Category Archives: 1950s

‘Old soldiers never die; they just fade away’: General MacArthur delivers farewell address to U.S. Congress 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 19 1951)

1950s, Korean War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'General Douglas MacArthur Farewell Speech to Congress'

(Thursday, April 19, 1951, 12:31 p.m. EST; during the Korean War) — U.S. General Douglas MacArthur, relieved eight days ago by President Harry S. Truman as commander of United Nations forces battling North Korean and communist Chinese forces on the Korean Peninsula, bid farewell today before a joint meeting of Congress, quoting a line from a ballad: “Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.”
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U.S. President Harry S. Truman relieves General Douglas MacArthur 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 11 1951)

1950s, Korean War


Video: 'Korean War: Truman vs MacArthur over Korea' (April 11, 1951, at 17:29)

(Wednesday, April 11, 1951, 1:00 a.m. EST; during the Korean War, part of the Cold War and the Korean conflict) — U.S. President Harry S. Truman relieved General of the Army Douglas MacArthur of all his commands in the Far East early today after MacArthur made public statements which contradicted the administration’s policies.
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‘The Thing from Another World’ opens in Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 5, 1951)

1950s, Movies 1950s


Video: ‘The Thing from Another World’ trailer

(Thursday, April 5, 1951) — The Thing from Another World, an American black-and-white science fiction-horror film about an Air Force crew and scientists at a remote Arctic research outpost who fight a malevolent plant-based alien being, opened today in Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio.
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Julius and Ethel Rosenberg sentenced to death for passing atomic weapons information to Soviets 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 5 1951)

1950s, Cold War


Video: 'Julius and Ethel Rosenberg Convicted of Spying Sentenced to Death PublicDomainFootage.com'

(Thursday, April 5, 1951, 12:08 p.m. EST) — Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were sentenced to death today following their conviction in New York on charges of conspiring to commit espionage for Soviet Russia.
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MacArthur challenges Truman’s handling of Korean War in letter to GOP lawmaker 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 5 1951)

1950s, Korean War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Korean War - PART 19, Hard fighting, 6.25' (MacArthur letter to Martin at 8:47)

(Thursday, April 5, 1951; during the Korean War, part of the Cold War and the Korean conflict) — U.S. House Minority Leader Joseph William Martin, Jr. read the text of a letter today he had received from U.S. General Douglas MacArthur, commander of the United Nations forces defending South Korea, dated Mar. 20, 1951, criticizing U.S. President Harry S. Truman administration’s handling of the Korean War.
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Rodgers and Hammerstein’s ‘The King and I’ musical premieres on Broadway 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 29 1951)

1950s, Broadway


Video: 'THE KING AND I - Through Time and History'

(Thursday, March 29, 1951, 8:00 p.m. EST) — The King and I, the fifth musical by the team of Rodgers and Hammerstein, about the relationship between the King of Siam and a British schoolteacher, premiered tonight at Broadway’s St. James Theatre located at 246 West 44th Street in midtown Manhattan.
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Julius and Ethel Rosenberg convicted of passing atomic weapons secrets to Soviets 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 29 1951)

1950s, Cold War


Video: 'Spy Saga of Julius & Ethel Rosenberg - Decades TV Network'

(Thursday, March 29, 1951, 11:00 a.m. EST; during the Cold War) — Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were convicted today in New York of conspiracy to commit espionage for passing atomic weapons information to the Soviet Union.
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UN troops recapture Seoul for second time during the Korean War 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 14 1951)

1950s, Cold War


Video: 'Korean War - PART 19, Hard fighting, 6.25' (UN forces recapture Seoul at 5:27)

(Wednesday, March 14, 1951, 2:40 a.m. Korea Standard Time; during Operation Ripper, part of the Korean War and the Cold War) — United Nations troops reoccupied Seoul today after the South Korean capital was abandoned without a fight by the Chinese and North Korean invaders now in full retreat all along the Korean front.
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‘Be My Love’ by Mario Lanza peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 10 1951)

1950s, Movies 1950s, Popular Music 1950s

(Saturday, March 10, 1951) — “Be My Love” by Mario Lanza peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for one week.
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‘If (They Made Me a King)’ by Perry Como peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 3 1951)

1950s, Popular Music 1950s

(Saturday, March 3, 1951) — “If (They Made Me a King)” by Perry Como peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for six non-consecutive weeks (Mar. 3/17/24/31, Apr. 7/14, 1951).
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