Hi proph,
A 555 can help do what you want, but it can't do it alone. And as audioguru noted you won't do it on 1.5V either (at least, not too easily).
I've attached a fairly simple idea I had, which just uses a 555 to generate a 1-second clock pulse which drives a shift register, which in turn drives some LEDs. If you want to use ultrabright LEDs or incandescent lamps then you should drive them via transistors instead of directly from the 74HC164.
Once power is switched on, there is a short delay after which LEDs D2 through D6 light up at one-second increments. After the 5th LED lights up, all stay on until 1 to 3 seconds have passed depending on whether output Q6, Q7, or Q8 is connected to the base of transistor Q1. After that, all the LEDs turn off until the reset switch is pressed.
Transistor Q2, resistor R9, and voltage source V2 are just there to simulate a reset switch and should not be included if this were built. The switch would be a "momentary normally-open" switch wired where Q2's emitter and collector are. Pressing it starts the countup running again (after a short delay).
There are sadly no solenoid drivers nor false-start alarms; it's cheap and cheerful.
Just another way to do it.
Cheers,
Torben