DQ: Economic Growth How did the rise of suburbs and the baby boom lead to an economic boom during the 1950s?
How many of you are affluent? having an abundance of wealth, property, or other material goods; prosperous 1950s were nickname The Affluent Society due to the abundance of goods and services for its people
The Suburban, Nuclear Family Many professional men worked in the city, but escaped to the “burbs” for their personal life Most women were isolated at home due of emphasis on motherhood and childcare Due to need for materialism, by 1960, 1/3 of all married women worked
Well-Defined Gender Roles The ideal modern woman married, cooked and cared for her family, and kept herself busy by joining the local PTA and leading a troop of Campfire Girls. She entertained guests in her family’s suburban house and worked out on the trampoline to keep her size 12 figure. -- Life magazine, 1956 Marilyn Monroe The ideal 1950s man was the provider, protector, and the boss of the house. -- Life magazine, 1955
Family Life in the Fifties
Television Takes Center Stage Describe the impact of T.V. on American society, news, and entertainment Cite specific examples of popular T.V. personalities and shows
The Typical TV Suburban Families The Ozzie & Harriet Show 1952-1966 The Donna Reed Show 1958-1966 Leave It to Beaver 1957-1963 Father Knows Best 1954-1958 The Ozzie & Harriet Show 1952-1966 7
“I Love Lucy”
The New Mass Media Television had a huge impact on American society Sitcoms—rarely discussed real-life problems No major life problems No major minority characters T.V. helped establish a national culture
Television Truth, Justice, and the American way! 1946 7,000 TV sets in the U. S. 1960 50,000,000 TV sets in the U. S. U.S. population was 179 million Television is a vast wasteland. Newton Minnow, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, 1961 Truth, Justice, and the American way!
Children’s Programs
Davy Crockett King of the Wild Frontier Sheriff Matt Dillon, Gunsmoke The Western Davy Crockett King of the Wild Frontier Sheriff Matt Dillon, Gunsmoke The Lone Ranger (and his faithful sidekick, Tonto): Who is that masked man??
Glossy view of mostly middle-class suburban life. Family Shows Glossy view of mostly middle-class suburban life. But... I Love Lucy The Honeymooners Social Winners?... AND… Loosers?
Quiz and Variety Shows Ed Sullivan’s Toast of the Town The $64,000 Question and Twenty-One In 1956, Charles Van Doren won $129,000, BUT soon a scandal uncovered about contestants being given answers
Effects of Television Film suffered due to T.V.; Hollywood tried to make more exciting movies T.V. showed the norm such as women and African-Americans in socially acceptable roles Radio listening declined; new music, news, and talk filled the air waves
Effects of Car Culture What were the effect of the automobile on the United States?
The Culture of the Car Car registrations: 1945 25,000,000 1960 60,000,000 2-family cars doubles from 1951-1958 1958 Pink Cadillac 1959 Chevy Corvette 1956 Interstate Highway Act largest public works project in American history! Cost $32 billion. 41,000 miles of new highways built. 19
The Culture of the Car America became a more homogeneous nation because of the automobile. First McDonald’s (1955) Drive-In Movies Howard Johnson’s 20
The Culture of the Car The U. S. population was on the move in the 1950s. NE & Mid-W S & SW (“Sunbelt” states) 1955 Disneyland opened in Southern California. (40% of the guests came from outside California, most by car.) Frontier Land Main Street Tomorrow Land 21