1950 Events & Facts

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



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