Category Archives: 1950s

‘Oklahoma!’ premieres in New York City 60 years ago tonight (Oct 10 1955)

1950s, Movies 1950s, Popular Music 1950s


Video: 'Oklahoma!' trailer

(Monday, October 10, 1955, evening EDT) — Oklahoma!, a musical film based on the 1943 stage musical Oklahoma!, written by composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist/librettist Oscar Hammerstein II, premiered tonight before an invitation-only audience at the Rivoli Theatre in New York.

Directed by Fred Zinnemann, the film starred Gordon MacRae, Gloria Grahame. Gene Nelson, Charlotte Greenwood, Rod Steiger, Eddie Albert, James Whitmore and Shirley Jones. It was the first feature film photographed in the Todd-AO 70 mm widescreen process.

‘Diary of Anne Frank’ opens on Broadway 60 years ago this hour (Oct 5 1955)

1950s, Broadway, The Holocaust

(Wednesday, October 5, 1955, 8:00 p.m. EDT) — The Diary of Anne Frank, a stage adaptation of the book The Diary of a Young Girl by Holocaust victim Anne Frank (1929-1945), opened tonight at the Cort Theatre on Broadway in New York.

The cast was led by Joseph Schildkraut as Otto Frank and Susan Strasberg as Anne Frank.

Brooklyn Dodgers win World Series in seven games 60 years ago this afternoon (Oct 4 1955)

1950s, World Series


Video: '1955 World Series Highlights | Brooklyn Dodgers vs New York Yankees'

(Tuesday, October 4, 1955, mid-afternoon EDT) — The Brooklyn Dodgers won the 1955 World Series today, beating the New York Yankees 2-0 at Yankee Stadium (I) in Bronx, New York, in the seventh and deciding game.

It was the first of six World Series titles for the Dodgers (1955-1988) and the only World Series win while based in Brooklyn. Continue reading Brooklyn Dodgers win World Series in seven games 60 years ago this afternoon (Oct 4 1955) →

‘The Honeymooners’ series premieres on CBS-TV 60 years ago this hour (Oct 1 1955)

1950s, Television 1950s


Video: 'TV or Not TV-The Honeymooners' (aired Oct. 1, 1955)

(Saturday, October 1, 1955, 8:30 p.m. EDT) — Ralph and Norton buy a TV set together and constantly fight over what to watch on tonight’s debut episode of the CBS sitcom television series The Honeymooners, based on a recurring 1951–55 Cavalcade of Stars sketch of the same name about two working-class married couples starring Jackie Gleason, Art Carney, Audrey Meadows and Joyce Randolph.

In 1997, TV Guide ranked this episode number 26 on its “100 Greatest Episodes of All Time” list.

‘A View from the Bridge’ opens on Broadway 60 years ago this hour (Sep 29 1955)

1950s, Broadway

(Thursday, September 29, 1955, 7:30 p.m. EDT) — A View from the Bridge, a one-act version of the Arthur Miller play (later turned it into a two-act play), opened tonight on Broadway at the Coronet Theatre (now the Eugene O’Neill Theatre) in New York.

Directed by Martin Ritt,t he production starred Van Heflin as Eddie and Eileen Heckart as Beatrice.