What Happened in 1950?

MAJOR EVENTS:

• North Korea invades South Korea; U.N. forces arrive to counter the invasion, but are forced to withdraw. President Truman declares state of emergency after Communist China becomes involved in the conflict.
• Communist Chinese forces occupy Tibet
• Senator Joseph McCarthy warns of communist infiltration of State Department
• Failed assassination attempt on President Truman by Puerto Rican nationalists
• Congress passes laws that restrict communists and communist parties in the U.S.
• Accused communist spy Alger Hiss convicted of perjury
• National Council of Churches formed

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY:

• Antihistamines become popular as cold relief medications
• New York’s Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel opens

SPORTS:

• World Series: New York Yankees over Philadelphia, 4-0
• Chuck Cooper becomes the 1st African American to be drafted into the NBA
• The FIFA World Cup is held in Brazil and Uruguay wins the title

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT:

• Movies: Sunset Boulevard, All About Eve
• Songs: A Bushel and a Peck, Good Night Irene, Mona Lisa, C’est Si Bon
• TV Shows: Arthur Godfrey and Friends, Lux Video Theatre, Fred Waring Show, Your Show of Shows, Your Hit Parade, Fireside Theatre
• Books: The Martian Chronicles, Ray Bradbury; Across the River and Into the Trees, Ernest Hemmingway; Darkness at Noon, Sidney Kingsley; The Way West, A.B. Guthrie, Jr.
• "Cool jazz" gains popularity
• Guys and Dolls premieres
• George Bernard Shaw dies

EVERYDAY LIFE:

• TV hero Hopalong Cassidy peaks in popularity

FUN FACTS:

• 14 million television sets sold in U.S., increasing the number in service by ten-fold
• Bill Murray, John Candy, Stevie Wonder were born