Historical Events
- 1st "Walk"/"Don't Walk" lighted street signals installed
- 1st Bandoeng Conference opens in Indonesia, attended by 29 nations - first international assembly of Asian-African nations
- 59th Boston Marathon won by Hideo Hamamura of Japan in 2:18:22
- Dan Shapiro, and music by Sammy Fain's musical "Ankles Aweigh" opens at Mark Hellinger Theater, NYC; runs for 176 performances
Famous Birthdays
- Amschel Rothschild, British banker (executive chairman of Rothschild Asset Management of the Rothschild banking family of England), born in Paris (d. 1996)
Famous Deaths
Albert Einstein (1879-1955)
German-born theoretical physicist & Nobel laureate (theory of relativity), dies of an abdominal aortic aneurysm at 76
- Don Blackie, Australian cricketer (3 Tests for Australia 1928-29), dies at 46
- Eugen Herrigel, Zen philosopher & scholar, dies in Germany at 70
1955 Highlights
About April 18, 1955
Day of the Week: Monday
How Long Ago? 67 years, 9 months and 15 days
Leap Year: No
Generation: Baby Boomer
Chinese Zodiac: Goat/Sheep
Star Sign: Aries
Music Charts
#1 Song: Give Me Your Word - Tennessee Ernie Ford