Video: 'Godzilla, King of the Monsters!' trailer
(Wednesday, April 26, 1956) — Godzilla, King of the Monsters!, a Japanese-American science fiction kaiju horror film in which nuclear tests awaken a prehistoric monster, premiered today at Loew’s State theater in New York City.
Directed by Terry Morse and Ishiro Honda, the film starred Raymond Burr, Takashi Shimura, Akira Takarada, Momoko Kochi, Akihiko Hirata, Haruo Nakajima and Katsumi Tezuka.
Video: 'Liberace and Elvis at the New Frontier - April 1956'
(Monday, April 23, 1956) — Elvis Presley made his Las Vegas debut today, opening for comedian Shecky Greene. Presley’s engagement was canceled after a week because of poor ticket sales, and he didn’t return to Vegas for 13 years.
(Saturday, April 21, 1956) — “Heartbreak Hotel” by Elvis Presleys peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for eight consecutive weeks (Apr. 21/28, May 5/12/19/26, June 2/9, 1956).
It was Presley’s first of 18 number one hits on the chart (1956-1969).
In 2004, it was ranked #45 on Rolling Stone‘s list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”
(Saturday, April 21, 1956) — “Rock Island Line” by Lonnie Donegan peaked at #8 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for one week.
Video: 'Grace Kelly Royal Wedding (1956)'
(Wednesday, April 18, 1956) — American actress Grace Kelly, 26, married Prince Rainier of Monaco, 32, today in a 16-minute civil ceremony in the Palace Throne Room of Monaco.
A church wedding took place the next day.
Video: 'Lucy grape fight scene'
(Monday, April 16, 1956, 9:00-9:30 p.m. EST) — En route to Rome by train, Lucy is spotted by a famous Italian cinema director and chosen to play a part in his new movie Bitter Grapes on tonight’s episode of the CBS sitcom television series I Love Lucy.
In 1997, TV Guide ranked this episode number 18 on its “100 Greatest Episodes of All Time” list.
(Saturday, April 14, 1956) — Ampex Corp. demonstrated the first practical videotape recorder (in a format known as 2″ Quadruplex) today at the National Association of Radio and Television Broadcasters (NARTB) convention in Chicago. Continue reading First practical videotape recorder demonstrated in Chicago 60 years ago today (Apr 14 1956)
(Saturday, April 14, 1956) — “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” by Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers peaked at #6 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for three weeks.
The song was ranked #314 on the Rolling Stone magazine’s list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”
Video: 'Nat King Cole Is Attacked By White Supremacists - Apr 10 - Today In Music'
(Tuesday, April 10, 1956, early evening CST) — African-American singer Nat “King” Cole was attacked and beaten today by a group of racial segregationists while performing on stage in Birmingham, Alabama.
Video: 'Elvis Presley Blue Suede Shoes Screen Test Paramount Studios 1956'
(Friday, April 6, 1956) — Paramount Pictures signed Elvis Presley to a three-movie contract today just a few days after his first screen test.
