For those now 60 years of age, 1944-45 (the end of World War II) were very influential:

1944 The Allied Invasion of Normandy, Eisenhower Supreme Commander

FDR dies while in office: 12 April 1945.

May 1945 Germany surrenders (Japan still waging war)

July 16, 1945 First test of "A-bomb" in New Mexico

1945 U.S. President Harry S. Truman, business man by trade

August 6 & 9, 1945 A-bombs dropped in Japan. It surrendered quickly

August 14, 1945 V-J Day

The "Cold War" begins after Yalta accord in 1945 and Truman's "distinctively combative temperament."

History suggests that it would have started even if FDR had lived, as there were many clashes

Media Influence:

1944

Best Picture: "Going My Way"

Best Actor: Bing Cosby

Best Actress: Ingrid Bergman

1945

Best Picture: "The Lost Weekend"

Best Actor: Ray Milland

Best Actress: Joan Crawford

Top Songs: 1944 (Source: "Billboard's #1 Hits"):

01/15 "Shoo-Shoo Baby," Andrews Sisters

01/29 "My Heart Tells Me," Gray, Glen

03/04 "Besame Mucho," Dorsey, Jimmy

03/18 "Mairzy Doats," Merry Macs

04/22 "San Fernando Valley," Crosby, Bing

04/22 "It's Love-Love-Love," Lombardo, Guy

05/06 "I Love You," Crosby, Bing

06/10 "I'll Get By (As Long as I Have You)," James, Harry

07/01 "I'll Be Seeing You," Crosby, Bing

08/05 "Swinging on a Star," Crosby, Bing

08/05 "G.I. Jive," Jordan, Louis

10/07 "You Always Hurt the One You Love," Mills Brothers

10/14 "Hot Time in the Town of Berlin," Crosby, Bing, & Andrews Sisters

10/14 "I'll Walk Alone," Shore, Dinah

12/02 "Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall," Fitzgerald, Ella, & Ink Spots

12/09 "I'm Making Believe," Fitzgerald, Ella, & Ink Spots

12/16 "Don't Fence Me In," Crosby, Bing, & Andrews Sisters

1945

02/10 "Rum and Coca-Cola," Andrews Sisters

03/17 "Ac-cent-tchu-ate the Positive," Mercer, Johnny

03/31 "My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time," Brown, Les

03/31 "Candy," Mercer, Johnny, Jo Stafford & Pied Pipers

04/14 "I'm Beginning to See the Light," James, Harry

05/05 "Dream," Pied Pipers

05/12 "There! I've Said it Again," Monroe, Vaughn

05/26 "Sentimental Journey," Brown, Les

07/28 "On the Atchison, Topeka, and the Sante Fe," Mercer, Johnnie

09/15 "Till the End of Time," Como, Perry

11/17 "Chickery Chick," Kaye, Sammy

11/24 "It's Been a Long, Long Time," James, Harry

12/08 "It's Been a Long, Long Time," Crosby, Bing, with Les Brown

12/15 "I Can't Begin to Tell You," Crosby, Bing

12/29 "White Christmas," Crosby, Bing

60 years old longevity males to 77.5 years old, females to 81.25 years old (Source: 1980 Commissioners Standard Ordinary Mortality Table)

For those now at 65 years of age, 1939-40 (the last years of the great Depression and

the beginning of World War II) were very influential:

1938 Hitler's aggression in Europe is unmistakable

1940 British Prime Minister Churchill begins constant communication with FDR concerning the war

1941 "Lend Lease Act" allows Britain to benefit from U.S. Industry to help them fight the war

Media Influence:

1939

Best Picture: "Gone With the Wind"

 Best Actor: Robert Donat

Best Actress: Vivien Leigh

1940

Best Picture: "Rebecca"

Best Actor: James Stewart

Best Actress: Ginger Rogers

Top Songs 1939 (Source: "Billboard's #1 Hits"):

01/07 "They Say," Shaw, Artie

01/14 "Jeepers Creepers," Donohue, Al

01/14 "Thanks for Ev'rything," Shaw, Artie

02/04 "Umbrella Man, The," Kyser, Kay

02/11 "Deep Purple," Clinton, Larry

03/18 "Penny Serenade," Lombardo, Guy

04/22 "Heaven Can Wait," Gray, Glen

05/06 "Our Love," Dorsey, Tommy

05/13 "And the Angels Sing," Goodman, Benny

05/20 "Three Little Fishies," Kyser, Kay

06/03 "Beer Barrel Polka," Glahe, Will

06/10 "Wishing Will Make it So," Miller, Glenn

07/08 "Stairway to the Stars," Miller, Glenn

08/12 "Sunrise Serenade," Gray, Glen

08/12 "Moon Love," Miller, Glenn

09/09 "Over the Rainbow," Miller, Glenn

09/09 "Man With the Mandolin, The," Miller, Glenn

09/30 "Blue Orchids," Miller, Glenn

10/21 "Day in, Day Out," Crosby, Bob

11/11 "Address Unknown," Ink Spots

11/14 "South of the Border (Down Mexico Way)," Fields, Shep

11/25 "Scatter-Brain," Masters, Frankie

1940

01/27 "All the Things You Are," Dorsey, Tommy

02/03 "Careless," Miller, Glenn

02/10 "In the Mood," Miller, Glenn

02/24 "Indian Summer," Dorsey, Tommy

03/16 "Darn That Dream," Goodman, Benny

03/30 "When You Wish Upon a Star," Miller, Glenn

05/04 "Woodpecker Song, The," Miller, Glenn

05/04 "Tuxedo Junction," Miller, Glenn

06/22 "Imagination," Miller, Glenn

07/10 "Make-Believe Island," Ayres, Mitchell

07/20 "Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear to Tread)," Miller, Glenn

07/27 "I'll Never Smile Again," Dorsey, Tommy

08/24 "Where Was I," Barnet, Charlie

09/07 "Breeze and I, The" Dorsey, Jimmy

09/14 "Sierra Sue," Crosby, Bing

10/19 "Only Forever," Crosby, Bing

11/23 "Blueberry Hill," Miller, Glenn

11/28 "Ferryboat Serenade," Andrews Sisters

11/30 "Trade Winds," Crosby, Bing

12/21 "Frenesi," Shaw, Artie

65 years old longevity males to 79 years old, females to 82.3 years old (Source: 1980 Commissioners Standard Ordinary Mortality Table)

For those now 70 years of age, 1934-35 (the middle of the Great Depression) were very

influential:

1933 Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) - emergency relief to states and communities.

The National Recovery Act provided employment through public work projects.

US ceases to have Cuba as a "Protectorate."

Media Influence:

1934

Best Picture: "It Happened One Night"

Best Actor: Clark Gable

Best Actress: Claudette Colbert

1935

Best Picture: "Mutiny on the Bounty"

Best Actor:  Victor McLaglen

Best Actress: Bette Davis

Top Songs: 1934 (Source: "Billboard's #1 Hits"):

01/06 "The Old Spinning Wheel," Noble, Ray

01/20 "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes," Whiteman, Paul

02/24 "Let's Fall in Love," Duchin, Eddy

03/03 "My Little Grass Shack in Kealakekua, Hawaii," Fio Rito, Ted

03/31 "The Carioca," Madriguera, Enric

04/07 "Wagon Wheels," Whiteman, Paul

04/14 "Little Dutch Mill," Crosby, Bing

05/12 "Cocktails for Two," Ellington, Duke

06/09 "I'll String Along With You," Fio Rito, Ted

07/07 "Moon Glow," Goodman, Benny

07/14 "All I Do is Dream of You," Garber, Jan

07/14 "The Very Thought of You," Noble, Ray

08/18 "Love in Bloom," Crosby, Bing

09/15 "I Saw Stars," Martin, Freddy

10/20 "One Night of Love," Moore, Grace

10/27 "The Continental (You Kiss While You're Dancing)," Reisman, Leo

11/10 "Stars Fell on Alabama," Lombardo, Guy

12/08 "June in January," Crosby, Bing

12/08 "Stay as Sweet as You Are," Grier, Jimmie

12/29 "The Object of my Affection," Grier, Jimmie

1935

01/12 "Isle of Capri," Noble, Ray

01/26 "The Object of my Affection," Boswell Sisters

01/26 "Blue Moon," Gray, Glen

03/23 "Lovely to Look At," Duchin, Eddy

04/13 "It's Easy to Remember," Crosby, Bing

04/20 "Soon," Crosby, Bing

05/04 "Lullaby of Broadway," Dorsey Brothers Orchestra

05/04 "I Won't Dance," Duchin, Eddy

05/18 "What's the Reason (I'm not Pleasin' You)," Lombardo, Guy

06/01 "Life is a Song," Etting, Ruth

06/15 "When I Grow Too Old to Dream," Gray, Glen

06/22 "She's a Latin From Manhattan," Young, Victor

06/29 "Chasing Shadows," Dorsey Brothers Orchestra

07/13 "In a Little Gypsy Tea Room," Crosby, Bing

07/20 "Let's Swing It," Noble, Ray

08/03 "Rhythm is Our Business," Lunceford, Jimmie

08/10 "Cheek to Cheek," Astaire, Fred

08/10 "Paris in the Spring," Noble, Ray

08/17 "And Then Some," Nelson, Ozzie

08/24 "East of the Sun (And West of the Moon)," Coakley, Tom

09/07 "I'm in the Mood for Love," Little, Little Jack

10/19 "Truckin'," Waller, Fats

11/02 "You Are My Lucky Star," Duchin, Eddy

11/30 "Red Sails in the Sunset," Lombardo, Guy

12/21 "Red Sails in the Sunset," Crosby, Bing

12/21 "On Treasure Island," Dorsey, Tommy

12/28 "A Little Bit Independent," Waller, Fats

70 years old longevity males to 81 years old, females to 83.7 years old (Source: 1980 Commissioners Standard Ordinary Mortality Table)