What happened in September 1955?
The top front-page story of each day in September 1955, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Sep 1👗 Fall Fashion Trends – First pictures from Paris showcase the latest fall fashion trends, highlighting a focus on the upper body.
- Sep 2🔬 Polio Vaccine Allocation – U.S. announces the largest allocation of polio vaccine, with 3,348,000 shots ready as cases rise only 6.6% in a week.
- Sep 3📈 Consumer Credit Sound – Consumer credit deemed healthiest since 1945, with low delinquency rates boosting economic confidence.
- Sep 4🔬 Atomic Age Near – Report to U.N. Economic Unit expresses hope for nuclear power development to meet energy needs in Latin America.
- Sep 5📚 World Wheat Harvest High – World wheat harvest estimated near-record levels, with Northern Hemisphere output expected to exceed previous years.
- Sep 6✈️ Jet Sets Record – Col. Hanes becomes the first to break the sonic barrier in level flight, achieving a speed of 822 mph and winning an air show trophy.
- Sep 7🎨 Edinburgh Festival Triumph – Cantelli conducts a stunning performance of Brahms' First Symphony at the Edinburgh Festival, captivating audiences.
- Sep 8🎨 Aline Bernstein Dies – Aline Bernstein, renowned designer of stage costumes and scenes, passes away, leaving a legacy in theater and literature.
- Sep 9🌍 U.S. Offers India Aid – The U.S. announces a $1,000,000 wheat aid package for India in response to devastating floods.
- Sep 10🚀 U.S. May Launch Satellites – Scientists predict the U.S. could launch 6 to 10 satellites by the end of 1958, discussed at a geophysical conference.
- Sep 11🌍 Adenauer, Bulganin Meet – German Chancellor Adenauer and Soviet Premier Bulganin meet, marking a pivotal moment in post-war negotiations over Germany's future.
- Sep 12✈️ New Supersonic Plane – 'Pinch-Waist' design boosts supersonic speed by 25%, easing drag at the sound barrier, marking a significant aviation breakthrough.
- Sep 13🌍 Mississippi Project Approved – $47 million project aims to prevent the Mississippi River from changing its channel, securing New Orleans' future.
- Sep 14🌍 Moscow and Bonn Relations – Moscow and Bonn agree to establish diplomatic relations, enhancing cooperation and addressing prisoner issues.
- Sep 15🔬 Cancer Diagnosis Aided – Japanese surgeon reveals how radioactivity can detect stomach malignancies, marking a breakthrough in cancer diagnosis.
- Sep 16🎨 Prokofiev Opera Debuts – Prokofiev's opera, written 30 years prior, makes its debut at the Venice Festival, showcasing historical cultural significance.
- Sep 17🔬 Salk Shot Supply Allocated – U.S. allocates 3,819,621 doses of polio vaccine between the Polio Foundation and state programs.
- Sep 18🔬 Virus Reconstructed – Scientists successfully tore apart and reassembled a virus, creating a living organism in a laboratory setting.
- Sep 19🔬 Plant Life on Mars – A blue-green area nearly the size of Texas is spotted on Mars, suggesting potential plant life on the planet.
- Sep 20🎥 U.S. Films Link Japan – Producers urged to use American films to foster friendship with Japan, according to Kono, an agriculture official.
- Sep 21🌍 U.N. Flags Removed – The U.N. removed its sixty flags in a symbolic gesture during the opening day, despite storm threats, attracting large crowds.
- Sep 22🌊 Flood Relief Aid – Moscow donates $25,000 to Red Cross for flood relief, raising total aid to $13 million as other nations contribute.
- Sep 23🎶 Mozart's 200th Anniversary – Celebrations for Mozart's 200th birthday will be a central feature of the season at the Y, highlighting his enduring legacy.
- Sep 24🌍 Buenos Aires Welcomes Lonardi – Hundreds of thousands fill the streets of Buenos Aires to greet General Lonardi on his inauguration as the new leader of Argentina.
- Sep 25🌍 25 Women in U.N – Twenty-five women are seated in the U.N. Assembly, marking a decrease in representation at the 10th session.
- Sep 26🌍 Cambodia Declares Independence – Cambodia severs ties with France, declaring independence as Prince Norodom takes the post of Premier.
- Sep 27🕊️ Israel Prays for Eisenhower – Israeli leaders and citizens unite in prayer for President Eisenhower's recovery during a special holy day.
- Sep 28🌾 Spain's Drought Crisis – Severe drought in Spain significantly reduces wheat production, impacting staple diets and causing an oversupply of oranges.
- Sep 29🌪️ Hurricane Janet Strikes – Hurricane Janet causes heavy damage in Yucatan, with an estimated death toll of 200 and significant destruction to crops and roads.
- Sep 30🏗️ New Hospital Building – Special Surgery announces $5,700,000 in gifts as it dedicates a new $6,000,000 building.
Happy Birthday! 1955 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1955 in real headlines. See the 1955 book →
Born in September? Pick the day
Every birthday in September has its own On This Day in Headlines book: