The Year 1957 in Review: Fun Facts, Trivia, and Historic Highlights

This quick read is a collection of fun facts, trivia, and historical events from the year 1957. Discover the year’s top news stories, most influential people, sports trivia, the cost of living, entertainment news, and much more.

1. In 1957, Dwight D. Eisenhower was the president of the United States, and Richard M. Nixon was the nation’s vice president.
2. In the mid-1950s, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates to curb inflation. From August 1957 to April 1958, the United States slipped into a recession because of the Fed’s tight monetary policy. The GDP fell by 3.7%, unemployment peaked at 7.4%, and corporate profits fell by 25%.
3. Besides inflation, what other factor(s) led to the 1957-58 recession? GlobalSecurity.org reports that government purchases of goods and services before the recession had decreased “because the Eisenhower Administration and many in Congress wanted a large actual budget surplus.”
4. But that’s not all. According to CNBC.com, “a global recession (which also happened to coincide with the 1957 Asian flu pandemic that killed 1.1 million people worldwide) further hurt the U.S. economy as the country’s exports declined by more than $4 billion.”
5. San Francisco (4.24%) experienced the highest rate of inflation between 1956 and 1957. Other metropolitan areas with high inflation rates during the same period were Seattle (4.23%), Boston (3.51%), and Houston (3.30%).
6. Conversely, Atlanta (2.70%) had the lowest rate of inflation between 1956 and 1957. Other cities with low inflation rates at the same time were Detroit (2.93%), New York (3.18%), and Philadelphia (3.22%).
7. According to In2013Dollars.com, “If you invested $100 in the S&P 500 at the beginning of 1957, you would have [amassed] about $96,716.73 at the end of 2025, assuming you reinvested all dividends. This is a return on investment of 96,616.73%, or 10.54% per year.”
8. In 1957, America’s largest corporations were General Motors, Exxon Mobil, the Ford Motor Company, U.S. Steel, General Electric, Mobil, Chrysler, Esmark, AT&T, and Gulf Oil.
9. Consumer products launched in 1957 included bubble wrap, Purina dog chow, Dream Whip, Formula 409, Sweet’n Low, Tang (drink mix), styrofoam coolers, and Burger King’s ever-popular Whopper.
10. On January 5, in response to the increasingly tense situation in the Middle East, President Eisenhower “delivered a proposal to a joint session of the U.S. Congress calling for a new and more proactive American policy in the region. The Eisenhower Doctrine, as the proposal soon came to be known, established the Middle East as a Cold War battlefield.”
11. In February 1957, a new influenza virus emerged in China that triggered a pandemic known as the “Asian Flu.” According to the CDC, the virus “was first reported in Singapore in February 1957, Hong Kong in April 1957, and in coastal cities in the U.S. during the summer of 1957. The estimated number of deaths was 1.1 million worldwide, including 116,000 in the United States.”
12. On March 25, Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and West Germany all signed a treaty that established the European Economic Community (EEC), also known as the Common Market.
13. At the 29th Academy Awards on March 27, Around the World in 80 Days won an Oscar for Best Picture, and George Stevens (Giant) won an Oscar for Best Director. Yul Brynner (The King and I) won an Oscar for Best Actor, and Ingrid Bergman (Anastasia) won an Oscar for Best Actress.
14. During a three-day weather event at the end of March, portions of southwestern Kansas and the Texas/Oklahoma panhandle experienced one of the most devastating blizzards the U.S. has ever seen.
15. In 1957, Postmaster General Arthur E. Summerfield decided to end all Saturday mail deliveries because of a budget crisis. As a result, there was no mail delivery on Saturday, April 13. However, public disapproval of the disruption prompted Congress to approve $41 million to fund the beleaguered postal system.
16. On May 6, the last episode of the sitcom I Love Lucy was broadcast on CBS. The show premiered on October 15, 1951, and spanned six seasons and 180 episodes.
17. On May 28, the National League owners voted unanimously “to allow the New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers to move to San Francisco and Los Angeles, respectively.”
18. During the early morning hours of June 27, Hurricane Audrey roared ashore and devastated southwest Louisiana and southeastern Texas.
19. On July 12, Leroy Burner, the U.S. surgeon general, issued a report on smoking and health that linked cigarette smoking and lung cancer.
20. On July 30, President Eisenhower signed a bill into law declaring that “In God We Trust” would become the nation’s official motto.
21. On August 7, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1957, which was the first civil rights legislation since Reconstruction.
22. On September 4, the Ford Motor Company introduced the Edsel, which was intended to be “everything American car buyers wanted.” Unfortunately, the Edsel turned out to be one of the biggest mistakes in automotive history. According to BusinessInsider.com, “At launch, the car was too expensive, used up too much gas, and was mocked in the press. A redesigned 1959 Edsel debuted to better reviews, but the damage was done.”
23. On September 4, Orval Faubus, the governor of Arkansas, summoned the National Guard to prevent nine Black students from entering Little Rock's Central High School.
24. On September 23, President Eisenhower issued Executive Order 10730, “which put the Arkansas National Guard under federal authority and sent 1,000 U.S. Army troops from the 101st Airborne Division to Little Rock to maintain order as Central High School desegregated.”
25. On September 24, the Brooklyn Dodgers played their last game at Ebbets Field, defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates, 2-0.
26. On October 4, the Soviet Union “inaugurated the ‘Space Age’ by launching Sputnik I, the world's first artificial satellite. A month later, Sputnik II carried a dog into orbit, making that dog the first living being to enter space.”
27. On November 29, New York Mayor Robert Wagner formed a four-member committee to find replacements for the Dodgers and Giants MLB teams.
28. In 1957, there were 10,000 members of the Communist Party in the United States.
29. There were over 47 million TV sets in over 39 million American homes.
30. Margarine sales exceeded butter sales for the first time in the U.S.
31. Idaho became the largest producer of potatoes in the country—overtaking Maine.
32. KNOC (Dallas) became the first radio station in the U.S. to adopt a full-time rhythm and blues (R&B) format.
33. KPEG (Spokane, Washington) went on the air with an all-female DJ team, who all used the name “Peg” while on the air.
34. Best-selling book: By Love Possessed by James Gould Cozzens
35. Highest-grossing films: The Bridge on the River Kwai, Sayonara, and Peyton Place
36. Most popular TV programs: Gunsmoke (CBS), The Danny Thomas Show (CBS), and Tales of Wells Fargo (NBC)
37. Beloved music artists and groups included Andy Williams, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, the Coasters, Debbie Reynolds, and Elvis Presley.
38. Popular songs: All Shook Up (Elvis Presley), Love Letters in the Sand (Pat Boone), and Little Darlin' (The Diamonds)
39. Here are some additional sports facts from 1957: The Detroit Lions were the NFL champs, the Milwaukee Braves won the World Series, and the Montreal Canadiens clinched the Stanley Cup. In addition, MLB player Jackie Robinson announced that he was retiring from baseball in order to devote his time to promising business opportunities.
40. In 1957 as well, the words "Asian flu," "clip art," "computerize," "disco," "doggie bag," "happy camper," "laser," "launchpad," "mainframe," "meter maid," "moisturizer," "pothead," "refried beans," and "Viet Cong" all appeared in print for the first time.
41. Bacon: 49 cents a pound
42. Campbell’s tomato soup: 10 cents a can
43. Chewing gum: Six packages for 19 cents
44. Eggs: 55 cents a dozen
45. Fresh New Jersey tomatoes: 23 cents for a three-pound carton
46. Green Giant canned corn: Two 27-ounce cans for 27 cents
47. Hot dogs (all beef): 49 cents for a one-pound package
48. Jane Parker apple pie: 43 cents
49. Kraft margarine: 39 cents for a one-pound package
50. Maine russet potatoes: Five pounds for 25 cents
51. Milk: $1.00 per gallon
52. Nestle's cocoa: 25 cents for an eight-ounce container
53. Oranges (Temple): Six for 33 cents
54. Ronzoni macaroni: Two 16-ounce packages for 35 cents
55. Swanson TV dinners: 75 cents each
56. Tang breakfast crystals: 50 cents for a 12-ounce jar
57. Tetley tea bags: 61 cents for a 48-count package
58. Uncle Ben’s rice: Two 14-ounce packages for 37 cents
59. Vermont Maid maple syrup: 27 cents for a 12-ounce bottle
60. Winesap apples: 39 cents for a four-pound bag

References:

1. https://popculturemadness.com/1957-fun-facts-trivia-history/
2. https://www.infoplease.com/year/1957
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1957_in_the_United_States
4. https://www.historic-newspapers.com/pages/old-newspapers/1957-newspapers?srsltid=AfmBOopz8DNSye5AiGPWJy_iNB6uZJT2qTZBbvhSlQHB1pmluft2b1FO
5. https://www.merriam-webster.com/time-traveler/1959
6. https://www.foodreference.com/html/html/food-timeline-1956.html
7. https://www.famousbirthdays.com/year/1957.html
8. https://www.mclib.info/Research/Local-History-Genealogy/Historic-Prices

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