Week of April 15, 1950

The Atomic Energy Commission announces a high priority project to build an

atomic engine for submarines.

In a reference to Communism, Gen Omar N. Bradley ,

chairman of the Join Chiefs of Staff, declares that

never before in the history of the nation “have we been

under attack from within as we are now.” “We have

people everywhere spreading propaganda.”

The lives of 16 persons are saved by minutes at Los

Angeles International Airport when a hysterical man

lost his nerve and disclosed a time-bomb plot to

destroy a United Air Lines transport and kill his wife

and two children. “Don’t let the plane take off! I just put

a bag full of gasoline aboard.” John Henry Grant (31)

of Los Angeles had just put his wife Betty (26) and their children, Robert (2) and

Mary Anne (4) aboard the plane after insuring them for $25,000. “I couldn’t do it. I

just couldn’t do it.”

Russia tells the United States, Britain and France that a government must be set

up immediately for the Free Territory of Trieste and foreign troops withdrawn.

The note called for withdrawal of American and British troops now in Trieste and

the elimination of what it termed the “illegal Anglo-American naval base” there.

President Truman tells the American Society of Newspaper

editors that he plans for a “great campaign of truth’ con

convince the world the United States has “no purpose of

going to war except in defense of freedom.” “We must pool

our efforts with those of the other free peoples in a sustained

intensified program to promote the cause of freedom against

the propaganda of slavery.”

Russia rejects every demand of the U.S. over its missing Baltic plane and

repeated orders to airmen to shoot down any resisting aircraft caught over Soviet

territory. The Moscow government in a note declared it was “clearly absurd” that

the United States demanded compensation for a four-engine U.S. Navy Privateer

and its crew of 10 which disappeared April 8. Moscow declares the American

plane involved that day was a “B-29 Flying Fortress” which penetrated 13 miles

into Soviet territory south of Lepyaya, Latvia, while trying to “photograph Soviet

defense installations.” The Soviets repeat the assertion and will not except even

“for examination” the American demands made.

Week of April 15, 1950

The U.S. Public Health Service says in a report that sleeping

pills cause worse addiction than morphine. The report blames

doctors’ prescriptions for sleeping pills for a large proportion of

the addicts.

In a reversal of a pre-war pattern - the number of married women in the labor

force continues to grow, exceeding single woman by 3 million.

More Census Bureau - Forty out of every 1,000 persons in the United States are

on a civilian public payroll.

Sports - Exhibition action - Joe DiMaggio (right in

picture) socks his fifth home run of the spring to

highlight a five-run fifth inning rally as the New York

Yankees defeat the Brooklyn Dodgers 6-4before

12,632 fans.

Attorneys for Ingrid Bergman and Dr. Peter Lindstrom

announce a “complete, mutually agreeable” property

and custody settlement, but disagree over its

interpretation. It requires that daughter, Pia (12) reside

in California with her dad, where she’ll receive her

education. Ms. Bergman, now in Italy where she bore Italian director Roberto

Rossellini a son last February, is granted the right to have Pia with her for half of

the girl’s school vacation periods.

Rudolf Bing , general manager of the Metropolitan Opera says he

would gladly engage qualified Negro artists for the opera next

season. No Negro has ever appeared for a Met appearance. Bing

says he would “if I find the right voice for the right part.”

Hollywood - Big rumors that Shirley Temple is serious about

Charles Black and they might marry. Shirley met the 30-year-old

former naval officer while she was vacationing in Hawai recently.

He’s never been married. Ms. Temple divorced actor John Agar in last

December. Says Shirley - “He’s a wonderful person. He really is. But we are just

friends. We were good friends in the islands when I was vacationing there - and

we are still good friends.”

Groucho Marx (58) files for divorce to end his unhappy second marriage. He filed

against the former Kay Marvis (28) actress and once the wife of Leo Gorcey.

He’s a member of the Dead End kids.

Week of April 15, 1950

For the first time, that young soprano named Truman strikes back at those who have damned her for daring to have a

career. In a Saturday Evening Post article this week, the President’s daughter gently but firmly speaks her mind. She

takes her critics to task for suggesting that she is using her father’s position as a springboard. She reveals what such top

artists as Helen Traubel and Lawrence Tibbett think of her voice. And she expresses herself clearly on that vital question:

marriage vs. a career.

Week of April 15, 1950

At the movies -

Three Came Home -

Claudette Colbert

Riding High - Bing Crosby,

Coleen Gray, Charles

Bickford

Ma & Pa Kettle Go To

Town - Marjorie Mann,

Percy Kilbride, Richard Long

Walt Disney’s Cinderella

Key To The City - Clark

Gable, Loretta Young

Black Hand - Gene Kelly

Nancy Goes To Rio - Jane

Powell, Ann Southern

The Daughter of Rosie

O’Grady - June Haver,

Gorden MacRae

The Damned Don’t Cry - Joan Crawford, David Brian

Sands Of Iwo Jima - John Wayne, John Agar

Malaya - Spencer Tracy, Jimmy Stewart

Tex and Jinx McCrary sign a new five-

year exclusive pact with WNBC radio and

WNBT-TV in New York. The morning hosts

of WNBC will launch a new video show

called “Closeup.”

The largest baseball network is line-up for

the broadcasts of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Some 75 stations in 10 states will carry the games. WIL will originate the

broadcasts with Harry Caray and Charles “Gabby” Street calling the action.

DuMont outbids everyone for the second year, and will broadcast all Notre Dame

home football games next fall. Chevrolet sponsored last year’s coverage on 21

TV stations.

DuMont New York (WABD channel 5) will carry the Yankees for the fourth

straight year. DuMont says they’re going to add a fourth TV camera to coverage.

The Allen B. DuMont television broadcasting operations ran $2,564,491 in the

red last year. DuMont operates WABD, New York; WTTG, Washington and

Week of April 15, 1950

Mark Goodson and Bill Todman obtain rights to

produce a series of radio and video (television)

shows on the adventures of Buffalo Bill. They bought

the rights from Mary Jester Allen, niece of the late

Col. William F. Cody. Rights also include licensing

and merchandising.

WINS radio in New York dismissed its 8-man studio

orchestra - the first of New York’s major stations to

do so.

Top television shows according to New York Pulse -

Texaco Star Theater with Milton Berle - 60.1

The Goldbergs - 46.8

Toast of the Town with Ed Sullivan - 42.8

Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts - 41.8

Studio One - 39.2

Saturday Night Revue - 36.1

Philco Playhouse - 33.6

Godfrey & His Friends - 33.0

Lights Out - 31.6

Suspense - 31.0

Top radio shows (Nielsen national)

Lux Radio Theater (CBS)

Jack Benny (CBS)

Amos ‘n’ Andy (CBS

Godfrey’s Talent Scouts (CBS)

Edgar Bergen (CBS) -

Fibber McGee & Molly (NBC)

Walter Winchell (ABC)

My Friend Irma (CBS)

You Bet Your Life (CBS)

Red Skelton (CBS)

Mystery Theatre (CBS)

Bing Crosby Sow (CBS)

Bob Hope (NBC)

Fannie Brice (NBC

Our Miss Brooks (CBS)

Dennis Day (NBC)

Gene Autrey Show (CBS)

Mr. Keen (CBS)

Week of April 15, 1950

Hallmark Playhouse (CBS)

Horace Heidt Show (CBS)

Saturday night TV highlights -

CBS - Ken Murray Show… We Take Your Word

NBC - Jack Carter Show (from Chicago) with Dean

Martin, Jerry Lewis, Dorothy Claire, Benny Baker,

Vivian Blaine… Show of Shows (From New York)

with Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Marguerite Plazza,

Cliffored Guest, Rudy Vallee.

DuMont - Captain Video, Calvacade of Stars with

Jerry Lester, J. Carroll Naish, Kyle McDonneli

Music news -

At the Apollo Theater in Harlem -

The Ravens, Crosby Sisters, Ruth Brown, Derby

Wilson, Harold King, Joe Thomas Band.

Stan Kenton, who last year, called his music

“progressive jazz” plays at Carneigie Hall. This year,

he’s calling his sound “Innovations in Modern Music

for 1950.” His new 38-piece orchestra was the

coolest.

Pop music this week in 1950 -

MUSIC! MUSIC! MUSIC! - Teresa Brewer

THE THIRD MAN THEME - Anton Karas

IF I KNEW YOU WERE COMIN’

(I’d’ve Baked A Cake)- Eileen

Barton

CHATTANOOGIE SHOE SHINE BOY - Red Foley

I SAID MY PAJAMAS (And Put On My Pray’rs)- Tony Martin

DADDY’S LITTLE GIRL - Mills Brothers

IT ISN’T FAIR - Sammy Kaye

DEARIE - Ray Bolger & Ethel Merman

THERE’S NO TOMORROW - Tony Martin

RAG MOP - Ames Brothers

PETER COTTONTAIL - Gene Autry

SENTIMENTAL ME - Ames Brothers