When This Dropped

March 31, 1951

President
Truman
Dow (EOY)
269
Gas/gal
$0.27
Min Wage
$0.75

Gas cost $0.27 a gallon in the spring of 1951, and the Dow Jones stood at 269 — the Korean War was entering its second year, with ceasefire negotiations stalled and American troops still fighting along the 38th parallel. On the radio, Perry Como's "Mockin' Bird Hill" held the top spot on the charts, while audiences packed theaters to see "Royal Wedding" starring Fred Astaire and Jane Powell. The Rochester Royals claimed the NBA championship that spring by defeating the New York Knicks, and on March 31, Remington Rand delivered the first UNIVAC I computer to the United States Census Bureau, marking the beginning of the commercial computer age in America.

On the cover

Magazine Covers — March 31, 1951

New York Times
Time
Nat. Geographic

NY Times Headlines — Week of March 31, 1951

1st Vote Reversed; Chamber Rejects Curb By Mcclellan, Then Adopts Declaration No Force Of Law In It Wherry Group Will Attempt Legal Restriction Todaydemocrats See U.S. Harmed Senate To Meet At Noon Today Senate Asks Curb On Sending Troops 11 Democrats For Restriction

At Dinner Here, President Of France Gives Slogan Of 'Peace With Freedom'; The French President Addressing Congress Auriol Stresses Freedom Slogan

Senate Bars Curb By Law On Troops Sent To Europe; Rejects By 56 To 31 Bricker Motion To Give To Congress Binding Control Of Forces Taft G. 0. P. Group Beaten All Restrictive Moves Turned Down-Lodge Effort Fails To Erase Mcclellan Amendment Recess Taken Till Today Bitterness Marks Discussions Senate Bars Curb By Law On Troops Ohioan Turns Back On Lodge Not Members Of Alliance Constitutional Issue Stressed

World Events — March 1951

Time Person of the Year — 1951

The American Fighting-Man
Person of the Year
The American Fighting-Man

On the radio

Billboard Charts — March 31, 1951

If
Perry Como with Mitchell Ayres and his Orchestra
Best Sellers #1
"If"
Perry Como with Mitchell Ayres and his Orchestra

On the bookshelf

From Here to Eternity
NYT Fiction #1
"From Here to Eternity"
Look Younger, Live Longer
NYT Non-Fiction #1
"Look Younger, Live Longer"
The Town
Conrad Richter
Pulitzer Prize Fiction
"The Town"
Conrad Richter
The Collected Stories
William Faulkner
National Book Award Fiction
"The Collected Stories"
William Faulkner
Herman Melville
Newton Arvin
National Book Award Nonfiction
"Herman Melville"
Newton Arvin

On the television

Nielsen Top 10 — 1950–51 Season

Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
Nielsen #1 TV Show
Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
Nielsen
Top 10
TV Shows
Nielsen Ratings
Top 10 TV Shows
1950–51 Season

At the movies

Box Office & Oscar Winners — March 31, 1951

Royal Wedding
Box Office #1
Royal Wedding
An American in Paris
Oscar Best Picture
An American in Paris
George Stevens
A Place in the Sun
Oscar Best Director
George Stevens
A Place in the Sun
Humphrey Bogart
The African Queen
Oscar Best Actor
Humphrey Bogart
The African Queen
Vivien Leigh
A Streetcar Named Desire
Oscar Best Actress
Vivien Leigh
A Streetcar Named Desire

On the field

Sports Champions — March 31, 1951

NFL Champion
Los Angeles Rams
World Series
New York Yankees
def. New York Giants
NBA Champion
Rochester Royals
def. New York Knicks
Stanley Cup
Toronto Maple Leafs
def. Montreal Canadiens

Interested in postcards, posters or t-shirts? Leave your email and we’ll let you know.