Major Events of September 1955: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from September 1955 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of September 1955: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 Sep 1955 Egyptian-Israeli Air Conflict: Two Egyptian fighter aircraft were shot down by Israeli forces over Israeli territory, marking a tense moment in the ongoing Arab-Israeli military tensions of the mid-1950s.
02 Sep 1955 Emmett Till's Mother Receives Her Son's Body: Mamie Till arrives at the Illinois Central Terminal in Chicago to receive her murdered son Emmett's casket. Surrounded by family and photographers, she is photographed collapsing in profound grief. The body is then taken to A. A. Rayner & Sons Funeral Home, a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement.
03 Sep 1955 Estadio Ramón de Carranza Inaugurated in Cádiz: The Estadio Ramón de Carranza, a significant football stadium, was officially inaugurated in the historic city of Cádiz, Spain. This venue would become an important sporting landmark for local football culture and regional athletic events.
04 Sep 1955 First European Cup Football Match Played: On September 4, 1955, a historic moment in European football occurred with the inaugural match of the European Cup (now known as the UEFA Champions League). The groundbreaking match was contested between Sporting CP from Portugal and Partizan from Yugoslavia, marking the beginning of what would become the continent's most prestigious club football competition.
05 Sep 1955 Don Newcombe Sets Pitcher Home Run Record: Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Don Newcombe achieved a remarkable milestone by hitting his 7th home run of the season, setting a new National League record for pitchers and demonstrating exceptional batting skill for a pitcher.
06 Sep 1955 Istanbul Pogrom of 1955: On September 6, 1955, a fabricated news story in the İstanbul Ekspres newspaper claiming Greeks had bombed the Turkish Consulate in Thessaloniki triggered a violent demonstration at Taksim Square. The event escalated into widespread looting of non-Muslim-owned shops and systematic attacks on Greek, Armenian, and Jewish communities in Istanbul, resulting in significant property destruction, numerous casualties, and long-lasting communal trauma.
07 Sep 1955 Istanbul Pogrom of 1955: The Istanbul Pogrom was a devastating event targeting the Greek minority in Turkey, characterized by systematic violence, vandalism, and destruction of Greek-owned properties. On September 6-7, 1955, mobs attacked Greek businesses, residences, religious sites, and cultural institutions across Istanbul. The pogrom resulted in widespread property damage, physical assaults, and significant psychological trauma for the Greek community, effectively accelerating their mass exodus from Turkey.
08 Sep 1955 Disneyland Reaches Milestone Visitor Count: On September 8, 1955, Disneyland celebrated a significant achievement by welcoming its one millionth visitor, marking a remarkable milestone for the newly opened theme park. This event underscored the immense popularity and rapid success of Walt Disney's groundbreaking entertainment destination.
09 Sep 1955 Project Vanguard Initiated by US Department of Defense: The United States Department of Defense authorized the Naval Research Laboratory to proceed with the Vanguard proposal, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at placing a satellite in orbit during the International Geophysical Year (IGY). This marked a significant milestone in the early stages of the Space Race and American space exploration efforts.
10 Sep 1955 Gunsmoke TV Series Premiere: The iconic Western television series Gunsmoke debuts on CBS, marking a significant milestone in American television history. The show, which would become one of the longest-running primetime series in US television, features Marshal Matt Dillon protecting the citizens of Dodge City, Kansas.
11 Sep 1955 1955 Italian Grand Prix: Juan Manuel Fangio of Argentina wins the 1955 Italian Grand Prix, held at the prestigious Autodromo Nazionale Monza circuit, further solidifying his reputation as a legendary racing driver.
12 Sep 1955 Martial Law Declared in Turkey: Following the violent demonstrations of September 6-7, the Turkish government declares martial law, signaling significant political instability and social unrest in the country during this period of Cold War tensions.
13 Sep 1955 French Colonial Transition in Tunisia: Roger Seydoux was appointed as France's final Resident-General in Tunisia, signaling the approaching end of French colonial administration in the region.
14 Sep 1955 First Prefrontal Lobotomy Performed: A groundbreaking and controversial medical procedure, the first prefrontal lobotomy was performed in Washington D.C., representing a significant but ethically problematic moment in psychiatric treatment history. This surgical intervention was intended to treat severe mental disorders by disrupting neural pathways in the brain's prefrontal cortex.
15 Sep 1955 Publication of Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov: Vladimir Nabokov's controversial and groundbreaking novel 'Lolita' is published in Paris by Olympia Press, marking a significant moment in 20th-century literature. The book would later become a landmark work that challenged societal norms and literary conventions.
16 Sep 1955 Military Coup in Argentina: A significant military coup was launched at midnight to overthrow President Juan Perón, marking a pivotal moment in Argentine political history. The uprising would dramatically alter the country's political landscape and lead to Perón's exile.
17 Sep 1955 Brooks Robinson's Major League Debut: Brooks Robinson, who would later become a Baseball Hall of Fame legend, made his first Major League appearance for the Baltimore Orioles, recording an impressive 2-for-4 performance at the plate.
18 Sep 1955 Ed Sullivan Show Debuts: The popular television program 'Toast of the Town' is renamed 'The Ed Sullivan Show', which would become one of the most iconic entertainment programs in American television history, running until 1971.
19 Sep 1955 Argentine Military Coup Ousts Juan Peron: On September 21, 1955, a military coup successfully overthrew Argentine President Juan Peron, marking a significant political upheaval in South American history and dramatically altering Argentina's political landscape.
20 Sep 1955 USSR-GDR Treaty Signed: The Treaty on Relations between the Soviet Union and the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) was officially signed, establishing formal diplomatic relations and solidifying the Soviet Union's political influence in East Germany during the Cold War era.
21 Sep 1955 Military Coup Ousts Juan Perón in Argentina: A significant military coup removes Argentine President Juan Perón from power, dramatically altering Argentina's political landscape. This event marked a turning point in Argentine history, ending Perón's controversial and polarizing presidency.
22 Sep 1955 Commercial Television Launches in the United Kingdom: The Independent Television Authority (ITA) inaugurates the first ITV franchises, marking a historic moment in British broadcasting by breaking the BBC's long-standing monopoly. This groundbreaking event introduces commercial television to the United Kingdom, offering viewers an alternative to the public broadcasting model and paving the way for diverse media content and competition in the television industry.
23 Sep 1955 Emmett Till Murder Trial Acquittal: An all-white jury in Tallahatchie County, Mississippi, acquitted Roy Bryant and John Milam, the two white men who murdered 14-year-old Emmett Till, a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement. The jury deliberated only 67 minutes before returning a verdict of not guilty, highlighting the systemic racial injustice prevalent in the American South during the 1950s.
24 Sep 1955 President Eisenhower's Heart Attack: United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower suffered a moderate heart attack while on vacation in Denver, Colorado. This significant health event raised national concerns about presidential succession and the leader's ability to continue governing during a critical period of the Cold War.
25 Sep 1955 Royal Jordanian Air Force Established: The Royal Jordanian Air Force is officially founded, marking a significant milestone in Jordan's military and national defense infrastructure development.
26 Sep 1955 Black Monday: Stock Market Crash of 1955: On September 26, 1955, the New York Stock Exchange experienced its most significant stock price decline since the catastrophic crash of 1929. This sudden and dramatic market downturn sent shockwaves through the financial world, causing substantial investor panic and economic uncertainty.
27 Sep 1955 Egypt's Cold War Arms and Infrastructure Deal: In a significant geopolitical moment during the Cold War, Egypt negotiated a strategic arms and infrastructure agreement with Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union. The deal included Soviet financing for the construction of the Aswan Dam across the Nile River, marking a pivotal shift in Egypt's international alignments and economic development strategy.
28 Sep 1955 First World Series Color TV Broadcast: NBC-TV made history by broadcasting the 1955 World Series in color, marking a significant milestone in television technology and sports broadcasting.
29 Sep 1955 Arthur Miller's 'A View from the Bridge' Premieres: Arthur Miller's critically acclaimed play 'A View from the Bridge' debuts in New York City, marking a significant moment in American theater.
30 Sep 1955 James Dean Fatal Car Crash: Iconic American actor James Dean tragically died in a road accident near Cholame, California, at the young age of 24. Driving his Porsche 550 Spyder, nicknamed 'Little Bastard', Dean was involved in a fatal collision that cut short the promising career of one of Hollywood's most legendary and rebellious young stars.