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May 16, 1956

May 16, 1956, was a Wednesday. It was 68 years, 5 months, and 19 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Taurus.

Music charts

Top song: May 16, 1956

The best-selling single on May 16, 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 25,009 days ago. Approximately 834 months have passed. It was the 137th day of 1956, in week 20. The decade was the fifties. People born on this day are currently 68 years old and belong to the Baby Boomer generation. 1956 had 366 days because it was a leap year. We have gone through approximately 278 seasons of weather since this date.

Take me back to May 16, 1956

Let's take a walk down memory lane.

It is Wednesday, May 16, 1956. Babies who are 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 Ed Sullivan Show", "The Gene Autry Show", "You Bet Your Life", and "Sky King". Kids and teenagers are watching TV shows such as "Tom and Jerry", "Lassie", "Adventures of Pow Wow", and "Captain Kangaroo".

Popular toys at the moment include Tonka trucks, Foto-Electric Baseball, Toy Guns, and Matchbox toy cars.

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on May 16, 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 6.
  • Native American Zodiac: May 16, 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.
News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on May 16, 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 16, 1956.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

View Personality Summary

Events

What happened around this time?

Notable events that happened close to May 16, 1956.

  • 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".
  • May 5, 1956: Soccer: Manchester City win the 1956 FA Cup Final with a 3-1 victory over Birmingham City.
  • This date: May 16, 1956
  • May 30, 1956: The circus film "Trapeze" is released in movie theaters.
  • June 5, 1956: Elvis Presley performs his new single "Hound Dog" on The Milton Berle Show.
  • June 13, 1956: Real Madrid beat Reims 4-3 in the final of the European Cup.

1950s fashion

Photographs of 1950s fashion and hairstyles.

1950s fashion

Television shows

TV series on May 16, 1956

TV audiences were watching the following shows on May 16, 1956:

TV shows from May 1956.

Fury
Fury
Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke
Annie Oakley
Annie Oakley
The Danny Thomas Show
The Danny Thomas Show
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?

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 16, 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

The Mickey Mouse Club
The Mickey Mouse Club
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
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

Were you born on May 16, 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 16, 1962, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on May 16.

Liberace

Liberace

American pianist Deceased
Born on May 16, 1919
He turned 37 on this day in 1956.

Pierce Brosnan

Pierce Brosnan

Actor
Born on May 16, 1953
He turned 3 on this day in 1956.

Krist Novoselic

Krist Novoselic

Nirvana
Born on May 16, 1965
He was born exactly 9 years after this date.

Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson

Singer
Born on May 16, 1966
She was born exactly 10 years after this date.

David Boreanaz

David Boreanaz

Actor
Born on May 16, 1969
He was born exactly 13 years after this date.

Tucker Carlson

Tucker Carlson

TV presenter
Born on May 16, 1969
He was born exactly 13 years after this date.

Tori Spelling

Tori Spelling

Actress
Born on May 16, 1973
She was born exactly 17 years after this date.

Wee Man

Wee Man

Stunt performer
Born on May 16, 1973
He was born exactly 17 years after this date.

Melanie Lynskey

Melanie Lynskey

Actress
Born on May 16, 1977
She was born exactly 21 years after this date.

Chris Watts

Chris Watts

Murderer
Born on May 16, 1985
He was born exactly 29 years after this date.

Megan Fox

Megan Fox

American actress
Born on May 16, 1986
She was born exactly 30 years after this date.

Omos

Omos

Wrestler
Born on May 16, 1994
He was born exactly 38 years after this date.

USA

US President

Dwight David Eisenhower was the President of the United States on May 16, 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 16, 1956 was most likely conceived around August 24, 1955.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on May 16, 1956 is close to February 6, 1957.

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Stats for May 16, 1956

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about May 16, 1956:

  • 25,009 days have passed since this date.
  • 3,572 weeks have passed.
  • 2,160,781,200 seconds have passed since May 16, 1956.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 2,520,911,400 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 1,114,963,099,200 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 360,130,200 times.
  • You have taken approximately 185,827,183 steps. That's roughly 82,590 miles.
  • 25,929,374 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1956?

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