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May 19, 1959

May 19, 1959, was a Tuesday. It was the 139th day of 1959. The decade was the fifties.

64 years, 10 months, and 9 days have passed since May 19, 1959.

The zodiac star sign for this date is Taurus.

On This Day

What happened on this date?

Notable events that occurred on May 19, 1959:

  • The Ho Chi Minh Trail begins as communist forces in North Vietnam start their plans to invade South Vietnam.
Birthdays

Born on May 19, 1959

People who were born on this exact date:

Music charts

Top song: May 19, 1959

The best-selling single on May 19, 1959 was "Kansas City" by Wilbert Harrison.

The Billboard Hot 100 on May 19, 1959

The top five songs from the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

  • Kansas City - Wilbert Harrison
  • Sorry (I Ran All The Way Home) - The Impalas
  • The Happy Organ - Dave "Baby" Cortez
  • Kookie, Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb) - Edward Byrnes & Connie Stevens
  • A Teenager In Love - Dion & The Belmonts
Play the top singles from 1959
A Spotify playlist of songs from the year 1959. Take a trip back to the days of The Platters, Frankie Avalon, The Fleetwoods and Johnny Horton.
Some Like It Hot

Top movie

The movie "Some Like It Hot" was at the top of the box office on this day.

Facts

This date occurred 23,690 days ago. Approximately 790 months have passed. It was the 139th day of 1959, in week 21. The decade was the fifties. People who were born on May 19, 1959, are now 64 years old and belong to the Baby Boomer generation. We have gone through approximately 263 seasons of weather since this date.

Take me back to May 19, 1959

Let's take a walk down memory lane.

The date is May 19, 1959, and it's a Tuesday. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Taurus. The summer of 1959 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 "Kansas City" by Wilbert Harrison is the best-selling record at the moment. Dwight David Eisenhower is the President of the United States, and the movie Some Like It Hot is at the top of the box office. Harold Macmillan is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

On television, people are watching popular shows such as "You Bet Your Life", "The Jack Benny Program", "Fury", and "Rawhide". 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 1959, so radio stations and jukeboxes are playing hit songs from artists such as Johnny Horton, Bobby Darin, Lloyd Price, Frankie Avalon, Paul Anka, The Browns, The Fleetwoods and Wilbert Harrison. If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as Clark Gable would be still alive. Kids and teenagers are watching TV shows such as "Looney Tunes", "Father Knows Best", "Mighty Mouse Playhouse", and "The Ruff and Reddy Show".

Children are playing with toys such as Dimestore soldiers, Tonka trucks, Wooly Willy, and the Hula Hoop.

News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on May 19, 1959.

  • Trouble is brewing in Vietnam.

    Trouble is brewing in Vietnam

    By this time, communist forces in North Vietnam had committed themselves to invading South Vietnam. The Ho Chi Minh trail was established and expanded and guerrilla warfare attacks were being carried out against the US-backed Diệm government in the south. It was during this time that the United States started to slowly escalate its involvement in the conflict.
  • Barbie is introduced.

    Barbie is introduced

    The first Barbie toy doll was introduced in March 1959. The doll came in both blonde and brunette colors. It also had a modest sideways glance.
  • Phonebooth stuffing has become a fad.

    Phonebooth stuffing has become a fad

    In 1959, a new fad swept across South Africa, the United States, Canada, and Britain. This fad was called "phonebooth stuffing". As the name suggests, it involved trying to fit as many people into a telephone booth as possible.
  • Movies from 1959.

    Movies from 1959

    The most popular movies in 1958 were Ben-Hur, The Shaggy Dog, Operation Petticoat, Some Like It Hot, Pillow Talk, Imitation of Life, "Suddenly, Last Summer", Rio Bravo and The Nun's Story.
  • 1959 in music.

    1959 in music

    The radio stations in 1959 were dominated by artists such as Johnny Horton, Bobby Darin, Lloyd Price, Frankie Avalon, Paul Anka, The Browns, The Fleetwoods and Wilbert Harrison.
  • Dwight D. Eisenhower.

    Dwight D. Eisenhower

    US President Dwight D. Eisenhower was named Time Person of the Year in 1959.
  • 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.
  • 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 19, 1959.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

View Personality Summary

Events

What happened around this time?

News stories, pop culture trends, and other events that happened around May 19, 1959.

  • May 2, 1959: Soccer: Nottingham Forest beat Luton Town 2-1 to win the 1959 FA Cup Final.
  • May 12, 1959: Elizabeth Taylor and Eddie Fisher are married a year after they started an extramarital affair.
  • This date: May 19, 1959
  • June 3, 1959: Spanish club Real Madrid defeat French side Reims 2-0 in the 1959 European Cup Final.
  • June 8, 1959: Ray Charles releases his single "What'd I Say".
  • June 16, 1959: Actor George Reeves commits suicide at his home in Benedict Canyon, Los Angeles.
Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on May 19, 1959, will have the star sign Taurus.
  • Zodiac Element: Earth.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1959 was the year of the Pig (Yin Wood).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 3.
  • Native American Zodiac: May 19, 1959 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 series on May 19, 1959

People in May 1959 were watching the following TV series:

TV shows from May 1959.

Rawhide
Rawhide
77 Sunset Strip
77 Sunset Strip
Casey Jones
Casey Jones
Maverick
Maverick
Perry Mason
Perry Mason
Wagon Train
Wagon Train
Have Gun - Will Travel
Have Gun - Will Travel
Tonight Starring Jack Paar
Tonight Starring Jack Paar
Fury
Fury
Gunsmoke
Gunsmoke
The Danny Thomas Show
The Danny Thomas Show
The Jack Benny Program
The Jack Benny Program
You Bet Your Life
You Bet Your Life
What's My Line?
What's My Line?
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show

Cars in 1959

1959 saw the introduction of cars such as the Ford Falcon, the Chevrolet El Camino, the BMW 700, the Mini, the Buick Electra, and the Studebaker Lark.

Cars in 1959.

Children TV shows

Cartoons and children's TV shows in May 1959

Children and teenagers were watching the following cartoons and TV series:

Clutch Cargo
Clutch Cargo
Pixie and Dixie and Mr. Jinks
Pixie and Dixie and Mr. Jinks
Felix the Cat
Felix the Cat

The Rifleman
The Rifleman
The Huckleberry Hound Show
The Huckleberry Hound Show
The Adventures of Spunky and Tadpole
The Adventures of Spunky and Tadpole
The Ruff and Reddy Show
The Ruff and Reddy Show
Leave It to Beaver
Leave It to Beaver
Captain Pugwash
Captain Pugwash
Colonel Bleep
Colonel Bleep
Tom Terrific
Tom Terrific
Heckle and Jeckle
Heckle and Jeckle
The Gumby Show
The Gumby Show
Mighty Mouse Playhouse
Mighty Mouse Playhouse
Captain Kangaroo
Captain Kangaroo
The Mickey Mouse Club
The Mickey Mouse Club
Father Knows Best
Father Knows Best
Lassie
Lassie
Crusader Rabbit
Crusader Rabbit
Tom and Jerry
Tom and Jerry
Looney Tunes
Looney Tunes
Toys

Toys in 1959

Children were playing with the following toys and games:

Crater Critters
Crater Critters
Fisher Price Little People
Fisher Price Little People
The Hula Hoop
The Hula Hoop
Metal House robots
Metal House robots
The Frisbee
The Frisbee
Wooly Willy
Wooly Willy
Play-Doh
Play-Doh
Matchbox toy cars
Matchbox toy cars
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 19, 1959?

If you were born on this date, then it is unlikely that you will remember anything from the year 1959.

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 19, 1965, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on May 19.

Malcolm X

Malcolm X

Activist Deceased
Born on May 19, 1925
He turned 34 on this day in 1959.

Peter Mayhew

Peter Mayhew

Actor Deceased
Born on May 19, 1944
He turned 15 on this day in 1959.

Pete Townshend

Pete Townshend

Guitarist
Born on May 19, 1945
He turned 14 on this day in 1959.

Andre the Giant

Andre the Giant

French wrestler Deceased
Born on May 19, 1946
He turned 13 on this day in 1959.

Ashraf Ghani

Ashraf Ghani

Former Afghan President
Born on May 19, 1949
He turned 10 on this day in 1959.

Joey Ramone

Joey Ramone

Singer Deceased
Born on May 19, 1951
He turned 8 on this day in 1959.

Andrea Pirlo

Andrea Pirlo

Italian soccer player
Born on May 19, 1979
He was born exactly 20 years after this date.

Sam Smith

Sam Smith

Singer
Born on May 19, 1992
He was born exactly 33 years after this date.

Marshmello

Marshmello

American music producer
Born on May 19, 1992
He was born exactly 33 years after this date.

JoJo Siwa

JoJo Siwa

Youtuber
Born on May 19, 2003
She was born exactly 44 years after this date.

USA

US President

Dwight David Eisenhower was the President of the United States on May 19, 1959.

UK

UK Prime Minister

Harold Macmillan was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Ireland

Irish Taoiseach

Éamon de Valera was the Taoiseach of Ireland.

Conception

Conception dates

Conception estimates for this date.

  • A baby that was born on May 19, 1959 was most likely conceived around August 26, 1958.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on May 19, 1959 is close to February 9, 1960.

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Stats for May 19, 1959

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about May 19, 1959:

  • 23,690 days have passed since this date.
  • 3,384 weeks have passed.
  • 2,046,819,600 seconds have passed since May 19, 1959.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 2,387,956,200 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 1,056,158,913,600 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 341,136,600 times.
  • You have taken approximately 176,026,486 steps. That's roughly 78,234 miles!
  • Since this date, 24,561,835 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere!
  • How many years ago was 1959?

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