50+ Totally Amazing Things That Happened in the '50s
It's a decade where you'll meet multiple princesses, a new Queen, The King, Prince and the future King of Pop.
What comes to mind when you think of the 1950s? The baby boom and Cold War are certainly high on that list, but we're here to tell you that the record of noteworthy events goes on from there. From the world stage to our American backyards, here are just a few of the amazing, and in some cases ground-breaking events that had people buzzing throughout this decade.
1950: The Baby Boom
Though it started in 1946, the '50s makes records for the number of babies born per year — around 4 million on average. The top names of the decade: James and Mary.
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1950: The Price of the American Dream
Just in case you were wondering, the median home price was $7,354 this year. The average home size was under 1,000-square-feet.
1950: Record-Breaking Poetry
Gwendolyn Brooks won the Pulitzer Prize for her second book of poetry, “Annie Allen”, where she touched upon key topics such as poverty, racial discrimination, and more. This win made her the first African-American to receive such a distinction.
1950: A New Princess
On February 15, Disney's Cinderella premieres and quickly becomes one of the highest-grossing movies of that year.
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1950: Future Food Icon
Years before she would become a TV hit and change the way we eat, Julia Child enrolls at Le Cordon Bleu cooking school.
1950: A New Strip
Good Grief! On October 2, the first Peanuts comic strip debuts. However, the Charlie Brown we know and love (along with his friends) look a little different initially. They have more of a cute, toddler-like appearance until around 1957.
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1951: A Runaway Hit
On July 16, The Catcher in the Rye by then-31-year-old J.D. Salinger is published, giving a new hero to teens everywhere, ones who are just tired of all the phonies.
1951: In Living Color
RCA broadcasts the first color TV episode on June 25. However, the only photos we could find were in black and white!
1951: An Incredible Run
On October 16, Judy Garland begins her concert series at The Palace. Though her run was only supposed to be four weeks, she's such a hit that her stay is extended to 19 weeks.
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1951: Our Favorite Redhead
On October 15, I Love Lucy debuts. In the first season, the show reaches over 10 million viewers.
1951: STELLA!
The movie adaptation of A Streetcar Named Desire premieres, becoming the fifth biggest hit of the year.
1952: A Royal Funeral
It's the end of an era when King George VI dies on February 6. His daughter, Elizabeth, ascends the throne.
1952: Golden Girl
Betty White wins her first Emmy — a regional Los Angeles Emmy — for her role on her show Life With Elizabeth.
1952: New Era for Architecture
The Lever House is completed and opens on April 29, ushering in the glass-walled International Style that would become the trend for businesses through the decade.
1952: Look Up!
Just before midnight July 19-20, a UFO is allegedly spotted on radar and by witnesses on the ground in Washington, D.C.
1952: The Bomb Drops
The U.S. successfully detonates the first hydrogen bomb in the Marshall Islands on November 1.
1953: Oscar Night
March 19 begins a new tradition for entertainment lovers around the country. It's the 25th annual Academy Awards — the first to be broadcast on TV.
1953: A New Queen
June 2 marks the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Hundreds of millions tune in on their televisions and radios to follow the day's momentous events.
1953: Power Couple
On September 12, Jacqueline Bouvier weds then-Senator John Fitzgerald Kennedy in Newport, Rhode Island. Their reception at Hammersmith Farm would host more than 1,200 guests.
1953: A Star Is Born
Audrey Hepburn makes her silver screen debut in Roman Holiday, and would go on to win the Academy Award for her memorable portrayal of Princess Ann.
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