When This Dropped

February 18, 1953

President
Eisenhower
Dow (EOY)
281
Gas/gal
$0.29
Min Wage
$0.75

By the winter of 1953, Eisenhower was in the White House and the federal minimum wage stood at $0.75/hr — the Korean War was still grinding through its third year, with Secretary of State John Foster Dulles publicly warning of Soviet encirclement and pushing for a negotiated peace. On television, "I Love Lucy" was the undisputed top show in the country, while Perry Como's "Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes" held the number one spot on the music charts. The Detroit Lions won the NFL championship that season, and on December 6, conductor Arturo Toscanini performed what he called his favorite Beethoven symphony, "Eroica," for the final time with the NBC Symphony Orchestra, broadcasting the live performance to listeners across the nation.

On the cover

Magazine Covers — February 18, 1953

New York Times
Time
Nat. Geographic

NY Times Headlines — Week of February 18, 1953

President Depicts Military Outlook; 25 Congress Leaders Briefed At White House -- Situation Is 'Grim,' They Report President Depicts Military Outlook

President Weighs More Aid To French In Indo-China War; Democrats In Congress Favor Arms Supply Step-Up -- Some Republicans Are Reluctant Mansfield Cites Urgency Asserts Soviet Plans To Send Increased Help To Reds Over South China Railroads U. S. Considers Rise In Indo-China Aid

World Events — February 1953

Time Person of the Year — 1953

Queen Elizabeth II
Person of the Year
Queen Elizabeth II

On the radio

Billboard Charts — February 18, 1953

Till I Waltz Again with You
Teresa Brewer with Orchestra directed by Jack Pleis
Best Sellers #1
"Till I Waltz Again with You"
Teresa Brewer with Orchestra directed by Jack Pleis

On the bookshelf

The Robe
NYT Fiction #1
"The Robe"
The Power of Positive Thinking
NYT Non-Fiction #1
"The Power of Positive Thinking"
The Old Man and the Sea
Ernest Hemingway
Pulitzer Prize Fiction
"The Old Man and the Sea"
Ernest Hemingway
Invisible Man
Ralph Ellison
National Book Award Fiction
"Invisible Man"
Ralph Ellison
The Course of Empire
Bernard DeVoto
National Book Award Nonfiction
"The Course of Empire"
Bernard DeVoto

On the television

Nielsen Top 10 — 1952–53 Season

I Love Lucy
Nielsen #1 TV Show
I Love Lucy
Nielsen
Top 10
TV Shows
Nielsen Ratings
Top 10 TV Shows
1952–53 Season

Emmy Winners — 1953

The U.S. Steel Hour
Emmy Drama Series
The U.S. Steel Hour
I Love Lucy
Emmy Comedy Series
I Love Lucy
Donald O'Connor
The Colgate Comedy Hour
Emmy Lead Actor
Donald O'Connor
The Colgate Comedy Hour
Eve Arden
Our Miss Brooks
Emmy Lead Actress
Eve Arden
Our Miss Brooks

At the movies

Box Office & Oscar Winners — February 18, 1953

Peter Pan
Box Office #1
Peter Pan
From Here to Eternity
Oscar Best Picture
From Here to Eternity
Fred Zinnemann
From Here to Eternity
Oscar Best Director
Fred Zinnemann
From Here to Eternity
William Holden
Stalag 17
Oscar Best Actor
William Holden
Stalag 17
Audrey Hepburn
Roman Holiday
Oscar Best Actress
Audrey Hepburn
Roman Holiday

On the field

Sports Champions — February 18, 1953

NFL Champion
Detroit Lions
World Series
New York Yankees
def. Brooklyn Dodgers
NBA Champion
Minneapolis Lakers
def. New York Knicks
Stanley Cup
Montreal Canadiens
def. Boston Bruins

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