Discover the Nifty 50s: Top 7 Astonishing Fun Facts About the Year 1952!

1. The Great London Pea-Souper

When Mother Nature threw a real-life "pea-souper" and turned London into a foggy scene straight out of a Victorian novel: In 1952, the city experienced the Great Smog, a catastrophic air pollution event lasting from December 5th to December 9th, causing an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 deaths and ultimately leading to the implementation of the Clean Air Act of 1956.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Comic Book Drama

In the early '50s, comic books really put the "pow" in purchasing power, but soon faced more drama than a superhero's love life: In 1952, the industry was a booming hundred-million-dollar business with nearly 650 titles published annually, but between 1954 and 1956, accusations of promoting violence and causing youth crime led to a nosedive in sales, cutting the number of titles down to 250, and leaving over 800 artists and writers in want of a Bat Signal to save them.
Source => newyorker.com

Did you know that Harry Truman revolutionized presidential campaigns in 1948 by broadcasting the first-ever paid political ad and making the first televised presidential address a year prior? Discover how he paved the way for future presidents, despite few TV sets in American homes at the time!

=> Fun Facts about The-1940s

3. Mr. Potato Head's Glam Debut

Before fast food's rise to starchy stardom, spuds had a stylish makeover: In 1952, Mr. Potato Head was introduced to the market, selling over 1 million units in its first year while requiring customers to provide their own potato and offering nearly 30 attachable features for just 98 cents, and its television ads revolutionized the toy industry's marketing.
Source => mentalfloss.com

4. Alain Bombard's Ocean Buffet

In 1952, an adventurous Frenchman thought dining on salty water, plankton, and raw fish à la carte was Michelin-star worthy, and set out to prove his point with a daring voyage across the Atlantic: Equipped with only a raft, a British aide, a sextant, and a fantastic sense of humor, Alain Bombard set sail from the Canary Islands to the West Indies for an unforgettable 65-day journey, proving that humans could survive using nothing but the ocean's finest. The experiment led to advancements in maritime safety and fueled the inspiration for his 1955 memoir, "The Bombard Story."
Source => latimes.com

5. The Birth of Animated Commercials

Before potatoes were rocked by disco beats and social media influencer status, Mr. Potato Head had some stiff shiny-clean competition on the small screen: In 1952, not only did Mr. Potato Head become the first toy advertised on national television, but that very same year saw the maiden voyage of animated mascots in commercials with The Ajax Pixies for Ajax cleanser, and Sharpie the parrot squawking for Gillette Razor Company during the Joe Louis vs. Bill Conn boxing match.
Source => eyesofageneration.com

6. Queen of Longevity Charts

Once upon a time in 1952, when poodle skirts were all the rage and jukeboxes blasted rock 'n' roll, even the queen found herself having to keep calm and carry on: Elizabeth II ascended to the British throne following the death of her father, King George VI. Surpassing her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria, Liz became the reigning queen of the longevity charts, clocking in an impressive 70-year rule as the British Empire crumbled and the world evolved. Interestingly, though, amid all the pomp and circumstance, controversies like the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya ensured she didn't enjoy unanimous love from her subjects.
Source => news.vcu.edu

7. Triple Gold Czech Locomotive

Chugging along like a Czech Locomotive with golden ambitions: Emil Zátopek raced into history books at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, becoming the first Czech athlete to win the marathon gold, and accomplishing the unprecedented feat of bagging gold in the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters too, all in a single Olympics – earning him his iconic nickname!
Source => en.wikipedia.org