World Events in 1956
Suez Crisis
Egyptian President Nasser nationalised the Suez Canal in July, provoking a joint invasion by Britain, France, and Israel in October. International pressure, particularly from the United States, forced a humiliating withdrawal. The crisis ended Britain's pretensions as a global superpower and led to the resignation of Prime Minister Anthony Eden.
Hungarian Revolution
In October 1956, Hungarians rose up against Soviet-imposed communist rule, demanding political reform and withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact. Soviet tanks crushed the uprising in November, killing an estimated 2,500 Hungarians. Around 200,000 fled the country as refugees.
Khrushchev's 'Secret Speech'
At the 20th Congress of the Communist Party in February, Nikita Khrushchev denounced the crimes of Joseph Stalin in a closed session. The speech, soon leaked to the West, sent shockwaves through the communist world. It began a period of de-Stalinisation but also triggered unrest in Eastern Europe.
Morocco and Tunisia gain independence
Both Morocco and Tunisia achieved independence from France in 1956, part of the accelerating wave of decolonisation across Africa. Morocco's Sultan Mohammed V became king, while Habib Bourguiba led Tunisia. Their independence foreshadowed the broader collapse of European colonial empires in Africa.
Clean Air Act passed in Britain
In response to the Great Smog of 1952, Parliament passed the Clean Air Act, introducing smoke control areas and regulating domestic and industrial emissions. It was one of the first pieces of modern environmental legislation in the world. London's notorious 'pea-souper' fogs gradually became a thing of the past.
Music in 1956
"I'll Be Home"
Pat Boone
Pat Boone's smooth, parent-friendly pop topped the UK chart for five weeks. He was often marketed as a wholesome alternative to the raw energy of rock and roll performers like Elvis and Little Richard.
"Heartbreak Hotel"
Elvis Presley
Elvis's first number one single spent eight weeks atop the Billboard chart and announced his arrival as the most significant cultural force of the decade. It was his first release on RCA Victor after leaving Sun Records.
#1 Film of 1956
The Ten Commandments
Box Office: $122 million (worldwide)
Cecil B. DeMille's biblical epic starring Charlton Heston as Moses was a colossal hit and remains one of the highest-grossing films of all time when adjusted for inflation. The parting of the Red Sea was a landmark in special effects.
Born in 1956
Tom Hanks
Two-time Oscar-winning actor known for Forrest Gump, Cast Away, and Saving Private Ryan
Mel Gibson
Actor and director known for Braveheart, Mad Max, and Lethal Weapon
Theresa May
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2016 to 2019
Larry Bird
Basketball legend and three-time NBA champion with the Boston Celtics
Björn Borg
Swedish tennis legend who won 11 Grand Slam titles
Lost in 1956
A.A. Milne
Author who created Winnie-the-Pooh
Age 74
Jackson Pollock
Abstract expressionist painter known for his drip technique
Age 44
Bela Lugosi
Hungarian-American actor best known for playing Dracula
Age 73
Walter de la Mare
English poet and novelist known for The Listeners
Age 83
Technology in 1956
The first transatlantic telephone cable (TAT-1) was laid between Scotland and Newfoundland. Britain opened Calder Hall, the world's first full-scale commercial nuclear power station. Hard disk drives were introduced by IBM — the RAMAC 305 weighed over a ton and stored just 5 MB. Videotape recording was demonstrated for the first time.
- ● TAT-1 — first transatlantic telephone cable — enters service
- ● Calder Hall nuclear power station opens in Cumberland, England
- ● IBM introduces the RAMAC 305 — the first commercial hard disk drive
- ● Ampex demonstrates the first practical videotape recorder
Cost of Living in 1956
| Item | UK | US |
|---|---|---|
| Average house price | £2,100 | $9,500 |
| Average salary | £530/year | $3,960/year |
| Pint of milk | 3½d | $0.24 |
| Loaf of bread | 5½d | $0.18 |
| Dozen eggs | 3s 4d | $0.60 |
| Pint of beer | 1s 3d | $0.40 |
| Gallon of petrol/gas | 3s 10d | $0.30 |
| Cinema ticket | 2s 0d | $0.60 |
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The Zeitgeist of 1956
Elvis Presley exploded onto the scene — his gyrating hips on The Ed Sullivan Show scandalised parents and electrified teenagers. The Suez Crisis humiliated Britain and marked the definitive end of its imperial ambitions. Teddy Boy riots at screenings of Rock Around the Clock made headlines. In sport, the Melbourne Olympics saw the Soviet Union top the medal table, and Jim Laker took 19 wickets in a single Test match at Old Trafford.
In the News in 1956
Third-class travel was abolished on British railways, replaced by 'second class'. Premium Bonds were introduced in Britain. Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier of Monaco. Fidel Castro and Che Guevara landed in Cuba aboard the Granma to begin their revolutionary campaign.