1946

World Events

• The United Nations General Assembly meets for the first time.
• 22 Nazi leaders are convicted for war crimes in the International Tribunal at Nuremberg.

• Juan Peron, husband of Evita Peron, is elected president of Argentina.
• Archeologists began using radio-carbon dating to establish the age of relics.
• Japanese Americans begin returning home from the internment camps.

San Diego History

• Scripps Institute of Oceanography scientist Francis Shepard loses the manuscript to his book on marine biology in a tidal wave in Hawaii. He takes the opportunity to do research on tsunamis while in the islands.

Arts

• French artist Jean Dubuffet opens his first solo show. His art uses common materials, spontaneous, unrefined finishes, and embodies the art brut movement.
• Charlie Parker has a break down on July 29 after a recording session. He is admitted to Camarillo State Hospital. He will later write "Relaxin' at Camarillo".

American Life

• Dr. Benjamin Spock publishes The Commonsense Book of Baby and Child Care, which changes American's views on child care.
• The first bikinis splash onto the fashion and beach scenes.
• The first vinyl records are pressed.

• It's a bad year for swing music; Benny Goodman, Harry James, Tommy Dorsey, Jack Teagarden, Benny Carter and more bands decide to break-up.
• ENIAC: first universal electronic computer is unveiled. Its vacuum tubes use so much power that lights in a nearby town dim whenever it is used.