1956 – The Baby Boomer Journey
Babies born in 1956 would be 70 years old at some point in 2026. I turned 10 years old in January and I was in the fifth grade. The only thing I remember about the fifth grade is that the boy behind me had a crush on me. He kept pulling my hair and distracting me. He later became a musician and to this day we remain friends.
Top world news: On February 25, 1956, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev shocked Communist Party leaders by denouncing the crimes and abuses of former dictator Joseph Stalin. Although the speech was intended to remain secret, its contents soon became known and helped begin a period of “de-Stalinization” in the Soviet Union. On July 26, Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal, triggering one of the decade’s major international crises. Israel invaded Egypt on October 29, followed by military action from Britain and France. Pressure from the United States, the Soviet Union and the United Nations helped bring about a ceasefire, and the crisis further weakened British and French influence in the Middle East. Meanwhile, the Hungarian Revolution began on October 23 as Hungarians rose up against Communist rule and Soviet domination. Soviet forces crushed the uprising in early November, killing thousands and forcing approximately 200,000 Hungarians to flee their country.
Top news and events in the United States: On January 30, 1956, the Montgomery, Alabama home of Martin Luther King Jr. was bombed during the Montgomery Bus Boycott. His wife and infant daughter were inside but escaped unharmed. King urged his supporters to remain peaceful. The boycott continued throughout the year, and on December 20 it officially ended after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a federal court ruling that segregation on public buses was unconstitutional. The successful 381-day boycott became a major milestone in the Civil Rights Movement and helped bring King to national prominence.
On June 29, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, launching construction of the Interstate Highway System and transforming American travel, commerce and suburban growth. The following day, June 30, two commercial airliners collided over the Grand Canyon, killing all 128 people aboard and contributing to major reforms in U.S. air traffic control and aviation safety. On July 30, Eisenhower signed legislation making “In God We Trust” the official national motto of the United States. In September, IBM introduced a commercial computer system using the new RAMAC disk-storage technology, an important milestone in the development of computer data storage.
Entertainment news and events: Elvis Presley became a national sensation in 1956. On September 9, he made his first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, drawing an enormous television audience, and on November 15, he made his movie debut in Love Me Tender. Broadway audiences enjoyed popular shows such as My Fair Lady, The Most Happy Fella and Bells Are Ringing. Popular television programs included I Love Lucy, The Ed Sullivan Show, Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Gunsmoke. Popular movies of 1956 included The Ten Commandments, Around the World in 80 Days, Giant, The King and I and The Searchers.
Rock and roll moved firmly into the American mainstream in 1956, especially among younger listeners. Elvis Presley dominated the year with hits including Heartbreak Hotel, Don’t Be Cruel and Hound Dog. Other popular songs included My Prayer by The Platters, The Wayward Wind by Gogi Grant, Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be) by Doris Day and Memories Are Made of This by Dean Martin.
Popular culture and trends of 1956: Bowling became one of America’s favorite recreational activities as new bowling alleys opened and leagues provided a popular social activity for adults and families. America’s love affair with the automobile continued as drive-in movies and restaurants flourished and family road trips became increasingly popular. Older teenagers cruised Main Street on Friday and Saturday nights, gathering at local diners and drive-ins. Businesses increasingly marketed directly to teenagers, who spent their money on records, 45-rpm record players, blue jeans, saddle shoes, letter sweaters, comic books, milkshakes and hamburgers. A distinct teenage culture was becoming an increasingly visible part of American life.
Typical prices in 1956 included a loaf of bread at about 18 cents, cigarettes at about 23–26 cents per pack, gasoline at about 30 cents per gallon, a small soda pop at about 5 cents and a candy bar at about 5 cents, although prices varied by location. I remember that around this time, usually in August, my mom would wait until watermelon came down to a penny a pound before we bought it regularly. Back then, all the watermelons I remember were very large—and they all had seeds.
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