits America
The Asian Flu pandemic reached the US, eventually killing about 116,000 Americans. Schools closed, hospitals overflowed. A vaccine was rushed into production.
pandemic
What was playing
70% local · 30% international
What was in cinemas
The Bridge on the River Kwai
David Lean — Won 7 Oscars including Best Picture. 'Madness! Madness!'
12 Angry Men
Sidney Lumet — One jury room. Twelve men. Henry Fonda vs. groupthink.
Jailhouse Rock
Richard Thorpe — Elvis's best film. The dance sequence defined rock & roll cool.
Funny Face
Stanley Donen — Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire in Paris. Style and Gershwin.
Witness for the Prosecution
Billy Wilder — Agatha Christie's courtroom twist. Marlene Dietrich stunned audiences.
What was on TV
Leave It to Beaver
1957-1963 — The Cleavers became the archetypal American TV family.
American Bandstand (national)
1957-1989 — Dick Clark took the show national on ABC. Every teen watched.
Perry Mason
1957-1966 — Raymond Burr never lost a case. The courtroom drama standard.
Have Gun – Will Travel
1957-1963 — Richard Boone as Paladin — the sophisticated gunfighter.
Gunsmoke
1955-1975 — Now the #1 show on television. Dodge City reigned supreme.
How much things cost
Currency: USD
Gallon of milk$1.00
Gallon of gas$0.31
New house (median)$12,200
New car (average)$2,150
Loaf of bread$0.19
Movie ticket$0.51
Inflation: 3.3%
A mild recession began late in the year. Inflation ticked up while the economy slowed.
Then vs. Now
Inflation-adjusted values
Gallon of milkBLS
1957 (USD)
$1.00
→
Today's value ($)
--
Gallon of gasEIA
1957 (USD)
$0.31
→
Today's value ($)
--
New house (median)Census Bureau
1957 (USD)
$12,200
→
Today's value ($)
--
New car (average)BLS
1957 (USD)
$2,150
→
Today's value ($)
--
Loaf of breadBLS
1957 (USD)
$0.19
→
Today's value ($)
--
Movie ticketNATO
1957 (USD)
$0.51
→
Today's value ($)
--
Technology
Sputnik
The first artificial satellite orbited Earth, launching the space age.
FORTRAN released
IBM released the first widely used programming language.
Nuclear power plants
Shippingport, Pennsylvania opened the first full-scale commercial nuclear power plant.
Wham-O Frisbee
The Frisbee went into mass production. America's favorite disc.
Transistor revolution
Transistors replaced vacuum tubes in computers, making them smaller and faster.
Pop Culture
Fashion
Sack dress (controversial shapeless silhouette)Capri pants everywhereIvy League preppy look
Slang
Split— To leave
Made in the shade— Set, all good
Kookie— Crazy, eccentric
Behavior
- Beatnik culture emerged in San Francisco's North Beach
- Kerouac published On the Road — the Beat Generation had its bible
- Fallout shelters became serious home planning
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