WHAT ALL HAPPENED MAY TO AUGUST 1956
Find out what all happened May to August 1956

A Venezuelan Super-Constellation crashes in the Atlantic Ocean off Asbury Park, New Jersey, killing 74 people. (20. June 1956)

Elvis Presley introduces his new single, "Hound Dog", on The Milton Berle Show, scandalizing the audience with his suggestive hip movements. (5. June 1956)

A TWA Super Constellation and a United Airlines DC-7 collide above the Grand Canyon in Arizona and crash, killing all 128 on board both planes. It is the worst-ever aviation disaster at that point in time. (30. June 1956)

In Operation Redwing (shot Cherokee), the first United States airborne hydrogen bomb is dropped over Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. (20. May 1956)

The first Eurovision Song Contest is held in Lugano, Switzerland. (24. May 1956)

The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 is signed, officially creating the United States Interstate Highway System. (29. June 1956)

A doctor in Japan reports an "epidemic of an unknown disease of the central nervous system", marking the official discovery of Minamata disease. (1. May 1956)

Fritz Moravec and two other Austrian mountaineers make the first ascent of Gasherbrum II (8,035 m). (7. July 1956)

Jim Laker becomes the first man to take all 10 wickets in a Test match innings as he returns figures of 10/53 in the Australian 2nd innings. This combined with his 9/37 in the first innings gave him match figures of 19/90 in the 4th Test at Old Trafford. (31. July 1956)

The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway opens. (30. August 1956)

The French National Assembly takes the first step in creating the French Community by passing the Loi Cadre, transferring a number of powers from Paris to elected territorial governments in French West Africa. (23. June 1956)

Following the World Bank's refusal to fund building the Aswan Dam, Egyptian leader Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalizes the Suez Canal, sparking international condemnation. (26. July 1956)

The polio vaccine developed by Jonas Salk is made available to the public. (1. May 1956)

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus closes its very last "Big Tent" show in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, due to changing economics all subsequent circus shows will be held in arenas. (16. July 1956)

In Poznań, workers from HCP factory went to the streets, sparking one of the first major protests against communist government both in Poland and Europe. (28. June 1956)

After going bankrupt in 1955, the American broadcaster DuMont Television Network makes its final broadcast, a boxing match from St. Nicholas Arena in New York in the Boxing from St. Nicholas Arena series. (6. August 1956)

45 miles south of Nantucket Island, the Italian ocean liner SS Andrea Doria collides with the MS Stockholm in heavy fog and sinks the next day, killing 51. (25. July 1956)

Start of Gal Oya riots, the first reported ethnic riots that target minority Sri Lankan Tamils in the Eastern Province. The total number of deaths is reportedly 150. (11. June 1956)

First ascent of Lhotse 8,516 meters, by a Swiss team. (18. May 1956)

Conclusion of the Sixth Buddhist Council on Vesak Day, marking the 2,500 year anniversary after the Lord Buddha's Parinibbāna. (24. May 1956)