Observation — 1952, Kings Beware

Photograph By Cecil Beaton

King George VI of England died.  The world watched as early TV covered Elizabeth II’s coronation. King Farouk of Egypt was deposed. Vladimir Putin was born. Dwight Eisenhower wins presidential race, defeating Adlai Stevenson. In the Have You No Shame Department, Richard Nixon used his dog to rehabilitate his tainted reputation.  The “Checkers Speech” worked.  The first artificial heart valve was produced. The U.S. exploded its first thermonuclear device. Merce Cunningham formed his dance troupe. The Pulitzer for fiction went to The Caine Mutiny by Herman Wouk. The Nobel Prize for literature went to Francoise Mauriac. The Academy Award for best picture was won by American in Paris. Other notable films of the year were Singin’ In The Rain, High Noon, Moulin Rouge and The Greatest Show On Earth.  TV’s first morning show, ”Today,” debuted with Dave Garroway at the desk. “The Honeymooners” and “Dragnet” also debuted in 1952. Top books included The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemmingway, The Natural by Bernard Malamud and Wise Blood by Flannery O’Connor. The radio was playing “Blue Tango” by Leroy Anderson, “Wheel of Fortune’ by Kay Starr, “Cry” by Johnnie Ray “You Belong To Me” by Jo Stafford and “Auf Wiederseh’n, Sweetheart” by Vera Lynn.  Also in 1952, the first Tarzan, Elmo Lincoln, died. Eve Peron, John Dewey and John Garfield also passed.  Liam Neeson, Roseanne and Paul Herman Reuben (Pee Wee Herman) exited their respective wombs.  If you were around, what were you doing this year of the water dragon?