Jan-Jul
Korean War Escalates
Chinese forces pushed UN troops south of Seoul in January. By summer, the front stabilized near the 38th parallel. Truce talks began in July at Kaesong.
war
🇺🇸United States · 50s
The Korean Front
Korea, I Love Lucy, and the shot heard 'round the world.
What happened
5 milestones of 1951
Apr 11
Truman Fires MacArthur
President Truman relieved General Douglas MacArthur of command for publicly contradicting the administration's limited-war strategy. MacArthur returned to a hero's welcome.
Oct 15
I Love Lucy Premieres
Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz debuted the sitcom that would dominate American television for the decade. By season two, 72% of TV households tuned in.
Oct 3
The Shot Heard 'Round the World
Bobby Thomson hit a walk-off home run for the New York Giants against the Brooklyn Dodgers, winning the NL pennant. The most famous home run in baseball history.
Dec 20
First Nuclear Power Reactor Generates Electricity
Experimental Breeder Reactor-I in Idaho became the first nuclear reactor to produce usable electricity, lighting four light bulbs. The atomic age had a peaceful use.
What was playing
70% local · 30% international
What was in cinemas
An American in Paris
Vincente Minnelli — Won Best Picture. Gene Kelly danced through Gershwin in glorious Technicolor.
A Streetcar Named Desire
Elia Kazan — Marlon Brando's explosive Stanley Kowalski changed acting forever.
The African Queen
John Huston — Bogart and Hepburn on a river in Africa. He won his only Oscar.
A Place in the Sun
George Stevens — Montgomery Clift and Elizabeth Taylor in a tragic American dream story.
The Day the Earth Stood Still
Robert Wise — Klaatu barada nikto. Cold War anxiety meets sci-fi masterpiece.
What was on TV
I Love Lucy
1951-1957 — The most-watched show in America. Lucy and Ricky defined the sitcom.
See It Now
1951-1958 — Edward R. Murrow brought journalism to television.
Dragnet
1951-1959 — 'Just the facts, ma'am.' The first major police procedural.
The Roy Rogers Show
1951-1957 — The King of the Cowboys rode into living rooms.
Amos 'n' Andy
1951-1953 — First all-Black cast on TV, though controversial for its stereotypes.
How much things cost
Currency: USD
Gallon of milk$0.92
Gallon of gas$0.27
New house (median)$9,000
New car (average)$1,500
Loaf of bread$0.16
Movie ticket$0.53
Inflation: 7.9%
Korean War spending fueled inflation to nearly 8%, the highest since WWII. Wage and price controls were reimposed.
Then vs. Now
Inflation-adjusted values
Gallon of milkBLS
1951 (USD)
$0.92
→
Today's value ($)
--
Gallon of gasEIA
1951 (USD)
$0.27
→
Today's value ($)
--
New house (median)Census Bureau
1951 (USD)
$9,000
→
Today's value ($)
--
New car (average)BLS
1951 (USD)
$1,500
→
Today's value ($)
--
Loaf of breadBLS
1951 (USD)
$0.16
→
Today's value ($)
--
Movie ticketNATO
1951 (USD)
$0.53
→
Today's value ($)
--
Technology
UNIVAC I
The first commercial computer delivered to the US Census Bureau.
Direct-dial long distance
First coast-to-coast direct-dial phone call made from New Jersey to California.
EBR-I nuclear reactor
First nuclear reactor to generate usable electricity.
Color television
CBS broadcast the first commercial color TV program, though few had color sets.
Fluoridated water
More US cities began adding fluoride to public water supplies.
Pop Culture
Fashion
Full skirts with petticoatsSaddle shoes and bobby socksMen's gray flannel suits
Slang
Swell— Great, excellent
Doll— Attractive woman
Keen— Wonderful, sharp
Behavior
- Drive-in movies became the dominant date night
- Bomb shelters appeared in suburban backyards
- TV dinners started changing how families ate
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