The Year 1956 in Review: Fun Facts, Trivia, and Historic Highlights

This quick read is a collection of fun facts, trivia, and historical events from the year 1956. Discover the year’s top news stories, most influential people, sports facts, entertainment trivia, grocery and other retail prices, and much more.

1. In 1956, about 60% of Americans owned a home, 71.8% of American households had a television, and 80% of households had a refrigerator.
2. There were 387.58 vehicles per thousand people, and General Motors held over 50% of the American vehicle market.
3. Fast food and TV dinners were all the rage, mothers could now purchase disposable diapers, and one in three high school graduates was attending college. Playing the card game canasta and watching The Price Is Right on network television had also become popular pastimes.
4. Dwight D. Eisenhower was the president of the United States, and Richard M. Nixon was the nation’s vice president.
5. The 84th Congress was in session, and the Democrats held majorities in both the House and the Senate.
6. The U.S. unemployment averaged 4.2%, the inflation rate was 1.52%, and the average retail price for a gallon of gas was 22 cents.
7. The average household income per year was $4,450, the average cost of a new house was $11,700, and the average monthly rent was $88.00.
8. A pound of coffee cost 69 cents, a gallon of milk was 97 cents, and six bottles of Rheingold beer were $1.20.
9. A movie ticket cost 50 cents, an Oldsmobile “88” holiday sedan was $2,929.29, and a bottle of Coke cost a nickel.
10. American companies and brands established during 1956 included 84 Lumber, Christopher Ranch, Clayton Homes, FICO, Jersey Mike’s Subs, Marshalls, Midas, Mister Donut, Mister Softee, Payless, Sbarro, and Williams Sonoma.
11. Consumer products launched during the year included Certs, Cocoa Puffs, Comet cleanser, the Dove bar, Glade air fresheners, Play-Doh, Raid insecticide, Scotchgard stain repellent, Secret deodorant, Wisk laundry detergent, and Yahtzee, a dice game made by Milton Bradley.
12. On January 3, an electrical fire atop the Eiffel Tower startled both Paris and its tourists. WalkingTime.Weebly.com reports that “The fire broke out at 7:21 PM in an area off limits to tourists. It started as a wisp of white and gray smoke, but it quickly spread until the dancing orange and yellow flames could be seen from the ground below. About 2,000 to 3,000 visitors were evacuated down the 1,070-foot tower's winding stairs. Approximately 125 firefighters and 20 fire trucks responded to the blaze.”
13. On January 26, MLB legends Hank Greenberg and Joe Cronin were both inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
14. On February 14, President Eisenhower’s doctors acknowledged that the president was well enough to seek another term at the White House.
15. On February 23, Norma Jean Mortenson legally changed her name to Marilyn Monroe.
16. On February 29, the Cleveland Indians baseball franchise was sold for nearly four million dollars. Hank Greenberg—the team’s general manager and a former player—was part of the new ownership group.
17. On March 3, the New York Dodgers and Giants were both planning to leave the city “that had given them sustenance for half a century.” However, Manhattan Borough President Hulan Jack suggested “that a domed stadium be built on stilts over rail yards on the West Side of Manhattan, a place where both teams could play.”
18. On March 12, 96 members of Congress signed the Southern Manifesto, “a protest against the 1954 Supreme Court ruling (Brown v. Board of Education) desegregating public education.”
19. On March 15, the musical My Fair Lady opened at the Mark Hellinger Theater in New York City for 2,715 performances.
20. At the 8th Emmy Awards on March 17, The Phil Silvers Show (CBS) won an Emmy for Best Comedy Series, and Producers’ Showcase (NBC) won an Emmy for Best Dramatic Series. The Ed Sullivan Show won an Emmy for Best Variety Show, and The $64,000 Question won an Emmy for Best Audience Participation Series.
21. On March 21, at the 28th Academy Awards, which honored the best films of 1955, Marty won an Oscar for Best Picture, and Delbert Mann (Marty) won an Oscar for Best Director. Ernest Borgnine (Marty) won an Oscar for Best Actor, and Anna Magnani (The Rose Tattoo) won an Oscar for Best Actress.
22. On April 19, actress Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier III of Monaco. History.com states: Their wedding was the "royal wedding of the century" and was "watched by more than 30 million viewers on live television." (For the record, Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III “had begun a secret correspondence after the Hollywood star was introduced to the prince in May of 1955 during a trip to the Cannes Film Festival. The prince proposed eight months later.”)
23. On April 27, undefeated world heavyweight boxing champion Rocky Marciano retired from the ring.
24. On May 22, NBC introduced its famous Peacock logo, possibly as an incentive for people to buy color televisions.
25. On June 8, General Electric introduced “the Snooze Alarm,” the world’s first snooze alarm clock.
26. On June 29, President Eisenhower signed the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act into law. Archives.gov tells us that “the act authorized the building of highways throughout the nation, which would be the biggest public works project in the nation's history.”
27. On June 29, actress and sex symbol Marilyn Monroe married playwright Arthur Miller.
28. On July 4, the most intense rain in U.S. history, 1.23 inches per minute, fell in Unionville, Maryland.
29. On July 16, the last performance of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus under a canvas tent took place at the Heidelberg Raceway in suburban Pittsburgh, marking the end of an era in entertainment. Soon after, the show began performing in large, air-conditioned arenas.
30. On July 16, radio executives John Fetzer and Fred Knorr bought the Detroit Tigers and Briggs Stadium for $5.5 million.
31. On July 30, President Eisenhower signed a joint resolution authorizing "In God We Trust" to become the U.S. national motto.
32. On August 6, after going bankrupt in 1955, the DuMont television network aired its final broadcast—a boxing match from St. Nicholas Arena. (Just so you know, St. Nicholas Arena was located at 69 West 66th Street in Manhattan, New York City. The building was demolished during the 1980s.)
33. When Elvis Presley appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show on September 9, 82.6% of American households were watching.
34. On September 14, IBM introduced the RAMAC 305, “the first commercial computer with a hard drive that used magnetic disk storage.”
35. On September 19, the first international conference of Black writers and artists took place at the Sorbonne in Paris.
36. On October 6, Albert Sabin, a medical researcher and scientist, announced that his polio vaccine was ready for testing and “that it would soon supplant Jonas Salk's vaccine in many parts of the world.”
37. On October 8, the first completely enclosed shopping mall, the Southdale Shopping Center, opened in Edina, Minnesota.
38. On November 6, Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower was re-elected as president of the United States by defeating Democrat Adlai Stevenson. Eisenhower received 457 electoral votes and 35,579,180 popular votes, compared to Stevenson's 73 electoral votes and 26,028,028 popular votes.
39. On November 18, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev first used the phrase "We will bury you!" while addressing Western ambassadors at a reception at the Polish Embassy in Moscow.
40. On November 30, Floyd Patterson, an African American boxer, secured the vacant world heavyweight championship following Rocky Marciano's retirement.
41. In 1956, there were 2,790 AM radio stations in the United States, 540 FM radio stations, and 442 television stations.
42. Best-selling book: Don't Go Near the Water by William Brinkley
43. Popular films: The Ten Commandments, Around the World in 80 Days, and The King and I
44. Most popular TV programs: I Love Lucy (CBS), The Ed Sullivan Show (CBS), and General Electric Theater (CBS)
45. Beloved music artists and groups included Chuck Berry, Dean Martin, Eddie Fisher, Elvis Presley, Fats Domino, and the Four Aces.
46. Popular songs: Heartbreak Hotel (Elvis Presley), Don't Be Cruel (Elvis Presley), and Lisbon Antigua (Nelson Riddle)
47. In 1956, Anthony Bourdain, Arsenio Hall, Bill Maher, Bob Saget, Carrie Fisher, Joe Montana, Kenny G, La Toya Jackson, Mel Gibson, and Tom Hanks were all born.
48. Here are some sports facts from 1956: The New York Giants were the NFL champions, the Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup, and the New York Yankees were the World Series champs.

References:

1. https://popculturemadness.com/1956-fun-facts-history-trivia/
2. https://www.infoplease.com/year/1956
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1956_in_the_United_States
4. https://www.merriam-webster.com/time-traveler/1956
5. https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/g26899440/50s-60s-nostalgia-foods/
6. https://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1956.htm
7. https://www.foodreference.com/html/html/food-timeline-1956.html
8. https://www.the-numbers.com/market/1956/top-grossing-movies
9. https://www.famousbirthdays.com/year/1956.html
10. https://www.mclib.info/Research/Local-History-Genealogy/Historic-Prices/Historic-Prices-1950s/Historic-Prices-1956
11. https://www.onthisday.com/events/date/1956

Disclaimer: In writing and editing this article, Gregory DeVictor has made every effort to ensure historical accuracy and not to mislead his audience. In addition, the contents of this article, including text, graphics, and captions, are for general informational purposes only

© 2026 Gregory DeVictor