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==Events==
==Events==
[[Image:Hardrock Gunter promo.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Hardrock Gunter, c. 1953]]
* [[April 9]]: [[First Congregational Christian Church]] was destroyed by fire.
* [[April 27]]: The last run on the [[Birmingham & Edgewood Electric Railway]] ended the era of streetcar transportation in [[Homewood]].
* [[August 4]]: A massive pageant was staged at the re-dedication of [[Mortimer Jordan Park]].
* [[August 17]]: The [[Birmingham Business League]], [[Birmingham Emancipation Association]] and the [[NAACP]] co-sponsored a mass meeting to protest the growing [[list of racially motivated bombings]] in the city.
* [[October 3]]–?: [[1949 Alabama State Fair]]
* [[October 3]]–?: [[1949 Alabama State Fair]]
* [[November 8]]: Signs commissioned by [[Erskine Ramsay]] marking the "IRON ORE SEAM" exposed at [[Lone Pine Gap]] below [[Vulcan Park]] were installed.
* The [[Alabama Theatre]] hosted its first [[Miss Alabama|Miss Alabama Pageant]].
* The [[Audichron]] was installed in the [[Alabama Gas Corporation building]] to give phone callers the correct time.
* A report showed [[Bryce State Mental Hospital]] had the largest patient load in the nation by far.
* [[Governor of Alabama|Governor]] [[Jim Folsom]] signed an "Anti-Masking Bill" aimed at reducing [[Ku Klux Klan]] activity.
* [[Hardrock Gunter]] was given a television show, spinning country records on [[WABT-TV]].
* The [[John Looney House and Pioneer Museum|John Looney House]] was sold by the descendents of [[John Lonnergan]] to Colonel [[Joseph Creitz]].
* [[Mayor of Birmingham|Birmingham mayor]] [[James W. Morgan]] began an initiative to help in the planning and development of a [[Birmingham Zoo|city zoo]].
* A revived [[Alabama Symphony Orchestra|orchestra]] was assembled under the new [[Civic Symphony Association]].
* The [[Pleasant Grove Post Office]] was established.
* The first [[Shelby County Fair]] was held.
* The [[McElwain]] community was annexed into [[Birmingham]].
===Business===
[[Image:Vestavia estate postcard.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Postcard photo of the Vestavia estate]]
* [[January 20]]: A new [[Hill's Food Stores|Hill's Food Store]] opened on [[Independence Drive|Montgomery Highway]] in [[Homewood]].
* March: [[Shoe Center]] was opened by [[Izz Eubanks]].
* April: [[Refrigeration Service Co., Inc.]] moved from 1005 [[3rd Avenue North]] to 213 [[21st Street South]].
* [[April 21]]: A new [[Hill's Food Store]] opened on [[31st Avenue North]] in [[North Birmingham]].
* December: A fire caused the temporary closure of the [[Bond Clothing Company]].
* [[Barber's Dairy]] introduced the wax-coated paperboard milk carton.
* [[Mitchell Cotton|Mitchell]] and [[Ida Cotton]] passed ownership of [[Cotton's]] department store to their children, [[Bert Cotton|Bert]] and [[Merle Schultz|Merle]].
* [[Katherine McTyeire]] founded [[Iron Art]] on [[Southside]].
* [[Worcy Crawford]] started driving the [[Ensley All-Stars]] basketball team to games in his coal truck.
* [[Harbert Construction]], founded three years earlier, was incorporated.
* [[Loveman's]] opened a new "store for the home" facing [[2nd Avenue North]], but connected to the [[Loveman's building|main store]].
* [[Noodie's Stop & Shop]] was purchased by [[Eph Vanderslice|Eph]] and [[Jessie Lee Vanderslice]].
* [[Shook and Fletcher Supply Company]] formed a [[Shook and Fletcher Insulation Company|commercial insulation division]].
* The [[Southern Natural Gas Company]] acquired the [[Watts Building (1928)|Watts Building]] for its headquarters.
* Arichtecture firm Van Keuren & Davis became [[Davis Architects|Van Keuren, Davis and Company]].
* [[George Ward]]'s former [[Vestavia (estate)|Vestavia estate]] was opened to the public as a roadside attraction and tea room.
* [[Frank Yeilding Jr]] became CEO of the [[Jefferson Federal Savings & Loan]].
===[[Civil Rights Movement|Civil Rights]]===
* [[March 24]]: The [[S. L. Green residence|home]] of Bishop [[S. L. Green]] at [[1st Street West|1st Street]] and [[11th Avenue West]] was destroyed by dynamite.
* [[July 28]]: Three sticks of dynamite were thrown into the [[Milton Curry, Jr residence|home]] of [[Milton Curry, Jr]] at 1100 [[Center Street North]], but did not explode.
* [[August 12]]: Curry's residence was again targeted by dynamite, this time damaging windows.
* August 12: The [[E. B. DeYampert residence|home]] of [[E. B. DeYampert]] at 1104 Center Street North was also damaged by dynamite.
* [[August 17]]: The [[Birmingham Business League]], [[Birmingham Emancipation Association]] and the [[NAACP]] organized a protest at which approximately 2,000 Black residents protested at [[Smithfield Court]] for an end to [[list of racially motivated bombings]]. The crowd approved resolutions in favor of expanding real estate sales to Black buyers, and expressed support for the work of attorney Arthur Shores.


<!-- ===Business=== -->
===Education===
===Education===
* [[Shades Valley High School]] opened, taking the place of [[Shades Cahaba High School]], which became [[Shades Cahaba Elementary School]].
* [[August 24]]: [[Lawson State Community College|Wenonah Vocational and Trade School]] was founded.
* [[September 12]]: [[Shades Valley High School]] opened with Dr. [[Frank Peake]] as principal and taking the place of [[Shades Cahaba High School]], which became [[Shades Cahaba Elementary School]].
*  Atlanta-based charm school [[the Academy]] opened a branch at the [[Tutwiler Hotel]].
* The [[Cumberland School of Law]] earned accreditation from the ABA.
 
[[Image:Cooper Green.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Cooper Green]]
 
===Government===
* [[Carl Elliott]] began his first term (of eight) as U.S. Representative of the [[7th Congressional District of Alabama]].
* [[Cooper Green]] won his fourth term as [[Mayor of Birmingham]].
* [[James Robertson]] succeeded [[Luther Davis, Sr.]] as [[Mayor of Tuscaloosa]].
* [[James Sharbutt]] began his first term as [[Mayor of Vincent]].
* [[Jack Story]] succeeded [[E. H. Alley]] as [[Mayor of Wilsonville]].
 
===Media===
* [[July 1]]: [[WAFM-TV]] went on the air as Birmingham's first television station.
* [[July 4]]: [[WBRC 6|WBRC]] went on the air on VHF channel 4.
* [[September 4]]: [[WEDR-AM]] went on the air at [[AM 1220]].
* [[October 1]]: WAFM-TV began airing regular programming from the ABC and CBS television networks.
 
===Religion===
* November: [[Otis Kirby]] succeeded [[J. M. Gibbs]] as pastor of [[Avondale United Methodist Church]].
* Interim pastor [[Vernon G. Davidson]] succeeded pastor [[Porter H. Harrison]] at [[McElwain Baptist Church]].
* A fire of unknown origin gutted the [[First Congregational Christian Church]].
* [[Henry Edmonds]] became pastor of [[Pilgrim Church|Pilgrim Congregational Church]].
* The [[1st Church of Christ Scientist]] moved from [[11th Avenue South]] to [[Highland Avenue]].
* [[Paul Hardin]] became pastor of the [[First Methodist Church of Birmingham]].
* [[Jonathan Silverberg]] became rabbi of [[Knesseth Israel Congregation]].
* The Young Men's Hebrew Association was renamed the [[Levite Jewish Community Center|Jewish Community Center of Birmingham]] as the first women joined the board of directors.


[[Image:1953 Walt Dropo card.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Walt Dropo]]
===Sports===
===Sports===
* [[January 1]]:  Kentucky State defeated North Carolina A&T by a final score of 23-13 at the [[Vulcan Bowl]].
* January 1: Baylor defeated Wake Forest 20-7 at the second (and last) [[Dixie Bowl]].
* [[April 19]]: [[Walt Dropo]] made his Major League debut with the Red Sox before being sent back to the minor leagues.
* [[September 9]]: A partnership of [[Al DeMent]], [[Al Belcher]], and [[Rufus Lackey]] purchased the [[Birmingham Barons]] and [[Rickwood Field]] from [[Gus Jebeles (Barons owner)|Gus Jebeles]].
* [[September 14]]: [[Hewitt-Trussville High School]] defeated [[Mortimer Jordan High School]] 25-6 in the first game played at [[Jack Wood Stadium|Husky Stadium]].
* [[December 3]]: [[Auburn Tigers football|Auburn]] upset [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Alabama]], winning the [[1949 Iron Bowl]] 14-13, Auburn's second win of the season.
* [[December 3]]: [[Auburn Tigers football|Auburn]] upset [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Alabama]], winning the [[1949 Iron Bowl]] 14-13, Auburn's second win of the season.
* [[December 10]]: The NFL's Chicago Cardinals defeated the Washington Redskins 24-10 in an exhibition game at [[Legion Field]].
* Auburn Stadium was renamed [[Jordan-Hare Stadium|Cliff Hare Stadium]].
* Former Alabama Crimson Tide player [[Joe Domnanovich]] played for the New York Bulldogs.
* [[Earl Gartman]] succeeded [[Ted McCrary]] as head coach of the [[Samford Bulldogs football|Howard Bulldogs football team]].
* [[Mike Higgins|Mike "Pinky" Higgins]] succeeded [[Fred Walters]] as [[Birmingham Barons]] [[List of Birmingham Barons managers|manager]].
* [[Vaughn Mancha]] became head football coach for [[University of West Alabama|Livingston State University]].
* Birmingham native [[Johnny Simmons]] played for the Washington Senators.


==People==
==Individuals==
* [[Cholly Atkins]] began performing on the Broadway run of ''Gentlemen Prefer Blondes''.
* [[Joe David Brown]] became a foreign correspondent for ''TIME'' magazine.
* Reporter [[Joseph Campbell]] left {{BN}} for the ''Dothan Eagle''.
* [[Frank Dukes]] joined the U. S. Army.
* [[Jack Granata]] became an art professor at the [[University of Alabama]].
* Birmingham mayor [[Cooper Green]] became president of the United States Conference of Mayors.
* [[Joseph Loveman]] ended his service with the [[Housing Authority of the Birmingham District|city housing board]].
* [[William Powell]] began his financial career as a coin counter at the [[Woodlawn]] branch of the [[First National Bank of Birmingham]].
* Priest [[Joseph Raya]] emigrated to the United States.
* Birmingham native [[Hugh Stubbins]] opened his own architecture firm.
* [[Dennis Washburn]] joined the U. S. Army.


[[Image:William Bell.jpg|right|thumb|150px|William Bell]]
[[Image:Vida Blue card.jpg|right|thumb|Vida Blue]]
[[Image:Bill Foisy.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Bill Foisy]]
===Births===
===Births===
* [[January 2]]: [[Phyllis Wyne]], [[Birmingham Board of Education]] member
* [[January 2]]: [[Phyllis Wyne]], [[Birmingham Board of Education]] member
* [[January 17]]: [[Carolyn Bolivar Hameen]], restaurateur and writer
* [[January 18]]: [[Steve Zaslofsky]], educator
* [[January 18]]: [[Steve Zaslofsky]], educator
* [[March 2]]: [[Stan Bailey]], bank executive
* [[January 20]]: [[Donald James]], attorney and [[Vulcan Materials]] CEO
* [[February 7]]: [[Jim Porter]], attorney and NRA president
* [[February 15]]: [[Gwendolyn Webb]], activist, police officer and minister
* [[February 23]]: [[Bill Terry Jr]], [[Vietnam War]] combat soldier killed in action
* [[March 22]]: [[Stan Bailey]], bank executive
* [[April 2]]: [[Hank Erwin]], state senator
* [[April 2]]: [[Hank Erwin]], state senator
* [[April 15]]: [[Johnny Ragland]], [[Mayor of Warrior]]
* [[April 18]]: [[Addie Mae Collins]], [[1963 church bombing|bombing victim]]
* [[April 18]]: [[Addie Mae Collins]], [[1963 church bombing|bombing victim]]
* [[April 24]]: [[Carole Robertson]], [[1963 church bombing|bombing victim]]
* [[April 24]]: [[Carole Robertson]], [[1963 church bombing|bombing victim]]
* [[April 27]]: [[Henry Joe]], restaurateur
* [[April 30]]: [[Cynthia Wesley]], [[1963 church bombing|bombing victim]]
* [[April 30]]: [[Cynthia Wesley]], [[1963 church bombing|bombing victim]]
* [[May 14]]: [[Jim Folsom, Jr]], [[Governor of Alabama]]
* [[May 5]]: [[Donald Lomax]], [[BJCTA]] bus driver
* [[May 14]]: [[Jim Folsom Jr]], [[Governor of Alabama]]
* [[May 19]]: [[Stancil Handley]], [[Mayor of Columbiana]]
* [[May 20]]: [[Steve Gilmer]], antiques dealer
* [[May 26]]: [[Delores Manyama]], educator
* [[May 26]]: [[Delores Manyama]], educator
* [[June 1]]: [[William Bell]], [[Mayor of Birmingham]]
* [[June 1]]: [[William Bell]], [[Mayor of Birmingham]]
* [[June 9]]: [[Dian McCray]], educator and children's book author
* [[June 9]]: [[Dian McCray]], educator and children's book author
* [[June 14]]: [[Roy L. Wood, Jr]], television news anchor
* June: [[Gwen DeRu]], marketer and newspaper columnist
* [[June 14]]: [[Roy L. Wood Jr]], television news anchor
* [[June 20]]: [[Lionel Richie]], pop singer
* [[June 28]]: [[Clarence Davis]], professional football player
* [[June 28]]: [[Clarence Davis]], professional football player
* [[July 2]]: [[Curtis Rowe]], professional basketball player
* [[July 2]]: [[Curtis Rowe]], professional basketball player
* [[July 27]]: [[Edgar Ross]], boxer
* [[July 28]]: [[Vida Blue]], professional baseball player
* [[July 28]]: [[Vida Blue]], professional baseball player
* [[August 10]]: [[Ron McGuffie]], law enforcement agent and dispatcher
* [[August 10]]: [[Ron McGuffie]], law enforcement agent and dispatcher
* [[August 11]]: [[Lynn Edwards Angell]], librarian and terrorist victim
* [[August 11]]: [[Lynn Edwards Angell]], librarian and terrorist victim
* [[August 17]]: [[Joe Farmer]], Special forces Vietnam veteran and murder victim
* [[August 19]]: [[Raymond Culpepper]], Church of God pastor
* [[August 22]]: [[Eli Capilouto]], college administrator  
* [[August 22]]: [[Eli Capilouto]], college administrator  
* [[October 6]]: [[Lonnie Johnson]], inventor
* [[October 6]]: [[Lonnie Johnson]], inventor
* [[November 11]]: [[Lou Zaden]], owner of [[Lou's Pub]]
* [[December 6]]: [[Virgil Ware]], murder victim
* [[December 6]]: [[Virgil Ware]], murder victim
* [[December 13]]: [[Randy Owen]], singer
* [[December 28]]: [[Harry Middleton]], outdoors writer
* [[Barbara Allen]], educator
* [[Barbara Allen]], educator
* [[Gwendolyn Bell]], school counselor
* [[Gwendolyn Bell]], school counselor
* [[Jerry Bentley]], historian
* [[Wash Booker]], political consultant
* [[Homer Brown]], business owner and table tennis player
* [[Homer Brown]], business owner and table tennis player
* [[Dyer Carlisle III]], educator and assistant college football coach
* [[Dyer Carlisle III]], educator and assistant college football coach
* [[Foxxy Fatts|Sherman "Foxxy Fatts" Carson]], R&B and jazz drummer
* [[Ashley Curry]], Mayor of [[Vestavia Hills]]
* [[Bill Foisy]], transportation director
* [[Bill Foisy]], transportation director
* [[Jay Glass]], coroner
* [[Jay Glass]], coroner
* [[Keith Harrelson]], commercial writer, photographer, and club owner
* [[George Gulas]], professional wrestler
* [[Bob Johnson]], political reporter
* [[Lynn Kenny]], swindler
* [[Jim Neel]], sculptor, photographer, and art instructor
* [[Jim Neel]], sculptor, photographer, and art instructor
* [[Bo Smith]], meat market manager and murder victim
* [[Bo Smith]], meat market manager and murder victim
* [[Brenda Spahn]], non-profit founder
* [[Brenda Spahn]], non-profit founder
* [[Burke Swearingen]], [[Homewood Police Department|Homewood Chief of Police]]
* [[Burke Swearingen]], [[Homewood Police Department|Homewood Chief of Police]]
* [[Bill Terry, Jr]], [[Vietnam War]] soldier killed in action
* [[Evan Zeiger Jr]], neurosurgeon
* [[Lou Zaden]], business owner
* [[Evan Zeiger, Jr]], neurosurgeon


<!-- ===Graduations===
===Graduations===
* [[Paul Bailey]] from Vanderbilt University with PhD
* [[Harry Brock Jr]] from the [[University of Alabama]] with a bachelor of science in commerce and business administration.
* [[Alexander Lacy]] from the University of Virginia.
* [[Louis LeVaughn]] from the University of Alabama with bachelor of arts in school administration.
* [[Morris Mayer]] from the University of Alabama with a bachelor of science in business administration.
* [[Demetrius Newton]] from  Wilberforce University in Wilberforce, Ohio.
* [[Abdulalim Shabazz]] from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania with a bachelor's degree in chemistry and mathematics.
* [[Charles Speir]] from Vanderbilt University with a bachelor of arts in economics.
* [[Henry Stanford]] from New York University with a doctorate in public administration.
* [[Gay Talese]] from Ocean City High School in New Jersey.
* [[Leonard Weil]] from the University of Alabama with a business degree.


===Marriages===
===Marriages===
* [[April 1]]: [[Bobby Bowden]] eloped with the former [[Ann Bowden|Ann Estock]].
* [[March 12]]: [[Joseph Gomer]] to Elizabeth.
* [[June 5]]: Educator [[Wayne Teague]] to Josephine Jones.
* [[October 29]]: [[Harry Brock Jr]] to the former [[Jane Brock|Jane Hollock]].
[[Image:Lloyd Noland portrait.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Lloyd Noland]]
* [[Charlie Fonville]] to the former Barbara Manley.
* Reporter [[Andrew Glaze]] to actress [[Dorothy Elliott]].
* [[Henry Stanford]] to the former [[Ruth King Stanford|Ruth King]].
* [[J. O. Tant Jr]] to the former [[Hilda Tant|Hilda Johnson]].
* [[Gil Wideman]] to [[Frances Wideman|Frances]].
===Divorces===
* [[B. J. Baker|Betty Jane Rase]] divorced Mickey Rooney
===Awards===
* [[Miss Alabama]]: [[Freida Roser]]
* [[Miss Samford]]: [[Marcia O'Neal Ardrey]]


===Awards=== -->
===Deaths===
===Deaths===
* [[February 10]]: [[John Adams]], mining engineer and executive
* [[February 10]]: [[John Henry Adams]], mining engineer and executive
* [[February 15]]: [[William Parish]], artist
* [[March 21]]: [[Jacques Wambsganss]], photographer
* [[May 11]]: [[B. H. Cooper]], furniture dealer and civic leader
* [[May 11]]: [[B. H. Cooper]], furniture dealer and civic leader
* [[July 31]]: [[Mitchell Romeo]], bandleader and restaurateur
* [[November 27]]: [[Lloyd Noland]], physician and public health advocate
* [[November 27]]: [[Lloyd Noland]], physician and public health advocate
* [[December 11]]: [[E. T. Leech]], former ''[[Birmingham Post]]'' editor
* [[Frank McArthur]], attorney and [[Birmingham Board of Education]] member


==Works==
==Works==
* ''The Freeholder'' by [[Joe David Brown]]


===Buildings===
===Buildings===
[[Image:John Gleissner residence.jpg|right|thumb|275px|Bernice Wright residence]]
* [[Alabama State Fair cattle barn]]
* [[Alabama State Fair cattle barn]]
* [[Beechwood]] subdivision
* [[Birmingham News building (1917)]] addition
* [[Harmony Street Baptist Church]] education wing
* [[Holy Trinity-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral]]
* [[John Gleissner residence]]
* [[John Gleissner residence]]
* [[John's City Diner|John's Restaurant]] remodeling
* [[Jefferson County Courthouse Bessemer Division]] expansion
* [[Jefferson County Courthouse Bessemer Division]] expansion
* [[McElwain Baptist Church]] 4-room addition
* [[Ollie's Barbecue]] rebuilt
* [[Ramsay High School]] auditorium and athletic facilities
* [[Shades Valley High School]] (original campus)
* [[Shades Valley High School]] (original campus)
* [[WBRC 6|WBRC]] studio and tower
* [[Bernice Wright residence]]
* [[Bernice Wright residence]]
* Nursing wing at [[Carraway Hospital]]
* Ground was broken for the [[Birmingham VA Medical Center]].
===Music===
* The [[Gospel Harmonettes|Gospel Harmoneers]] made their first recordings, for RCA.
<!-- ===Film, Radio and TV=== -->
==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Mazer Lumber and Supply ad.jpg|[[Mazer|Mazer Lumber and Supply]] 1949 newspaper ad
Image:Pizitz store 1949.jpg|[[Pizitz Building]] in 1949
Image:Thomas Jefferson Hotel.jpg|[[Thomas Jefferson Hotel]] in 1949
Image:Jupe.jpg|[[Birmingham Children's Theatre]] mascot [[Jupe]] in 1949
Image:Vulcan Park parking lot 1949.jpg|[[Vulcan]] parking lot c. 1949
Image:Harry walker 1949 bowman.jpg|[[Harry Walker]]'s 1949 Bowman baseball card
</gallery>
==Context==
In 1949, Los Angeles, California received its first recorded snowfall.  Harry S. Truman began his second term as President, which was his first elected to the position.  The first Emmy Awards are presented at the Hollywood Athletic Club.  Grady the Cow got stuck inside a silo on a farm in Yukon, Oklahoma and garnered national media attention.  English astronomer Fred Hoyle coined the term "Big Bang" during a BBC Third Programme radio broadcast.  The Tokyo Stock Exchange was founded.  The North Atlantic Treaty was signed, creating the NATO defense alliance.  Israel was admitted to the United Nations as its 59th member.  The Soviet Union tested its first atomic bomb, code named "Joe 1".  The People's Republic of China was officially proclaimed.  A typhoon struck a fishing fleet off Korea, killing several thousand.
Notable fiction published in 1949 included ''The Man with the Golden Arm'' by Nelson Algren, ''Crooked House'' by Agatha Christie, ''Nineteen Eighty-Four'' by George Orwell, ''Cat of Many Tails'' by Ellery Queen, ''A Town Like Alice'' by Nevil Shute, ''The Second Confession'' by Rex Stout.  New drama that debuted included ''Death of a Salesman'' by Arthur Miller.  Notable non-fiction published included ''The Hero with a Thousand Faces'' by Joseph Campbell and ''The Second Sex'' by Simone de Beauvoir.
The top music hits of 1949 included "A Little Bird Told Me" by Evelyn Knight, "Cruising Down the River" by Russ Morgan, "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky: A Cowboy Legend" by Vaughn Monroe, "Some Enchanted Evening" by Perry Como, "That Lucky Old Sun" by Frankie Laine, and "Mule Train" by Frankie Laine.
Top grossing films in 1949 included ''Samson and Delilah'', ''Battleground'', ''Jolson Sings Again'', ''Sands of Iwo Jima'', and ''I Was a Male War Bride''. ''All the King's Men'' won Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Actor (Broderick Crawford), and Best Supporting Actress (Mercedes McCambridge).  Best Director went to Joseph L. Mankiewicz for ''A Letter to Three Wives'' and Best Actress to Olivia de Havilland for ''The Heiress''.
Television shows that debuted in 1949 included ''The Goldbergs'', ''Stop the Music'', ''Hopalong Cassidy'', ''This Is Show Business'', ''Martin Kane, Private Eye'', ''The Voice of Firestone'', ''Bozo the Clown'', and ''The Lone Ranger''.


<!-- ===Music===
Notable births in 1949 included chef Wolfgang Puck, boxer George Foreman, actress Linda Lovelace, comedian Andy Kaufman, singer Robert Palmer, singer Steve Perry, actor John Belushi, actor Brent Spiner, game designer Danielle Bunten Berry, businesswoman Ivana Trump, wrestler Ric Flair, musician Eddie Money, actor Erik Estrada, musician John Oates, actress Jessica Lange, musician Billy Joel, singer Hank Williams Jr, actor Jim Varney, musician Lionel Richie, actres Meryl Streep, composer Alan Menken, musician Mark Knopfler, actress Shelley Long, musician Rick Springfield, musician Gene Simmons, actor Richard Gere, political commentator Bill O'Reilly, musician Bruce Springsteen, actress Sigourney Weaver, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, musician Bonnie Raitt, actor Jeff Bridges, musician Tom Waits, actor Don Johnson, musician Maurice & Robin Gibb, and actress Sissy Spacek.


===Film, Radio and TV=== -->
Notable deaths included football player Bradbury Robinson, actor Seymour Hicks, actor Wallace Beery, former Secretary of Defense James Forrestal, cartoonist and entrepreneur Robert Ripley, author Margaret Mitchell, composer Richard Strauss, Supreme Court Justice Wiley Blount Rutledge, dancer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, and musician Lead Belly.
<!-- ==Context==
In 1949, stuff happened.


Notable births in 1949 included .  Notable deaths included .
-->
{{Decade box|194|193|195}}
{{Decade box|194|193|195}}
[[Category:1949|*]]
[[Category:1949|*]]

Latest revision as of 16:58, 22 January 2024

1949 was the 78th year after the founding of the city of Birmingham.

Events

Hardrock Gunter, c. 1953

Business

Postcard photo of the Vestavia estate

Civil Rights

Education

Cooper Green

Government

Media

Religion

Walt Dropo

Sports

Individuals

William Bell
Vida Blue
Bill Foisy

Births

Graduations

  • Paul Bailey from Vanderbilt University with PhD
  • Harry Brock Jr from the University of Alabama with a bachelor of science in commerce and business administration.
  • Alexander Lacy from the University of Virginia.
  • Louis LeVaughn from the University of Alabama with bachelor of arts in school administration.
  • Morris Mayer from the University of Alabama with a bachelor of science in business administration.
  • Demetrius Newton from Wilberforce University in Wilberforce, Ohio.
  • Abdulalim Shabazz from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania with a bachelor's degree in chemistry and mathematics.
  • Charles Speir from Vanderbilt University with a bachelor of arts in economics.
  • Henry Stanford from New York University with a doctorate in public administration.
  • Gay Talese from Ocean City High School in New Jersey.
  • Leonard Weil from the University of Alabama with a business degree.

Marriages

Lloyd Noland

Divorces

Awards

Deaths

Works

Buildings

Bernice Wright residence

Music


Gallery

Context

In 1949, Los Angeles, California received its first recorded snowfall. Harry S. Truman began his second term as President, which was his first elected to the position. The first Emmy Awards are presented at the Hollywood Athletic Club. Grady the Cow got stuck inside a silo on a farm in Yukon, Oklahoma and garnered national media attention. English astronomer Fred Hoyle coined the term "Big Bang" during a BBC Third Programme radio broadcast. The Tokyo Stock Exchange was founded. The North Atlantic Treaty was signed, creating the NATO defense alliance. Israel was admitted to the United Nations as its 59th member. The Soviet Union tested its first atomic bomb, code named "Joe 1". The People's Republic of China was officially proclaimed. A typhoon struck a fishing fleet off Korea, killing several thousand.

Notable fiction published in 1949 included The Man with the Golden Arm by Nelson Algren, Crooked House by Agatha Christie, Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell, Cat of Many Tails by Ellery Queen, A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute, The Second Confession by Rex Stout. New drama that debuted included Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller. Notable non-fiction published included The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell and The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir.

The top music hits of 1949 included "A Little Bird Told Me" by Evelyn Knight, "Cruising Down the River" by Russ Morgan, "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky: A Cowboy Legend" by Vaughn Monroe, "Some Enchanted Evening" by Perry Como, "That Lucky Old Sun" by Frankie Laine, and "Mule Train" by Frankie Laine.

Top grossing films in 1949 included Samson and Delilah, Battleground, Jolson Sings Again, Sands of Iwo Jima, and I Was a Male War Bride. All the King's Men won Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Actor (Broderick Crawford), and Best Supporting Actress (Mercedes McCambridge). Best Director went to Joseph L. Mankiewicz for A Letter to Three Wives and Best Actress to Olivia de Havilland for The Heiress.

Television shows that debuted in 1949 included The Goldbergs, Stop the Music, Hopalong Cassidy, This Is Show Business, Martin Kane, Private Eye, The Voice of Firestone, Bozo the Clown, and The Lone Ranger.

Notable births in 1949 included chef Wolfgang Puck, boxer George Foreman, actress Linda Lovelace, comedian Andy Kaufman, singer Robert Palmer, singer Steve Perry, actor John Belushi, actor Brent Spiner, game designer Danielle Bunten Berry, businesswoman Ivana Trump, wrestler Ric Flair, musician Eddie Money, actor Erik Estrada, musician John Oates, actress Jessica Lange, musician Billy Joel, singer Hank Williams Jr, actor Jim Varney, musician Lionel Richie, actres Meryl Streep, composer Alan Menken, musician Mark Knopfler, actress Shelley Long, musician Rick Springfield, musician Gene Simmons, actor Richard Gere, political commentator Bill O'Reilly, musician Bruce Springsteen, actress Sigourney Weaver, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, musician Bonnie Raitt, actor Jeff Bridges, musician Tom Waits, actor Don Johnson, musician Maurice & Robin Gibb, and actress Sissy Spacek.

Notable deaths included football player Bradbury Robinson, actor Seymour Hicks, actor Wallace Beery, former Secretary of Defense James Forrestal, cartoonist and entrepreneur Robert Ripley, author Margaret Mitchell, composer Richard Strauss, Supreme Court Justice Wiley Blount Rutledge, dancer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, and musician Lead Belly.

1940s
<< 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 >>
Births - Deaths - Establishments - Events - Works
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