Sterling devalued by 30 per cent
EVEN as early as 1949 people were attending the cinemas in fewer numbers. The industry was in financial difficulties but the main reason for the decline was the growth of post-war television.
Indeed the BBC bought the former Gaumont - British Studios at Lime Grove in London's Shepherd's Bush as an aid to their rapid expansion of TV.
Dance halls thrived and although the GIs had returned to America the jitterbug and jive crazes remained a large part of the dancing scene.
A film was made of the famous Yangtse River incident when the British cruiser, 'Amethyst' was trapped by Chinese communists but made a memorable dash down the river to freedom.
At last clothes and sweets were taken off ration but under economic pressure the pound sterling was devalued by 30 per cent. After a ten year ban advertising lights once again brightened the London skyline.
The largest airliner in the world, the Bristol Brabazon, caused a sensation when it made its maiden flight but 1949 also saw the first new jet plane when De Havilland's wheeled out their comet, capable of reaching 500 mph, far faster than any other commercial passenger plane. However, both these aircraft had their technical problems.
Britain joined seven other countries in forming NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. Still on the subject of flying an American B50 bomber made the first non-stop flight around the world and turbo-charged Bell X-1 plane reached an altitude of 63000 feet.
Other world events saw Mao-Tse-Tung become Chairman of the People's Republic of China; thousands of Jews returned to Israel by boat: Prince Rainier III was crowned King of Monaco; the Russians lifted the Berlin blockade and Konrad Adenauer was elected first Chancellor of the new Federal Republic of Germany.
4,600 people perished in an earthquake in Equador and 20 million were made homeless by floods in China.
By now there were many more pop songs and films appearing. Perhaps some of the best remembered songs were 'Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner', 'Confidentially', and the 'Harry Lime Theme'. In America Frank Sinatra had a hit with 'New York' whilst popular musicals were 'King's Rhapsody', 'Her Excellency', 'Brigadoon' and Benjamin Britten's 'Let's Make An Opera'.
George Orwell's book, '1984' came out and Arthur Miller's play, 'Death of a Salesman'.
At the picture houses Jack Warner starred in 'The Huggetts Abroad'. Other films were 'The Blue Lagoon', 'Passport to Pimlico', 'Whisky Galore' and 'The Third Man' with Orson Welles and Joseph Cotten.
At Wimbledon the US player, 'Gorgeous' Gussie Moran was an absolute sensation, not only for tennis but more for her fashion wear. The usual annual sporting events occurred with Wolverhampton Wanderere winning the FA Cup. 'Nimbus' won the Derby and 'Russian Hero' the Grand National. Tennis singles winners at Wimbledon were Tony Schroeder and Louise Brough respectively.
1949 saw the birth of one of Britain's most enjoyable amenities when the Lake District became a National Park.
Next week in Part 15 - Last Lancaster Leaves RAF
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Epworth
Friday 18 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 8 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 8 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North
