Historical Context: May, 1947

The Stockton Theatre in Stockton, California offered double-bills three times a week during May of 1947, and the Sunday show May 9-10 was the first version of the James Thurber short story The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.

The ripple effects from World War II  continued to be the focus for U.S. policy. In May of 1947, the “Truman Doctrine” went into effect, aiding Turkey and Greece. The intent was to contain the spread of communism in Europe after World War II as the U.S. committed to support any nation resisting such expansion.

In 1947, the average price of a new car was $1,864, according to the U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis. That same year, the median family income was $3,031. The average gas price was 23 cents per gallon.