Category Archives: 1950s

‘On the Waterfront’ wins Best Motion Picture at 27th Academy Awards 60 years ago this hour (Mar 30 1955)

1950s, Movies 1950s, Television 1950s


Video: '1955 Oscars' (17 videos)

(Wednesday, March 30, 1955, 7:30-9:18 p.m. PST) — On the Waterfront, a crime drama film about union violence and corruption amongst longshoremen, won eight Oscars tonight at the 27th Academy Awards, including Best Motion Picture, Elia Kazan for Best Director and Marlon Brando for Best Actor. Continue reading ‘On the Waterfront’ wins Best Motion Picture at 27th Academy Awards 60 years ago this hour (Mar 30 1955) →

John Marshall Harlan II assumes post on U.S. Supreme Court 60 years ago today (Mar 28 1955)

1950s


Video: 'Dissent in the Supreme Court: John Marshall Harlan II - Biography, Education, Civil Rights (1992)'

(Monday, March 28, 1955) — John Marshall Harlan was sworn in today as an associate justice of the Supreme Court. The New Yorker became the eighty-ninth man to sit on the high bench since the Federal judiciary was established in 1789.

Inner-city school drama ‘Blackboard Jungle’ opens in New York City 60 years ago today (Mar 19 1955)

1950s, Movies 1950s, Popular Music 1950s


Video: 'Blackboard Jungle' trailer

(Saturday, March 19, 1955) — Blackboard Jungle, a social commentary film about teachers in an inner-city school, opened today at Loew’s State Theatre in New York City. The film marked the rock and roll revolution by featuring Bill Haley & His Comets’ “Rock Around the Clock.”

Directed by Richard Brooks, the film starred Glenn Ford, Anne Francis, Louis Calhern and Sidney Poitier.

Charlie Parker, jazz master, dies 60 years ago this hour (Mar 12 1955)

1950s, Popular Music 1950s


Image: 'Charlie Parker - Charlie Parker Story'

(Saturday, March 12, 1955, 8:15 p.m. EST) — Legendary jazz musician Charlie “Bird” Parker died tonight in New York City of heart failure. Known as the inventor of bebop, Parker was 34.

‘Make Room for Daddy,’ ‘The United States Steel Hour’ big winners at Emmy Awards 60 years ago this hour (Mar 7 1955)

1950s, Television 1950s


Video: 'Make Room for Daddy: The Children's Governess' (Feb. 1, 1955)

(Monday, March 7, 1955, 8:30 p.m. PST) — Make Room for Daddy dominated the 7th Emmy Awards tonight, winning two awards, including Best Situation Comedy. Continue reading ‘Make Room for Daddy,’ ‘The United States Steel Hour’ big winners at Emmy Awards 60 years ago this hour (Mar 7 1955) →

‘Peter Pan’ Broadway production airs live on NBC-TV in color 60 years ago this hour (Mar 7 1955)

1950s, Broadway, Popular Music 1950s, Television 1950s


Video: '"Producers' Showcase" Peter Pan (7 March 1955)' (4 videos)

(Monday, March 7, 1955, 7:30-9:00 p.m. EST) — NBC-TV presented the full-length Broadway production of Peter Pan live tonight in color (only a black-and-white kinescope recording survived) as part of Producers’ Showcase, with nearly all of the show’s original cast.

The show attracted a then-record audience of 65-million viewers, the highest ever up to that time for a single television program.

First successful human kidney transplant took place 60 years ago this hour (Dec 23 1954)

1950s


Video: 'Remembering Marvin Miller,Joseph Murray, Earl Carroll'

(Thursday, December 23, 1954, 11:15 a.m. EST) — The first successful human kidney transplant took place today at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston as a surgical team led by Dr. Joseph Murray removed a kidney from 23-year-old Ronald Herrick and implanted it in Herrick’s twin brother, Richard, who was dying of chronic nephritis.

Because the donor and recipient were identical twins, tissue rejection was not an issue. Richard Herrick lived until 1962; Ronald Herrick died in 2010.

Senator Kennedy flown to Palm Beach following spinal surgery 60 years ago today (Dec 21 1954)

1950s, U.S. Presidents

Video: 'December 21, 1954 - Senator John F. Kennedy recovering from spinal operations'

(Tuesday, December 21, 1954) — Senator John F. Kennedy was taken by stretcher to a special plane today so he could be flown from the New York Hospital for Special Surgery to the Kennedy home in Palm Beach, Florida, more than two months after undergoing a spinal operation.