1957: Difference between revisions
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==Events== | ==Events== | ||
* February: The [[Country Boy Eddie Show]] debuted on [[WBRC 6]]. | * February: The [[Country Boy Eddie Show]] debuted on [[WBRC 6]]. | ||
* [[February 7]]: The U.S. Army Reserve's [[87th Training Support Division|87th Maneuver Area Command]] was formed. | |||
* [[March 3]]: A group of hooded Klan members toured the [[Birmingham Zoo|Jimmy Morgan Zoo]]. | * [[March 3]]: A group of hooded Klan members toured the [[Birmingham Zoo|Jimmy Morgan Zoo]]. | ||
* [[March 21]]: Sen. John Kennedy spoke on "Labour Racketeering" at a banquet for the [[Alabama League of Municipalities]] in Birmingham. | * [[March 21]]: Sen. John Kennedy spoke on "Labour Racketeering" at a banquet for the [[Alabama League of Municipalities]] in Birmingham. | ||
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* The [[Festival of Arts]] hosted a "[[1957 Salute to England and Alabama|Salute to England and Alabama]]". | * The [[Festival of Arts]] hosted a "[[1957 Salute to England and Alabama|Salute to England and Alabama]]". | ||
* The [[Birmingham Zoo Express|Zoo Express]] miniature railroad began service at the [[Birmingham Zoo|Jimmy Morgan Zoo]]. | * The [[Birmingham Zoo Express|Zoo Express]] miniature railroad began service at the [[Birmingham Zoo|Jimmy Morgan Zoo]]. | ||
* Gastroenterologist [[Basil Hirschowitz]] and two physicists produced a working prototype of the first fiber-optic endoscope. | |||
* The [[Buten Collection|Buten Museum of Wedgewood]] opened in Merion, Pennsylvania. | |||
* The [[Greater Birmingham Humane Society|Birmingham Humane Society]] stopped providing boarding and grooming services. | |||
* The [[Birmingham Museum of Art]] hosted an exhibition of "[[Chinese Ivories from the Smithsonian Institution]]". | |||
===Civil Rights movement=== | ===Civil Rights movement=== | ||
* January: [[Carl Baldwin|Carl]] and [[Alexinia Baldwin]] [[Baldwin v. Morgan|sued]] to desegregate the waiting rooms at [[Birmingham Terminal Station]]. | * [[January 25]]: [[Carl Baldwin|Carl]] and [[Alexinia Baldwin]] [[Baldwin v. Morgan|sued]] to desegregate the waiting rooms at [[Birmingham Terminal Station]]. | ||
* [[February 14]]: [[Fred Shuttlesworth]] joined [[Martin Luther King Jr]], [[Ralph Abernathy], and others to form | * [[February 14]]: [[Fred Shuttlesworth]] joined [[Martin Luther King Jr]], [[Ralph Abernathy], [[Joseph Lowery]] and others to form the [[Southern Christian Leadership Conference]]. | ||
* [[March 6]]: [[Fred Shuttlesworth|Fred]] and [[Ruby Shuttlesworth]] challenged the segregation of the [[Birmingham Terminal Station]] waiting rooms. | * [[March 4]]: Judge [[Seybourn Lynne]] dismissed the Baldwins' lawsuit. They appealed. | ||
* [[April 10]]: [[George Dickerson]]'s [[George Dickerson residence|home]] was destroyed by a [[List of racially-motivated bombings#1957|bomb]]. | * [[March 6]]: [[Fred Shuttlesworth|Fred]] and [[Ruby Shuttlesworth]] challenged the segregation of the [[Birmingham Terminal Station]] waiting rooms. [[Lamar Weaver]] was assaulted outside after he greeted the couple. | ||
* [[April 10]]: [[George Dickerson]]'s [[George Dickerson residence|home]] at 1143 [[12th Place North]] in [[Fountain Heights]], which he had purchased two days earlier, was destroyed by a [[List of racially-motivated bombings#1957|bomb]]. | |||
* [[April 28]]: The [[Allen Temple AME Church]] in [[Bessemer]] was [[List of racially-motivated bombings#1957|bombed]] during a service. | * [[April 28]]: The [[Allen Temple AME Church]] in [[Bessemer]] was [[List of racially-motivated bombings#1957|bombed]] during a service. | ||
* [[May 17]]: Shuttlesworth spoke on "The New Negro Church" at a "Prayer Pilgrimage" of black leaders in Washington D.C. | |||
* [[August 29]]: The U.S. Congress passed the [[Civil Rights Act of 1957]] over Strom Thurmond's filibuster, establishing federal oversight of voting rights for federal offices. | * [[August 29]]: The U.S. Congress passed the [[Civil Rights Act of 1957]] over Strom Thurmond's filibuster, establishing federal oversight of voting rights for federal offices. | ||
* [[September 9]]: [[Fred Shuttlesworth]] and other parents were assaulted by an armed mob when they attempted to enroll their children at [[Phillips High School]]. | * [[September 9]]: [[Fred Shuttlesworth]] and other parents were assaulted by an armed mob when they attempted to enroll their children at [[Phillips High School]]. | ||
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* [[June 27]]: [[Hill's Food Stores]] opened a new location in [[Norwood]]. | * [[June 27]]: [[Hill's Food Stores]] opened a new location in [[Norwood]]. | ||
* July: [[Vincent Carnaggio]] founded [[Pediatrics East]] in [[East Lake]]. | * July: [[Vincent Carnaggio]] founded [[Pediatrics East]] in [[East Lake]]. | ||
* July: The [[Grapico|Orange Crush-Grapico Bottling Company]] changed its name to the [[Grapico|Orange Crush Grapico Company]]. | |||
* [[John Hontzas]] opened [[Niki's West]] restaurant on [[Finley Avenue]]. | * [[John Hontzas]] opened [[Niki's West]] restaurant on [[Finley Avenue]]. | ||
* [[Bob Sykes|Bob]] and [[Maxine Sykes]] opened "[[The Ice Spot]]" in [[Central Park]] | * [[Bob Sykes|Bob]] and [[Maxine Sykes]] opened "[[The Ice Spot]]" in [[Central Park]] | ||
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* [[Western Supermarkets]] opened a fourth location at [[Crestwood Shopping Center]]. | * [[Western Supermarkets]] opened a fourth location at [[Crestwood Shopping Center]]. | ||
* [[John Collins]] opened [[Lyric Hot Dogs]]. | * [[John Collins]] opened [[Lyric Hot Dogs]]. | ||
* [[Milton House|Milton]] and [[Frank House]] joined with [[Bob Wright]] to operate the [[Alabama Farmers Market]]. | |||
* [[Utopia Cleaners and Laundry]] opened new locations at [[Five Points West Shopping City]] and [[Crestwood Shopping Center]]. | |||
* [[Morris Barstein]] and [[Max Corenblum]] founded their first [[War Surplus Store]] on [[4th Avenue North]]. | |||
* [[Standard Furniture|Standard Furnishing Co.]] changed their name to [[Standard Furniture]]. | |||
* [[Hall Thompson]] purchased the [[North Alabama Caterpillar]] dealership in Birmingham. | |||
===Education=== | ===Education=== | ||
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* [[P. D. Jackson-Olin High School|Western-Olin High School]] was accredited. | * [[P. D. Jackson-Olin High School|Western-Olin High School]] was accredited. | ||
* The [[University Hospital School of Nursing]] was accredited. | * The [[University Hospital School of Nursing]] was accredited. | ||
* [[Wilkerson Middle School]] opened. | |||
===Religion=== | ===Religion=== | ||
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* [[November 30]]: [[1957 Auburn Tigers football team|Auburn]] shut out [[1957 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|Alabama]] in the [[1957 Iron Bowl|Iron Bowl]] at [[Legion Field]]. | * [[November 30]]: [[1957 Auburn Tigers football team|Auburn]] shut out [[1957 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|Alabama]] in the [[1957 Iron Bowl|Iron Bowl]] at [[Legion Field]]. | ||
* [[Bear Bryant]] accepted an offer to leave Texas A&M to coach the [[Alabama Crimson Tide football team]]. | * [[Bear Bryant]] accepted an offer to leave Texas A&M to coach the [[Alabama Crimson Tide football team]]. | ||
* [[Gene Bartow]]'s St Charles High School boys' basketball team won the Missouri | * [[Gene Bartow]]'s St Charles High School boys' basketball team won the Missouri state championship | ||
* [[H. B. Thompson]] founded the [[Gardendale Youth Baseball]] program. | * [[H. B. Thompson]] founded the [[Gardendale Youth Baseball]] program. | ||
* The Detroit Tigers traded pitcher [[Virgil Trucks]] to the Kansas City Athletics. | * The Detroit Tigers traded pitcher [[Virgil Trucks]] to the Kansas City Athletics. | ||
* Cyclone Anaya defeated Tor Yamata to claim the NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight title in [[Birmingham]]. | * Cyclone Anaya defeated Tor Yamata to claim the NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight title in [[Birmingham]]. | ||
* [[Elmer Moree]]'s [[St Clair County High School]] Saints won the state basketball championship. | |||
* [[Elbert Jemison]] won a 2nd consecutive Alabama amateur golf championship | |||
==Individuals== | ==Individuals== | ||
* [[Raymond Boland]] was ordained as a Catholic priest. | * [[Raymond Boland]] was ordained as a Catholic priest. | ||
* [[Frank Moore Cross]] was appointed an associate professor at Harvard Divinity School. | |||
* [[Henry Stanford]] succeeded [[Guy Snavely]] as President of [[Birmingham-Southern College]]. | * [[Henry Stanford]] succeeded [[Guy Snavely]] as President of [[Birmingham-Southern College]]. | ||
* [[R. B. Knox]] succeeded [[Hoyt Ayers]] as Chief of the [[Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service|Birmingham Fire Department]]. | * [[R. B. Knox]] succeeded [[Hoyt Ayers]] as Chief of the [[Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service|Birmingham Fire Department]]. | ||
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* [[Nathan Goldstein]] succeeded [[Hyman Miller]] as president of the [[Levite Jewish Community Center|Jewish Community Center]]. | * [[Nathan Goldstein]] succeeded [[Hyman Miller]] as president of the [[Levite Jewish Community Center|Jewish Community Center]]. | ||
* [[Clarence Baldwin]] succeeded [[Claude Warren]] as pastor of [[Pilgrim Church|Pilgrim Congregational Church]]. | * [[Clarence Baldwin]] succeeded [[Claude Warren]] as pastor of [[Pilgrim Church|Pilgrim Congregational Church]]. | ||
* [[Virgil Ledbetter]] began coaching the [[Samford Bulldogs|Howard Bulldogs football team]]. | |||
* [[Nathan Glick]] began his career as an illustrator for ''[[Progressive Farmer]]''. | |||
* [[Howard Phillips]] succeeded [[F. Edward Lund]] as President of the [[University of Montevallo]]. | |||
===Births=== | ===Births=== | ||
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* [[February 18]]: [[Gary Richardson]], [[Midfield]] mayor and radio executive | * [[February 18]]: [[Gary Richardson]], [[Midfield]] mayor and radio executive | ||
* [[March 17]]: [[Barry Krauss]], football player | * [[March 17]]: [[Barry Krauss]], football player | ||
* April: [[Jesse Chambers]], reporter | |||
* [[April 10]]: [[Robert Leslie Palmer]], attorney and author | * [[April 10]]: [[Robert Leslie Palmer]], attorney and author | ||
* [[April 18]]: [[Finis St John IV]], attorney and [[University of Alabama]] trustee | * [[April 18]]: [[Finis St John IV]], attorney and [[University of Alabama]] trustee | ||
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* [[May 27]]: [[Carol Hendrickson]], Navy nurse | * [[May 27]]: [[Carol Hendrickson]], Navy nurse | ||
* [[June 11]]: [[Dewayne Davis]], minister and chorister | * [[June 11]]: [[Dewayne Davis]], minister and chorister | ||
* [[June 20]]: [[Stuart Oates]], [[Oak Hill Cemetery]] director | |||
* [[June 22]]: [[Keith McCord]], NBA player | * [[June 22]]: [[Keith McCord]], NBA player | ||
* [[August 30]]: [[Otis Dismuke]], educator | * [[August 30]]: [[Otis Dismuke]], educator | ||
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* [[November 23]]: [[Andrew Toney]], NBA player | * [[November 23]]: [[Andrew Toney]], NBA player | ||
* [[December 31]]: [[Steve Gaines]], Baptist minister | * [[December 31]]: [[Steve Gaines]], Baptist minister | ||
* [[Samm Bennett]], percussionist | |||
* [[Donnetta Brown]], educator | |||
* [[David Dionne]], park director | |||
* [[Buddy Gray]], Baptist minister | * [[Buddy Gray]], Baptist minister | ||
* [[Alan Jacobs]], academic | * [[Alan Jacobs]], academic | ||
* [[Mama Petite]], hippopotamus | * [[Mama Petite]], hippopotamus | ||
* [[Willie Pittman]], mechanic and entrepreneur | * [[Willie Pittman]], mechanic and entrepreneur | ||
* [[James Raper]], nurse practitioner | |||
* [[Walter Moore (teacher)|Walter Moore]], educator | * [[Walter Moore (teacher)|Walter Moore]], educator | ||
* [[Greg Shaw]], Chief Judge of the [[Alabama Court of the Judiciary]] | * [[Greg Shaw]], Chief Judge of the [[Alabama Court of the Judiciary]] | ||
* [[Bob Sims]], [[Al.com]] directpr | |||
* [[Randy Smith]], [[Birmingham Police Department]] officer | * [[Randy Smith]], [[Birmingham Police Department]] officer | ||
* [[Glennon Threatt]], attorney | |||
* [[Andrew Westmoreland]], President of [[Samford University]] | * [[Andrew Westmoreland]], President of [[Samford University]] | ||
* [[Meged Yisra'el]] (born [[Meged Yisra'el|Melvin Miller]]), NFL player | * [[Meged Yisra'el]] (born [[Meged Yisra'el|Melvin Miller]]), NFL player | ||
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* [[Anna Strange]] was named "[[Miss Alabama]]". | * [[Anna Strange]] was named "[[Miss Alabama]]". | ||
* Golfer [[Charley Boswell]] was given an award from the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association. | * Golfer [[Charley Boswell]] was given an award from the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association. | ||
* [[Bertha Smith]] won the first "[[Miss UAB|Miss University Center]]" pageant. | |||
* [[Toni Moore]] was crowned "[[Miss Samford|Miss Howard College]]". | |||
* [[Civitan International]] founder [[Courtney Shropshire]] was given a [[Key to the City of Birmingham]]. | |||
===Graduations=== | ===Graduations=== | ||
* [[John Badham]] graduated from [[Indian Springs School]]. | * [[John Badham]] graduated from [[Indian Springs School]]. | ||
* [[Kirkwood Balton]] graduated from [[Miles College]]. | |||
* [[Harry Brock Jr]] completed a degree from the School of Financial Public Relations at Northwestern University. | * [[Harry Brock Jr]] completed a degree from the School of Financial Public Relations at Northwestern University. | ||
* [[Max D. Cooper]] graduated from Tulane University. | * [[Max D. Cooper]] graduated from Tulane University. | ||
* [[Chriss Doss]] graduated from [[Samford University|Howard College]]. | |||
* [[Roland Frye]] completed a Guggenheim Fellowship. | * [[Roland Frye]] completed a Guggenheim Fellowship. | ||
* [[John C. Fletcher Jr]] completed a Fulbright Fellowship in Heidelberg, Germany. | * [[John C. Fletcher Jr]] completed a Fulbright Fellowship in Heidelberg, Germany. | ||
* [[Miller Gorrie]] graduated from [[Auburn University]] | |||
* [[Bill Holdefer]] earned his M.D. at the University of Maryland. | |||
* [[Fob James]] earned a degree in civil engineering at [[Auburn University]]. | * [[Fob James]] earned a degree in civil engineering at [[Auburn University]]. | ||
* [[Sam Pointer Jr]] completed a juris doctorate at the [[University of Alabama School of Law]] | * [[Sam Pointer Jr]] completed a juris doctorate at the [[University of Alabama School of Law]]. | ||
* [[Richard Shelby]] graduated from the [[University of Alabama]]. | |||
* [[Gene Stallings]] graduated from Texas A&M University. | |||
===Marriages== | ===Marriages== | ||
* [[September 21]]: Attorney [[Orzell Billingsley]] married [[Geselda Billingsley|Geselda Hill]]. | * [[September 21]]: Attorney [[Orzell Billingsley]] married [[Geselda Billingsley|Geselda Hill]]. | ||
* [[G. B. Burt]] married. | |||
==Retirements== | ==Retirements== | ||
* Journalist [[Joe David Brown]] left ''TIME'' magazine. | |||
* [[Blanche Dean]] retired from teaching. | * [[Blanche Dean]] retired from teaching. | ||
* [[Troy Ingram]] resigned from the position of Exalted Cyclops of the [[Alabama Knights, Knights of the Ku Klux Klan]]. | |||
* [[Clarence Mullins]] retired from the [[United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama|U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama]]. | |||
===Deaths=== | ===Deaths=== | ||
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* [[July 25]]: [[Frank Welch]], baseball player | * [[July 25]]: [[Frank Welch]], baseball player | ||
* [[September 24]]: [[Carrie Hill]], artist | * [[September 24]]: [[Carrie Hill]], artist | ||
* November: [[Hubert Harper]], cartoonist | |||
* [[John C. Forney]], attorney and [[Birmingham Board of Aldermen|Alderman]] | |||
==Works== | ==Works== | ||
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===Buildings=== | ===Buildings=== | ||
* [[Banks High School]] | * [[Banks High School]] | ||
* [[Birmingham Zoo]] [[Bear Moat]] | |||
* [[Bush K-8 School]] addition | * [[Bush K-8 School]] addition | ||
* [[Federal Reserve building]] expansion | * [[Federal Reserve building]] expansion | ||
* [[Boutwell Auditorium|Municipal Auditorium]] lobby and meeting rooms | * [[Boutwell Auditorium|Municipal Auditorium]] lobby and meeting rooms | ||
* [[Shoppes of Crestwood|Crestwood Shopping Center]] | |||
* [[Erwin Middle School]] | |||
* [[First Christian Church] on [[21st Street North]] | |||
* [[Hill Elementary School]] addition | * [[Hill Elementary School]] addition | ||
* [[Hunter Street Baptist Church]] in [[Bush Hills]] | * [[Hunter Street Baptist Church]] in [[Bush Hills]] | ||
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* [[Fred Shuttlesworth residence|Bethel Baptist Church parsonage]], [[Collegeville]] | * [[Fred Shuttlesworth residence|Bethel Baptist Church parsonage]], [[Collegeville]] | ||
* [[Lawrence Reynolds Library]] (groundbreaking) | * [[Lawrence Reynolds Library]] (groundbreaking) | ||
* [[Roebuck Marketplace]] | |||
* [[Lewis Smith Dam]] (groundbreaking) | * [[Lewis Smith Dam]] (groundbreaking) | ||
* [[The Club]] men's club room and ladies' card room | * [[The Club]] men's club room and ladies' card room | ||
* [[Tuggle Elementary School]] addition | * [[Tuggle Elementary School]] addition | ||
* [[Ullman High School]] classroom annex | * [[Ullman High School]] classroom annex | ||
* [[Wilkerson Middle School]] | |||
* The [[A. E. Burgess Co.]] started the state's first interstate highway construction project. | * The [[A. E. Burgess Co.]] started the state's first interstate highway construction project. | ||
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* [[Sun Ra]]'s first album, "[[Super-Sonic Jazz]]" was released on Saturn Records. | * [[Sun Ra]]'s first album, "[[Super-Sonic Jazz]]" was released on Saturn Records. | ||
* [[Tommy Charles]]' single, "(I'm Afraid) The Masquerade is Over"/"Love, You're a Stranger" was released on Decca Records. | * [[Tommy Charles]]' single, "(I'm Afraid) The Masquerade is Over"/"Love, You're a Stranger" was released on Decca Records. | ||
* [[Haywood Henry]]'s record "[[I Love You Truly]]" was released on Davis Records | |||
* [[Urbie Green]]'s album, "[[Let's Face the Music and Dance]]" was released on RCA Victor. | * [[Urbie Green]]'s album, "[[Let's Face the Music and Dance]]" was released on RCA Victor. | ||
* [[Odetta]]'s album, "[[At the Gate of Horn]]" was released on Tradition Records. | |||
==Context== | ==Context== |
Revision as of 17:14, 28 April 2017
1957 was the 86th year after the founding of the City of Birmingham.
Events
- February: The Country Boy Eddie Show debuted on WBRC 6.
- February 7: The U.S. Army Reserve's 87th Maneuver Area Command was formed.
- March 3: A group of hooded Klan members toured the Jimmy Morgan Zoo.
- March 21: Sen. John Kennedy spoke on "Labour Racketeering" at a banquet for the Alabama League of Municipalities in Birmingham.
- April 8: Singer Bobby Darin began a week long engagement at Mike's South Pacific in Homewood.
- April 23: A minor earthquake centered near the Tennessee River below Guntersville Dam alarmed residents across the Birmingham area.
- May 22: The town of Sylvan Springs was incorporated.
- May 31: The town of Trussville was elevated to the status of "city".
- June: Susie the elephant joined Mona at the Jimmy Morgan Zoo.
- September: Co-producer Gail Patrick brought Raymond Burr to Birmingham to promote their new series "Perry Mason".
- November 4: The William Elias B. Davis statue was rededicated at its present location at Hillman Hospital.
- November 17: An F4 tornado tore through western Walker County.
- The Alabama Theatre's marquee was upgraded with "new display effects."
- The Birmingham Public Library's Titusville Branch Library was established.
- A new well for Center Point was tapped by Cullen Scott.
- The Town of County Line was incorporated.
- Birmingham's Downtown Improvement Association was established.
- Humphry Osmond coined the term "psychedelic" to describe the effects of hallucinogenic drugs.
- Local doo-wop group "The Cavaliers" (Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, and Kell Osbourne) relocated to Cleveland, Ohio.
- The Roma Country Club in Homewood was incorporated.
- The Festival of Arts hosted a "Salute to England and Alabama".
- The Zoo Express miniature railroad began service at the Jimmy Morgan Zoo.
- Gastroenterologist Basil Hirschowitz and two physicists produced a working prototype of the first fiber-optic endoscope.
- The Buten Museum of Wedgewood opened in Merion, Pennsylvania.
- The Birmingham Humane Society stopped providing boarding and grooming services.
- The Birmingham Museum of Art hosted an exhibition of "Chinese Ivories from the Smithsonian Institution".
Civil Rights movement
- January 25: Carl and Alexinia Baldwin sued to desegregate the waiting rooms at Birmingham Terminal Station.
- February 14: Fred Shuttlesworth joined Martin Luther King Jr, [[Ralph Abernathy], Joseph Lowery and others to form the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
- March 4: Judge Seybourn Lynne dismissed the Baldwins' lawsuit. They appealed.
- March 6: Fred and Ruby Shuttlesworth challenged the segregation of the Birmingham Terminal Station waiting rooms. Lamar Weaver was assaulted outside after he greeted the couple.
- April 10: George Dickerson's home at 1143 12th Place North in Fountain Heights, which he had purchased two days earlier, was destroyed by a bomb.
- April 28: The Allen Temple AME Church in Bessemer was bombed during a service.
- May 17: Shuttlesworth spoke on "The New Negro Church" at a "Prayer Pilgrimage" of black leaders in Washington D.C.
- August 29: The U.S. Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1957 over Strom Thurmond's filibuster, establishing federal oversight of voting rights for federal offices.
- September 9: Fred Shuttlesworth and other parents were assaulted by an armed mob when they attempted to enroll their children at Phillips High School.
Business
- June 19: Colonial Stores opened a new location in Norwood.
- June 27: Hill's Food Stores opened a new location in Norwood.
- July: Vincent Carnaggio founded Pediatrics East in East Lake.
- July: The Orange Crush-Grapico Bottling Company changed its name to the Orange Crush Grapico Company.
- John Hontzas opened Niki's West restaurant on Finley Avenue.
- Bob and Maxine Sykes opened "The Ice Spot" in Central Park
- Vernon Braden opened Braden's Furniture in Trussville.
- Storer Broadcasting sold WBRC 6 to Taft Radio and Television of Cincinnati, Ohio.
- Tommy Charles and Doug Layton left WSGN-AM for WYDE-AM.
- Western Supermarkets opened a fourth location at Crestwood Shopping Center.
- John Collins opened Lyric Hot Dogs.
- Milton and Frank House joined with Bob Wright to operate the Alabama Farmers Market.
- Utopia Cleaners and Laundry opened new locations at Five Points West Shopping City and Crestwood Shopping Center.
- Morris Barstein and Max Corenblum founded their first War Surplus Store on 4th Avenue North.
- Standard Furnishing Co. changed their name to Standard Furniture.
- Hall Thompson purchased the North Alabama Caterpillar dealership in Birmingham.
Education
- Howard College moved from East Lake to Shades Valley.
- Banks High School opened to freshmen.
- Western-Olin High School was accredited.
- The University Hospital School of Nursing was accredited.
- Wilkerson Middle School opened.
Religion
- May 6: Vestavia Hills Baptist Church was organized.
- The 1957 Presbyterian General Assembly was hosted in Birmingham by South Highland Presbyterian Church.
- Warrior First Baptist Church changed its name to First Baptist Church of Warrior.
Sports
- August 31: The NFL's Detroit Lions defeated the Washington Redskins 31-14 in an exhibition game at Legion Field.
- November 30: Auburn shut out Alabama in the Iron Bowl at Legion Field.
- Bear Bryant accepted an offer to leave Texas A&M to coach the Alabama Crimson Tide football team.
- Gene Bartow's St Charles High School boys' basketball team won the Missouri state championship
- H. B. Thompson founded the Gardendale Youth Baseball program.
- The Detroit Tigers traded pitcher Virgil Trucks to the Kansas City Athletics.
- Cyclone Anaya defeated Tor Yamata to claim the NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight title in Birmingham.
- Elmer Moree's St Clair County High School Saints won the state basketball championship.
- Elbert Jemison won a 2nd consecutive Alabama amateur golf championship
Individuals
- Raymond Boland was ordained as a Catholic priest.
- Frank Moore Cross was appointed an associate professor at Harvard Divinity School.
- Henry Stanford succeeded Guy Snavely as President of Birmingham-Southern College.
- R. B. Knox succeeded Hoyt Ayers as Chief of the Birmingham Fire Department.
- Max Kimerling succeeded J. Harold Shevin as president of Temple Beth-El.
- Inez Andrews left the Gospel Harmonettes to join the Caravans.
- W. Landon Miller became pastor of Ruhama Baptist Church.
- Madelyn Poole began her tenure as pianist and music director for Town and Gown Theatre.
- Nathan Goldstein succeeded Hyman Miller as president of the Jewish Community Center.
- Clarence Baldwin succeeded Claude Warren as pastor of Pilgrim Congregational Church.
- Virgil Ledbetter began coaching the Howard Bulldogs football team.
- Nathan Glick began his career as an illustrator for Progressive Farmer.
- Howard Phillips succeeded F. Edward Lund as President of the University of Montevallo.
Births
- January 8: Doug Jones, Helena police chief
- February 10: Samantha Shaw, former Alabama State Auditor
- February 14: Alan Hunter, MTV VJ
- February 14: Reggie King, NBA player
- February 18: Gary Richardson, Midfield mayor and radio executive
- March 17: Barry Krauss, football player
- April: Jesse Chambers, reporter
- April 10: Robert Leslie Palmer, attorney and author
- April 18: Finis St John IV, attorney and University of Alabama trustee
- April 25: Johnny High, NBA player
- May 27: Carol Hendrickson, Navy nurse
- June 11: Dewayne Davis, minister and chorister
- June 20: Stuart Oates, Oak Hill Cemetery director
- June 22: Keith McCord, NBA player
- August 30: Otis Dismuke, educator
- September 7: Jack Williams, legislator
- September 21: Mark Childress, novelist
- November 20: Dwight Stephenson, NFL player
- November 23: Andrew Toney, NBA player
- December 31: Steve Gaines, Baptist minister
- Samm Bennett, percussionist
- Donnetta Brown, educator
- David Dionne, park director
- Buddy Gray, Baptist minister
- Alan Jacobs, academic
- Mama Petite, hippopotamus
- Willie Pittman, mechanic and entrepreneur
- James Raper, nurse practitioner
- Walter Moore, educator
- Greg Shaw, Chief Judge of the Alabama Court of the Judiciary
- Bob Sims, Al.com directpr
- Randy Smith, Birmingham Police Department officer
- Glennon Threatt, attorney
- Andrew Westmoreland, President of Samford University
- Meged Yisra'el (born Melvin Miller), NFL player
Awards
- Tommy Charles was named "Best DJ of the Year" by the Birmingham Advertising Club.
- Harry Brock Jr received the "Young Bankers Award" from the Alabama Bankers Association.
- Don Hawkins was named "Mr Crestwood" by the Crestwood Civic Club.
- Shug Jordan split the "SEC Coach of the Year" voting with Wade Walker.
- Anna Strange was named "Miss Alabama".
- Golfer Charley Boswell was given an award from the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association.
- Bertha Smith won the first "Miss University Center" pageant.
- Toni Moore was crowned "Miss Howard College".
- Civitan International founder Courtney Shropshire was given a Key to the City of Birmingham.
Graduations
- John Badham graduated from Indian Springs School.
- Kirkwood Balton graduated from Miles College.
- Harry Brock Jr completed a degree from the School of Financial Public Relations at Northwestern University.
- Max D. Cooper graduated from Tulane University.
- Chriss Doss graduated from Howard College.
- Roland Frye completed a Guggenheim Fellowship.
- John C. Fletcher Jr completed a Fulbright Fellowship in Heidelberg, Germany.
- Miller Gorrie graduated from Auburn University
- Bill Holdefer earned his M.D. at the University of Maryland.
- Fob James earned a degree in civil engineering at Auburn University.
- Sam Pointer Jr completed a juris doctorate at the University of Alabama School of Law.
- Richard Shelby graduated from the University of Alabama.
- Gene Stallings graduated from Texas A&M University.
=Marriages
- September 21: Attorney Orzell Billingsley married Geselda Hill.
- G. B. Burt married.
Retirements
- Journalist Joe David Brown left TIME magazine.
- Blanche Dean retired from teaching.
- Troy Ingram resigned from the position of Exalted Cyclops of the Alabama Knights, Knights of the Ku Klux Klan.
- Clarence Mullins retired from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama.
Deaths
- An iron worker was killed when the new steeple at Hunter Street Baptist Church collapsed.
- March 9: Malcolm Dabney, dentist
- March 17: Seale Harris, physician
- April 8: Dorothy Sebastian, actress
- May 26: Luther Patrick, attorney and former U.S. Representative
- June: Caroline Johnson, social activist
- July 10: George Salem Sr, restaurateur
- July 25: Frank Welch, baseball player
- September 24: Carrie Hill, artist
- November: Hubert Harper, cartoonist
- John C. Forney, attorney and Alderman
Works
- Anthony Perkins starred as Jimmy Piersall in the film based on his memoir, "Fear Strikes Out.
Books
Buildings
- Banks High School
- Birmingham Zoo Bear Moat
- Bush K-8 School addition
- Federal Reserve building expansion
- Municipal Auditorium lobby and meeting rooms
- Crestwood Shopping Center
- Erwin Middle School
- [[First Christian Church] on 21st Street North
- Hill Elementary School addition
- Hunter Street Baptist Church in Bush Hills
- Leland Shopping Center in Alberta City
- McElwain Baptist Church fellowship hall
- Purcell Wing at Carraway Hospital
- Bethel Baptist Church parsonage, Collegeville
- Lawrence Reynolds Library (groundbreaking)
- Roebuck Marketplace
- Lewis Smith Dam (groundbreaking)
- The Club men's club room and ladies' card room
- Tuggle Elementary School addition
- Ullman High School classroom annex
- Wilkerson Middle School
- The A. E. Burgess Co. started the state's first interstate highway construction project.
Music
- Sun Ra's first album, "Super-Sonic Jazz" was released on Saturn Records.
- Tommy Charles' single, "(I'm Afraid) The Masquerade is Over"/"Love, You're a Stranger" was released on Decca Records.
- Haywood Henry's record "I Love You Truly" was released on Davis Records
- Urbie Green's album, "Let's Face the Music and Dance" was released on RCA Victor.
- Odetta's album, "At the Gate of Horn" was released on Tradition Records.
Context
Notable 1956 births included __. Deaths that year included __.
1950s |
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