WHAT A YEAR IT WAS! 1959 is a beautiful 176-page hardcover cocktail table book packed with hundreds of original photos, magazine ads and consumer pricing. It is loaded with facts on new products and inventions, advances in science and medicine, hit songs and films, popular radio and television programs, Broadway plays, famous people, the latest look in fashion and, of course, sports winners. Laid out like a college yearbook with zany illustrations, WHAT A YEAR IT WAS! 1959 will instantly take you back in time for a lively, fun look at the people, places and events that shaped world history and changed our lives forever.
WHAT A YEAR IT WAS! 1959 is a nostalgic, informative, entertaining, sometimes tongue-in-cheek look back at the headline news and human interest events that shaped the fabric of our lives.
Vice President Richard Nixon and Nikita Khrushchev engage in their kitchen debate in Moscow, Cuba's rebel leader Fidel Castro overthrows Batista, the Soviet's Luna II hits the moon and the U.S. chooses its first astronauts. America mourns the passing of George C. Marshall, Alaska and Hawaii are the 49th and 50th states and CandyGrams sweeten events.
"The Diary Of Anne Frank" and "Pillow Talk" hit the big screen, top box office stars include Doris Day and Rock Hudson and rising stars include Shirley MacLaine and Lee Remick. "The Sound Of Music" opens to raves, Bobby Darin's "Mack The Knife" is record of the year and the Bolshoi Ballet comes to America.
Tibet's Dalai Lama flees to India, "The Twilight Zone" hits TV, and the entertainment industry loses Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, Tyrone Power and Billie Holiday. Playboy holds its first jazz festival, payola and quiz show scandals make headlines and 13-year old Dolly Parton records "Puppy Love."
The baby boom continues with superstar Earvin "Magic" Johnson flashing his super grin for the first time, Eddie Fisher says "I do" to Elizabeth Taylor shortly after saying "I don't" to Debbie Reynolds, electronic banking begins in California, a pound of coffee costs $.78, kids eat Frosty O's for breakfast and the billionth can of Spam is sold. Disneyland launches its "E" ticket, valet parking becomes part of the American vocabulary, future Duchess of York "Fergie" is born, Prince Charles gets the chicken pox and consumers get their first installment credit cards.
The Dodgers beat the White Sox 4-2 winning the World Series, Ingemar Johansson defeats Floyd Patterson taking the World Heavyweight title, Elgin Baylor is Rookie of the Year and Baltimore Colts beat New York Giants 31-16 capturing the National Football League championship.
What about you? Where were you in 1959? Was that the year you were born or got married, graduated high school or college or started your own business? Whatever personal meaning that year holds for you, WHAT A YEAR IT WAS! 1959 will bring a wistful smile to your face as you relive that very special time.
