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May 17th, 1956

May 17th, 1956, was a Thursday. It was Day 138 of 1956. The decade was the Fifties.

67 years and 19 days have passed since May 17th, 1956.

The zodiac star sign for this date is Taurus.

Birthdays

Born on May 17th, 1956.

People who were born on this exact date.

Music charts

Top song: May 17th, 1956

The best-selling single on May 17th, 1956 was "Heartbreak Hotel" by Elvis Presley.

Play the top singles from the year 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.

Take me back to May 17th, 1956!

Let's take a walk down memory lane.

The date is May 17th, 1956, and it's a Thursday. Anyone born today will have the star sign Taurus. The summer of 1956 has finally arrived. The weather has warmed up, and the evenings are brighter than usual.

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. On television, people are watching popular shows such as "The Lone Ranger", "The Jack Benny Program", "I Love Lucy", and "Fury".

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. Children and teenagers are watching television shows such as "Adventures of Superman", "Adventures of Pow Wow", "The Mickey Mouse Club", and "Captain Kangaroo". Children are playing with toys such as Dimestore soldiers, Spinning Tops, BAS-KET Miniature Basketball, and Roy Rogers Plastic Figures.

News

News topics, nostalgic fads, and pop culture events.

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on May 17th, 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%.

Information

Facts.

Basic facts and information about this date:

  • 67 years and 19 days have passed since May 17th, 1956.
  • Week Number: This date occurred during Week 20 of 1956.
  • Leap Year: 1956 was a leap year, which means that it contained 366 days instead of 365 (with an extra day in February).
  • Age: People born on May 17th, 1956, are now 67 years old.
  • Generation: People born in 1956 belong to the Baby Boomer generation.

Personality traits.

Check out our personality summary for people who were born on May 17th, 1956.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

View Personality Summary

Events

Around this time.

News stories, pop culture trends, and other events that happened around May 17th, 1956.

  • April 18th, 1956: Hollywood actress Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier are married at the Prince's Palace of Monaco.
  • April 26th, 1956: SS Ideal X: The world's first commercially successful container ship leaves Port Newark, New Jersey.
  • April 27th, 1956: Boxer Rocky Marciano announces his retirement, having gone undefeated at 49-0.
  • April 30th, 1956: Former US Vice President Alben Barkley dies from a heart attack while giving a speech in Lexington, Virginia.
  • May 1st, 1956: The first episode of the clay animation series "The Gumby Show" is aired.
  • May 1st, 1956: The polio vaccine is made available to the public.
  • May 1st, 1956: Johnny Cash releases his song "I Walk the Line".
  • May 5th, 1956: Soccer: Manchester City win the 1956 FA Cup Final with a 3-1 victory over Birmingham City.
  • This date: May 17th, 1956
  • May 30th, 1956: The circus film "Trapeze" is released in movie theaters.
  • June 5th, 1956: Elvis Presley performs his new single "Hound Dog" on The Milton Berle Show.
  • June 13th, 1956: Real Madrid beat Reims 4-3 in the final of the European Cup.
Zodiac info

Horoscope, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Zodiac and birthstone information.

NEW! Check out our personality summary image for this birth date.

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on May 17th, 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 7.
  • Native American Zodiac: May 17th, 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.

Photos of 1950s fashion.

Photographs of 1950s fashion and hairstyles.

Photos of 1950s fashion.

Television shows

TV shows in 1956.

Television shows that people were watching in May 1956.

TV shows from May, 1956.

Fury
Fury
American Western series about ranch operator Jim Newton and his adopted son Joey Clark.

Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke
Western drama series.

Annie Oakley
Annie Oakley
American Western series that fictionalizes the life of sharpshooter Annie Oakley.

The Danny Thomas Show
The Danny Thomas Show
American sitcom about a successful nightclub singer.

The Roy Rogers Show
The Roy Rogers Show
American Western television series about a ranch owner called Roy Rogers.

I Love Lucy
I Love Lucy
Sitcom starring Lucille Ball.

Sky King
Sky King
Western series starring Kirby Grant, Gloria Winters and Ron Hagerthy.

The Jack Benny Program
The Jack Benny Program
25-minute-long situation comedy series that broadcast on CBS.

The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
TV series that broadcast on CBS.

You Bet Your Life
You Bet Your Life
Comedy quiz series hosted by Groucho Marx.

The Gene Autry Show
The Gene Autry Show
Cowboy TV series starring Gene Autry.

What's My Line?
What's My Line?
Panel game show.

The Lone Ranger
The Lone Ranger
American Western drama TV series.

The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show
Variety 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 17th, 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 on this date 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 this date?

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 17th, 1962, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays.

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on May 17th.

Dennis Hopper

Actor. Deceased
Born on May 17th, 1936
He turned 20 on this day in 1956.

Bill Paxton

Actor. Deceased
Born on May 17th, 1955
He turned 1 on this day in 1956.

Enya

Irish singer.
Born on May 17th, 1961
She was born exactly 5 years after this date.

Tahj Mowry

Actor.
Born on May 17th, 1986
He was born exactly 30 years after this date.

Charlotte Crosby

English TV personality.
Born on May 17th, 1990
She was born exactly 34 years after this date.

Holidays

Holidays.

National holidays and famous events that fall on the 17th of May.

  • Constitution Day (Norway)
USA

US President.

Dwight David Eisenhower was the President of the United States on May 17th, 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 17th, 1956 was most likely conceived around August 25th, 1955.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on May 17th, 1956 is close to February 7th, 1957.

Post a comment about this date.

Have something to say about this date? Was it your birthday? Or perhaps you have a memory of it?

All comments are moderated before they are published. We may edit comments to correct misspellings and grammar. We may also remove or redact personal information.

How old was I?

Find out what your age was on May 17th, 1956, by entering your DOB below.
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Stats for May 17th, 1956

Time difference & statistics.

Here are some fun statistics about May 17th, 1956.

  • A total of 24,490 days have passed since this date.
  • 3,498 weeks have passed.
  • 2,115,936,000 seconds have passed since the May 17th, 1956.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beated approximately 2,468,592,000 times.
  • Since May 17th, 1956, the Earth has travelled approximately 1,091,822,976,000 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 352,656,000 times.
  • If you were born on this day, you have taken approximately 181,970,496 steps. That's about 80,876 miles!
  • Since this date, 25,391,232 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere!
  • How many years ago was 1956?

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