Mary Jo Bellner Swartzberg
Lost Any Golf Balls Lately?
According to Reddit, 1.2 billion golf balls are made each year. Shaun Shienfield, considered the CEO of Found Golf Balls, has stated that golfers lose between three and four balls per round, meaning that more than 1.5 billion balls are lost every year. Laid in a row, the golf balls would go around the Earth’s circumference more than one and a half times!
Teenagers!
In 1954 there were approximately 25.5 million teenagers in the U.S. In 2023 there were 42+ million teenagers (youth between the ages of 10 and 19) in the U.S., which was about 13% of the U.S. population.
Lip Service
Eighty to ninety percent of American women wore lipstick after World War II, including in the 1950s. Red lipstick was a trademark of 1950s beauty, with different shades chosen based on hair color. For example, blondes and redheads might wear orange-reds, while people with darker hair might wear purple-reds.
According to Statista, 122.62 million women in the United States used lipstick or lip gloss in 2020, and that number is expected to increase to 124.68 million in 2024.
Want Sun?
In 2020, 12.3% of men and 29% of women aged 18 or older said they always use sunscreen. In 2023, 21% of people aged 18–29 and 20% of people aged 30–44 said they always use sunscreen.
Let’s Get Cooking!
Top-Selling Cookbooks:
In 1970: Mastering the Art of French Cooking, by Julia Child, Simone Beck, and Louisette Bertholle (3,500,000 copies sold)
In 2023: An Unapologetic Cookbook, by Joshua Weissman (316,000 copies sold)
Caring About Health Care?
In 1960 there were 7,123 hospitals in the United States, according to the American Hospital Association. As of January 2023, the United States had approximately 7,335 hospitals.
Weight! Weight! Don’t Tell Me!
Women:
1960: 140.2 pounds
2023: 170 pounds
Men:
1960: 166.3 pounds
2023: 199 pounds
Typical Breakfast Eaten in the U.S.
In the 1960s, pancakes were a popular breakfast food in the United States, along with Swedish pancakes, which became popular due to the Stockholm Inn restaurant in Rockford, Ill. Eggs Benedict was also a popular breakfast choice during this time.
A typical American breakfast in 2023 includes eggs, toast or bagels, cereal or oatmeal, and sometimes bacon or sausages.
Down on the Farm
The number of farms in the U.S.?
In 1950: 5,382,000
In 2023: 1,894,950
Note: The number of farms has been steadily dropping since 2007.
Tennis Anyone?
Between 1970 and 1974, the number of Americans playing tennis tripled, probably because of the presence of such tennis players such as Billie Jean King, Rod Laver, and Arthur Ashe.
In 2023 the number of tennis participants in the United States was approximately 23.84 million, which was a one-percent increase from 2022.
When to Wine (or Whine?)
Wine consumption in the U.S.?
In 1970: 267 million gallons
In 2023: 899 million gallons
Note:
In 1970 California had 267 wineries, producing 85% of the country’s wine. In 2023 California had 4,949 wineries, or 43% of the country’s wine.