At A Glance

20 July 1949 at a glance

Day of the week
20 July 1949 was a Wednesday.
Top Film of 1949
The highest-grossing film worldwide released in 1949 was Samson and Delilah.
Bestselling Novel of 1949
“The Egyptian” by Mika Waltari was No. 1 on Publishers Weekly's US fiction list for 1949.
Star sign
The star sign for 20 July is Cancer.
Chinese zodiac
In the Chinese zodiac, 20 July 1949 fell in the Year of the Ox.
Birthstone
The birthstone for July is Ruby.
Moon phase
The moon phase on 20 July 1949 was Waning Crescent.

On this day: 20 July

  • 1941 Soviet leader Joseph Stalin consolidates the Commissariats of Home Affairs and National Security to form the NKVD and names Lavrentiy Beria its chief.
  • 1949 The Israel–Syria Mixed Armistice Commission brokers the last of four ceasefire agreements to end the 1948 Arab–Israeli War.
  • 1950 Cold War: In Philadelphia, Harry Gold pleads guilty to spying for the Soviet Union by passing secrets from atomic scientist Klaus Fuchs.
  • 1950 After a month-long campaign, the majority of North Korea's Air Force was destroyed by anti-communist forces.
  • 1954 Germany: Otto John, head of West Germany's secret service, defects to East Germany.

Famous people born on July 20

  • Haakon VIII (born 1973)
  • Chris Cornell, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (1964–2017)
  • Julianne Hough, American singer-songwriter, actress, and dancer (born 1988)
  • Natalie Wood, American actress (1938–1981)

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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

Events of 1949 in the United States

A selection from Wikipedia's '1949 in the United States'. Not a complete list.

  • January 25 – The first Emmy Awards are presented at the Hollywood Athletic Club.
  • March 24 – The 21st Academy Awards ceremony, hosted by Robert Montgomery, is held at the Academy Theater in Hollywood, Los Angeles.
  • April 4 – The North Atlantic Treaty is signed in Washington, D.C., creating the NATO defense alliance.

Life in the US in 1949

President

Harry S. Truman

Gas (per gallon)

$0.27

Loaf of Bread

$0.14

Average House

$5,700

Weekly Wage

$52

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 →