The Baby Boom and the Culture of the 1950’s
Atomic Culture One must be prepared to survive a nuclear attack Families and towns set up bomb shelters Schools and communities practiced “Duck & Cover” drills
Atomic Culture This diagram published in The Detroit News in 1952 showed how an air raid warning system set up by Michigan Bell Telephone would work. When an unidentified plane is spotted the information would be rushed to the Grand Rapids Filter Center, which would relay the message to police posts. Police would then send out the alarm to various industries and public agencies via a flashing light on Michigan Bell switchboards.
Atomic Culture This chart purported to show the various levels of radioactivity that could be expected following a widespread nuclear attack.
Atomic Culture This chart published in The Detroit News April 17, 1951, shows the hypothetical effects of a hypothetical nuclear attack on Detroit.
Servicemen’s Readjustment Act— The “GI Bill” Created in 1944 to help ease soldiers back into every day life Job priority given to veterans 52 weeks of unemployment benefits Monthly allowance Zero down-payment low-interest loans to buy homes or businesses
The GI Bill… Veteran’s were given $65 a month ($90 if they had a family) Federal hourly minimum wage - $.40 Average yearly salary - $2,657 Median sales price of a home - $8,900 The GI Bill had a BIG impact… By 1947 nearly half of all college students were veterans Four million veterans bought homes with low interest government loans
Welcome to Suburbia A survey taken in the 1950's found that Levittown residents were most concerned with 2 problems: unleashed dogs and world Communism-- in that order. Rapid domestic growth leads to a “baby boom” Creates a record demand for new goods and services Leads expanding suburbanization Suburbs accounted for 85% of new home construction Escape crime and congestion Commute to work Cookie-cutter communities
Levittown, PA
Baby BOOM! In 1957 an American baby was born every 7 seconds! Why? More men in society due to end of WWII GI bill enabled men to start a family Prosperous economy encouraged parents to have babies sooner People married at a younger age (1 in 3 women married by age 19) Improvements in medical science
Baby BOOM!
Family Life Only the bible outsold Dr. Benjamin Spock’s book: Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care (1946) The book urged mothers not to work outside the home, to comfort crying babies so that they wouldn’t feel rejected, and to spank and scold less to create a “democratic” family.
Role of Women marriage and parenthood Popular culture glorified “A woman isn’t a woman until she is married and had children.” (The Tender Trap) "They should use [their minds] in every conceivable way … so long as their primary focus of interest and activity is the home." (Life) Guidance counselors cautioned women to not “miss the boat” of marriage by pursuing higher education.
Acting and looking "every inch the lady" was taught from an early age and wearing a dress was a given. Fashion Jeans were strictly for home… Girls wore dresses to school. EVERYBODY wore grey or blue suit. CONFOMRITY was the rule! No man was “dressed” unless a hat adorned his head
Style Savvy Straight hair was absolutely out—the look was short and curly or wavy Pin curling and rolling! Remember - no blow dryers in the 50s. The ducktail or “DA”—lots of grease was needed to hold the style
Television Revolution TV became the center of consumer culture TV ownership rose as the cost of owning them dropped In 1952 TV Guide outsold every other magazine The TV Dinner was introduced in 1954 and altered America’s eating habits
Television vs. Reality Shows like Leave it to Beaver, and I love Lucy portrayed a perfect family life and not the reality of everyday homes Moms were always pretty and doing domestic things Children were adventurous… but obedient! Dads never worked late, never lost their temper, and always knew all the right answer
Hooray for Hollywood Suffered because of TV, however… Marlon Brando in The Wild Ones Teen dream Sandra Dee Teen angst: James Dean
Hollywood & The Cold War From spies to invasions, it was easy to find the Cold War on the Big Screen
Consumerism and Advertising Families began to eat out more often as their affluence increased Rise of franchises like McDonalds appealed to the nation’s sense of conformity. Consumers could eat the same meal while on vacation as they could in their home town. Appliances, Autos and homes were marketed to consumers both on television and in magazines
Selling the Good Life Five years after the war, Americans spent 33% more money on food and 20% more money on clothing, but spending on household furniture and appliances increased a staggering 240%.
Car Culture
Fast Food
The Space Age Sam the monkey was the first primate into space. Sam was launched in a rocket and ejected into space for a 15 minute flight In the 1950's the transistor would be invented which allowed for small radios and changed the way computers looked (the seeds of the home computer).
Medical Miracles RADIATION AND CHEMOTHERAPY In the 1950's new, powerful antibiotics and vaccines to fight infection were developed. New techniques to fight cancer and heart disease were introduced. PACEMAKER CPR Implanted in Abdomen – sent electronic pulses to heart POLIO VACCINE
Leisure Time
Teenage Life “He’s a dream !” “What a blast” or “It’s Boss” “What a wild cat” “Like, crazy man” “I’ve gotta cut out” “Ya dig?” “Oh, I’m frosted” “He’s the most” “Don’t be a square”
Beat Generation early counterculture
The Great American Past Time Debuts in 1947 Yankees win 6 Titles
Rocking Around the Clock