1959

1959 Headlines
• . Mercury program: NASA announces the selection of the United States' first seven astronauts which the news media quickly dub the "Mercury Seven".
• February 3rd was known as The Day The Music Died: A plane crash kills rock-and-roll performers Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper.
• The TV show Bonanza premiers—the First regularly-scheduled TV program presented in color. The Twilight Zone pilot premieres, written and directed by Rod Serling a Binghamtonian.
• .Motown record label is founded in Detroit, Michigan.
• As an example of Politics in 1959 Governor of Louisiana Earl K. Long is committed to a state mental hospital; he responds by having the hospital's director fired and replaced with a crony who proceeds to proclaim him perfectly sane.