May 1959 calendar
Learn the most interesting events and historical facts that happened in May 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 May 1959: find out below
Historical Events
Which were the important events of May 1959?
Events
- 01 May 1959 White Sox Early Wynn beats Red Sox 1-0 on his own HR
- 02 May 1959 85th Kentucky Derby: Bill Shoemaker aboard Tomy Lee wins in 2:02.2.
- 03 May 1959 Betsy Rawls wins LPGA Land of the Sky Golf Tournament.
- 04 May 1959 First Grammy Awards: Perry Como and Ella Fitzgerald win.
- 06 May 1959 Iceland gunboats shoot at British fishing ships.
- 09 May 1959 Dorothy Rigney, husband John, and Hank Greenberg resign from Chicago White Sox.
- 10 May 1959 Soviet forces arrive in Afghanistan.
- 11 May 1959 Kookie, Kookie Lend Me Your Comb by Byrnes and Connie Stevens hits #4
- 13 May 1959 Kraft Music Hall with Milton Berle, last airs on NBC-TV
- 15 May 1959 100th anniversary of first college baseball game, between Amherst and Williams; Teams re-enact the original contest.
- 16 May 1959 WTOM TV channel 4 in Cheboygan, MI (NBC) begins broadcasting
- 17 May 1959 Sam Snead sets PGA record for 36 holes at 122.
- 18 May 1959 Judy by David Seville hits #86
- 19 May 1959 Jan de Quay becomes Premier of the Netherlands
- 20 May 1959 Shah of Persia visits Netherlands
- 21 May 1959 Gypsy opens at Broadway Theater NYC for 702 performances
- 22 May 1959 Benjamin O Davis Jr becomes 1st black General Major in USAF
- 23 May 1959 Party with Comden & Green closes at John Golden NYC after 44 performances
- 24 May 1959 Empire Day renamed Commonwealth Day in England.
- 25 May 1959 Khrushchev visits Angola
- 26 May 1959 Harvey Haddix pitches 12 perfect innings, loses in 13th.
- 28 May 1959 Monkeys Able and Baker zoom 300 miles (500 km) into space on Jupiter missile, became first animals retrieved from a space mission.
- 29 May 1959 Charles de Gaulle forms French Government.
- 30 May 1959 First Impressions closes at Alvin Theater NYC after 84 performances
- 31 May 1959 Mickey Wright wins LPGA Cavalier Golf Open.
- 16 May 1959 The Tritons' Fountain in Valletta, Malta is turned on for the first time.
Famous Birthday
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Music charts
Which were the top hits in May 1959?
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Top #5 songs in the USA
- The Fleetwoods - Come Softly To Me
- Dave Baby Cortez - The Happy Organ
- Wilbert Harrison - Kansas City
- Elvis Presley - (Now And Then There's) A Fool Such As I
- The Impalas - Sorry (I Ran All The Way Home)
Top #5 songs in the UK
- Russ Conway - Side Saddle
- Elvis Presley - A Fool Such As I / I Need Your Love Tonight
- Buddy Holly - It Doesn't Matter Anymore
- The Platters - Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
- Chris Barber's Jazz Band - Petite Fleur
Movies
Which were the most popular Movies released in that month?
Books
Which were the most popular books released in May 1959?