What A Year It Was! 1948

WHAT A YEAR IT WAS! 1948 is a beautiful 176-page hardcover cocktail table book packed with hundreds of original photos, magazine ads and consumer pricing. It is loaded with facts on new products and inventions, advances in science and medicine, hit songs and films, popular radio and television programs, Broadway plays, famous people, the latest look in fashion and, of course, sports winners. Laid out like a college yearbook with zany illustrations, WHAT A YEAR IT WAS! 1948 will instantly take you back in time for a lively, fun look at the people, places and events that shaped world history and changed our lives forever.

WHAT A YEAR IT WAS! 1948 is a nostalgic, entertaining, sometimes humorous look back at the events of a special year that helped shape the fabric of our lives.

In one of the major upsets in American political history, President Truman defies predictions of a Republican landslide and wins the presidential election, the Jewish State of Israel is formed, Mother Teresa establishes the Missionaries of Charity Order, Gandhi is assassinated and Mickey Mouse turns 21.

"HAMLET" is best picture, Tennessee Williams wins a Pulitzer for "A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE," radio fans tune in to "OUR MISS BROOKS," Uncle Miltie hosts "TEXACO STAR THEATRE" and Ed Sullivan premieres "TOAST OF THE TOWN."

Clark Gable, Cary Grant and Betty Grable are major stars, George Orwell's "1984" hits the bookstores, Nat "King" Cole, Perry Como and Dinah Shore sing the hits, while Sweater Girl Lana Turner and Henry Topping say "I Do" and Ronald Reagan and Jane Wyman "We Don't."

The baby boom continues as future king Prince Charles and future vice president Al Gore join the diaper brigade. California boasts the world's largest telescope and the first "Hot Rods" while words like "jog," "LP" and "bikini" become part of the national vocabulary. Consumers shell out $0.5 for a Coke, $.22 for a quart of milk, and try Nestle's Quik, Scrabble and Dial Soap for the first time. Women wear empire dresses, knee-length stockings held in place with an elastic band at the top and take pictures with their brand new Nikon cameras.

Cleveland wins the World Series over Boston, Alvin Dark is Rookie Of The Year and the sports world mourns the death of baseball legend Babe Ruth. Ben Hogan wins the U.S. Open, Satchel Paige leaves the Negro League and joins Cleveland, U.S. is Number 1 Gold winner in Summer Olympics and boxing great Joe Louis retires after 25 title bouts.

What about you? Where were you in 1948? Was that the year you were born or got married, graduated high school or college or started your business? Whatever personal meaning that year holds for you, WHAT A YEAR IT WAS! 1948 will bring a wistful smile to your face as you relive that very special time.