1955: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:Monkey Island postcard.jpg|right|thumb|275px|Monkey Island, constructed in 1955]]
[[Image:Monkey Island postcard.jpg|right|thumb|275px|Monkey Island, constructed in 1955]]
[[File:1955 Red Diamond fire.jpg|right|thumb|275px|The 1955 Red Diamond building fire]]
[[File:1955 Red Diamond fire.jpg|right|thumb|275px|The 1955 Red Diamond building fire]]
* [[January 23]]: [[Martin Luther King Jr]] delivered a speech to a [[Birmingham NAACP]] meeting at [[Tabernacle Baptist Church]].
* [[February 14]]: The [[Town & Gown Theater]] opened their newly-donated [[Little Theater]] home with a performance of "Candles in the Canebrake".
* [[March 15]]:  The [[Paul Hayne School time capsule]] was opened.
* [[March 14]]–[[May 25]]: The [[Communications Workers of America]] held a successful 72-day regional strike against [[Southern Bell]].
* [[April 2]]: [[Monkey Island]], the [[Birmingham Zoo|Jimmy Morgan Zoo]]'s first exhibit at [[Lane Park]], opened.
* [[April 2]]: [[Monkey Island]], the [[Birmingham Zoo|Jimmy Morgan Zoo]]'s first exhibit at [[Lane Park]], opened.
* [[May 15]]: The [[Alabama Symphony Orchestra|Birmingham Symphony Orchestra]] held their fourth annual "[[Music Under the Stars]]" concert at [[Legion Field]].
* [[May 28]]: [[Jefferson-Hillman Hospital]] was renamed [[University Hospital]] and [[Hillman Clinic]].
* [[June 8]]: Walt Disney's feature "Davy Crockett" opened at the [[Melba Theatre]].
* [[July 4]]: [[Mona]], a female elephant, went on exhibit at the Jimmy Morgan Zoo.
* [[July 4]]: [[Mona]], a female elephant, went on exhibit at the Jimmy Morgan Zoo.
* September: [[Birmingham]] voters approved, by a 5,952 to 5,365 vote, a bond referendum to provide local funding for the [[Southside Urban Renewal project]] and [[Avondale Urban Renewal project]].
* [[October 3]]–[[October 8|8]]: The [[1955 Alabama State Fair]] was held.
* [[October 22]]: "[[Birmingham Days]]" concert with 11 bands at [[Municipal Auditorium]].
* [[October 22]]: "[[Birmingham Days]]" concert with 11 bands at [[Municipal Auditorium]].
* [[November 1]]: The City of [[Birmingham]] formally took over operations of the [[Birmingham Zoo]] at [[Lane Park]].
* [[November 1]]: The City of [[Birmingham]] formally took over operations of the [[Birmingham Zoo]] at [[Lane Park]].
* [[November 14]]: The communities of [[Oak Grove (Homewood)|Oak Grove]] and [[Drexel Hills]] were annexed into [[Homewood]].
* The municipalities of [[Gardendale]] and [[Kansas]] were incorporated.
* The municipalities of [[Gardendale]] and [[Kansas]] were incorporated.
* The [[Birmingham Civic Opera Association]] was founded.
* The [[Birmingham Civic Opera Association]] was founded.
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* The [[C. Powell Noland]] family purchased the [[Virginia Samford Theatre|Birmingham Little Theater]] and donated it to the [[Town & Gown Theatre]].
* The [[C. Powell Noland]] family purchased the [[Virginia Samford Theatre|Birmingham Little Theater]] and donated it to the [[Town & Gown Theatre]].
* [[Red Diamond]]'s production facility was destroyed by fire.
* [[Red Diamond]]'s production facility was destroyed by fire.
* [[Ed Baker]] donated land for the rebuilding of [[McElwain Baptist Church]].
* [[Rickwood Caverns]] opened to the public.
* [[Rickwood Caverns]] opened to the public.
* The first [[Country Boy Eddie Show]] appeared on [[WAPI-TV]].
* The first [[Country Boy Eddie Show]] appeared on [[WAPI-TV]].
* [[Jim Folsom, Sr]] returned to office for a second term as [[Governor of Alabama]], succeeding [[Gordon Persons]].
* [[Holy Rosary Catholic Church]] in [[Gate City]] became its own parish under the care of the Salesians of Don Bosco.
* The [[Jefferson County Department of Health]] noted that tuberculosis was the leading cause of death in the county.
* The [[Jefferson County Department of Health]] noted that tuberculosis was the leading cause of death in the county.
* [[Oak Grove]] was annexed into [[Homewood]].


===Business===
===Business===
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* [[John A. Hand]] became president of the [[AmSouth Bank|First National Bank of Birmingham]].
* [[John A. Hand]] became president of the [[AmSouth Bank|First National Bank of Birmingham]].
* [[Hamburger Heaven (Homewood)]] closed.
* [[Hamburger Heaven (Homewood)]] closed.
* [[Harry Brock, Jr]] took a position with the [[Exchange Security Bank]].
* [[Harry Brock Jr]] took a position with the [[Exchange Security Bank]].
* [[November 2]]: [[WFHK-AM]] received its FCC license.
* [[November 2]]: [[WFHK-AM]] received its FCC license.
* A [[King Edward Cigar Plant]] opened in [[Cullman]].
* A [[King Edward Cigar Plant]] opened in [[Cullman]].
* The [[Goodgame Company]] was founded.
===Religion===
* [[March 20]]: [[NorthPark Church|Roebuck Park Baptist Church]] was established.
* [[Ed Baker]] donated land for the rebuilding of [[McElwain Baptist Church]].
* [[Holy Rosary Catholic Church]] in [[Gate City]] became its own parish under the care of the Salesians of Don Bosco.
* [[Oakmont United Methodist Church]] was organized.
* The [[Episcopal Foundation of Jefferson County]] founded [[St Martin's in the Pines|St Martin's Home for the Aged]].


===Sports===
===Sports===
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==Individuals==
==Individuals==
* [[Jim Folsom Sr]] returned to office for a second term as [[Governor of Alabama]], succeeding [[Gordon Persons]].
* [[Joseph A. Durick]] was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Mobile-Birmingham Diocese.
* [[Joseph A. Durick]] was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Mobile-Birmingham Diocese.
* [[Annie Easley]] began working for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics in Cleveland, Ohio.
* [[Annie Easley]] began working for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics in Cleveland, Ohio.
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* [[Guy E. Snavely]] succeeded [[George R. Stuart]] as President of [[Birmingham-Southern College]].
* [[Guy E. Snavely]] succeeded [[George R. Stuart]] as President of [[Birmingham-Southern College]].
* [[Ben McKinnon]] came to Birmingham to be general manager of [[WSGN-AM]].
* [[Ben McKinnon]] came to Birmingham to be general manager of [[WSGN-AM]].
* [[Carol Hayes]] married [[Ellen Hayes|Mary Ellen Davis]].
* [[August 19]]: [[William Rushton III]] married [[LaVona Rushton|LaVona Price]].
* [[August 19]]: [[William Rushton III]] married [[LaVona Rushton|LaVona Price]].


===Births===
===Births===
* [[January 3]]: [[Ed Reynolds]], writer and musician
* [[January 19]]: [[Michael O'Connor]], chief of the [[North Shelby Fire and Emergency Medical District]]
* [[January 19]]: [[Michael O'Connor]], chief of the [[North Shelby Fire and Emergency Medical District]]
* [[February 1]]: [[T. R. Dunn]], basketball player
* [[February 1]]: [[T. R. Dunn]], basketball player
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* [[April 4]]: [[Michael R. Jordan]], pastor of [[New Era Baptist Church]]
* [[April 4]]: [[Michael R. Jordan]], pastor of [[New Era Baptist Church]]
* [[April 6]]: [[Michael Rooker]], actor
* [[April 6]]: [[Michael Rooker]], actor
* [[April 9]]: [[Buck Brock]], banker and [[Samford University]] vice president
* [[April 16]]: [[Mart Avant]], musician
* [[May 6]]: [[Debra Ghigna]], author and poet
* [[May 6]]: [[Debra Ghigna]], author and poet
* [[May 7]]: [[Dale Quin]], English teacher
* [[May 8]]: [[Donnie Goodin|Donnie "Candy Man" Goodin]], street vendor
* [[June 4]]: [[Sandra Little Brown]], t-shirt shop owner
* [[June 4]]: [[Sandra Little Brown]], t-shirt shop owner
* [[June 6]]: [[James Spann]], meteorologist
* [[June 6]]: [[James Spann]], meteorologist
* [[June 13]]: [[Danny Rary]], chief of [[Vestavia Hills Police Department]]
* [[June 23]]: [[Franklin Biggs]], chef and restaurateur
* [[June 23]]: [[Franklin Biggs]], chef and restaurateur
* [[July 7]]: [[Gary Ivey]], auto dealer and [[Mayor of Hoover]]
* [[July 7]]: [[Gary Ivey]], auto dealer and [[Mayor of Hoover]]
* [[July 24]]: [[Ann Berry]], Secretary of the U.S. Senate
* [[July 25]]: [[Patricia Todd]], Alabama representative
* [[July 25]]: [[Patricia Todd]], Alabama representative
* [[July 26]]: [[Wardine Alexander]], [[Birmingham Board of Education]] member
* [[July 26]]: [[Wardine Alexander]], [[Birmingham Board of Education]] member
* [[July 31]]: [[Gilles Bilodeau]], [[Birmingham Bulls (WHA)|Birmingham Bulls]] left winger
* [[August 18]]: baseball player [[Bruce Benedict]] in Birmingham
* [[August 18]]: baseball player [[Bruce Benedict]] in Birmingham
* [[August 28]]: educator [[Donna Mitchell]] in [[Bessemer]]
* [[October 2]]: AIDS researcher [[Michael Saag]] in Louisville, Kentucky
* [[October 2]]: AIDS researcher [[Michael Saag]] in Louisville, Kentucky
* October 2: McDonald's franchise owner [[Larry Thornton]] in Montgomery.
* [[October 7]]: Children's book author [[Jo Kittinger]] in Miami, Florida
* [[October 7]]: Children's book author [[Jo Kittinger]] in Miami, Florida
* [[October 17]]: Artist [[Kerry James Marshall]]
* [[October 17]]: Artist [[Kerry James Marshall]]
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* [[November 17]]: [[Mark Gaines]], judge
* [[November 17]]: [[Mark Gaines]], judge
* [[December 1]]: [[Mark Thompson]], radio host
* [[December 1]]: [[Mark Thompson]], radio host
* [[Jon Anthony]]: [[WSGN-AM]] deejay
* [[Paul Alexander]], reporter, biographer and playwright
* [[Buck Brock]]: Vice President of Business Affairs at [[Samford University]]
* [[Jon Anthony]], [[WSGN-AM]] deejay
* [[Buck Brock]], Vice President of Business Affairs at [[Samford University]]
* [[Kenneth Coachman]], former [[Mayor of Fairfield]]
* [[John Draper]], school administrator
* [[John Draper]], school administrator
* [[Bobby Duke, Jr]], halfback and murder victim
* [[Bobby Duke, Jr]], halfback and murder victim
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* [[Charles Norman Mason]], composer
* [[Charles Norman Mason]], composer
* [[Herman Maurice]], street dweller
* [[Herman Maurice]], street dweller
* [[Berry Perry]], street vender
* [[Berry Perry]], street vendor
* [[Dawn Robertson]], retail executive
* [[Dawn Robertson]], retail executive
* [[Mark Schantz]], Professor of history at [[Birmingham-Southern College]]
* [[Quenette Shehane]], murder victim
* [[Quenette Shehane]], murder victim
* [[Van Sykes]], [[Bob Sykes Bar-B-Q]]
* [[Van Sykes]], [[Bob Sykes Bar-B-Q]]
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* [[Richard Arrington, Jr]] graduated ''cum laude'' in biology from [[Miles College]].
* [[Richard Arrington, Jr]] graduated ''cum laude'' in biology from [[Miles College]].
* [[Frances Carter]] earned her doctorate from the University of Illinois.
* [[Frances Carter]] earned her doctorate from the University of Illinois.
* [[Warren Crow III]] from the [[University of Alabama School of Law]].
* [[Owen Drake]], graduated from [[Leeds High School]].
* [[Owen Drake]], graduated from [[Leeds High School]].
* [[Thomas Hearn]] from [[Shades Valley High School (1949)|Shades Valley High School]]
* [[George Kirchoff]] completed a Bachelor of Science in Engineering at [[Auburn University]].
* [[George Kirchoff]] completed a Bachelor of Science in Engineering at [[Auburn University]].
* [[Constance Shen Pittman]] earned an M.D. at Harvard Medical School
* [[Constance Shen Pittman]] earned an M.D. at Harvard Medical School
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===Deaths===
===Deaths===
* [[Carrie Bridewell]], opera mezzo-soprano
* [[Carrie Bridewell]], opera mezzo-soprano
* [[Mattie Harris]], president of [[Davenport & Harris Funeral Home]]
* [[February 5]]: [[Theodore Swann]], industrial chemist
* [[July 29]]: [[Roscoe Chandler]], restaurateur
* [[October 17]]: [[Raymond Jones]], insurance executive
:''See also: [[List of Birmingham homicides in 1955]]''
:''See also: [[List of Birmingham homicides in 1955]]''


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* ''From Faith to Faith'' by [[B. Davie Napier]]
* ''From Faith to Faith'' by [[B. Davie Napier]]
* ''The Teachings of Classical Puritanism on Conjugal Love'' by [[Roland Frye]]
* ''The Teachings of Classical Puritanism on Conjugal Love'' by [[Roland Frye]]
* "Phenix City: The Wickedest City in America" by [[Edwin Strickland]] and [[Gene Wortsman]], [[Vulcan Press]]


===Buildings===
===Buildings===
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* [[Gate City Elementary School]]
* [[Gate City Elementary School]]
* [[Knesseth Israel Congregation]] on [[Montevallo Road]]
* [[Knesseth Israel Congregation]] on [[Montevallo Road]]
* [[La Paree]] restaurant on [[5th Avenue North]], remodeling
* [[Mountain Brook Shopping Center]]
* [[Mountain Brook Shopping Center]]
* [[Office Park]] in [[Mountain Brook]]
* [[Office Park]] in [[Mountain Brook]]
* [[Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School]] 4-classroom addition
* [[Our Lady Queen of the Universe Catholic Church]]
* [[Our Lady Queen of the Universe Catholic Church]]
* [[Southside Branch Library|Parke Memorial Branch Library]] at [[Five Points South]]
* [[Oak Grove High School]]
* [[Patton Hill Baptist Church]] in [[Oakman]]
* [[Patton Hill Baptist Church]] in [[Oakman]]
* [[St Anthony's Church]] ([[Ensley]])
* [[St Anthony's Church]] in [[Ensley]]
* Renovations to the [[Jefferson County Courthouse Bessemer Division]]
* Renovations to the [[Jefferson County Courthouse Bessemer Division]]
* Renovations to [[St Paul's Cathedral]]
* Renovations to [[St Paul's Cathedral]]
* [[SS. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church|St Michael Catholic Church]] in [[Brookside]]


====Demolitions====
====Demolitions====

Latest revision as of 17:12, 15 January 2024

1955 was the 84th year after the founding of the city of Birmingham.

Events

Monkey Island, constructed in 1955
The 1955 Red Diamond building fire

Business

Religion

Sports

Individuals

Births

Graduations

Deaths

See also: List of Birmingham homicides in 1955

Works

Books

Buildings

Demolitions

Context

In 1955 Panamanian president José Antonio Remón Cantera was assassinated. Winston Churchill resigned as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Jonas Salk's polio vaccine was introduced. West Germany was recognized as a sovereign state and joined NATO. Disneyland opened in Anaheim, California. Gunsmoke premiered on CBS. Juan Peron was ousted by coup in Argentina. Racial segregation in interstate buses was banned. Rosa Parks kicked off the Montgomery bus boycott.

Notable births in 1955 included Kevin Costner, Eddie Van Halen, John Grisham, Arsenio Hall, Bruce Willis, Reba McEntire, Billy Bob Thornton, Edwin Moses, Yo-Yo Ma, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. Deaths in 1955 included Albert Einstein, James Agee, Charlie Parker, James Dean, and Honus Wagner.

Top grossing films of 1955 included Lady and the Tramp, Rebel Without a Cause, and Oklahoma. Nobakov's Lolita was published in Paris. William Faulkner won the Pulitzer Prize for Literature for A Fable and Tennessee Williams won the Pulitzer for Drama for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. The top pop songs were Bill Haley and the Comets' "Rock Around the Clock", Tennessee Ernie Ford's "Sixteen Tons", and Mitch Miller's "Yellow Rose of Texas."

1950s
<< 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 >>
Births - Deaths - Establishments - Events - Works
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