1944
IT HAPPENED IN…1944
The Soviet Union announced the end of the 880 day
German siege of Leningrad during which 600,000 died.
The federal government relinquished control of
the railroad after settling a wage dispute.
Oil was discovered in commercial quantities in
Alabama.
Meat rationing ended May 3rd except
for steak and choice cuts of beef.
The D-Day invasion of Europe involved over 4,000
ships, 3,000 planes, and four million Allied troops.
During 10 weeks of combat 300,000 men, women, and chidren
died at Normandy.
American armored units moved rapidly across France in August and by
year end Allied forces were at Germany’s eastern and western
borders, preparing for the final assault.
The “Batman and Robin” comic strip premiered in
newspapers.
A Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus
tent fire in Hartford, Connecticut killed 168 people and injured
over 175 others.
Smokey the Bear made his debut as a spokesman for
fire prevention.
Race riots took place in Athens, Alabama.
Franklin D. Roosevelt was re-elected President
for a fourth term in November.
The Battle of the Bulge, Germany's last major war
offensive, began December 16th.
Paper shortages led publishers into the
successful production of soft-cover books.
Motion pictures enjoyed a record box office year,
grossing almost $2 billion.
The GI Bill of Rights, formally known as the
“Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944,” was passed granting World
War II veterans benefits, particularly housing subsidies and college
education funding.
Newly introduced products and inventions included
kidney machines, Kocacolor photography, the “Clue” game, and
Chiquita bananas.
5,922 U.S. soft drink bottling plants were in
operation. Per capita
consumption was 147.1 bottles.
Hires’ 1944 advertisements promoted the “It’s HEIDT
TIME for HIRES” radio program “EVERY MONDAY NIGHT – BLUE NETWORK.”
(Figure 1944-01, magazine
advertisement)
This newspaper advertisement is another version of Figure 1943-05. Note the mention of "war production."
(Figure 1944-01,5
Pittsburg (KS) Sun newspaper, 2.5" x 6.0". March 11, 1944)
The Hires company-owned bottling plant in Columbus,
Ohio opened March 13, 1944.
This newspaper advertisement is another version of Figure 1943-01. Note the continued mention of "war restrictions on production."
(Figure 1944-01,8
Pittsburg (KS) Sun newspaper, 2.5" x 6.0", March 19, 1944)
(Figure
1944-02,
Saturday Evening Post, May 6, 1944)
(Figure
1944-02.5, magazine advertisement, 6.0" x 7.0")
(Figure
1944-02.8, magazine advertisement, 6.0" x 5.0")
(Figure 1944-03, magazine
advertisement, 5.0" x 6.0")
(Figure 1944-04, paper poster,
8.0" x 18.0")
Time, handling, and storage have yellowed this cloth banner that shows stains and creases from folding. It is pictured as is.
(Figure 1944-05, cloth banner,
44.5" x 33.5")