At A Glance

17 October 1948 at a glance

Day of the week
17 October 1948 was a Sunday.
Top Film of 1948
The highest-grossing film worldwide released in 1948 was Easter Parade.
Bestselling Novel of 1948
“The Big Fisherman” by Lloyd C. Douglas was No. 1 on Publishers Weekly's US fiction list for 1948.
Star sign
The star sign for 17 October is Libra.
Chinese zodiac
In the Chinese zodiac, 17 October 1948 fell in the Year of the Rat.
Birthstone
The birthstone for October is Opal.
Moon phase
The moon phase on 17 October 1948 was Full Moon.

On this day: 17 October

  • 1941 World War II: The USS Kearny becomes the first U.S. Navy vessel to be torpedoed by a U-boat.
  • 1943 The Burma Railway (Burma–Thailand Railway) is completed.
  • 1943 Nazi Holocaust in Poland: Sobibór extermination camp is closed.
  • 1945 A large demonstration in Buenos Aires, Argentina, demands Juan Perón's release.
  • 1952 Indonesian Army elements surrounded the Merdeka Palace demanding President Sukarno disband the Provisional People's Representative Council.

Famous people born on October 17

  • Eminem, American rapper, producer, and actor (born 1972)
  • Norm Macdonald, Canadian actor, comedian, producer, and screenwriter (1959–2021)
  • Rita Hayworth, American actress, singer and dancer (1918–1987)
  • Matthew Macfadyen, English actor (born 1974)

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Choose your country: the charts, news and leaders change to match.

Events of 1948 in the United States

A selection from Wikipedia's '1948 in the United States'. Not a complete list.

  • February 21 – The stock car racing organization NASCAR is founded by Bill France Sr. with other drivers meeting at the Streamline Hotel, Daytona Beach, Florida.
  • March 17 – The Hells Angels motorcycle gang is founded in California.
  • April 3 – President Harry S. Truman signs the Marshall Plan, which authorizes $15 billion in aid for 16 countries.

Life in the US in 1948

President

Harry S. Truman

Gas (per gallon)

$0.26

Loaf of Bread

$0.14

Average House

$5,450

Weekly Wage

$50

Or

Browse by Year

Famous Faces Born in the 1940s

Well-known people born in the same decade as you, not on your birthday.

Sources: Wikidata and Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

About The Day You Were Born

Ever wondered what was happening in the world when you took your first breath? Our birthday lookup tool reveals the fascinating history of your special day.

About The Birthday Chronicle and where our data comes from →