Life & Times 1953
Indicators
| Average annual income | $4,010 |
| New House | $17,405 |
| New Car | $1,850 |
| Minimum Wage | $.75 |
| Gallon of Gas | $.20 |
| Gallon of Milk | $.96 |
| Dozen Eggs | $.72 |
| Loaf of Bread | $.16 |
| Postage Stamp (ground) | $.03 |
Events
President Harry Truman announces the US has developed a hydrogen bomb
Korean War ends
First Chevrolet Corvette produced
Watson and Crick discover structure of DNA
First Playboy magazine (centerfold Marilyn Monroe)
TV Guide begins publication
Jonas Salk announces his polio vaccine
Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay ascend to the summit of Mount Everest
Coronation of Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom at Westminster Abbey
The Rosenbergs are executed
Television station KATV in Little Rock goes on the air December 18
The first color tv sets go on sale for $1,175 ($8,178 in 2005 dollars)
Books
Battle Cry - Leon Uris
The Bridges at Toko-Ri - James A. Michener
Casino Royale - Ian Fleming
Désirée - Annemarie Selinko
Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury
Go Tell It on the Mountain - James Baldwin
The Long Goodbye - Raymond Chandler
The Robe - Lloyd C. Douglas
Second Foundation - Isaac Asimov
Movies
From Here to Eternity (Best picture)
Stalag 17 (Best actor, William Holden)
Roman Holiday (Best actress, (Audrey Hepburn)
Bwana Devil, the first 3D film
The Robe, the first Cinemascope (wide screen) film
Peter Pan
The Kid From Left Field
The Desert Rats
Shane
War Of The Worlds
It Came From Outer Space
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
House Of Wax
Niagara
The Three Musketeers
Music
1 Song from Moulin Rouge - Percy Faith
2 Vaya Con Dios - Les Paul & Mary Ford
3 Doggie in the Window - Patti Page
4 I'm Walking Behind You - Eddie Fisher
5 You, You, You - Ames Brothers
6 Till I Waltz Again with You - Teresa Brewer
7 April in Portugal - Les Baxter
8 No Other Love - Perry Como
9 Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes - Perry Como
10 I Believe - Frankie Laine
11 Oh - Pee Wee Hunt
12 Ebb Tide - Frank Chacksfield
13 Pretend - Nat King Cole
14 Ruby - Richard Hayman
15 Saint George and the Dragonet - Stan Freberg
16 P.S.: I Love You - Hilltoppers
17 Tell Me You're Mine - Gaylords
18 Eh Cumpari - Julius La Rosa
19 Rags to Riches - Tony Bennett
20 Anna - Silvano Mangano