The Forties


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    The Stormy Forties was a memorably turbulent era, forever linked in the public consciousness with World War II (1937/1939-1945), the development of the first atomic weapons and subsequent attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This also marked the start of the Cold War and the Arab-Israeli Conflict. But this era also brought many other changes on the world's political map. The Soviet Union annexed Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, while Burma, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Israel, Lebanon, Pakistan, Syria, and The Philippines gained independence from various European and American colonial empires. New regimes also emerged in existing countries; Republican Italy, West Germany, Red China, and East Germany all emerged in the second half of the decade.

    The technological innovations of the decade included the first actual computers - notably Z3 by Konrad Zuse (1941, German), the Atanasoff–Berry Computer (1942, American), the Colossus Mark 1 and Mark 2 computers (1943 and 1944, British), the Harvard Mark I (1944, American), Z4 by Konrad Zuse (1944, German), ENIAC (1946, American), the Manchester Small-Scale Experimental Machine (nicknamed "Baby") (1948, British), the EDSAC (1949, British), the Manchester Mark 1 (1949, British), and the CSIRAC (1949, Australia).

    While functioning radars were actually developed in the 1930s, they were first widely used in this decade, with several of the World War II combatants adopting and/or improving the relatively new technology. The first military jeeps were developed for the United States Army in 1940; the private companies creating them introduced civilian models in 1945. The German V-2, introduced in 1942, was the first successful ballistic missile and served as the progenitor of all modern rockets. Jet aircraft were still in an experimental phase during the start of the decade, but the jet-powered Messerschmitt Me 262 (1942, Germany) served as the first operational jet fighter aircraft, the first of many.

    Television was still in its infancy. At the start of the decade, only a few countries had operational television stations (including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, the Soviet Union, Mexico, the Free City of Danzig, Poland, Japan and Italy), and said stations only broadcast in major cities. Only a very limited number of people owned or had access to a television set - as of 1941, WRGB in Schenectady, NY was the only TV station outside a major world city anywhere. Later in the decade, the Philippines, Czechoslovakia, Chile, and the Netherlands would get their first experimental broadcasts. Commercial television got its start in this decade with the launching of early privately-owned networks.

    The hit toy of the era was the Slinky, a helical spring which stretched and bounced up and down. Developed by engineer Richard Thompson James, it became commercially available in 1945. Tupperware, an airtight plastic container for storing food, was created by the eponymous Earl Tupper in 1946. The first commercial microwave oven was introduced by Raytheon in 1947, based on the experiments of inventor Percy Spencer. Velcro was invented by George de Mestral in 1948, though it would not become commercially available until the late 1950s.

    The cinemas of several countries managed to produce influential films. The Golden Age of Hollywood was still ongoing, and hit films such as The Maltese Falcon and Casablanca were arguably among its best products. The Film Noir genre rose to particular prominence. British cinema had some major hits in the adaptation of Shakespearean works by Laurence Olivier and the exemplary noir The Third Man. In France, influential directors such as Marcel Carné, Robert Bresson, and René Clément scored major hits in the aftermath of the War. Italian neorealism was developed in this decade, with major directors in the genre including Roberto Rossellini, Vittorio De Sica, and Giuseppe De Santis. In the Soviet Union, Ivan the Terrible by Sergei Eisenstein was arguably the most notable film of its decade. Meanwhile, a new generation of directors managed to produce their own hits. In Japan, new director Akira Kurosawa began his career.

    As for fashion, styles for dresses, suits (especially zoot suits) and sportswear were a continuation of 1930s silhouettes, like shoulder pads and backless evening wear, only more robust, mannish and simplistic. Hairstyles for women were often long, permed, rolled-up and pompadoured, in which they often showed their foreheads. Fedoras and Latin American influenced hats were popular headwear, while high-heeled wedgies, mary-janes, close-footed oxfords, peep-toe pumps or platforms were popular choices for footwear. Gloves were a must. The decade also introduced a new fabric - nylon - used in hosiery, toothbrush bristles, ropes, and parachutes. During the war, due to fabric rationing and the closing of fashion houses in Paris, many day dresses were strictly knee-length and plainly decorated, nylon stockings suffered shortages due to the need for parachutes, and sportswear was often substituted for casual wear. Many more had innovated themselves in order to be more stylish, even while working on factories. For instance, women applied makeup on their legs in place of wearing stockings. After the war, restrictions were still implemented but were gradually relaxed, until in 1947, a Parisian designer named Christian Dior and created a new set of style which included long full skirts, rounded busts and narrow shoulders. Journalists had dubbed it the "New Look" and the innovative style lingered on until the end of The Fifties.

    For music, jazz was the main ingredient to swing (the rage of the dancefloor), bebop (the slow, mellow, sexy tune), and Latin dances like mambo, salsa and conga brought by soldiers. And then, before The Fifties popularized teen sensations, Frank Sinatra was the teen sensation.

    See Also: The Roaring Twenties, The Thirties, The Fifties, The Sixties, The Seventies, The Eighties, The Nineties, Turn of the Millennium and The New Tens.

    Popular tropes included in this period are
    Examples of The Forties include:

    Works that are made in this time period

    Anime and Manga

    • Momotarō no Umiwashi (Momotarō's Sea Eagles). A Japanese propaganda film, released in 1943.
    • Momotarō: Umi no Shinpei (Momotaro's Divine Sea Warriors). 1945 sequel to the above. The first Japanese feature-length animated film.
    • Sazae San. Comic strip. Started in April, 1946.


    Comics

    • The Golden Age of Comic Books was still ongoing.
    • Tintin. Series started in 1929.
    • The Flash/Jason "Jay" Garrick. First appeared in January, 1940.
    • Hawkman
      • Hawkman/Carter Hall. First appeared in January, 1940.
      • Hawkwoman/Hawkgirl/Shiera Sanders. First appeared in January, 1940.
    • Captain Marvel/Billy Batson. First appeared in February, 1940.
    • The Spectre. First appeared in February, 1940.
    • Catwoman. First appeared in Spring, 1940.
    • The Joker. First appeared in Spring, 1940.
    • Hourman/Rex Tyler. First appeared in March, 1940.
    • Lex Luthor. First appeared in April, 1940.
    • Robin
      • Robin/Richard "Dick" Grayson. First appeared in April, 1940. He would eventually become Nightwing.
    • Doctor Fate. First appeared in May, 1940.
    • The Spirit. First appeared in June, 1940.
    • Green Lantern/Alan Scott. First appeared in July, 1940.
    • The Atom. First appeared in October, 1940.
    • Disney Ducks Comic Universe. Some of them were introduced in comic strips by Osborne and Taliaferro. Others in comic books by Carl Barks.
      • Daisy Duck. Adapted to the medium in November, 1940.
      • Neighbor J. Jones. First appeared in July, 1943. Redesigned and fleshed out in November, 1943.
      • Grandma Duck/Elvira Coot. First appeared in September, 1943.
      • Scrooge McDuck. First appeared in December, 1947.
      • Gladstone Gander. First appeared in January, 1948.
    • Abigail "Ma" Hunkel became the Red Tornado in November, 1940.
    • Justice Society of America. Debuted in Winter, 1940.
    • Bucky Barnes. First appeared in March, 1941.
    • Captain America (comics). First appeared in March, 1941.
    • Tom Poes. First appeared on March 16, 1941.
    • Red Skull
      • Red Skull/George Maxon. First appeared in March, 1941.
      • Red Skull/Johann Schmidt. First appeared in October, 1941.
      • Red Skull/Albert Malik. First appeared in March, 1947.
    • Blackhawk. First appeared in August, 1941.
    • Plastic Man. First appeared in August, 1941.
    • Looney Tunes. First adapted to the medium in October, 1941.
    • Aquaman. First appeared in November, 1941.
    • Green Arrow. First appeared in November, 1941.
    • Jimmy Olsen. First named appearance in November, 1941.
    • Archie Comics
      • Archibald "Archie" Andrews. First appeared in December, 1941.
      • Elizabeth "Betty" Cooper. First appeared in December, 1941.
      • Forsythe Pendleton "Jughead" Jones III. First appeared in December, 1941.
      • Fred Andrews. Father of Archie. First appeared in December, 1941.
      • Mary Andrews. Mother of Archie. First appeared in December, 1941.
      • Hal Cooper. Father of Betty. First appeared in December, 1941.
      • Alice Cooper. Mother of Betty. First appeared in December, 1941.
      • Coach Kleats. First appeared in February, 1942.
      • Mr. Waldo Weatherbee. First appeared in Spring, 1942.
      • Veronica "Ronnie" Lodge. First appeared in April, 1942.
      • Reginald "Reggie" Mantle. First appeared in Summer, 1942.
      • Miss Geraldine Grundy. First appeared in August, 1942.
      • Hiram Lodge. Father of Veronica. First appeared in September, 1942.
      • Hermione Lodge. Mother of Veronica. First appeared in Winter, 1942.
      • Dilton Doiley. First appeared in February, 1948.
      • Professor Elmer Benjamin Flutesnoot. Appeared c. April, 1948.
      • Marmaduke "Big Moose" Mason. First appeared in 1949.
    • Sandy the Golden Boy/Sanderson Hawkins. First appeared in December, 1941. He would later assume The Sandman identity.
    • Seven Soldiers. First appeared in Winter, 1941.
    • Wonder Woman. First appeared in December, 1941.
    • Spirou and Fantasio
      • Fantasio first appeared in September, 1943. He was elevated to co-protagonist in October, 1944.
    • Vandal Savage. First appeared in Winter, 1943.
    • EC Comics, a publisher of many groundbreaking comics such as Tales From The Crypt and Mad, debuted in 1944.
    • Superboy. First appeared in January–February, 1945.
    • Suske en Wiske.
      • Wiske first appeared in March, 1945.
      • Suske first appeared in December, 1945.
    • Katy Keene. First appeared in Summer, 1945.
    • Black Adam. First appeared in December, 1945.
    • Millie the Model. First appeared in Winter, 1945.
    • Blake and Mortimer. First appeared in September, 1946.
    • Lucky Luke.First appeared in September, 1946.Set in The Wild West.
    • Buck Danny. First appeared in January, 1947. The early storylines were set in World War II.
    • Black Canary. First appeared in August, 1947.
    • Mickey Mouse Comic Universe
      • Eega Beeva. First appeared in September, 1947.
      • Rhyming Man. First appeared in April, 1948.
      • Ellsworth Bheezer. First appeared in October, 1949.
    • Nero. First appeared in October, 1947.
    • Alix. First appeared in September, 1948.


    Eastern Animation

    • Princess Iron Fan. 1941 animated feature film. The first Chinese feature-length animated film.
    • The Lost Letter. 1945 Soviet cel-animated feature film.
    • The Czech Year. 1947 Czechoslovak animated feature film.
    • The Humpbacked Horse. 1947 Soviet animated feature film.
    • The Emperor's Nightingale. 1949 Czechoslovak animated feature film.


    Film

    See also Films of the 1940s


    Literature


    Live-Action TV

    • On 25 February 1940, an Ice Hockey game is televised. The first broadcast of its kind. The game was between the New York Rangers and the Montreal Canadiens.
    • On 28 February 1940, a Basketball game is televised. The first broadcast of its kind. The game was between the teams of Fordham University and the University of Pittsburgh.
    • On 10 March 1940, a performance of the Metropolitan Opera of New York City is televised. The first of its kind. The show included excerpts from the Pagliacci and four other operas.
    • A 1941 decision of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) allows American Television Stations to broadcast Commercials. On 1 July 1941, ten stations incorporate commercials to their programs. The first known television commercial was one for Bulova watches. Broadcast during a Baseball game between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Philadelphia Phillies.
    • Truth or Consequences, the popular radio show, was simulcast on radio and television for a single day on 1July, 1941. To attract viewers to the station showing it. The game would not return to television until 1950.
    • CBS Television Quiz debuted in 2 July 1941. Becoming the first regularly scheduled Game Show. It was cancelled in May, 1942. In favor of war-related programming.
    • By a 1942 decision of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the minimum weekly programming time required of American stations is lowered from 15-hours to 4 hours for the duration of World War II. Most stations switch to limited programming.
    • The Voice of Firestone Televues, a television program featuring highlighted selections from opera and operetta, debuted in 1943. Later known as "The Voice of Firestone", it would become an early Long runner. Broadcast in 1943-1947, 1949-1959, and 1962-1963.
    • Missus Goes a Shopping, a Game Show, debuted in 1944. Broadcast by the Columbia Broadcasting System, it is considered a pioneer of its genre.
    • NBC broadcast hours of news coverage on 8 May 1945. In celebration of Victory in Europe Day. The network was preparing to resume full service, following years of limited programming during World War II.
    • Moscow TV center resumed regular broadcasting on 15 December 1945. It had went on hiatus during World War II.
    • The BBC Television Service resumed broadcasting on 7 June 1946. It had went on hiatus in 1939 due to the outbreak of World War II.
    • Regular network service by DuMont started on 15 August 1946.
      • The 1946-47 television season is generally regarded as the first full season in the United States.
    • Pinwright's Progress, a British television Sitcom, is considered the pioneer of its genre. Debuted in 1946.
    • Boxing from St. Nicholas Arena, an American sports program, debuted in NBC. Running from 1946 to 1948. It was revived by DuMont from 1954 to 1956.
    • Meet the Press. Television adaptation of the radio show. Debuted in 1947.
    • Queen for a Day. First Simulcast for radio and television in 1947. Continued in this format from 1948 onwards.
    • Break the Bank. Television adaptation of the radio show. Debuted in 1948.
    • Candid Camera. Debuted in 1948.
    • Ed Sullivan Show. Debuted in 1948.
    • Winner Take All. Television adaptation of the radio show. Debuted in 1948.
    • The Aldrich Family. Television adaptation of the radio show. Debuted in 1949.
    • Captain Video. Debuted in 1949.
    • The Lone Ranger. Television adaptation of the radio show. Debuted in 1949.
    • Ripley's Believe It or Not!. Television adaptation of the comic strip feature. Debuted in 1949.


    Music

    Several of the music performers and composers of the era would enjoy long-lasting careers.


    Professional Wrestling


    Radio


    Theater


    Video Games


    Western Animation

    Works that are set in this time period are

    Comics


    Film


    Video Games

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