This page offers an insight into life in 1958 and includes World news, political leaders, prices, population statistics and information about the popular culture of 1958.
The year 1958 began on a Wednesday. It was not a leap year.
1958 In The News
6th February – Munich Air Disaster
2nd March– First overland crossing of Antarctica
26th July– Prince Charles was created Prince of Wales
4th October– French 5th Republic established
16th October– ‘Blue Peter’ was first broadcast
21st December – Charles de Gaulle became President of France
Life in 1958 – Prices
Average house:
UK – £2049; USA – $12,750
Petrol per gallon:
UK – £0.22; USA – $0.24
Loaf of Bread:
UK – £0.04; USA – $0.19
Gold per ounce:
UK – $35.10, USA – $35.3
Life in 1958 – Population
World: – 2,947,422,281
Australia: – 9,915,267
Canada: – 17,462,004
China: – 646,703.104
India: – 428,129,408
Soviet Union: 116,259,152
United States: – 174,148,992
United Kingdom: – 51,652,000
Life in 1958 – Music
Best Selling Single:
UK – Jailhouse Rock – Elvis Presley
USA – Volare – Domenico Modugno
AUS – Tom Dooley – The Kingston Trio
CAN – All I Have To Do Is Dream – The Everly Brothers
Best Selling Album:
UK – My Fair Lady – Original Broadway Cast
USA – My Fair Lady – Original Broadway Cast
AUS – No data – Charts began 1966
CAN – No data – Charts began 1968
Popular Artists:
Chuck Berry, Danny and the Juniors, Bobby Day, Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Platters,
On the Bookshelves
Books Published in 1958:
Breakfast at Tiffany’s – Truman Capote
The Witch of Blackbird Pond – Elizabeth George Speare
The Agony and the Ecstasy – Irving Stone
A Bear Called Paddington – Michael Bond
Our Man in Havana – Graham Greene
At the Movies
1958 Top Movies (USA box office figures):
1. South Pacific – $16.3 million
2. Auntie Mame – $9 million
3. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof – $7.7 million
4. No Time For Sergeants – $7.5 million
5. Gigi – $6.5 million
Life in 1958 – World Leaders
Australia Prime Minister – Robert Menzies
Canada Prime Minister – John Diefenbaker
China President – Mao Zedong
India Prime Minister – Jawaharlal Nehru
Soviet Union Leader – Nikita Khruschchev
United States President – Dwight Eisenhower
United Kingdom Prime Minister – Harold MacMillan
Born in 1958
26th January – Ellen DeGeneres (Broadcaster)
8th March – Gary Numan (Singer)
10th March – Sharon Stone (Actress)
3rd April – Alec Baldwin (Actor)
7th June – Prince (Musician)
16th August – Madonna (Singer)
Died in 1958
16th June – Imre Nagy (leader of Hungarian Revolution)
20th June – Kurt Adler (Chemist)
26th August – Ralph Vaughan Williams (Composer)
9th October – Pope Pius XII
15th November – Tyrone Power (Actor)
1958 Sport Highlights
Football – Bolton Wanderers won the FA Cup
Cycling – Charly Gaul (LUX) won the Tour de France
Golf – Tommy Bolt won the US Open; Peter Thomson won the British Open
Tennis – Ashley Cooper won the Australian Open, the US Championship and Wimbledon
Baseball – New York Yankees won the World Series
Horse Racing – Kerstin won the Cheltenham Gold Cup; Tim Tam won the Kentucky Derby
Christmas Wishlist
Plastic Hula Hoop
Slinky Dog
Frisbee
Pogo Stick
Hot Wheels Cars
Play Doh
Paper Dolls
What Was New?
CND Peace symbol developed
Pizza Hut was founded in Wichita, Kansas
Stereo recording was developed
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was founded
Silicon chip developed
First published 2020; updated and republished Mar 23 2022 @ 9:35 pm – Updated –
