Remembering 1959: From the Red Scare to the Space Race
Step back into a pivotal year of transformation, tension, and tragic loss. This collection of 44 recordings, spanning over 13 hours of audio, captures the final year of the Eisenhower era as America stood on the cusp of the 1960s. From the heady optimism of the Mercury Seven astronauts to the piercing anxieties of the Cold War, 1959 was a year of stark contrasts—Alaska and Hawaii joined the Union, Fidel Castro marched into Havana, and Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper perished in a frozen Iowa field. Through original news reports, classic radio dramas, and vintage comedy, this compilation brings the sounds of that unforgettable year vividly back to life.
Collection Highlights
- The Day the Music Died: Hear the actual news bulletin from February 3, 1959, reporting the plane crash that claimed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper—a moment later immortalized in Don McLean's "American Pie."
- History in the Making: Listen to President Eisenhower's address admitting Alaska to the Union, the press conference announcing the Mercury 7 astronauts, and the famous "Kitchen Debate" between Vice President Richard Nixon and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev at the American National Exhibition in Moscow.
- Radio's Golden Hour: Savor peak-era episodes of classic radio programs, including Suspense starring Agnes Moorehead, Gunsmoke, Have Gun–Will Travel, You Bet Your Life, and Yours Truly Johnny Dollar, plus rare broadcasts from the Grand Ole Opry and interviews with Johnny Cash and Vaughn Monroe.
- A Nation on Alert: Civil defense messages explain CONELRAD—the emergency broadcast system designed to confuse enemy bombers—while Meet the Press debates the rising influence of Fidel Castro and the communist threat just 90 miles from Florida.
Track Listing
Show all 88 tracks (13 hours, 31 min)
- Answer Man 590306 Eskimo Women
- Bob Ray 590708 08 Our Fella Thursday
- Cisco Kid 590000 652 Masquerading Of Denver Dan
- CMT 590000 091 Im Walking June Carter
- Dr Paul 591020 007 Dr Paul Leaves Suddenly
- Eisenhower 590103 Admitting Alaska Changing Flag
- Eternal Light 590329 753 Song Of Berdeicher
- FMM 590104 1550 An Autumn Drive
- FMM 590207 1559 House Trailer Troubles
- Fmm 590214 1561 Preparing For Blizzard
- Grand Ole Opry 590509
- Grand Ole Opry 590516
- Guest Star 590628 0640 Johnny Cash
- Guest Star 590726 0644 Vaughn Monroe
- Guns 590621 ep376 Carmen
- Guns 591108 ep396 Cavalcade
- Heartbeat Broadway 590200 Story Behind My Fair Lady
- Heartbeat Theatre 590503 166 Lucky Break
- HGWT 590329 e019 Sense of Justice
- HGWT 590906 e042 All That Glitters
- Just Entertainment 590728
- Leo Hoegh 1959 Community Defense
- Leo Hoegh 1959 Conelrad
- MTP 590419 Fidel Castro Prime Minister Cuba
- MTP 590726 Robert Kennedy
- MTP 590913 Carl Sandburg Edward Steichen Photographer
- News 590000 Fight Against Polio Frank Sinatra
- News 590000 Flannery OConnor Univ Nashville TN
- News 590111 Fidel Castro Interview on Ed Sullivan
- News 590203 Holly Richardson Valens plane crash news report
- News 590409 Press Conference announcing Merucry 7 Astronauts
- News 590724 Nixon and Khrushchev meet
- News 590823 Pologue To War
- Promo for 1959 Bonanza TV Series
- Susp 590104 Dont Call Me Mother Agnes Moorehead
- Susp 590201 788 Return To Dust
- Susp 590208 789 Death Notice
- Susp 590726 812 Night Man
- The Hidden Revolution 590318 Day Called X
- You Bet Your Life 590928 Street
- You Bet Your Life 591012 Book
- YTJD 591025 662 Double Identity
- YTJD 591129 667 Wrong Man
- YTJD 591213 669 Sudden Wealth
- Answer Man 590306 Eskimo Women
- Bob Ray 590708 08 Our Fella Thursday
- Cisco Kid 590000 652 Masquerading Of Denver Dan
- CMT 590000 091 Im Walking June Carter
- Dr Paul 591020 007 Dr Paul Leaves Suddenly
- Eisenhower 590103 Admitting Alaska Changing Flag
- Eternal Light 590329 753 Song Of Berdeicher
- FMM 590104 1550 An Autumn Drive
- FMM 590207 1559 House Trailer Troubles
- Fmm 590214 1561 Preparing For Blizzard
- Grand Ole Opry 590509
- Grand Ole Opry 590516
- Guest Star 590628 0640 Johnny Cash
- Guest Star 590726 0644 Vaughn Monroe
- Guns 590621 ep376 Carmen
- Guns 591108 ep396 Cavalcade
- Heartbeat Broadway 590200 Story Behind My Fair Lady
- Heartbeat Theatre 590503 166 Lucky Break
- HGWT 590329 e019 Sense of Justice
- HGWT 590906 e042 All That Glitters
- Just Entertainment 590728
- Leo Hoegh 1959 Community Defense
- Leo Hoegh 1959 Conelrad
- MTP 590419 Fidel Castro Prime Minister Cuba
- MTP 590726 Robert Kennedy
- MTP 590913 Carl Sandburg Edward Steichen Photographer
- News 590000 Fight Against Polio Frank Sinatra
- News 590000 Flannery OConnor Univ Nashville TN
- News 590111 Fidel Castro Interview on Ed Sullivan
- News 590203 Holly Richardson Valens plane crash news report
- News 590409 Press Conference announcing Merucry 7 Astronauts
- News 590724 Nixon and Khrushchev meet
- News 590823 Pologue To War
- Promo for 1959 Bonanza TV Series
- Susp 590104 Dont Call Me Mother Agnes Moorehead
- Susp 590201 788 Return To Dust
- Susp 590208 789 Death Notice
- Susp 590726 812 Night Man
- The Hidden Revolution 590318 Day Called X
- You Bet Your Life 590928 Street
- You Bet Your Life 591012 Book
- YTJD 591025 662 Double Identity
- YTJD 591129 667 Wrong Man
- YTJD 591213 669 Sudden Wealth
