Category Archives: 1950s

Great Smog of London descends on British capital, killing thousands of people 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 5 1952)

1950s


Video: 'The Great Smog of 1952 | A Short Documentary | Fascinating Horror'

(Friday, December 5, 1952; during the Great Smog of London) — The Great Smog of London, lethal smog that caused by a combination of industrial pollution and high-pressure weather conditions, descended on the British capital today for the first five days, bringing the city to a near standstill and resulting in thousands of deaths. Continue reading Great Smog of London descends on British capital, killing thousands of people 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 5 1952) →

President-elect Dwight D. Eisenhower arrives in Seoul, seeking an end to Korean War 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 2 1952)

1950s, Cold War, Korean War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Eisenhower Visits Korea (1952)'

(Tuesday, December 2, 1952, 7:57 p.m. Korean Standard Time; during the Korean War, part of the Cold War and the Korean conflict) — Making good on his most dramatic promise of the 1952 presidential campaign, U.S. President-elect Dwight D. Eisenhower arrived in Korea tonight for a firsthand view of the bitter and frustrating Korean War, which Eisenhower vowed to end. Continue reading President-elect Dwight D. Eisenhower arrives in Seoul, seeking an end to Korean War 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 2 1952) →

‘Why Don’t You Believe Me?’ by Joni James peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 29 1952)

1950s, Popular Music 1950s

(Saturday, November 29, 1952) — “Why Don’t You Believe Me?” by Joni James (Orchesta conducted by Lee Douglas) peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for the first of four consecutive weeks (Nov. 29, Dec. 6/13/20, 1952; tied with It’s in the Book (Parts 1 & 2) by Johnny Standley on Nov. 29). Continue reading ‘Why Don’t You Believe Me?’ by Joni James peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 29 1952) →

‘I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus’ by Jimmy Boyd debuts at #13 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 29 1952)

1950s, Christmas, Popular Music 1950s

(Saturday, November 29, 1952) — “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” by Jimmy Boyd debuted at #13 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart. Continue reading ‘I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus’ by Jimmy Boyd debuts at #13 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 29 1952) →

‘It’s in the Book (Parts 1 & 2)’ by Johnny Standley peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 22 1952)

1950s, Popular Music 1950s

(Saturday, November 22, 1952) — “It’s in the Book (Parts 1 & 2)” by Johnny Standley with Horace Heidt And His Musical Knights peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for the first of two consecutive weeks (Nov. 22/29, 1952; tied with Why Don’t You Believe Me? by Joni James on Nov. 29). Continue reading ‘It’s in the Book (Parts 1 & 2)’ by Johnny Standley peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 22 1952) →

Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower elected 34th president of the United States, defeating Democrat Adlai Stevenson 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 4 1952)

1950s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'CBS News Election Coverage: November 4, 1952' (coverage begins at 8:00 p.m. EST)

(Tuesday, November 4, 1952, during the 1952 United States presidential election) — Republican General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower of New York was elected the 34th president of the United States today, defeating Democratic Governor Adlai Stevenson of Illinois. Continue reading Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower elected 34th president of the United States, defeating Democrat Adlai Stevenson 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 4 1952) →

John F. Kennedy, 35, elected to U.S. Senate from Massachusetts, defeating Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 4 1952)

1950s, U.S. Presidents


Video: '1952 JFK Elected to Senate'

(Tuesday, November 4, 1952; during the 1952 United States Senate election in Massachusetts) — U.S. Representative John F. Kennedy, a 35-year-old Democrat, defeated Republican incumbent Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., today in the U.S. Senate election in Massachusetts by a margin of 51.3 to 48.3 percent. Continue reading John F. Kennedy, 35, elected to U.S. Senate from Massachusetts, defeating Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 4 1952) →

United States explodes first hydrogen bomb at Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 1 1952)

1950s, Cold War


Video: 'Operation IVY MIKE 1952'

(Saturday, November 1, 1952, 7:15 a.m. local time/Friday, October 31, 1952, at 7:15 p.m. Greenwich Mean Time; during the Cold War) — The United States exploded the world’s first hydrogen bomb, code-named “Ivy Mike,” the first full-scale test of a thermonuclear device, today on the island of Elugelab in Enewetak Atoll in the now independent island nation of the Marshall Islands in the South Pacific. Continue reading United States explodes first hydrogen bomb at Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 1 1952) →

‘I Went to Your Wedding’ by Patti Page peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 18 1952)

1950s, Popular Music 1950s

(Saturday, October 18, 1952) — “I Went to Your Wedding” by Patti Page (with Orchestra conducted by Jack Rael) was the #1 song on today’s “Billboard” Best Sellers in Stores chart for the first of five weeks (Oct. 18/25, Nov. 1/8/15, 1952). Continue reading ‘I Went to Your Wedding’ by Patti Page peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 18 1952) →

Richard Nixon salvages GOP vice presidential candidacy by delivering ‘Checkers speech’ 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 23 1952)

1950s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Checkers Speech (full version)'

(Tuesday, September 23, 1952, 9:30 p.m. EDT, during the 1952 United States presidential election campaign) — U.S. Senator Richard Nixon, 39, salvaged his vice presidential nomination on the Republican ticket tonight by appearing on television from Los Angeles to refute allegations of improper campaign fundraising in what became known as the “Checkers speech.” Continue reading Richard Nixon salvages GOP vice presidential candidacy by delivering ‘Checkers speech’ 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 23 1952) →