From Early 1950s to Late 1980s

The Rosenbergs

Mar 29, 1950

Learn MoreThe Rosenbergs, Ethel and Julius, were convicted on March 29 for espionage

A new President?

Jan 20, 1953

More infoDwight D. Eisenhower is first elected as U.S. president, winning by a landslide margin of 442 to 89 electoral votes.

Einsteins Death

Apr 18, 1955

More info Albert Einstein dies on April 18 at the age of 76.

The great Elvis Presley

Nov 21, 1955

More InfoElvis Presley signs with RCA Records on November 21, beginning his pop career.

A New Novel

Sep 5, 1957

More InfoJack Kerouac publishes his first novel in seven years, On the Road.

Bye Buddy

Feb 3, 1959

Learn MoreBuddy Holly dies in a plane crash on February 3 with Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper, in a day that had a devastating impact on the country and youth culture. Joel prefaces the lyric with a Holly signature vocal hiccup: "Uh-huh, uh-huh."

Monroe is dead!?

Aug 5, 1962

Learn More
On August 5, 1962, Marilyn Monroe's body was found in the bedroom of her home in Brentwood

Birth Control?

Jan 1, 1965

More InforBirth control: In the early 1960s, oral contraceptives, popularly known as "the pill", first go on the market and are extremely popular. Griswold v. Connecticut in 1965 challenged a Connecticut law prohibiting contraceptives. In 1968, Pope Paul VI released a papal encyclical entitled Humanae Vitae which declared artificial birth control a sin

To the MOON!

Jul 24, 1969

More InfoMoonshot: Apollo 11, the first manned lunar landing, successfully lands on the moon

Fortune of Wheel?

Jan 1, 1983

Learn MoreWheel of Fortune: A hit television game show which has been TV's highest-rated syndicated program since 1983