1959: Difference between revisions

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* [[March 1]]: The light cruiser [[USS Birmingham (CL-62)|USS ''Birmingham'' (CL-62)]] was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register.
* [[March 1]]: The light cruiser [[USS Birmingham (CL-62)|USS ''Birmingham'' (CL-62)]] was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register.
* [[May 5]]: The [[Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham]] was founded.
* [[May 5]]: The [[Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham]] was founded.
* [[August 19]]:  The [[Birmingham City Commission]] rejected a request by the [[Birmingham Downtown Improvement Association]] to contribute funding toward a traffic study for a route over or [[Red Mountain Tunnel|through Red Mountain]].
* [[September 27]]: [[Shelby Baptist Medical Center|Shelby Memorial Hospital]] was dedicated on with Alabama Senator [[Lister Hill]] and Congressman [[Armistead Selden]] in attendance.  
* [[September 27]]: [[Shelby Baptist Medical Center|Shelby Memorial Hospital]] was dedicated on with Alabama Senator [[Lister Hill]] and Congressman [[Armistead Selden]] in attendance.  
* [[October 5]]–[[October 10|10]]: The [[1959 Alabama State Fair]] was held at the [[Alabama State Fairgrounds]].
* [[October 5]]–[[October 10|10]]: The [[1959 Alabama State Fair]] was held at the [[Alabama State Fairgrounds]].
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* A [[Birmingham Christmas trees|live Christmas tree]] was planted in [[Linn Park]].
* A [[Birmingham Christmas trees|live Christmas tree]] was planted in [[Linn Park]].
* The town of [[Margaret]] in [[St Clair County]] was incorporated.
* The town of [[Margaret]] in [[St Clair County]] was incorporated.
* The [[Jimmy Morgan Zoo]] traded a pair of Siberian Tiger cubs for a pair of Siamese "black panthers" (melanistic leopards).
* The [[Birmingham Zoo|Jimmy Morgan Zoo]] traded a pair of Siberian Tiger cubs for a pair of Siamese "black panthers" (melanistic leopards).
* [[Mama Petite]], a hippopotamus, was captured and brought to the Jimmy Morgan Zoo.
* [[Mountain Brook]] established its own [[Mountain Brook Schools|school system]].
* [[Mountain Brook]] established its own [[Mountain Brook Schools|school system]].
* [[Vulcan]]'s pedestal was closed for a month for repairs.
* [[Vulcan]]'s pedestal was closed for a month for repairs.
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* [[Pioneer Cafeteria]] opened its first location on [[Parkway East]] near the [[Gadsden Highway]].
* [[Pioneer Cafeteria]] opened its first location on [[Parkway East]] near the [[Gadsden Highway]].
* [[Sam Pizitz|Sam]] and [[Isadore Pizitz]] sold the [[Pizitz]] chain to [[John S. Jemison and Associates]].
* [[Sam Pizitz|Sam]] and [[Isadore Pizitz]] sold the [[Pizitz]] chain to [[John S. Jemison and Associates]].
* The first [[Sherer's Drive-In]] opened near [[Jasper]].
* The J.W. Valentine Company purchased the [[Buck Creek Mill|Siluria Mills]].
* The J.W. Valentine Company purchased the [[Buck Creek Mill|Siluria Mills]].


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===Government===
===Government===
* [[January 19]]: [[John Patterson]] succeeded [[Jim Folsom, Sr]] as [[List of Governors of Alabama|Governor of Alabama]].
* [[January 19]]: [[John Patterson]] succeeded [[Jim Folsom, Sr]] as [[List of Governors of Alabama|Governor of Alabama]].
* [[Albert Boutwell]] succeeded [[William Hardwick]] as [[Lieutenant Governor of Alabama]].
* [[Samuel Burr]] succeeded [[David Hamilton]] as [[Mayor of Mountain Brook]].
* [[Samuel Burr]] succeeded [[David Hamilton]] as [[Mayor of Mountain Brook]].


===Religion===
===Religion===
* [[Seymour Atlas]] became rabbi of [[Knesseth Israel Congregation]].
* [[South Highland Presbyterian Church]] began broadcasting its services on local radio.
* [[Sidney Ziff]] succeeded [[Max Kimerling]] as president of [[Temple Beth-El]].
* [[Sidney Ziff]] succeeded [[Max Kimerling]] as president of [[Temple Beth-El]].


[[Image:Alabama Crimson Tide logo 1959-1993.png|right|150px]]
[[Image:Alabama Crimson Tide logo 1959-1993.png|right|150px]]
===Sports===
===Sports===
* [[October 3]]: [[Aubie]]  first appeared on a football program.
* [[Auburn Tigers football]] under coach [[Shug Jordan]] went 7–3 for the season.
* [[Auburn Tigers football]] under coach [[Shug Jordan]] went 7–3 for the season.
* [[Bobby Bowden]] succeeded [[Virgil C. Ledbetter]] as the head football coach of [[Samford University|Howard College]].
* [[Sam Hairston]] made the Western League's All-Star Team.
* [[Sam Hairston]] made the Western League's All-Star Team.
* The [[University of Alabama]] debuted its elephant in a red A logo.
* The [[University of Alabama]] debuted its elephant in a red A logo.
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==Individuals==
==Individuals==
* [[Cooper Green]] was promoted to Executive Vice President of [[Alabama Power]] and joined the company's Board of Directors.
* [[Cooper Green]] was promoted to Executive Vice President of [[Alabama Power]] and joined the company's Board of Directors.
* [[John Rhoden]] concluded his four-year world tour.
* [[Mack Russell]] left Birmingham for Atlanta after a promotion by Wilby-Kincey.
* [[Mack Russell]] left Birmingham for Atlanta after a promotion by Wilby-Kincey.
* [[Ezra Sims]] made his professional debut on a Composers Forum program in New York.
* [[Ezra Sims]] made his professional debut on a Composers Forum program in New York.


<!-- ===Awards===
===Graduations=== -->
===Births===
===Births===
[[Image:Mike Anderson.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Mike Anderson]]
[[Image:Mike Anderson.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Mike Anderson]]
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* [[David Stiles]], educator
* [[David Stiles]], educator
* [[Daniel Wallace]], novelist
* [[Daniel Wallace]], novelist
===Graduations===
* [[John Cross]] from Virginia Union University with a master's of divinity.
* [[Gail Godwin]] from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill with a B.A. in journalism.
===Awards===
* "Sigma Delta Chi" award for the most outstanding editorial cartoon of the year: [[Charles Brooks]]
* [[Miss Alabama]]: [[Betty Lindstrom]]
* [[Mr Crestwood]]: [[Carl Salter]]


[[Image:Octavus Roy Cohen.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Octavus Roy Cohen]]
[[Image:Octavus Roy Cohen.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Octavus Roy Cohen]]

Revision as of 12:01, 30 August 2012

1959 was the 88th year after the founding of the city of Birmingham.

Events

Business

Civil Rights Movement

Government

Religion

Alabama Crimson Tide logo 1959-1993.png

Sports

Individuals

  • Cooper Green was promoted to Executive Vice President of Alabama Power and joined the company's Board of Directors.
  • John Rhoden concluded his four-year world tour.
  • Mack Russell left Birmingham for Atlanta after a promotion by Wilby-Kincey.
  • Ezra Sims made his professional debut on a Composers Forum program in New York.

Births

Mike Anderson
Emanuel Ford
Daniel Wallace

Graduations

  • John Cross from Virginia Union University with a master's of divinity.
  • Gail Godwin from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill with a B.A. in journalism.

Awards

Octavus Roy Cohen

Deaths

Works

Buildings

Pilgrim Congregational Church's 1959 "blue roof" building on Montclair Road

Gallery

Context

In 1959, Alaska and Hawaii were admitted as the 49th & 50th states. The Cuban Revolution ended with Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement taking power. A chartered plane carrying musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper and pilot Roger Peterson crashed, killing all aboard. American Airlines Flight 320, departing New York City, crashed into the East River, killing 65 of the 73 people on board. Lee Petty won the first Daytona 500. The Barbie doll debuted. NASA announced its selection of seven military pilots to become the first U.S. astronauts. The Saint Lawrence Seaway opened. Explorer 6 sent the first picture of Earth from orbit. The Antarctic Treaty sets aside Antarctica as a scientific preserve and bans military activity on that continent. Pantyhose debuted on the open market.

Notable books published in 1959 included The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E. B. White, Psycho by Robert Bloch, Cat Among the Pigeons by Agatha Christie, The Manchurian Candidate by Richard Condon, Goldfinger by Ian Fleming, Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein, The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, A Separate Peace by John Knowles, The Ugly American by William J. Lederer and Eugene L. Burdick, The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut, Goodbye, Columbus by Philip Roth which won the National Book Award for Fiction, and Advise and Consent by Allen Drury which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. New drama that debuted included A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry.

The top music hits of 1959 included "Stagger Lee" by Lloyd Price, "Venus" by Frankie Avalon, "Come Softly to Me" by The Fleetwoods, "The Battle of New Orleans" by Johnny Horton which won Grammy Awards for both Song of the Year and Best Country & Western Performance, "Lonely Boy" by Paul Anka, "The Three Bells" by The Browns, and "Mack the Knife" by Bobby Darin which won Record of the Year. Bobby Darin was also named Best New Artist. Album of the Year went to Frank Sinatra for Come Dance with Me!, who also netted the Grammy for Best Vocal Performance, Male. Ella Fitzgerald won Best Vocal Performance, Female.

Notable births in 1959 included actor Clancy Brown; NASCAR driver Mark Martin; tennis player John McEnroe; actor Tom Arnold; rapper Flavor Flav; singer Irene Cara; actor David Hyde Pierce; musician Brian Setzer; actress Emma Thompson; singer Sheena Easton; video game designer Peter Molyneux; singer Morrissey; wrestler Kevin Nash; actor Kevin Spacey; basketball player Magic Johnson; spiritualist David Koresh; actor Jason Alexander; actor Jack Wagner; television personality and producer Simon Cowell; singer Marie Osmond; Sarah, Duchess of York; comedy musician "Weird Al" Yankovic; television host Nancy Grace; singer Bryan Adams; and comedian Tracey Ullman.

Notable deaths included film director Cecil B. DeMille, musicians The Big Bopper, Buddy Holly, & Ritchie Valens, comedian Lou Costello, writer Raymond Chandler, architect Frank Lloyd Wright, actor George Reeves, actress Ethel Barrymore, singer Billie Holiday, writer Preston Sturges, sculptor Jacob Epstein, actor Errol Flynn, boxer Max Baer, and tennis player Molla Mallory.

1950s
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Births - Deaths - Establishments - Events - Works
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