Images

Summer of 1956

By Shekisa Sheila
  • US Methodist Church disallows race separation

    US Methodist Church disallows race separation

    Women were allowed the opportunity to attain full ordained clergy status which meant that they were elligible to become priests, pastors, reverends, spiritual leaders etc. The church also called for an end to racial discrimination.
  • US explodes 1st airborne hydrogen bomb over Bikini Atoll

    US explodes 1st airborne hydrogen bomb over Bikini Atoll

    US nuclear testing in Bikini Atoll "airborne" means that the bomb was dropped from a plane.
    This event was significant in that it proved the possibility of using hydrogen bombs as airborne weapons.
  • Elvis Presley appears on the Steve Allen Show

    Elvis Presley appears on the Steve Allen Show

    He was wearing a tuxedo. During this time Elvis was a BIG DEAL in pop culture. He made headlines for not only his music but also (and in fact especially for) his fashion style. His fashion statement that is most often remembered are the tight leather pants he'd wear on stage.
  • Hound Dog single introduced.

    Hound Dog single introduced.

    The king of rock and roll performed his first hit, Hound Dog, for the first time for a nationwide tv audience on the Milton Berle Show. His dance moves caused a major scandal. The song is actually a remake of Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton's original song by the same name, but Elvis' is the most popular version.
  • The Flag of the United States Army is formally dedicated

    The Flag of the United States Army is formally dedicated

  • Federal-Aid HIghway Act signed into law

    Federal-Aid HIghway Act signed into law

    This was for the construction of 41,000 miles of interstate highways over a 20-year period. It was signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. It was the largest public works project in American history through that time.
  • A TWA Lockheed Constellation and United Airlines Douglas DC-7 collide mid-air over the Grand Canyon, Arizona.

    A TWA Lockheed Constellation and United Airlines Douglas DC-7 collide mid-air over the Grand Canyon, Arizona.

    United AirlinesLockheed Constellation
    There were 128 people on board both aircraft and all died.
  • "In God We Trust" authorized as the official motto of the US

    "In God We Trust" authorized as the official motto of the US

    The previous unofficial motto was "E pluribus unum". It was replaced by "In God We Trust".
  • Independence National Historical Park forms in Philadelphia

    Independence National Historical Park forms in Philadelphia

    The work of the Independence National Historical Park is to preserve several sites that are associated with the American Revolution and US's founding history.

  • 7 Army trucks loaded with dynamite exploded in middle Cali, Columbia.

    1100-1200 people died from the explotion and 2000 buildings were destroyed. Although no one knows why all 7 explotions occured the way they did in a quick chain reaction, the president of Columbia, General Gustavo Pinilla, has been quoted publicly blaming terrorists for the disaster, despite the lack of evidence .
  • Chinese Government lifts a 7-year ban on visits from US newsmen

    Chinese Government lifts a 7-year ban on visits from US newsmen

    James Bond "censored" in ChinaInternet Censorship in ChinaUS newsmen, for a period of 7 years, were not allowed into China, but after Aug 6th 1956, the ban was lifted.
    Here's a link to an old newspaper article on American journalists going to China
    There is still a lot of Censorship in China