Look Who's 51 Today!

Yes, that's me, Kindergarten Fall of 1962



1957 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.


Cost of Living 1957

How Much things cost in 1957

Yearly Inflation Rate USA 3.34% Yearly Inflation Rate UK 3.3%

Average Cost of new house $12,220.00

Average Monthly Rent $90.00

Average Yearly Wages $4.550.00

Average Cost of new car $2,157.00

Cost of a gallon of Gas 24 cents

Bacon per pound 60 cents

Eggs per dozen 28 cents

HI FI Portable Record Player $79.95

Childrens Shoes $5.95

Tuition to Harvard University - $1,000.00 per year

Movie Ticket $1.00

US Postage Stamp 3 cents

Milk $1.00 gal.

Granulated Sugar 89 cents for 10 pounds

Ground Coffee 90 cents per pound

Fresh Ground Hamburger 56 cents per pound

Fresh Baked Bread 19 cents per loaf


What Events Happened in 1957


South Vietnam attacked by Viet Cong Guerrillas


The Word Beatnik take hold as words to describe the " Beat Generation "

USSR launches Sputnik 1 on October 4th inaugurating the Space Age and the Space Race

Martin Luther King Jr heads nationwide resistance to racial segregation and discrimination in the US

Toyota starts selling cars in the US, the first is the Toyopet Crown


Federal Troops sent to Arkansas to enforce anti segregation laws

Portable Radar Devices Used To Enforce Speed Limits


Tidal Wave follows Hurricane Audrey into coasts of Texas and Louisiana

Federal troops charge defiant protestors with fixed bayonets to ensure nine African American Students can attend Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas

Asian Flu pandemic claims over 150,000 lives world wide

1957 was the peak of the Baby Boomeryears

The House for Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) convicts a number of writers and playwrites for Un-American Activities / Communist party membership


The US and Canada establish the North America Defense Command


President Eisenhower suffers a mild stroke


The first US nuclear power plant begins operation in Shippingport, PA


Dwight D. Eisenhower is inaugurated for a second term as president.


Actor Humphrey Bogart passes away from cancer at the age of 57.



Popular Culture

Elvis Presley purchases a mansion in Memphis, Tennessee and calls it Graceland

The Cavern Club opens in Liverpool ( Where the Beetle's started )
The Film Jailhouse Rock premiers with Elvis Presley
"American Bandstand" the teenagers chart music show makes its network debut on ABC


Poupular Television Shows

The Danny Thomas Show (CBS); Tales of Wells Fargo (NBC); You Bet Your Life (NBC)

Popular Films
The Ten Commandments; Around the World in Eighty Days; 12 Angry men; Jailhouse Rock by Elvis Presley; The Bridge on the River Kwai ; The Three Faces of Eve

Popular Books
The Cat in the Hat - Dr. Seuss ; From Russia with Love - Ian Fleming ; The Guns of Navarone - Alistair MacLean


Famous People Born 1957

Eddie Van Halen; Michelle Pfeiffer; Paul Reiser; Vanna White; Spike Lee; Gloria Estefan; Fran Drescher; Donny Osmond


Interesting Facts


President of the US - Dwight D. Eisenhower
VP of the US - Richard M. Nixon
Nobel Peace Prize Winner - Lester Bowles Pearson
Life Expectancy 69.6 years
The Wham-O Company produced its first Frisbees, patterned after a pie pan from the Frisbie Baking Company of Connecticut.


Sports News

World Series Champion - Milwaukee Braves
U.S. Open Golf - Dick Mayer
Pro Football Champion - Detroit Lions
Indianapolis 500 Winner - Sam Hanks/135.601 MPH
Stanley Cup Winners - Montreal Canadiens
NCAA Basketball Champion - North Carolina
College Football Champions - Auburn & Ohio State



The birth of Michele,

in Pennsylvania,

November 26th, 1957