Category Archives: 1950s

World’s first nuclear-powered submarine commissioned by U.S. Navy at Groton, Connecticut 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 30 1954)

1950s, Cold War


Video: 'Officers aboard the USS Nautilus SSN-571 submarine for her commissioning ceremony...HD Stock Footage'

(Thursday, September 30, 1954, 3:11 p.m. EST; during the Cold War) — The world’s first atomic-powered submarine, USS Nautilus, officially joined the United States Navy today, marking a significant milestone in naval technology and a strategic answer to the growing naval power of the Soviet Union. Continue reading World’s first nuclear-powered submarine commissioned by U.S. Navy at Groton, Connecticut 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 30 1954) →

‘The Tonight Show’ debuts on NBC with host Steve Allen, pioneering late-night television 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 27 1954)

1950s, Popular Music 1950s, Television 1950s


Video: 'First Tonight Show 9/27/54'

(Monday, September 27, 1954, 11:30 p.m. EDT) — The Tonight Show, the world’s longest-running talk show and the longest-running regularly scheduled entertainment program in the United States, made its debut tonight on NBC under the original title Tonight. Continue reading ‘The Tonight Show’ debuts on NBC with host Steve Allen, pioneering late-night television 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 27 1954) →

‘Hey There’ by Rosemary Clooney peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 25 1954)

1950s, Popular Music 1950s

(Saturday, September 25, 1954) — “Hey There” by Rosemary Clooney peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for the first of six consecutive weeks (Sep. 25, Oct. 2/9/16/23/30, 1954). Continue reading ‘Hey There’ by Rosemary Clooney peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 25 1954) →

‘Sh-Boom’ by The Crew-Cuts peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 7 1954)

1950s, Popular Music 1950s

(Saturday, August 7, 1954) — “Sh-Boom” by The Crew-Cuts peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for the first of seven consecutive weeks (Aug. 7/14/21/28, Sep. 4/11/18, 1954). Continue reading ‘Sh-Boom’ by The Crew-Cuts peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 7 1954) →

19-year-old truck driver Elvis Presley makes music history at Sun Records with first commercial recording session 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 5 1954)

1950s, Elvis Presley, Popular Music 1950s


Video: 'That's All Right (Remastered)'

(Monday, July 5, 1954, 7:00 p.m. CDT) — Elvis Presley’s first commercial recording session took place tonight at Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee, as the 19-year-old trucker driver tracked “That’s All Right.” Continue reading 19-year-old truck driver Elvis Presley makes music history at Sun Records with first commercial recording session 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 5 1954) →

Senator Joseph McCarthy’s ‘cruelty’ and ‘recklessness’ assailed during hearing: ‘Have you no sense of decency, sir?’ 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 9 1954)

1950s, Cold War


Video: '"Have You No Decency?" | McCarthy | American Experience | PBS'

(Wednesday, June 9, 1954; during the Second Red Scare) — During the Senate-Army Hearings, Army special counsel Joseph N. Welch berated U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy today for verbally attacking a member of Welch’s law firm, Fred Fisher, asking McCarthy: “Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?” Continue reading Senator Joseph McCarthy’s ‘cruelty’ and ‘recklessness’ assailed during hearing: ‘Have you no sense of decency, sir?’ 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 9 1954) →

‘Little Things Mean a Lot’ by Kitty Kallen peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (June 5 1954)

1950s, Popular Music 1950s

(Saturday, June 5, 1954) — “Little Things Mean a Lot” by Kitty Kallen peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for the first of nine consecutive weeks (June 5/12/19/26, July 3/10/17/24/31, 1954). Continue reading ‘Little Things Mean a Lot’ by Kitty Kallen peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (June 5 1954) →

Racial segregation in public schools unanimously outlawed by U.S. Supreme Court 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 17 1954)

1950s, African-American Civil Rights


Video: 'Brown v. Board of Education in PBS' The Supreme Court'

(Monday, May 17, 1954, 12:52 p.m. EDT; marking the end of Jim Crow era (1896–1954) and beginning of civil rights movement (1954–1968)) — In a landmark decision, the U.S. Supreme Court in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka unanimously ruled this afternoon that U.S. state laws establishing racial segregation in public schools are unconstitutional, even if the segregated schools are otherwise equal in quality. Continue reading Racial segregation in public schools unanimously outlawed by U.S. Supreme Court 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 17 1954) →

Vietnamese insurgents overrun French forces at Dien Bien Phu 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 7 1954)

1950s, Cold War, First Indochina War


Video: 'Why France Lost The Battle of Dien Bien Phu 1954 (4K Documentary)' (May 7, 1954, at 17:02)

(Friday, May 7, 1954, 5:30 p.m. local time; during the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, part of the First Indochina War) — The 55-day Battle of Dien Bien Phu, fought in Vietnam between the French Union’s colonial Far East Expeditionary Corps and Viet Minh communist revolutionaries, ended this afternoon when rebel Viet Minh forces overran the French stronghold of Dien Bien Phu, bringing about the end of French control in Indochina and creating the division of Vietnam. Continue reading Vietnamese insurgents overrun French forces at Dien Bien Phu 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 7 1954) →

‘Wanted’ by Perry Como peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 10 1954)

1950s, Popular Music 1950s

(Saturday, April 10, 1954) — “Wanted” by Perry Como with Hugo Winterhalter’s Orchestra and Chorus peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for the first of eight consecutive weeks (Apr. 10/17/24, May 1/8/15/22/29, 1954). Continue reading ‘Wanted’ by Perry Como peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 10 1954) →