Jun 25
Korean War Begins
North Korea invaded South Korea, drawing the US into a three-year conflict that would define Cold War policy.
War — respectful tone toward casualties
🇺🇸United States · 50s
The Postwar Boom Begins
Korea, television, and the dawn of the suburban dream.
What happened
4 milestones of 1950
Feb 9
McCarthy Launches Red Scare
Senator Joseph McCarthy claimed to have a list of 205 communists in the State Department, igniting years of political paranoia.
Political persecution — nuanced, mention harm to innocent people
Feb
First Credit Card Issued
Diners Club introduced the first universal credit card, changing how Americans paid for everything.
Year-round
Television Enters American Homes
TV ownership jumped from 9% to 26% of US households. Shows like 'Texaco Star Theater' made TV the new family hearth.
What was playing
70% local · 30% international
What was in cinemas
All About Eve
Joseph L. Mankiewicz — Best Picture winner. Bette Davis at her sharpest.
Sunset Boulevard
Billy Wilder — Dark Hollywood satire. 'I'm ready for my close-up.'
Cinderella
Clyde Geronimi — Disney's return to animated features after wartime.
Born Yesterday
George Cukor — Box office hit in the US — TMDB 7.3
The Men
Fred Zinnemann — Box office hit in the US — TMDB 7.0
What was on TV
Texaco Star Theater
1948-1956 — Milton Berle was 'Mr. Television' — America's first TV star.
The Lone Ranger
1949-1957 — Cowboys and justice — every kid wanted a mask.
What's My Line?
1950-1967 — Panel game show that became a Sunday night institution.
How much things cost
Currency: USD
Gallon of milk$0.83
Gallon of gas$0.27
New house (median)$7,354
Movie ticket$0.46
New car (avg)$1,510
Inflation: 1.3%
Postwar prosperity — America was the world's factory and wages were rising.
Then vs. Now
Inflation-adjusted values
Gallon of milkBLS
1950 (USD)
$0.83
→
Today's value ($)
--
Gallon of gasEIA
1950 (USD)
$0.27
→
Today's value ($)
--
New house (median)Census Bureau
1950 (USD)
$7,354
→
Today's value ($)
--
Movie ticketNATO
1950 (USD)
$0.46
→
Today's value ($)
--
New car (avg)BLS
1950 (USD)
$1,510
→
Today's value ($)
--
Technology
Color TV prototypes
CBS demonstrated color broadcasts, though sets wouldn't be affordable for years.
UNIVAC computer
First commercial computer being built for the Census Bureau.
Long-distance phone calls
Still expensive — a 3-minute coast-to-coast call cost $2.50 (about $30 today).
Pop Culture
Fashion
Gray flannel suits for menFull skirts with petticoatsSaddle shoesPoodle cuts hairstyle
Slang
Swell— Wonderful, excellent
Dreamboat— Very attractive person
Square— Uncool, conventional person
Behavior
- Suburban migration accelerated with Levittown-style developments
- Drive-in movies became the date night standard
- Baby boom in full swing — 3.6 million births this year
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