U.S. Facts

• President: Harry S Truman (D)
• Population: 144,126,000
• Life Expectancy: 66.8 years
• Unemployment: 3.9%
• Average Annual Salary: $3,500
• Minimum Wage: $0.40 per hour
• Inflation Rate: 14.4%

What Things Cost

• Automobile: $1,500
• Gasoline: $0.23 per gallon
• House: $13,000
• Bread: $0.12 per loaf
• Milk: $0.80 per gallon
• Postage Stamp: $0.03

Major U.S. Events

• Truman Doctrine proposes "containment" of Communist expansion
• Americans purchase first new cars made since start of World War II
• Truman signs Natl. Security Act w/CIA, DoD, Joint Chiefs, and NSC

Major World Events

• Soviet Union rejects U.S. plan for U.N. atomic energy control
• Marshall Plan proposed to help Europe recover from war

January

• Int' Monetary Fund begins opns.

February

• Voice of America broadcasts to Soviet-controlled areas

April

• Jackie Robinson 1st negro in major league baseball in 20th century

May

• Levitt & Sons starts Levittown, NY, first mass-produced housing

June

• Congress overrides veto of Taft-Hartley Act, limiting labor union power

July

• Congress passes Presidential Succession Act, placing Speaker of House after V.P.

August

• India and Pakistan gain independence from British Empire

September

• U.S. Air Force established as separate branch of service

October

• Truman first president to make TV address
• World Series televised for first time
• Chuck Yeager first to break sound barrier

November

• Movie Industry blacklists "The Hollywood Ten," in response to House Un-American Activities Committee
• Republicans gain control of Congress
• Howard Hughes flies Spruce Goose, plane w/longest wing span, 320 ft

Top Songs

• Near You by Francis Craig
• Peg O' My Heart by Buddy Clark (or) the Harmonicats
• Heartaches by Ted Weems
• Linda by Ray Noble Orchestra w/Buddy Clark
• Smoke, Smoke, Smoke (That Cigarette) by Tex Williams

Other New Songs

• Anniversary Song by Dinah Shore
• Ballerina by Vaughn Monroe
• Whiffenpoof Song by Bing Crosby & Fred Waring
• Manaqua, Nicaragua by Guy Lombardo (or) Freddy Martin
• One O'Clock Jump by Count Basie

Top Movies

• Gentleman's Agreement
• Life With Father
• The Farmer's Daughter
• Miracle on 34th Street
• Body and Soul

Top Books

• The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
• The Pearl by John Steinbeck
• Tales of the South Pacific by James Michener
• Under the Volcano by Malcom Lowry
• Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

Top Radio Shows (1946-47)

• Fibber McGee & Molly
• The Bob Hope Show
• Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy
• The Jack Benny Show
• The Red Skelton Show

Top TV Shows (1946-47)

• Cavalcade Of Sports (Boxing)
• Faraway Hills, first TV soap opera
• Hour Glass, first TV variety hour

Major League Baseball: World Series

• New York Yankees d. Brooklyn Dodgers

Pro Football: Championships

• NFL: Chicago Cardinals d. Philadelphia Eagles
• AAFC: Cleveland Browns d. New York Yankees

Ice Hockey: Stanley Cup

• Toronto Maple Leafs d. Montreal Canadiens

Pro Basketball: Championship:

• Philadelphia Warriors d. Chicago Stags

NCAA Champions

• Football: Michigan Wolverines
• Basketball: Holy Cross Crusaders

Other Champions

• Boxing: Joe Louis defends heavyweight title
• Golf: Jimmy Demaret wins PGA Tour
• Tennis: Jack Kramer and Louise Brough win U.S. Open
• Horse Racing: Jet Pilot wins Kentucky Derby
• Auto Racing: Mauri Rose wins Indianapolis 500

Note: You may click on the images above to visit Amazon.com for souvenirs of the era

• First new cars are manufactured since start of World War II
• Raytheon produces first commercial microwave
• Fabrics of blended rayon and polyester are used in clothing to limit need for ironing
• Transistor is invented by Bell Laboratories
• Earl Tupper begins marketing Tupperware, which leads to Tupperware parties across America
• Magic 8-Balls sweep the country as the latest fad