Observations — 1949, The Transformation of Nations

NATO was formed. West Germany was established.  Chairman Mao Zedong proclaimed the Communist Republic of China. Ireland’s independence was recognized by Britain. Vietnam was set up with an emperor.  South Africa adopted Apartheid, prohibited mixed marriage. Taiwan formed on Formosa.  The U.S. recognized Israel.  Harry Truman established Cape Canaveral. Pope Pius XII excommunicated communist Catholics. The American Contract Bridge League voted to keep Blacks out. Jackie Robinson won the National league’s Most Valuable Player.  Ezzard Charles defeated Jersey Joe Walcott. Joe DiMaggio was the first sports star to earn $100,000.  Hopalong Cassidy premiered with first network Western.  The first Jewish family show on TV, “The Goldbergs,” debuted. Arthur Godfrey had both radio and TV shows. Cable TV emerged.  First 45-rpm records were sold.  First Emmy Awards were announced. The Nobel Prize for Literature went to William Faulkner.  The Pulitzer for fiction was awarded to James Gould Cozzens for Guard of Honor.  In music, Virgil Thompson received a Pulitzer for Louisiana Story.  For drama, it was Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller.  In the movie theaters we watched All The King’s Men, Twelve O’clock High, The Third Man, She Wore A Yellow Ribbon, White Heat, Little Women, Holiday Affair and The Fountainhead.  We listened to “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” by Dinah Shore, “Riders in the Sky” by Vaughn Monroe, “Mule Train” by Frankie Laine, “I’ve Got my Love To keep Me Warm” by the Mills Brothers, “Red Roses For A Blue Lady’ by Guy Lombardo, ‘Lavender Blue” (Dilly Dilly) by Sammy Kaye, and ‘Why Was I Born,’ by Vic Damone.  Among the popular books this year were Golden Apples by Eudora Welty 1984 by George Orwell, Confessions Of A Mask by Yukio Mishima, The Grand Design by John Dos Passos, The Lottery by Shirley Jackson and The Sheltering Sky by Paul Bowles. Richard Strauss died.  Others who passed included Wallace Beery, Margaret Mitchell and Leadbelly. Among those who first appeared in this realm in 1949 were Meryl Streep, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Lionel Richie, John Belushi, Sigourney Weaver, George Foreman, Don Johnson, Vera Wang, Bill Nighy and Benjamin Netanyahu.  If you were around, what were you doing during this year of the earth ox?