"Though still limited to metropolitan areas and more than a little amateurish and expensive compared with its trembling sister, radio, the lively art of television has landed in the bigtime with amazing speed."
Along with "The Jack Benny Show" and "Amos 'N' Andy," programming is strengthened by several dramas anchored by the performances of Jessica Tandy, Paul Muni, Raymond Massie and Eva Le Galliene. Variety shows quickly gained prominence, led by the performance of Milton Berle on NBC's "Texaco Star Theatre." Berle utilizes sight gags very successfully. As The New York Times noted, "Television no longer threatened to bring theater to the home: it delivered."
As viewership grew to two million, stations create all-day programming. Beginning at 7 a.m., programs include aerobics, chapels sessions, a "Television Babysitter," product plugs, society programs, cartoons and variety shows.
THEATER
Mister Roberts, by Thomas Heggen and Joshua Logan, opens on February 18 at the Alvin Theatre in New York City with Henry Fonda in the lead role. The play later won the Tony Award for Best Play in the second annual ceremony. Fonda also wins a Tony for his lead performance.
Jessica Tandy wins a Tony for her role in A Streetcar Named Desire, Tennessee Williams' drama. Along with winning a Pulitzer Prize for best drama, Williams' play included Marlon Brando, whose performance caused Life to comment that his "deeply meant acting and oddly compelling way of speaking showed that he was an actor of real stature." Brando's sister, Jocelyn, also graced Broadway, starring in Mister Roberts. Other Tony winners include Paul Kelly for his role in Command Decision, Basil Rathbone for The Heiress and Judith Anderson for Medea.
FASHION
In the fall of 1947, the "New Look"--an emphasis on hourglass figures, long skirts and heightened femininity originated by Christian Dior--sweeps Radcliffe and the nation.
Other fashions sweep into style later in the year, especially on college campuses. Big mitts, crew hats and candy stockings were all the rage, while boy-girl look-alikes included twin parkas, sweaters, and raccoon coat dual outfits.
SPORTS
On Jan. 30, the Winter Olympics are inaugurated in Saint Moritz, Switzerland. The U.S. garners three gold medals and finishes an unofficial third, behind Sweden and Switzerland. During the Games, Dick Button '52 becomes the first American to win a figure skating title. The Summer Olympics, held between July 29 and August 14 in London, ended more favorably for the U.S. team. They claimed the unofficial team championship, winning 33 gold medals.
The New York Yankees are forced to seven games by the Brooklyn Dodgers but still prevailed to win the 1947 World Series on Oct. 6.
Citation becomes the eighth horse in history to sweep the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont, winning the Triple Crown.
The Toronto Maple Leafs wins the NHL Stanley Cup for the second year in a row, sweeping the Detroit Red Wings in four games.
Joe Louis successfully defends his world heavyweight boxing championship by defeating "Jersey Joe" Walcott in 11 rounds.
Ben Hogan, golf's top money winner, won the U.S. Open with record-breaking score of 276, five strokes lower than the previous record.
The legendary Babe Ruth, Sultan of Swat, dies at the age of 53 on Aug. 16.