January 1959 calendar
Learn the most interesting events and historical facts that happened in January 1959.
The US president was Dwight D. Eisenhower (Republican), the UK Prime Minister was Harold Macmillan (Conservative), Pope John XXIII was leading the Catholic Church.
But much more happened on January 1959: find out below
Historical Events
Which were the important events of January 1959?
Events
- 01 Jan 1959 Highway 91 in Nevada is officially renamed Las Vegas Boulevard.
- 02 Jan 1959 USSR launches Mechta (Luna 1) for 1st lunar fly-by, 1st solar orbit
- 03 Jan 1959 Alaska is admitted as the 49th U.S. State.
- 04 Jan 1959 Luna 1 becomes the first spacecraft to reach the vicinity of the Moon.
- 07 Jan 1959 The United States recognizes the new Cuban government of Fidel Castro.
- 08 Jan 1959 Charles De Gaulle is inaugurated as the first president of the French Fifth Republic.
- 09 Jan 1959 Rawhide with Clint Eastwood premieres on CBS TV
- 11 Jan 1959 Hanif Mohammad completes 499 for Karachi, then 1st class world record
- 12 Jan 1959 KOED TV channel 11 in Tulsa, OK (PBS) begins broadcasting
- 13 Jan 1959 De Gaulle grants amnesty to 130 to Algerian death row convicts
- 17 Jan 1959 Say, Darling closes at ANTA Theater NYC after 332 performances
- 18 Jan 1959 Ruth Jessen wins LPGA Tampa Golf Open.
- 20 Jan 1959 The first flight of the Vickers Vanguard.
- 22 Jan 1959 US Air Force concludes less than 1 percent of UFOs are unknown objects.
- 24 Jan 1959 Party with Comden & Green closes at John Golden NYC after 38 performances
- 25 Jan 1959 First transcontinental commercial jet flight (American Airlines) (Los Angeles to New York for US$301).
- 26 Jan 1959 KOKH TV channel 25 in Oklahoma City, OK (IND / PBS) begins broadcasting
- 28 Jan 1959 Soviet Union wins 62-37 for first international basketball loss by US.
- 29 Jan 1959 Buena Vista premieres Disney's animated feature film Sleeping Beauty at the Fox Wilshire Theater in Los Angeles, California. The film is based on Charles Perrault's version of the story of Sleeping Beauty.
- 30 Jan 1959 Australia 1-200 first day fourth Test versus England, Adelaide Oval.
- 31 Jan 1959 Joe Cronin signs seven-year pact to become head of American League.
- 01 Jan 1959 Cuban Revolution: Fulgencio Batista, dictator of Cuba, is overthrown by Fidel Castro's forces.
Famous Birthday
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Famous Deaths
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Music charts
Which were the top hits in January 1959?
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Top #5 songs in the USA
- The Chipmunks - The Chipmunk Song
- The Platters - Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
- Connie Francis - My Happiness
- The Teddy Bears - To Know Him, Is To Love Him
- Ritchie Valens - Donna
Top #5 songs in the UK
- Conway Twitty - It's Only Make Believe
- Lord Rockingham's XI - Hoots Mon
- Jane Morgan - The Day The Rains Came
- Lonnie Donegan - Tom Dooley
- Tommy Dorsey Orchestra Starring Warren Covington - Tea For Two Cha Cha
Movies
Which were the most popular Movies released in that month?
Books
Which were the most popular books released in January 1959?