This page offers an insight into life in 1951 and includes World news, political leaders, prices, population statistics and information about the popular culture of 1951.
The year 1951 began on a Monday. It was not a leap year.
1951 In The News
27th February – 22nd Amendment limits US Presidents to two terms in office.
29th March – Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were found guilty of spying for Russia.
3rd May – The Festival of Britain opened.
10th July – Armistice talks to end the Korean War began but failed
11th November – Juan Peron became President of Argentina.
Life in 1951 – Prices
Average house:
UK – £1,995; USA – $9,000
Petrol per gallon:
UK – £0.16; USA – $0.20
Loaf of Bread:
UK – £0.03; USA – $0.16
Gold per ounce:
UK – $34.72, USA – $40.5
Life in 1951 – Population
World: – 2,593,857,892
Australia: – 8,510,600
Canada: – 14,330,675
China: – 567,100,736
India: – 376,182,848
Soviet Union: 103,506,912
United States: – 153,982,000
United Kingdom: – 50,290,000
Life in 1951 – Music
Best Selling Single:
UK – No data – Charts began 1952
USA – Too Young – Nat King Cole
AUS – Too Young – Nat King Cole
CAN – No data – Charts began 1964
Best Selling Album:
UK – No data – Charts began 1956
USA – Showboat – Soundtrack
AUS – No data – Charts began 1966
CAN – No data – Charts began 1968
Popular Artists:
Louis Armstrong, Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, Frankie Lane, Frank Sinatra
On the Bookshelves
Books Published in 1951:
The Catcher in the Rye – J D Salinger
Foundation – Isaac Assimov
Prince Caspian – CS Lewis
The Day of the Triffids – John Wyndham
The Illustrated Man – Ray Bradbury
At the Movies
1951 Top Movies:
1. Quo Vadis – $11.1 million
2. David and Bathsheba – $7 million
3. Showboat – $5.5 million
4. The Great Caruso – $4.3 million
5. A Streetcar Named Desire – $4.2 million
Life in 1951 – World Leaders
Australia Prime Minister – Robert Menzies
Canada Prime Minister – Louis St Laurent
China President – Mao Zedong
India Prime Minister – Jawaharlal Nehru
Soviet Union Leader – Joseph Stalin
United States President – Harry S Truman
United Kingdom Prime Minister – Clement Attlee to 26th October, Winston Churchill after 26th October
Born in 1951
12th January – Kirstie Alley (Actress)
30th January – Phil Collins (Musician)
8th June – Bonnie Tyler (Singer)
21st July – Robin Williams (Actor)
5th October – Bob Geldolf (Musician)
Died in 1951
30th January – Ferdinand Porsche (Automobile Engineer)
6th March – Ivor Novello (Musician)
14th April – Ernest Bevin (Politician)
23rd July – Marshal Philippe Petain (Leader of Vichy France)
14th August – William Randolph Hearst (Newspaper Publisher)
1951 Sport Highlights
Football – Newcastle United won the FA Cup
Tennis – Richard Savitt won the Australia Open and the French Open
Cycling – Hugh Koblet (SUI) won the Tour de France
Golf – Ben Hogan won the US Open, and the Masters
Baseball – New York Yankees won the World Series, Joe DiMaggio played his last game
Figure Skating – World Championships – Dick Button won the Men’s competition, Jeanette Altwegg won the Ladies.
Christmas Wishlist
Yoyo
Toy soldiers
Dinky Cars
Meccano
Dolls and Dolls House
What Was New?
Superglue was invented
Power steering was developed by Chrysler
Video tape recorder invented by Charles Ginsburg
Heart-lung machine invented by J Andre-Thomas
First published 2020; updated and republished Mar 23 2022 @ 8:11 pm – Updated –
