Dashed left edge = started before October 1957 ·
Dashed right edge = ongoing beyond October 1957
Events in October 1957 11
1883 – 1957Nikos Kazantzakis (1883-1957)Died 26 October 1957, aged 74Greek writer and philosopher best known for the novel Zorba the Greek and for The Last Temptation of Christ, which was condemned by the Orthodox Church. His work explored themes of struggle, faith, and freedom.
1905 – 1957Christian Dior (1905-1957)Died 24 October 1957, aged 52French fashion designer whose "New Look" collection of 1947 redefined post-war women's fashion and reestablished Paris as the center of the fashion world. His fashion house remains one of the most influential in the industry.
1905 – 1957Christian DiorThe New LookFashion designer who revolutionized women's post-war fashion.
1957Asian flu pandemic spreads worldwideH2N2 influenza outbreak kills over a million peopleAn influenza pandemic caused by the H2N2 virus, first identified in China, spread across Asia, Europe, and the Americas over the course of 1957. It killed an estimated one to two million people worldwide before subsiding.
1957Little Richard quits rock and roll for the churchAustralian tourLeaves music mid-tour, taking it as a sign from God.
1957The Bridge on the River Kwai releasedDavid Lean war epic wins wide acclaimDavid Lean's film The Bridge on the River Kwai, based on Pierre Boulle's novel about Allied prisoners of war building a railway bridge for their Japanese captors, premiered in London. It went on to win seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
1957Jimmy Hoffa elected Teamsters presidentRise of a controversial labor leaderJimmy Hoffa was elected president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters at its convention in Miami Beach. He led the union through a period of rapid growth amid persistent allegations of corruption and organised crime ties.
1957SputnikFirst Earth satelliteThe Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1 on October 4, 1957 — the first artificial Earth satellite — shocking the West and igniting the Space Race.
1957Windscale fireWorst nuclear accident in British history to that pointA fire broke out in the core of the Windscale Pile 1 nuclear reactor in Cumbria, England, releasing radioactive contamination across parts of the United Kingdom and Europe. It remains the worst nuclear accident in British history.
1957Elvis Presley's Jailhouse Rock premieresJailhouse Rock premieres in Memphis. Its title-song dance sequence becomes one of the most famous scenes of his career.
1957Toyota begins selling cars in the United StatesToyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. is establishedToyota established Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. and began exporting the Toyopet Crown to American dealerships. Early sales were poor due to the car's underpowered engine, but the venture laid the groundwork for Toyota's later dominance of the US auto market.