1. THE 1950s:
“Consumerism, Religious Revival, Conformity, Rebellion, Prosperity, Scientific Innovation, Atomic Fear”

2. 1957  1 baby born every 7 seconds
Prosperity
Being wealthy or having a rich, full life
It seems to me that every other young housewife I see is pregnant British visitor to America, 1958
1957  1 baby born every 7 seconds

3. Conformity 1949  William Levitt produced 150 houses per week.
Following laws/rules of society in order to “fit in”
1949  William Levitt produced 150 houses per week.

4. Suburban Living: The Typical TV Suburban Families
The Donna Reed Show
Leave It to Beaver
Father Knows Best
The Ozzie & Harriet Show

5. Atomic FEAR Atomic Anxieties: Atomic Testing:
“Duck-and-Cover Generation”
Atomic Testing:
 U. S. exploded nuclear weapons over the Pacific and in Nevada.

6. Consumerism
Obsession with buying material goods; encouraging people to buy goods

7. 1951  “race music”  “ROCK ‘N ROLL” Elvis Presley  “The King”
Rebellion
In the 1950s  the word “teenager” entered the American language. By 1956  13 mil. teens with $7 bil. to spend a year.
1951  “race music”  “ROCK ‘N ROLL”
Elvis Presley  “The King”

8. Rebellion “Juvenile Delinquency” ???
How to Change Deviant Behavior
Marlon Brando in The Wild One (1953)
James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause (1955)

9. Behavioral Rules of the 1950s:
Teen Culture
Behavioral Rules of the 1950s:
Obey Authority.
Control Your Emotions.
Don’t Make Waves  Fit in with the Group.
Don’t Even Think About Sex!!!
Are You Popular? -

10. Religious Revival
Today in the U. S., the Christian faith is back in the center of things Time magazine, 1954
Church membership: 1940  64,000,  114,000,000
Television Preachers:
1. Catholic Bishop Fulton J. Sheen  “Life is Worth Living”
2. Methodist Minister Norman Vincent Peale  The Power of Positive Thinking
3. Reverend Billy Graham  warned against the evils of Communism.

11. Religious Revival Hollywood: apex of the biblical epics.
The Robe The Ten Commandments Ben Hur
It’s un-American to be un-religious! The Christian Century, 1954

12. Progress Through Science
First IBM Mainframe Computer
Hydrogen Bomb Test
DNA Structure Discovered
Salk Vaccine Tested for Polio
First Commercial U. S. Nuclear Power Plant
NASA Created
Press Conference of the First American Astronauts

13. 1950s Songs Match the song with a 1950s theme
“Tequila” (1958) by The Champs
“Advice to Joe” by Roy Acuff (1951)
“Shout” (1959) by The Isley Brothers
“The Purple People Eater” (1958) by Sheb Wooley
“Rocket ‘88” (1951) by Jackie Brenston & His Delta Cats
“Wake Up, Little Susie” by The Everly Brothers
“Money (That’s What I want)” (1959) by Barrett Strong