What happened in 1951

Jet magazine was launched by John H. Johnson. The sitcom—I Love Lucy—premiered on CBS-TV, and ran for six seasons. Other popular shows that debuted in 1951 were Dragnet (NBC), the Hallmark Hall of Fame (CBS, NBC, ABC, and PBS), Search for Tomorrow (CBS), and Love of Life (CBS).

Historical Events

Two passenger trains collide in CTC territory at Woodstock, Alabama, USA, killing 15 passengers and two employees. Cleveland Browns penalized a record 209 yards against Chicago Bears.

MAJOR EVENTS:

Congress passes 22nd Amendment, limiting a President to two terms. Stalin claims the Soviet Union has the atomic bomb. Julius and Ethel Rosenberg convicted of passing U.S. nuclear secrets to the Soviet Union; both are sentenced to death. General Douglas MacArthur relieved of command in Korea.

On May 27, 1951 the US President was Harry S.Truman (Democrat).

The number of years from 1951 to 2021 is 70 years.

On October 24, 1951, President Harry Truman finally proclaims that the nation’s war with Germany, begun in 1941, is officially over. Fighting had ended in the spring of 1945.

The 1950s were a decade marked by the post-World War II boom, the dawn of the Cold War and the Civil Rights movement in the United States. … For example, the nascent civil rights movement and the crusade against communism at home and abroad exposed the underlying divisions in American society.

Important Dates: 1867: Alaska territory purchased from Russia for $7 million. 1898: Hawaii annexed as a United States territory. 1959: Alaska and Hawaii admitted, respectively, as the 49th and 50th states of the Union.

During the 1950s, a sense of uniformity pervaded American society. Conformity was common, as young and old alike followed group norms rather than striking out on their own. He called this new society “other-directed,” and maintained that such societies lead to stability as well as conformity. …

North Korea invaded South Korea and U.S. troops were sent to help. Cuban Missile Crisis made us afraid that Cuba would launch nuclear missiles toward the U.S. and we would die a horrible death. Anti-Communist paranoia, commonly known as the “Red Scare” was led by Senator Joseph Mc Carthy and started the “witch hunts.”

Drive-In Movies

Drive-in movies were a hit during the late ’50s. Teenagers liked cruising with their wheels and also taking in movies. A drive-in movie was one way to do both.

During the 1950s, gender roles dictated that men were the head of the household and the sole provider, while women were expected to be the homemaker who cared for the children.

1 Indoor Activities

During the 1950s, games, including checkers, marbles and chess as well as card games, such as go fish or old maid, kept children amused during long rainy days. In addition, hot new games such as Scrabble had just been introduced in the late 1940s, and by 1952, its makers were selling 400 sets a day.

The image of American women in the 1950s was heavily shaped by popular culture: the ideal suburban housewife who cared for the home and children appeared frequently in women’s magazines, in the movies and on television.

Women in the 1950s were not allowed to make contracts or wills, could not buy or sell property, had little control of their earnings in most situations, and were discouraged from acting politically, such as hold office, even though they could vote. Women’s rights were minimal.

So, the stereotypical nuclear family of the 1950s consisted of an economically stable family made up of a father, mother, and two or three children. Children were precious assets and the center of the family. Very few wives worked, and even if they had to work, it was combined with their role as housewives and mothers.

The average woman in the 50s had a 27.5-inch waist and her bra size was 34B; in 2017, women’s waists are 34 inches and they wear a 36DD bra. Other differences: Women in 2017 are almost 20 pounds heavier (154 vs. 136 pounds) and wear larger-size clothing (size 14 today vs. size 10 in 1957).

1950s housewife dresses often had sleeves, a modest high neckline and came in fun small prints such as checks, stripes, florals, and plaid. Some had white cuffs and collars like a 50s uniform or waitress dress. They were simple dresses but very comfortable.