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Joseph Stalin
Dies on March 5 1953, yielding his position as leader of the Soviet Union -
Peter Pan
Boadcast on TV live and in color from the 1954 version of the stage musical starring Mary Martin on March 7 1955. Disney released an animated version the previous year. -
Albert Einstein
Dies on April 18 1955 at the age of 76. -
Disneyland
Opens on July 17 1955 as Walt Disney's first theme park. -
Elvis Presley
Signs with RCA Records on November 21 1955, beginning his pop career. -
Buddy Holly
Dies in a plane crash on February 3 1959 with Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper, in a day that had a devastating impact on the country and youth culture. -
Belgians in the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo was declared independent of Belgium on June 30,1960 with Joseph Kasavubu as President and Patrice Lumumba as Prime Minister. -
The Berlin Wall
Which forcibly separated West Berlin from East Berlin and the rest of East Germany, was erected on August 13 1961 to prevent citizens escaping to the West. -
John Glenn
Flew the first American manned orbital mission termed "Friendship 7" on February 20 1962. -
Nikita Khrushchev
Nikita Khrushchev makes his famous Secret Speech denouncing Stalin's "cult of personality" on February 23 1956.
