Life in 1956!
This U.S. president was in office during 1956.
Who is Dwight D. Eisenhower?
Elvis was often referred to as the "King of" this genre of music.
What is Rock and Roll?
The Carpenters were a sibling duo consisting of Richard and this female vocalist.
Who is Karen Carpenter?
Elvis was a twin.
TRUE. Elvis had a stillborn identical twin brother named Jesse Garon Presley, born 35 minutes before him
IBM introduced the 305 RAMAC in 1956. It was the first computer to use this type of storage device.
What is a hard disk drive?
đ Fun Fact: It weighed over a ton and stored only 5 MB of data!
In 1956, this new kind of highway system began construction in the U.S.
What is the Interstate Highway System?
In 1956, Elvis made his national TV debut on this show hosted by a famous bandleader.
What is The Dorsey Brothers Stage Show?
This Carpenters hit begins with the lyrics âWhy do birds suddenly appear...â
What is "(They Long to Be) Close to You"?
Surprisingly, Elvis preformed mostly outside of North America.
FALSE. Despite being a global star, he only performed live in the U.S. and once in Canada. Rumors suggest his managerâs legal status may have played a role.
In 1956, this artificial elementâused in nuclear researchâwas discovered and added to the periodic table. Itâs named after a U.S. state
What is Californium?
This popular toy, introduced in 1956, was a must-have for little girls
What is the Barbie doll? ("Play-Doh" or "Mr. Potato Head" )
This was Elvisâs first number-one hit on the Billboard pop chart in 1956.
What is "Heartbreak Hotel"?
Karen Carpenter tragically passed away in 1983 due to complications related to this illness.
What is anorexia?
Karen's voice was used in a posthumous (occurring, awarded, or appearing after the death of the originator) duet with Ella Fitzgerald.
TRUE! In a rare 1983 project, Ella's vocals were mixed with archived Karen Carpenter vocals for a tribute performance.
This company released the first portable transistor radio in 1956, helping revolutionize how people listened to music on the go.
What is Sony?
This revolutionary household appliance became increasingly common in U.S. homes during the mid-1950s.
What is the television?
Elvis was famously drafted into this branch of the military in 1958.
What is the U.S. Army?
The Carpenters were known for their soft and melodic style, often categorized under this musical genre.
What is soft rock (or easy listening)?
In 1956 McDonaldâs had over 100 locations just in the Midwest alone!
FALSE! McDonaldâs had only a few locations. In 1956, Ray Kroc was still growing the brand. There were just 14 McDonald's restaurants at the time.
In 1956, this futurist and inventor held a press conference predicting that people would soon carry a "pocket-sized device" for communication.
Who is Nikola Tesla?
This international crisis in the Middle East unfolded in 1956 and involved Egypt, Britain, France, and Israel.
What is the Suez Crisis?
he name of the Memphis mansion that became Elvisâs iconic home.
What is Graceland?
This 1971 Carpenters song opens with a rainy day and became one of their most famous ballads.
What is "Rainy Days and Mondays"?
In 1956 the average U.S. home cost about $11,700.
TRUE! Compared to todayâs prices, itâs mind-blowing. But rememberâaverage income was around $4,450 a year.
In 1956, this entertainment device was becoming a centerpiece of American living rooms, but most broadcasts were still in black and white.
What is the television?