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May 2, 1956

May 2, 1956, was a Wednesday. It was the 123rd day of 1956. The decade was the fifties.

67 years, 10 months, and 26 days have passed since May 2, 1956.

The zodiac star sign for this date is Taurus.

Music charts

Top song: May 2, 1956

The best-selling single on May 2, 1956 was "Heartbreak Hotel" by Elvis Presley.

Play the top songs from 1956
A Spotify playlist of songs from the year 1956. Take a trip back to the days of Elvis Presley, Dean Martin, Kay Starr and The Platters.

Facts

This date was 24,802 days ago. Approximately 827 months have passed. It was the 123rd day of 1956, in week 18. The decade was the fifties. People born on this day are currently 67 years old and belong to the Baby Boomer generation. 1956 had 366 days because it was a leap year. The Earth has experienced 276 seasons of weather since then.

Take me back to May 2, 1956

Let's take a stroll down memory lane.

It is Wednesday, May 2, 1956. Anyone born today will have the star sign Taurus. It is "Hump Day", so many are beginning to think about the weekend ahead.

The summer of 1956 has finally arrived. The weather has warmed up, and the evenings are brighter than usual. The school year is nearly finished. In music, the song "Heartbreak Hotel" by Elvis Presley is the best-selling record at the moment. Dwight David Eisenhower is the President of the United States, and Sir Anthony Eden is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

In fashion, women are sporting chemise dresses, sheaths, sack dresses and straight-cut suits. Short boxy jackets and shift dresses are also beginning to become popular. Meanwhile, a lot of men are sporting a "Teddy Boy" style that involves leather jackets, greased-back hair, extremely narrow trousers and velvet-collared jackets. Men are also wearing formal suits as daywear. Tailfins on cars are extremely popular at the moment. The design looks futuristic, almost like a rocket or the twin rudders on the back of an airplane. It's 1956, so radio stations and jukeboxes are playing songs from singers such as Elvis Presley, Nelson Riddle, The Platters, Gogi Grant, Les Baxter, Doris Day, Dean Martin and Kay Starr.

If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as Humphrey Bogart would be still alive. On TV, people are watching popular shows such as "The Jack Benny Program", "I Love Lucy", "Annie Oakley", and "Fury". Children and teenagers are watching television shows such as "Adventures of Superman", "Winky Dink and You", "Captain Kangaroo", and "The Gumby Show".

Popular toys at the moment include Tonka trucks, BAS-KET Miniature Basketball, Roy Rogers Plastic Figures, and Matchbox toy cars.

News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on May 2, 1956.

  • The rise of Elvis Presley.

    The rise of Elvis Presley

    Between April 1955 and December 1956, Elvis Presley burst onto the rock n' roll scene with four top-selling records.
  • Movies from 1956.

    Movies from 1956

    The most popular movies in 1956 were The Ten Commandments, Around the World in 80 Days, Giant, Seven Wonders of the World, The King and I, Trapeze and War and Peace.
  • 1956 in music.

    1956 in music

    The radio stations in 1956 were dominated by artists such as Elvis Presley, Nelson Riddle, The Platters, Gogi Grant, Les Baxter, Doris Day, Dean Martin and Kay Starr.
  • The Hungarian freedom fighter.

    The Hungarian freedom fighter

    "The Hungarian freedom fighter" was named as the Time Person of the Year in 1956. This followed the Hungarian Revolution in October and November.
  • Tailfins on cars.

    Tailfins on cars

    Tailfins on cars were a popular style around this time. The design looked futuristic, almost like the twin rudders on the back of an airplane.
  • Rock and roll.

    Rock and roll

    In the mid-1950s, a new music genre called "Rock and Roll" began to take off.
  • Panty raids are all the rage on college campuses.

    Panty raids are all the rage on college campuses

    Panty raids were a popular college prank at the time. Large groups of male students would "raid" the living quarters of their female counterparts and then steal their underwear as proof that the raid had been successful. These raids took place during a time when colleges had curfews and men were forbidden from entering female dormitories.
  • Poodle skirts are a thing.

    Poodle skirts are a thing

    Women and young girls were wearing wide, unrestricted felt skirts called "poodle skirts." These were solid-colored skirts that had a design or a logo. In many cases, the design was an image of a poodle or a cat.
  • Greasers.

    Greasers

    A youth subculture called "greasers" emerged during the 1950s and early 1960s. The style included greased-back hairstyles, work pants, and denim or leather jackets.
  • The Jukebox.

    The Jukebox

    The jukebox was at the height of its popularity. Teenagers and young adults would often hang out at local restaurants and diners and listen to the latest songs.
  • Men are getting "DA haircuts".

    Men are getting "DA haircuts"

    The "DA haircut" was extremely popular among men. The cut consisted of a combed-back hairstyle that was parted down the middle at the back. "DA" stood for "Duck's Ass," which is what many people liked to call the style.
  • Sock hops.

    Sock hops

    Sock hops were informal dance events for teenagers. The name originated from the fact that many of these dances required participants to remove their shoes. This is because sock hops were often held in high school gymnasiums, and the organizers didn't want scuff marks on the floors.
  • Capitalism vs Communism.

    Capitalism vs Communism

    The ideological clash between capitalism and communism heated up during the 1950s. It was during this period that a "Cold War" started between the United States and the Soviet Union. In the US, there were fears that Soviet spies had infiltrated all parts of society, including Hollywood.
  • The economy is booming.

    The economy is booming

    The world was recovering from World War II. Many countries witnessed an economic boom during this decade. Unemployment was low, consumerism increased, mortgages were cheap, and governments started to invest in infrastructure such as highways. For many, this was the "golden age" of the economy.
  • Rotary phones.

    Rotary phones

    Almost everyone had rotary phones in the 1950s. However, the heavier metal dial components were being phased out and replaced with plastic.
  • More and more people are buying television sets.

    More and more people are buying television sets

    More and more households were buying TV sets. In 1950, 20% of homes had a television. By the end of the decade, that figure had risen to 90%.

Personality traits

Check out our personality summary for people who were born on May 2, 1956.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

View Personality Summary

Events

What happened around this time?

Notable events that happened close to May 2, 1956.

  • April 2, 1956:
    • The first episode of the American soap opera "As the World Turns" is aired on CBS.
    • The first episode of the mystery crime drama series "The Edge of Night" is broadcast on CBS.
  • April 7, 1956: Soccer: Manchester United win the 1955-56 First Division title after defeating nearest rivals Blackpool 2-1.
  • April 10, 1956: The film "Seven Wonders of the World" is released in movie theaters.
  • April 16, 1956: Buddy Holly releases his debut single "Love Me".
  • April 18, 1956: Hollywood actress Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier are married at the Prince's Palace of Monaco.
  • April 26, 1956: SS Ideal X: The world's first commercially successful container ship leaves Port Newark, New Jersey.
  • April 27, 1956: Boxer Rocky Marciano announces his retirement, having gone undefeated at 49-0.
  • April 30, 1956: Former US Vice President Alben Barkley dies from a heart attack while giving a speech in Lexington, Virginia.
  • May 1, 1956:
    • The first episode of the clay animation series "The Gumby Show" is aired.
    • The polio vaccine is made available to the public.
    • Johnny Cash releases his song "I Walk the Line".
  • This date: May 2, 1956
  • May 5, 1956: Soccer: Manchester City win the 1956 FA Cup Final with a 3-1 victory over Birmingham City.
  • May 30, 1956: The circus film "Trapeze" is released in movie theaters.
Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on May 2, 1956, will have the star sign Taurus.
  • Zodiac Element: Earth.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1956 was the year of the Monkey (Yang Water).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 1.
  • Native American Zodiac: May 2, 1956 falls under the Beaver.
  • Birthstone: A person during the month of May will have the birthstone Emerald.
  • Birth flower (May): The Lily of the Valley and the Hawthorn.

1950s fashion

Photographs of 1950s fashion and hairstyles.

1950s fashion

Television shows

TV shows in 1956

Television shows that people were watching in May 1956:

TV shows from May 1956.

Fury
Fury
Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke
Annie Oakley
Annie Oakley
The Danny Thomas Show
The Danny Thomas Show
Our Miss Brooks
Our Miss Brooks
The Roy Rogers Show
The Roy Rogers Show
I Love Lucy
I Love Lucy
Sky King
Sky King
The Jack Benny Program
The Jack Benny Program
The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
You Bet Your Life
You Bet Your Life
The Gene Autry Show
The Gene Autry Show
What's My Line?
What's My Line?
The Lone Ranger
The Lone Ranger
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show

Cars in 1956

1956 saw the introduction of cars such as the 1957 Chevrolet, the Mercedes-Benz W105, the Studebaker Hawk, the Volvo Amazon, the Continental Mark II, and the Ford F-Series (third generation).

Cars in 1956.

Children TV shows

Kids TV shows on May 2, 1956

Cartoons and TV shows that children and teenagers were watching on this day in 1956:

The Gumby Show
The Gumby Show
Mighty Mouse Playhouse
Mighty Mouse Playhouse
Captain Kangaroo
Captain Kangaroo

Adventures of Pow Wow
Adventures of Pow Wow
Father Knows Best
Father Knows Best
Lassie
Lassie
Winky Dink and You
Winky Dink and You
Adventures of Superman
Adventures of Superman
Crusader Rabbit
Crusader Rabbit
Tom and Jerry
Tom and Jerry
Looney Tunes
Looney Tunes
Toys

Popular toys and games in 1956

Toys and games that were popular in 1956:

Wooly Willy
Wooly Willy
Play-Doh
Play-Doh
Matchbox toy cars
Matchbox toy cars
Roy Rogers Plastic Figures
Roy Rogers Plastic Figures
Mr. Potato Head
Mr. Potato Head
Feed the Elephant
Feed the Elephant
Colorforms
Colorforms
BAS-KET Miniature Basketball
BAS-KET Miniature Basketball
Tiny Tears (doll)
Tiny Tears (doll)
Spinning Tops
Spinning Tops
Toy Guns
Toy Guns
Foto-Electric Baseball
Foto-Electric Baseball
Tonka trucks
Tonka trucks
Dimestore soldiers
Dimestore soldiers

Were you born on May 2, 1956?

If you were born on this date, then it is unlikely that you will remember anything from the year 1956.

This is because humans find it difficult to retrieve memories of their early childhood.

If you are looking for some childhood nostalgia, then you should check out May 2, 1962, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on May 2.

Manfred von Richthofen

Manfred von Richthofen

Pilot Deceased
Born on May 2, 1892
He was not alive on this date.

Big Boss Man

Big Boss Man

Wrestler Deceased
Born on May 2, 1963
He was born exactly 7 years after this date.

Dwayne Johnson

Dwayne Johnson

Wrestler / Actor
Born on May 2, 1972
He was born exactly 16 years after this date.

David Beckham

David Beckham

Soccer player
Born on May 2, 1975
He was born exactly 19 years after this date.

Lily Allen

Lily Allen

Singer
Born on May 2, 1985
She was born exactly 29 years after this date.

Princess Charlotte

Princess Charlotte

Princess of Wales
Born on May 2, 2015
She was born exactly 59 years after this date.

USA

US President

Dwight David Eisenhower was the President of the United States on May 2, 1956.

UK

UK Prime Minister

Sir Anthony Eden was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Ireland

Irish Taoiseach

John A. Costello was the Taoiseach of Ireland.

Conception

Conception dates

Conception estimates for this date.

  • A baby that was born on May 2, 1956 was most likely conceived around August 10, 1955.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on May 2, 1956 is close to January 23, 1957.

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Stats for May 2, 1956

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about May 2, 1956:

  • 24,802 days have passed since this date.
  • 3,543 weeks have passed.
  • 2,142,896,400 seconds have passed since May 2, 1956.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 2,500,045,800 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 1,105,734,542,400 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 357,149,400 times.
  • You have taken approximately 184,289,090 steps. That's roughly 81,906 miles!
  • Since this date, 25,714,757 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere!
  • How many years ago was 1956?

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