"In June, 1954, eighteen-year-old Emmett Watson is driven home to Nebraska by the warden of the juvenile work farm where he has just served fifteen months for involuntary manslaughter. His mother long gone, his father recently deceased, and the family farm foreclosed upon by the bank, Emmett's intention is to pick up his eight-year-old brother, Billy, and head to California where they can start their lives anew. But when the warden drives away, Emmett...

This episode of Year by Year covers the U.S. and the Soviet Union race to put the first man in space, while the Berlin wall is constructed, dividing East and West Germany.

Jets on display at American Armed Forces Day show.

USA National Air Raid Drill; Cold War civil defense

Nuclear-powered attack submarine "Thresher" launched

This Universal newsreel focuses on the inauguration of Charles de Gaulle. Charles de Gaulle is invested as president of the French 5th Republic. Of particular note during his keynote speech is his offer of amnesty to Algerian rebels.

This Universal newsreel focuses on the 1959 World Series. The White Sox play the Dodgers in baseball's first World Series on the West Coast.

This Universal newsreel focuses on Alan Shepard, space pioneer. Mercury astronaut Alan Shepard--the first American in space--receives a medal from President Kennedy at the White House and takes part in a parade up Pennsylvania Avenue.

This Universal newsreel focuses on the American space program. After two much-publicized failures, Project Vanguard scores a bull's-eye with the successful launching of a satellite into orbit--a six-inch "artificial moon.

This Universal newsreel focuses on U.S. ballistic missile production. A plant outside of Detroit plays host to military representatives of a dozen NATO nations who have come to see the production lines that turn out Jupiter and Redstone missiles.