Memory Lane: 1957

Sputnik1957 saw the continued growth of bigger taller tail fins on new cars and more lights, bigger with more powerful engines and an average car sold for $2,749.

The Soviet Union launched the first space satellite Sputnik 1.

Movies included “Twelve Angry Men” and “The Bridge Over the River Kwai”, and TV showed “Perry Mason” and “Maverick” for the first time. The music continued to be Rock and Roll with artists like “Little Richard”.

The popular toys were Slinkys and Hula Hoops.

The continued growth of the use of credit was shown by the fact that 2/3 of all new cars were bought on credit.

Some of the areas that would cause problems later were starting to show South Vietnam is attacked by Viet Cong Guerrillas and Troops are sent to Arkansas to enforce anti segregation laws.

In The News

Peak of the Baby Boomer years

Toyota starts selling cars in the US

Suez Canal Crisis Ends

Asian Flu Pandemic

USSR launches Sputnik 1

South Vietnam attacked by Viet Cong Guerrillas

Elvis Presley purchases Graceland

First Nuclear Reactor plant opens Pennsylvania


Population/Economy

Population:

  • Wake County (1960 census): 169,082
  • NC: 4.368,000
  • USA: 172,000,000

National Debt:

  • $27,000,000,000 (1957)
  • $18,152,809,942,589 (2015)

Value of a Dollar: $1 in 1957 is $8.50 in 2015

Cost Of Living 1957:

  • Yearly Inflation Rate USA: 3.34%
  • Average Cost of new house: $12,220
  • Average Monthly Rent: $90
  • Average Yearly Wages: $4,550
  • Cost of a gallon of Gas: $0.24
  • Bacon per pound: $0.60
  • HI-FI Portable Record Player: $79.95
  • Children’s Shoes: $5.95
  • Cheeseburger at McDonald’s: $0.15
  • Ticket to Disneyland: $1.00 – (Rides and attractions were a separate fee via individual tickets. Three months after the park opened, books of tickets were available; the tickets were labeled “A” to “C.”)

Ounce of Gold Price:

  • The cost of an ounce of gold was $34.95
  • The inflation-adjusted price of an ounce of gold was $298.72


Going to the Movies

Cost of a movie ticket: $0.50

Inflation-adjusted price of a movie ticket: $4.27

The cost of a movie ticket in 2015: $7.92

Top 5 Movies:

  1. 12 Angry Men
  2. Paths of Glory
  3. The Seventh Seal
  4. Wild Strawberries
  5. Throne of Blood


30th Academy Awards

  • Best Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
  • Best Actor: Alec Guinness – The Bridge on the River Kwai
  • Best Actress: Joanne Woodward – The Three Faces of Eve
  • Best Supporting Actor: Red Buttons – Sayonara
  • Best Supporting Actress: Miyoshi Umeki – Sayonara


Top 10 TV Shows

  1. Gunsmoke – CBS – 18,067,520
  2. The Danny Thomas Show – CBS – 14,797,760
  3. Tales of Wells Fargo – NBC – 14,755,840
  4. Have Gun Will Travel – CBS – 14,127,040
  5. I’ve Got a Secret – CBS – 14,001,280
  6. The Life & Legend of Wyatt Earp – ABC – 13,665,920
  7. General Electric Theatre – CBS – 13,204,800
  8. The Restless Gun – NBC – 13,162,880
  9. December Bride – CBS – 12,869,440
  10. You Bet Your Life – NBC – 12,827,520


Top 20 Pop Songs

  1.  Elvis Presley – All Shook Up
  2. Pat Boone – Love Letters In The Sand
  3. Diamonds – Little Darlin’
  4. Tab Hunter – Young Love
  5. Jimmy Dorsey – So Rare
  6. Pat Boone – Don’t Forbid Me
  7. Guy Mitchell – Singing The Blues
  8. Sonny James – Young Love
  9. Elvis Presley – Too Much
  10. Perry Como – Round And Round
  11. Everly Brothers – Bye Bye Love
  12. Debbie Reynolds – Tammy
  13. Buddy Knox – Party Doll
  14. Elvis Presley – Teddy Bear
  15. Harry Belafonte – Banana Boat (Day-O)
  16. Elvis Presley – Jailhouse Rock
  17. Marty Robbins – A White Sport Coat (And A Pink Carnation)
  18. Del-Vikings – Come Go With Me
  19. Everly Brothers – Wake Up Little Susie 
  20. Sam Cooke – You Send Me


Top 15 Country Songs

  1. Young Love – Sonny James
  2. There You Go – Johnny Cash
  3. Gone – Ferlin Husky
  4. All Shook Up – Elvis Presley
  5. A White Sport Coat – Marty Robbins
  6. Honky Tonk Song – Webb Pierce
  7. Four Walls – Jim Reeves
  8. Bye Bye Love – The Everly Brothers
  9. (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear – Elvis Presley
  10. Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin On – Jerry Lee Lewis
  11. Fraulein – Bobby Helms
  12. My Shoes Keep Walking Back To You – Ray Price
  13. Wake Up Little Susie – The Everly Brothers
  14. Jailhouse Rock – Elvis Presley
  15. My Special Angel – Bobby Helms


This Year in Sports

ACC Football Champ: NC State

ACC Basketball Champs: North Carolina (UNC 95 – USC 75)

World Series Winner: Milwaukee Braves over NY Yankees

NFL Championship Game: Detroit Lions (Detroit 59– Cleveland 14)

NASCAR Season Winner: Buck Baker

Masters Winner: Doug Ford (won $8,750)

Wimbledon Winners:

  • Men’s Singles: Australia Lew Hoad defeated Australia Ashley Cooper 6–2, 6–1, 6–2
  • Women’s Singles: United States Althea Gibson defeated United States Darlene Hard 6–3, 6–2
  • Men’s Doubles: United States Budge Patty / United States Gardnar Mulloy defeated Australia Neale Fraser / Australia Lew Hoad 8–10, 6–4, 6–4, 6–4
  • Women’s Doubles: United States Althea Gibson / United States Darlene Hard defeated Australia Mary Bevis Hawton / Australia Thelma Coyne Long 6–1, 6–2
  • Mixed Doubles: United States Darlene Hard / Australia Mervyn Rose defeated United States Althea Gibson / Australia Neale Fraser 6–4, 7–5