If you were born in 1952, you share your birth year with Holiday Inns, the “Today” show, diet soda, Mr. Potato Head, “Singing in the Rain,” and more. The Korean War was in full swing but the economy in the U.S. was reaching new heights. Fast food became popular and cars continued to be innovated.
Interesting Statistics from 1952
- U.S. population: 157.55 million
- Worldwide population: 4.38 billion
- Life expectancy: 68.6 years
- Price of gas: 20 cents
- Price of a new house: $9,050
- Annual wage: $3,850
Top News in 1952
- The first hydrogen bomb, “Mike,” is successfully detonated in the Marshall Islands
- Truman does not run for reelection and Dwight D. Eisenhower becomes the new U.S. president
- Elizabeth II becomes the queen of the United Kingdom. King George VI’s funeral takes place a week later.
- The peace treaty between the U.S. and Japan takes effect.
If You Were Born in 1952, Your Parents Witnessed These Historic Events
- The first mechanical heart is transplanted in a human hospital patient
- The U.S. Army Special Forces is established
- Charlie Chaplin is denied reentry into the U.S. on the grounds of possibly being a communist.
- The first successful sex change operation is conducted. Christine Jorgensen is the recipient.
- Siamese twins are surgically separated, successfully, for the first time.
- A prototype for the Chevrolet Corvette is finished.
- Kenyan nationalists begin rebellion against British rule in the Mau Mau rebellion.
- Mother Terisa opens the first Home for the Dying in Calcutta, India.
1952 Pop Culture
Sports
- 1952 World Series: New York Yankees defeat Brooklyn Dodgers 4-3.
- 1952 NFL Championship: Detroit Lions defeat Cleveland Browns 17–7.
- 1952 NBA Championship: Minneapolis Lakers defeat New York Knicks 4-3.
- 1952 Stanley Cup: Detroit Red Wings defeat Montreal Canadiens 4-0.
Arts
- Top-grossing movies in 1952: “The Greatest Show on Earth” “The Snows of Kilimanjaro,” “Hans Christian Andersen”
- Top singles in 1952: “Blue Tango,” “Wheel of Fortune,” “Cry”
- Top books in 1952: “The Silver Chalice,” “The Holy Bible: Revised Standard Edition,” “The Irony of American History,” “Invisible Man”
Who Else Was Born in 1952?
- Vladimir Putin
- Patrick Swayze
- Liam Neeson
- Sharon Osbourne
- George Strait
- Jeff Goldblum
- Floyd Mayweather Sr.
- Mr. T
Who Died in 1952?
- John Dewey
- Hattie McDaniel
- Maria Montessori