Topics Picked For ‘50s Stamps

Looking back at the 1950s, Americans loved drive-in movies, “I Love Lucy” and Dr. Seuss’ “The Cat in the Hat.”

Those were the top vote getters when more than 800,000 people cast their ballots to pick 15 stamps to commemorate the 1950s, the Postal Service announced Tuesday. The stamps will go on sale next spring.

Voting took place throughout February. The public is also to be asked to vote on subjects for other decades in the Celebrate the Century Program.

While the post office didn’t release exact vote counts, it said drive-in movies were the top choice of Americans, with Lucille Ball’s popular television show second and the chapeaued feline placing third.

Drive-ins had been second in a preliminary vote count released in mid-February, trailing polio, which made the final list but fell out the top place.

“The votes cast in February paint an interesting portrait of how the public remembers the 1950s,” commented Postmaster General Marvin Runyon.

Stamps selected for the 1950s set of 15 included:

People and events: desegregation of public schools; the Korean War.

Arts and entertainment: rock ‘n’ roll music; “I Love Lucy” and “The Cat in the Hat.”

Sports: heavyweight boxing champ Rocky Marciano and stock car racing.