World Events in 1959
Cuban Revolution
Fidel Castro's guerrilla forces overthrew the Batista dictatorship on 1 January 1959 after a two-year insurgency. Castro entered Havana to rapturous crowds. The revolution would transform Cuba into a communist state and become a flashpoint in the Cold War.
Tibetan uprising and Dalai Lama's flight
In March 1959, Tibetans in Lhasa rose up against Chinese rule. The uprising was crushed by the People's Liberation Army, and the Dalai Lama fled across the Himalayas to India. He established a government-in-exile in Dharamsala, where he remains.
M1 motorway opens
The first stretch of Britain's first full-length motorway opened on 2 November 1959, running 72 miles between Watford and Crick in Northamptonshire. There were no speed limits, no lighting, and no crash barriers. It fundamentally changed the way Britons travelled and did business.
The Day the Music Died
On 3 February 1959, a small plane crashed near Clear Lake, Iowa, killing rock and roll stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. 'The Big Bopper' Richardson. The tragedy robbed music of three young talents and became immortalised in Don McLean's 'American Pie'. Holly was just 22 years old.
Antarctic Treaty signed
Twelve nations signed the Antarctic Treaty on 1 December 1959, designating Antarctica as a scientific preserve and banning military activity on the continent. It was a rare example of Cold War cooperation between East and West. The treaty remains in force and has been signed by over 50 nations.
Music in 1959
"Living Doll"
Cliff Richard and The Drifters
Cliff Richard's breakthrough hit spent six weeks at number one and established him as Britain's biggest rock and roll star. Written by Lionel Bart, it was originally performed in a more aggressive style before being slowed to the familiar version.
"The Battle of New Orleans"
Johnny Horton
This novelty country song about the War of 1812 topped the Billboard chart for six weeks in the summer of 1959. It won the Grammy for Best Country & Western Recording.
#1 Film of 1959
Ben-Hur
Box Office: $146 million (worldwide)
William Wyler's epic starring Charlton Heston won a record 11 Academy Awards, a feat unmatched until Titanic and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. The chariot race remains one of cinema's greatest action sequences.
Born in 1959
Emma Thompson
Oscar-winning actress and screenwriter known for Sense and Sensibility and Nanny McPhee
Simon Cowell
Music mogul and television producer who created The X Factor and Britain's Got Talent
Morrissey
Singer and lyricist of The Smiths, one of the most influential bands of the 1980s
Bryan Adams
Canadian rock singer-songwriter known for 'Summer of '69' and 'Everything I Do'
Magic Johnson
Basketball legend and five-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers
Lost in 1959
Buddy Holly
Pioneering rock and roll musician who influenced The Beatles and countless others
Age 22
Cecil B. DeMille
Legendary film director of The Ten Commandments and Hollywood pioneer
Age 77
Frank Lloyd Wright
America's most famous architect, designer of Fallingwater and the Guggenheim Museum
Age 91
Billie Holiday
Iconic jazz singer known for 'Strange Fruit' and 'God Bless the Child'
Age 44
Errol Flynn
Swashbuckling film star of The Adventures of Robin Hood
Age 50
Technology in 1959
The microchip era was dawning — Fairchild Semiconductor produced the first practical integrated circuits. The M1, Britain's first full-length motorway, opened and transformed the country. The Mini car revolutionised automobile design. The USSR's Luna 2 became the first man-made object to reach the Moon, and Luna 3 sent back the first photographs of the far side.
- ● Luna 2 becomes the first man-made object to reach the Moon
- ● Luna 3 photographs the far side of the Moon for the first time
- ● The Mini car is launched by the British Motor Corporation
- ● Fairchild Semiconductor produces practical integrated circuits
Cost of Living in 1959
| Item | UK | US |
|---|---|---|
| Average house price | £2,400 | $11,200 |
| Average salary | £620/year | $4,400/year |
| Pint of milk | 4d | $0.25 |
| Loaf of bread | 6½d | $0.20 |
| Dozen eggs | 3s 8d | $0.63 |
| Pint of beer | 1s 5d | $0.44 |
| Gallon of petrol/gas | 4s 3d | $0.31 |
| Cinema ticket | 2s 6d | $0.65 |
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The Zeitgeist of 1959
The Fifties ended on an optimistic note. The M1 motorway opened, ushering in the age of the car in Britain. Motown Records was founded in Detroit, and a new generation of soul music was born. The Barbie doll made her debut, and the Sound of Music opened on Broadway. Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper died in a plane crash on 'The Day the Music Died'. Fidel Castro took power in Cuba.
In the News in 1959
The first section of the M1 motorway opened between Watford and Crick. The Mini car was launched by BMC — designed by Alec Issigonis, it became a British cultural icon. Alaska and Hawaii became the 49th and 50th US states. The Dalai Lama fled Tibet after a failed uprising against Chinese rule.