U.S. Facts

• President: Harry S Truman (D)
• Population: 154,878,000
• Life Expectancy: 68.4 years
• Unemployment: 3.3%
• Average Annual Salary: $4,200
• Minimum Wage: $0.75 per hour
• Inflation Rate: 7.9%

What Things Cost

• Automobile: $1,800
• Gasoline: $0.27 per gallon
• House: $16,000
• Bread: $0.16 per loaf
• Milk: $0.92 per gallon
• Postage Stamp: $0.03

Major U.S. Events

• Truman relieves MacArthur to avoid World War III
• 22nd Amendment to U.S. Constitution ratified, limiting Presidents to 2 terms

Major World Events

• Chinese and North Korean forces pushed back toward 38th parallel
• American casualties in Korea by year-end: 15,000 dead and 75,000 wounded

January

• U.N. HQ opens in New York City

March

• U.N. troops recapture S. Korean capitol Seoul for 2nd time

April

• Julius and Ethel Rosenberg sentenced to death for selling atomic secrets
• Truman recalls MacArthur from Korea
• In farewell speech, MacArthur says "Old soldiers never die, they just fade away."

May

• U.S. test first thermonuclear device, the hydrogen bomb
• First live coast-to-coast TV broadcast

June

• UNIVAC arrives, first computer for both numeric and alphabetic data
• CBS does first commercial color telecast

July

• Illinois National Guard ends race riot in Chicago suburb Cicero

September

• U.S., Australia, and New Zealand sign ANZUS mutual defense pact
• Peace treaty with Japan signed, in formal recognition of end of Pacific war

October

• Transcontinental dial telephone service begins
• Truman signs act ending war with Germany

November

• Tentative truce agreed in Korea, with many terms still to be resolved

Top Songs

• Too Young by Nat King Cole
• Because of You by Tony Bennett
• How High The Moon by Les Paul & Mary Ford
• Come On-a My House by Rosemary Clooney
• Be My Love by Mario Lanza

Other New Songs

• Mockingbird Hill by Patti Page
• Cold, Cold Heart by Tony Bennett
• If by Perry Como
• Jezebel by Frankie Laine
• On Top Of Old Smokey by the Weavers

Top Movies

• An American in Paris
• A Streetcar Named Desire
• A Place in the Sun
• The African Queen
• The Day the Earth Stood Still

Top Books

• The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
• The Caine Mutiny by Herman Wouk
• Spartacus by Howard Fast
• From Here to Eternity by James Jones
• Foundation by Isaac Asimov

Top Radio Shows (1950-51)

• Lux Radio Theater
• The Jack Benny Show
• The Amos 'n' Andy Show
• Arthur Godfrey & His Talent Scouts
• Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy

Top TV Shows (1950-51)

• Texaco Star Theater (Milton Berle)
• Fireside Theater
• Philco TV Playhouse
• Your Show of Shows
• The Colgate Comedy Hour

Major League Baseball: World Series

• New York Yankees d. New York Giants

Pro Football: Championship

• Los Angeles Rams d. Cleveland Browns

Ice Hockey: Stanley Cup

• Toronto Maple Leafs d. Montreal Canadiens

Pro Basketball: Championship

• Rochester Royals d. New York Knickerbockers

NCAA Champions

• Football: Tennessee Volunteers
• Basketball: Kentucky Wildcats

Other Champions

• Boxing: Ezzard Charles defends heavyweight title 3 times, before finally losing it to Jersey Joe Walcott
• Golf: Ben Hogan is PGA player of the year
• Tennis: Frank Sedgman and Maureen Connolly win U.S. Open
• Horse Racing: Count Turf wins Kentucky Derby
• Auto Racing: Lee Wallard wins Indianapolis 500

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

• Color TV is introduced in America
• The first oral contraceptive is developed
• Atomic Energy Commission authorizes the first nuclear power plant
• Topps markets its first two sets of baseball cards, with 52 cards each
• Swanson introduces beef, turkey, and chicken pot pies
• The first section of the New Jersey Turnpike opens