Dashed left edge = started before October 1950 ·
Dashed right edge = ongoing beyond October 1950
Events in October 1950 11
1858 – 1950Gustaf VThe Tennis KingReigned through both World Wars. He was a champion tennis player and was involved in the Borggård Crisis.
1886 – 1950Al Jolson (1886-1950)Died 23 October 1950, aged 64Al Jolson was an American singer and actor known for starring in The Jazz Singer, the first feature-length film with synchronized dialogue. He was one of the most popular entertainers of the early 20th century, celebrated for songs such as "Mammy" and "Swanee". He died of a heart attack in San Francisco shortly after performing for troops in Korea.
1950Computing Machinery and IntelligenceThe imitation gameTuring opens with "Can machines think?", declares the question meaningless, and replaces it with a test: if a person conversing by teleprinter cannot tell machine from human, the distinction has stopped doing any work. He also anticipates most of the objections that would be raised over the following seventy years and answers them in advance. It remains the founding document of artificial intelligence.
1950Peanuts comic strip debutsCharles Schulz introduces Charlie Brown and SnoopyCharles Schulz's comic strip Peanuts debuted in seven American newspapers. The strip introduced Charlie Brown and, soon after, his dog Snoopy, and ran for nearly fifty years. It became one of the most widely syndicated comic strips in history.
1950Battle of ChamdoChinese forces invade TibetThe People's Liberation Army launched a military campaign into eastern Tibet, defeating the poorly equipped Tibetan army around the town of Chamdo. The defeat led Tibet to appeal to the United Nations and eventually to negotiate the Seventeen Point Agreement the following year. The campaign marked the beginning of China's incorporation of Tibet.
1950FCC approves CBS color television systemUnited States authorizes first commercial color broadcast standardThe Federal Communications Commission approved a CBS-developed mechanical color television system for commercial broadcast, the first such approval in the United States. The system proved incompatible with existing black-and-white sets and was withdrawn within a year in favor of a later, compatible standard. It nonetheless marked the first regulatory step toward color television broadcasting.
1950All About Eve premieresBette Davis stars in acclaimed backstage dramaJoseph L. Mankiewicz's All About Eve, starring Bette Davis, premiered in New York to widespread acclaim. It received a record fourteen Academy Award nominations and won Best Picture. The film remains a landmark of American cinema for its sharp dialogue and portrayal of ambition in the theater world.
1950 – 2017Tom Petty (1950-2017)Died 2 October 2017, aged 66American singer, songwriter and guitarist who led Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, known for hits including "Free Fallin'" and "American Girl." He was also a member of the supergroup the Traveling Wilburys. He died of an accidental drug overdose shortly after completing a major tour.
1950Tom Petty born in Gainesville, FloridaThomas Earl PettyDecides to be a musician after meeting Elvis Presley on a film set in 1961.
1950Jayuya UprisingPuerto Rican Nationalist Party revolts against US ruleMembers of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party rose up in the town of Jayuya and several other municipalities, briefly declaring a republic before being suppressed by the National Guard. The uprising was the largest armed nationalist revolt in Puerto Rico's history. It preceded the attempt on President Truman's life by two days.
1950 – 1994John Candy (1950-1994)Died 4 March 1994, aged 43John Candy, the Canadian comedian and actor known for films including Planes, Trains and Automobiles and Uncle Buck, died of a heart attack while filming in Mexico. His sudden death shocked fans across North America.