The Baby Boom Years: 1947 View larger

The Baby Boom Years: 1947

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The definitive collection of 1940s American music, news, fashion, fads and kitsch that continues to influence the world.

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BORN THIS YEAR:

  • DAVID BOWIE
  • FARRAH FAWCETT
  • IGGY POP
  • ELTON JOHN

MUSIC:

  • Frankie Laine earns his first, of 21, gold records.

FASHION

  • Dior introduced the “New Look”, featuring longer lengths and fuller skirts—defined by the generous use of luxurious fabrics, and a nipped waist are the rage. So are loafers, Bermudas, buckles, pegged pants and knee socks.

SPORTS

  • Jackie Robinson busts Baseball’s color line.
  • The NY Yankees defeat the Brooklyn Dodgers 4-3 in the first televised World Series.
  • Jack LaMotta is KO’d for the first time in his career.

WORLD

  • Max Conrad circumnavigates the earth in 8 days, 18 hours and 49 minutes, setting a new world record.
  • The Marshall Plan is proposed to help European nations recover economically from World War II.
  • John F. Kennedy succeeds Dwight Eisenhower as the 35th President of the United States of America.
  • Ham the Chimp, a 37-pound male, is rocketed into space in a test of the Project Mercury capsule.

TRIVIA QUESTIONS:

  • The Radarange debuted in 1947. What is this appliance that went from “unknown” to “household superstar” known as today?T
  • In California, Howard Hughes performs the maiden flight of the largest fixed-wing aircraft ever built. What was it called?

a. Funky Monkey b. Regal Eagle c. Pearl Squirrel d. Spruce Goose

  • Vroom! Vroom! Which automaker produced its first automobile this year?

a. Saab b. Hummer c. Subaru d. Chevrolet

  • This woman’s murder received extensive media coverage, referring to her as “The Black Dahlia”.

a. Bethany Long b. Eliza Tall c. Elizabeth Short d. Beth Whyde


R.I.P.

  • HENRY FORD
  • AL CAPONE
  • Willa Cather
  • Ettore Bugatti

Billboard Top 10 Pop Hits:

  1. Near You—Francis Craig
  2. Peg O’My Heart—Harmonicats
  3. Heartaches—Ted Weems
  4. Linda—Ray Noble & Buddy Clark
  5. Smoke, Smoke, Smoke (That Cigarette…)—Tex Williams
  6. I Wish I Didn’t Love You So—Vaughn Monroe
  7. Peg O’ My Heart—Three Suns
  8. Anniversary Song—Al Jolson
  9. Near You—Larry Green
  10. That’s My Desire—Sammy Kaye