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1949 Trivia, History and Fun Facts |
Quick Facts from 1949 |
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Top Ten Baby Names of 1949Linda, Mary, Patricia, Barbara, Susan, James, Robert, John, William, Michael |
Fashion Icons and Sex SymbolsLauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman, Martine Carol, Ava Gardner, Rita Hayworth, Hedy Lamarr, Marilyn Monroe, Jane Russell, Lana Turner |
Oscars: 21st Academy AwardsThe 21st Academy Awards ceremony took place on March 24, 1949, and returned to the Academy Award Theater in Hollywood, breaking from the larger Shrine Auditorium of the previous year. Robert Montgomery was the host for the evening. The film Hamlet made history by becoming the first non-American film to win the Best Picture award. Laurence Olivier starred in and directed Hamlet, earning him the Best Actor award. The Best Actress trophy went to Jane Wyman for her role in Johnny Belinda. This ceremony is particularly notable because it was the first time the Best Foreign Language Film category was introduced, although it was only a special honorary award then. Emmy Awards: 1st Primetime Emmy AwardsThe first Primetime Emmy Awards were held on January 25, 1949, at the Hollywood Athletic Club. Walter O’Keefe hosted the event. Unlike today’s expansive categories, the first Emmy Awards had only six. The Most Outstanding Television Personality award went to ventriloquist Shirley Dinsdale for her work on Judy Splinters. Meanwhile, the “Station Award” for the best overall programming was given to KTLA, a local station in Los Angeles. The first Emmy Awards were focused primarily on Los Angeles programming and were less of a national event compared to what they’ve become today. Both ceremonies marked significant moments in their respective histories: the Oscars for adding a new category and the Emmys for their very inception. The eligibility period for the Oscars was from January 1, 1948, to December 31, 1948, while the Emmy Awards primarily focused on Los Angeles-area programming without a specific eligibility window. |
“The Quotes”“Meep Meep” “Made it, Ma! Top of the world!” “What a dump.” |
Time Magazine’s Man of the YearWinston Churchill |
Miss AmericaJacque Mercer (Litchfield, AZ) |
The Biggest Pop Artists of 1949 includeThe Andrews Sisters, Buddy Clark, Perry Como, Bing Crosby, Vic Damone, Gordon Jenkins and His Orchestra, Dick Haymes, Eddy Howard, Sammy Kaye, Frankie Laine, Peggy Lee, Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians, Tony Martin, Art Mooney, Russ Morgan, Vaughn Monroe, Gordon MacRae, Tony Martin, Art Mooney, Dinah Shore, Frank Sinatra, Jo Stafford, Kay Starr, Mel Torme, Jimmy Wakely, Margaret Whiting |
US PoliticsJanuary 20, 1949 (Thursday): Second inauguration of Harry S. Truman |
1949 Pop Culture Facts & HistoryCharles Lubin’s small chain of ‘Community Bake Shops’ became the Kitchens of Sara Lee, named after his daughter. Fast and Furry-ous (cartoon) was released, with the debut of Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner. It was directed by Chuck Jones (credited as Charles M. Jones). The first “network” television broadcast, as The Dumont Network’s KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, went on the air, connecting the East Coast and mid-west programming. The minimum wage jumped from 40 to 75 cents on October 26. Airplane Celebrity Death: Buddy Clark The first credit card, Diners Club, was issued in 1949 and made of cardboard. Co-founder Frank McNamara was dining with clients and realized he had forgotten his wallet (his wife paid the tab). The Basketball Association of America and the National Basketball League merged to form the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Ladies Pro Golf Association of America was formed in New York. The first Volkswagon (Type 1) car to arrive in the United States, a 1948 model, was brought to New York by Dutch businessman Ben Pon. There was little interest, and only two were sold that year. On March 2, the B-50 Superfortress Lucky Lady II, under Captain James Gallagher, landed in Fort Worth, Texas, after completing the first non-stop around-the-world airplane flight, refueling four times in flight. Dragnet premiered on NBC radio; later, it was a TV series. At Wimbledon, “Gorgeous Gussie” Moran wore a skirt that exposed her knees, causing Wimbledon officials to complain that she was “bringing vulgarity and sin into tennis”. The first automatic street light went on in New Milford, CT. The “Hollywood” sign by Mulholland Drive used to say “Hollywoodland” when it was constructed in 1923, up until 1949. The first Emmy Awards were presented at the Hollywood Athletic Club. Jockey Bill Shoemaker won his 1st race in Albany, California. Grady the Cow, a 1,200-pound cow, got stuck inside a silo on a farm in Yukon, Oklahoma, and captured national media attention. After a few days, Grady was freed and lived until 1961. On January 19, The cognac-bearing Poe Toaster first appeared at the grave of Edgar Allan Poe. On January 11, Los Angeles received its first recorded snowfall. António Egas Moniz was awarded the 1949 Nobel Prize for Medicine for perfecting the lobotomy. Red Byron won the first NASCAR Sprint Cup. The Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act, Act No 55, prohibiting marriage or any sexual relationship between White people and people of other races, was passed in South Africa. The 45 RPM record was introduced. DJ’s got a pressing of Texarkana Baby/Bouquet Of Roses by Eddy Arnold, The Tennessee Plowboy, And His Guitar. The first large commercial release was You’re Adorable by Perry Como. There were several samples produced before them. Siam renamed itself Thailand. By a vote of 37-12, Israel became the 59th member of the United Nations. Between 1949 and 1952, The White House was completely gutted, leaving only the outer walls around a shell. The mansion was rebuilt using concrete and steel beams instead of its original wooden joists. The Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America was incorporated in New York. George Orwell’s dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four was published in London. Arthur Miller’s tragedy Death of a Salesman opened at the Morosco Theatre in New York City for 742 performances. |
The TragedyKathy Fiscus, 3½ years old, died from falling down an abandoned well in San Marino, California. |
Doomsday ClockThree minutes to midnight, according to the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists. |
Television DebutsOn January 10, The Goldbergs premiered on CBS |
The HabitsMen started wearing argyle socks, thanks to Brooks Brothers. Watching Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman on Broadway |
1st Appearances & 1949’s Most Popular Christmas Gifts, Toys and PresentsSilly Putty, Candy Land, Kewpie dolls, Cootie*, Clue** (1948 in the U.K.), Bouncing Putty, Wind-up Clacking “Talking Teeth” |
Nobel Prize WinnersPhysics – Yukawa Hideki |
Popular and Best-selling Books From 1949A Rage to Live by John O’Hara |
Best Film Oscar WinnerHamlet (presented in 1949) |
Sports HighlightsWorld Series Champions: New York Yankees |
More 1949 Facts & History Resources:Most Popular Baby Names (BabyCenter.com) |
