The 1950’s
The 1950’s really began in 1945 after World War II Boys coming home from the war The American Century on its way TV the biggest form of entertainment in the home Post war years will be a time of prosperity 13 million homes built from 1948 to 1958: “Suburbia”
Baby Boom: 76.4 million babies born from 1946 to 1964 Dr. Spock: Changes the way parents raised their children… Dr. Norman Vincent Peale: Changes the way people think about themselves
Other books that shaped the 50’s generation
Communism Everywhere… Can the USA stop it??? Truman Doctrine: Aid George Kennan: “Containment” NATO: Alliances CIA: Spies Eisenhower Doctrine: Defend Berlin Airlift: Help Stop Traitors: Hiss & Rosenbergs H-Bomb: Nuclear weapons Korea: Fight a War!!!
Top Personalities of the 1950’s: James Dean Dies in a crash 9/30/1955 Becomes the focal point for teenage rebellion… “Everything he said was cool”
“Old soldiers never die, they just fade away”
The “Say Hey” Kid… 1950’s Athlete Supreme… Charles E. Wilson (President of GM) Eisenhower’s Secretary of Defense “What’s good for General Motors is good for the country” Keeps up with the Soviet Union
Folk Hero: Charles Van Doren Wins $129,000 on the game show “21” It was all a SCAM!!!
Suzy Parker: The girl every girl wanted to be. 1950’s top model Over 1,000 advertisements Adlai Stevenson “Egg Head” Runs for President 2x’s 1952 & 1956 Loses to Eisenhower
Non-violent protest
It all began on December 1, 1955 With Rosa Parks 1950’s Sex Symbol
1950’s Greatest Personality: Dwight D. Eisenhower 34th President of the USA 1953 to 1961 Eisenhower Administration: Ends Korean War Eisenhower Doctrine Missile build up Aid to Viet Nam Interstate Highway System Alaska & Hawaii become States Brown vs Board of Education 1st Lady: Mamie Eisenhower
John Highstreet America’s Greatest & Bestest Person Ever Was born on May 4th 1957 John Highstreet
Fads of the 1950’s 3D Movies: Hula Hoops:
Davy Crockett
“Cramming” in College Chlorophyll
Bomb Shelters
The 50’s introduced a new group: The American Bohemians or Beatniks Beating down by society… they had their own language, dress, literature & was the 1st of the drug culture…
Biggest News Events on TV in the 1950’s Senator Estes Kefauver and his special committee to investigate: Organized Crime
2. Richard Nixon’s “Checkers” speech
3. McCarthy Hearings…
4. USSR Launches “SPUTNIK”
Music of the 1950’s The Stars…
The First Rock & Roll Hit:
The King of Rock and Roll…
Bringing the music to TV: Dick Clark and American Bandstand
Top TV Shows of the 1950’s The Milton Berle Show The Honeymooners Ozzie and Harriet Show
Father Knows Best Leave it the Beaver Dobie Gillis
Late Night TV: Jack Parr Steve Allen Sid Caesar & Your Show of Shows
Maverick Gunsmoke
Kids shows: Kukla, Fran & Ollie
Major TV Stations
TV Test Pattern: Going off the air
New Magazines of the 1950’s
Great Musicals of the 1950’s
Great Movies of the 1950’s: From Here to Eternity On the Waterfront 10 Commandments 12 Angry Men Ben Hur Bridge Over the River Kwai King and I High Noon
Sport Hero’s of the 1950’s:
Lions win Championships in: 1952, 1953, & 1957
Fort Wayne Pistons won championships: 1955 and 1956 Minneapolis Lakers won 5 titles in the 50’s
Major League Baseball
Team of the 1950’s Yankees won the World Series: 1950, 51, 52, 53, 54, 56, & 58
Stanley Cup: 1950, 52, 54, & 55
Heavyweight Boxing Champions
Retires undefeated
The Cars