Historical Events in 1958
- Jan 1 European Economic Community, better known as the European Common Market starts operation
- Mar 27 Nikita Khrushchev becomes Soviet Premier as well as First Secretary of the Communist Party
- May 23 Mao Zedong starts the "Great Leap Forward" movement in China
- Aug 1 US atomic submarine USS Nautilus begins 1st transit of North Pole "Operation Sunshine"
- Sep 12 US Supreme Court orders the all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas to integrate
- Dec 19 1st radio broadcast from space, US President Dwight D. Eisenhower Christmas message "to all mankind, America's wish for peace on Earth and goodwill to men everywhere"
- Dec 31 Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista tells his Cabinet he is fleeing the country
- More Events in 1958
1958 in Film & TV
- May 8 Classic Hammer horror film "Dracula" film starring Christopher Lee as the eponymous vampire alongside Peter Cushing, directed by Terence Fisher released
- May 9 "Vertigo", American film noir psychological thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak, is released
- Aug 4 The Billboard Hot 100 is published for the 1st time, with "Poor Little Fool" by Ricky Nelson at #1
- Sep 5 1st color video recording on magnetic tape presented, Charlotte, North Carolina
1958 in Music
- Jan 10 Jerry Lee Lewis' "Great Balls of Fire" reaches #1 on the UK pop charts
- May 19 "South Pacific" soundtrack album goes #1 & stays #1 for 31 weeks
- Jun 24 Nina Simone releases her debut jazz album "Little Girl Blue"
- Aug 29 Cliff Richard and the Drifters release single "Move It", Richards debut single. Credited as 1st British Rock n Roll song.
1958 in Sport
- Jun 28 US Open Women's Golf, Forest Lake CC: Mickey Wright wins 1st of 4 Open titles by 5 from Louise Suggs; 1st player to win Open & LPGA in same year
- Jun 29 FIFA World Cup Final, Råsunda Stadium, Stockholm, Sweden: Vavá & Pelé each score 2 goals as Brazil beats Sweden, 5-2
- Dec 28 "The Greatest Game Ever Played": Baltimore Colts win the 26th NFL championship against the New York Giants 23-17 at Yankee Stadium, in the first ever sudden-death overtime game in NFL history. 17 future members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame were involved in the game.
Did You Know?
"Things Fall Apart" by Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe published by Heinemann - considered most widely read book in African literature
On June 17, 1958
Andy Gibb
Keith Haring
Madonna
Michael Jackson
Andrea Bocelli
Rickey Henderson
W. C. Handy
Rosalind Franklin
Clarence DeMar
Pius XII
Mel Ott
Tris SpeakerWould You Believe?
Project SCORE, world’s 1st communications satellite launched from Cape Canaveral
On December 18, 1958
1958 in Pictures
Elvis Presley in the Army
Conscripted in 1958, Elvis Presley served two years in the U.S. ArmyMarch 24
Nixon Attacked in Venezuela
The car of US Vice President Richard Nixon is attacked by a mob during a visit to Venezuela in 1958May 13
Just Perfect! Torvill And Dean Skate To Glory
Ice skater Christopher Dean was born on this day. With his partner Jayne Torvill he would create Olympic history by achieving never to be beaten perfect scores.July 27
Swimming Pool Diplomacy: Khrushchev, Mao and the Sino-Soviet Split
Diplomacy requires a lot of skill, but not normally the ability to swim. Much to Soviet Leader Nikita Khrushchev's horror when he met Mao Zedong in 1958.August 1
Instant Ramen
The packaging of the first chicken instant ramen in 1958August 25
Famous Weddings in 1958
- Jan 1 American entertainer Sammy Davis, Jr. marries Loray White; divorce in 1959
- Jan 13 American actress Jayne Mansfield (24) weds Hungarian-American bodybuilder Mickey Hargitay (32) at the Wayfarers Chapel in Rancho Palos Verdes, California; divorce in 1964
- Jan 14 Human rights activist Malcolm X marries fellow activist Betty Shabazz in Lansing, Michigan
Famous Divorces in 1958
- Jan 8 Actress Jayne Mansfield and public relations manager Paul Mansfield's divorce is finalized, after 7-1/2 years of marriage
- Mar 11 Actress Agnes Moorehead (57) divorces actor and film director Robert Gist (40) after 5 years of marriage
More Weddings & Divorces in 1958
Charles de Gaulle
David Niven
Susan Hayward
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Mao Zedong
Nikita Khrushchev