JUNE 1947: QUEENS ADAPTS TO
LIFE AFTER WORLD WAR II
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TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | JUNE 19-25, 2020 19
In conjunction with the
Greater Astoria Historical
Society, TimesLedger Newspapers
presents noteworthy
events in the borough’s
history.
Welcome to June 1947!
Although the war was
over for nearly two years, reminders
of that terrible conflict
remained in the news.
Pan American Airlines
advertised for permanent
employees, with “preference
given to veterans.” An ad by
General Tire warned “those
risky wartime tires must
go!” Sets of tires ranged from
$15.20 to $43.40.
A three-room aluminum
house (providing a small
family minimum living) was
advertised as one solution
to the post-war housing crisis.
It needed only two men
working 40 hours to build.
The $3,000 kit did not include
windows, doors, and a foundation.
At Queens Terrace on
Roosevelt Avenue at 69th
Street, a new spring show
featured “The Comedy Sensation
of 1947,” Alan King,
along with a “Review of Gorgeous
Girls” and the Joe De-
Carlo Orchestra. Gearing up
for another summer, ads ran
for a season of swim show
performances at the Flushing
Meadows Aquacade.
With seating for 8,272, tickets
started at 60 cents.
The Whitman galleries on
Northern Boulevard in Flushing
auctioned lace and jewels
said to be part of the Russian
crown jewel collection.
Also in Flushing, Johanna
Racich, who grew tobacco
and cotton in her backyard
died at age 99. Asked the
secret to her longevity, she
mentioned having a good diet
and sensible lifestyle. “Every
morning I get up at 3 a.m. —
there is always something to
do at that hour!”
The 1939 play “Life with
Father” was set to break a
Broadway record with 3,183
performances, beating out
the previous record holder,
“Tobacco Road.” At the
‘healthfully’ air-conditioned
Strand Theatre on Crescent
and 30th Avenue, Laurel and
Hardy played in the comedy
“Flying Deuces” while Gregory
Peck, in his screen debut,
starred in “Days of Glory.”
A state-of-the-art RCA Victor
Television with a 53 square
inch screen went for $375 (tax
was $2.60!). Its unique Eyewitness
Picture Synchronizer
automatically locked on the
sending station. Its picture
was clear and steady even
with the lights on. Its Golden
Throat Sound System provided
static-free FM reception!
The Queensborough Library
1947 summer schedule
was 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday,
Wednesday, and Friday;
1 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday
and Thursday; and 9 a.m. to
12 p.m, on Saturday.
Queens had the city’s
highest tax rate due to the
borough’s extensive street
and sewer improvements.
Household income at $4,460
was well above the national
average of $3,640.
This post-war prosperity
generated traffic that was
strangling Steinway Street,
a prime shopping area in
1947 as today. A five-man delegation
sent by the Steinway
Merchants Committee that
met with Borough President
James A. Burke reported little
progress.
For further info, call the
Greater Astoria Historical
Society at 718-278-0700 or
www.astorialic.org.
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LAST WEEK’S TOP STORY:
Queens College graduate from Oakland Gardens earns
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