Exploring American History Unit X – Post War America Chapter 27 – Section 3 The Nation Prospers

The Big Idea An expanding economy led to new ways of life for many Americans in the 1950s. Main Ideas America’s economy boomed in the 1950s. Americans enjoyed new forms of popular culture. Social critics found fault with 1950s society.

The Baby Boom Years (02:17)

Main Idea 1: America’s economy boomed in the 1950s. Sun Belt Many businesses and workers moved to the Sun Belt– southern and western states that offered a warm climate year-round and low tax rates Highway Act 1956 Highway Act encouraged travel and made commutes easier. Millions of Americans earned more money than ever Millions of Americans earned more money than ever and could spend more. baby boom Young Americans getting married and starting families led to a baby boom, a significant increase in births. On the Move Economy

Population Growth and Water in the Southwest (02:15)

Suburbs and Cities new suburban neighborhoods. Rising demand for homes encouraged development of new suburban neighborhoods. By mid-1950s, builders were constructing preplanned suburbs all over the country more Americans lived in suburbs than in cities By 1970 more Americans lived in suburbs than in cities. Suburban life appealed to many. additional space and convenience Many enjoyed the additional space and convenience. Suburban life was criticized by others. Critics believed suburban life too heavily based on consumer culture Lacking in diversity Lacking in diversity– most people living in suburbs were white and middle-class Discrimination Discrimination– some communities refused to sell homes to black families cities collected fewer taxes and began to decline. Move to suburbs meant cities collected fewer taxes and began to decline. urban renewal program Federal government began urban renewal program to improve life in cities.

Levittown 16 million GI's were returning from either Europe, the Pacific, or from military bases in the United States. Many were planning to get married and raise families. But these former soldiers were running into trouble in their search to find suitable shelter for their new families. 16 million GI's were returning from either Europe, the Pacific, or from military bases in the United States. Many were planning to get married and raise families. But these former soldiers were running into trouble in their search to find suitable shelter for their new families. The war had created a shortage of construction materials and the housing industry had fallen off rapidly. The war had created a shortage of construction materials and the housing industry had fallen off rapidly. At the end of 1945, the US was in dire need of about five million houses, as ex-GIs and their families were living with their parents or in rented attics, basements, or unheated summer bungalows. Some even lived in barns, trolley cars, and tool sheds. At the end of 1945, the US was in dire need of about five million houses, as ex-GIs and their families were living with their parents or in rented attics, basements, or unheated summer bungalows. Some even lived in barns, trolley cars, and tool sheds. In Levittown all a prospective buyer needed was a $90 deposit and payments of $58 per month In Levittown all a prospective buyer needed was a $90 deposit and payments of $58 per month

Main Idea 2: Americans enjoyed new forms of popular culture. Television By end of 1950s, nearly 90 percent of American families owned television sets. Americans shared the experience of watching the same news, comedies, and sports shows. American families watched about six hours of television a day. American families watched about six hours of television a day.Music New styles of music New styles of music helped reshape American culture. bebop New style of jazz, known as bebop, became popular. Rock ’n’ roll Rock ’n’ roll swept the nation. Teenage fans bought more than 70 percent of all records sold in the late 1950s.

Baby Boom - Television- QUIZ SHOWS A naively trusting public of the Fifties fell in love with television game shows. Some of the games were played for laughs and some for prizes and some for big money. Some survive today in contemporary form. The Price is Right wasn't born with Bob Barker at the helm. It was Bill Cullen in A naively trusting public of the Fifties fell in love with television game shows. Some of the games were played for laughs and some for prizes and some for big money. Some survive today in contemporary form. The Price is Right wasn't born with Bob Barker at the helm. It was Bill Cullen in On Sunday nights everything came to stop while America watched The $64,000 Question. At their peak, there were 22 game shows on the air. On Sunday nights everything came to stop while America watched The $64,000 Question. At their peak, there were 22 game shows on the air. By 1958 no one was laughing. That naive trust had been replaced by a suspicious cynicism that is with us yet. Why? Because many of the shows were rigged. The "winners" Americans had rooted for had been supplied with the answers in advance. By 1958 no one was laughing. That naive trust had been replaced by a suspicious cynicism that is with us yet. Why? Because many of the shows were rigged. The "winners" Americans had rooted for had been supplied with the answers in advance. Charles Van Doren, - “Twenty-One”. As Van Doren kept winning, his popularity grew until he became a recognized celebrity. His acting ability didn't suffer either as America watched him "agonize" over each question. Ultimately, he won $129,000 - a hefty sum at any time, but a huge amount in the 50's Charles Van Doren, - “Twenty-One”. As Van Doren kept winning, his popularity grew until he became a recognized celebrity. His acting ability didn't suffer either as America watched him "agonize" over each question. Ultimately, he won $129,000 - a hefty sum at any time, but a huge amount in the 50's The scandal prompted Congressional hearings. Although there were no laws prohibiting the "fixing" of game shows, both the networks and their sponsors acknowledged the public's distaste and kept game shows off the air for quite some time. The scandal prompted Congressional hearings. Although there were no laws prohibiting the "fixing" of game shows, both the networks and their sponsors acknowledged the public's distaste and kept game shows off the air for quite some time. I’ve Got A Secret Price is right Queen for a Day This Is Your Life To Tell the Truth What’s My Line? Twenty-One- Scandal

Baby Boom - TV Dramas Daytime Soap Operas- Hawkins Falls Daytime Soap Operas- Hawkins Falls Dragnet Jack Webb Dragnet Jack Webb Alfred Hitchcock Presents- mystery/ suspense dramas that came to an end after the last commercial Alfred Hitchcock Presents- mystery/ suspense dramas that came to an end after the last commercial Dick Powell Theatre Dick Powell Theatre Kraft Suspense Theatre Kraft Suspense Theatre Studio One Studio One The Whistler The Whistler Superman- Starring George Reeves Superman- Starring George Reeves Perry Mason - Lawyer Perry Mason - Lawyer Robin Hood Robin Hood Route Route Highway Patrol Highway Patrol The Grey Ghost The Grey Ghost The Fugitive The Fugitive Sunset Strip Sunset Strip Ben Casey- Doctor show Ben Casey- Doctor show Alfred Hitchcock Presents Perry Mason Robin Hood Route 66

Baby Boom - Westerns Roy Rogers Roy Rogers Hopalong Cassidy Hopalong Cassidy Gene Autry Gene Autry Death Valley Days (Ron Reagan) Death Valley Days (Ron Reagan) Sgt. Preston of the Yukon Sgt. Preston of the Yukon Tombstone Territory Tombstone Territory Rough Riders Rough Riders Swamp Fox Swamp Fox Johnny Ringo Johnny Ringo Laredo Laredo Here Come the Brides Here Come the Brides Bat Masterson Bat Masterson Annie Oakley Annie Oakley Branded Branded Cisco Kid “Oh, Cisco, Oh Poncho” Cisco Kid “Oh, Cisco, Oh Poncho” Davey Crockett Davey Crockett Gunsmoke Gunsmoke Life and Times of Wyatt Earp Life and Times of Wyatt Earp Lone Ranger Lone Ranger Maverick Maverick Riflman Riflman Rin Tin Tin Rin Tin Tin Wild Bill Hickock Wild Bill Hickock Yancy Derringer Yancy Derringer Zorro Zorro

Baby Boom - Variety Shows American Bandstand- Dick Clark American Bandstand- Dick Clark Arthur Godfrey Arthur Godfrey Milton Berle Show Milton Berle Show Ted Mack’s Original Amateur Hour Ted Mack’s Original Amateur Hour Your Show of Shows- Sid Ceasar and Imogene Coca Your Show of Shows- Sid Ceasar and Imogene Coca Perry Como Show Perry Como Show Colgate Comedy Hour Colgate Comedy Hour You Hit Parade You Hit Parade Jack Benny Show Jack Benny Show People are Funny- Art Linkletter People are Funny- Art Linkletter George Gobel Show- “Lonesome George” George Gobel Show- “Lonesome George” Ed Sullivan Show “A really big shew” Ed Sullivan Show “A really big shew” Diana Shore Show Diana Shore Show Lawrence Welk Lawrence Welk Red Skelton “God Bless” Red Skelton “God Bless” Ernie Kovacs Ernie Kovacs Jackie Gleason Jackie Gleason

Baby Boom - Comedy Shows Amos and Andy Amos and Andy Andy Griffith Show Andy Griffith Show Bachelor Father Bachelor Father Batman Batman Beverly Hillbillies Beverly Hillbillies Brady Bunch Brady Bunch Burns and Allen Burns and Allen Car 54 Where are you? Car 54 Where are you? Make Room for Danny- Danny Thomas Make Room for Danny- Danny Thomas Dennis the Menace Dennis the Menace Many Loves of Doby Gillis Many Loves of Doby Gillis Get Smart Get Smart Gilligans Island Gilligans Island I Dream of Jeannie I Dream of Jeannie I Love Lucy I Love Lucy The Honeymooners The Honeymooners Leave it to Beaver Leave it to Beaver Mr. Ed Mr. Ed Ozzie and Harriet Ozzie and Harriet Topper Topper Grouch Marx- You Bet Your Life Grouch Marx- You Bet Your Life Father Knows Best Father Knows Best

Baby Boom - Kid’s Shows Captain Kangaroo Captain Kangaroo Ding Dong School Ding Dong School Flintstones Flintstones Flipper Flipper My Friend Flicka My Friend Flicka Howdy Doody Howdy Doody Jetons Jetons Lassie Lassie Mickey Mouse Club Mickey Mouse Club The Monkees The Monkees Bozo the Clown Today- Chicago TV Bozo the Clown Today- Chicago TV Romper Room Romper Room Soupy Sales show Pie in the Face. Soupy Sales show Pie in the Face.

Entertainment (07:50)

Sports & Games (02:36)

Main Idea 3: Social critics found fault with 1950s society. women were frustrated at lack of opportunities Some women were frustrated at lack of opportunities. Could only find work in limited fields Discouraged by expectation that they would give up jobs when they got married Novelists commented on society in their work. J.D. Salinger criticized culture filled with love of money and conformity. Ralph Ellison wrote of how African Americans were excluded by society. beatniks, or beats, criticized society with unusual writing styles and rebellious behavior. Young people known as beatniks, or beats, criticized society with unusual writing styles and rebellious behavior. Beat authors inspired many to question the rules of mainstream society. Many identified with rebellious characters in popular movies of the 1950s.

Lifestyles (07:57)