1. Life in the 1950’s
America Transforms

2. Changes in the Workplace
Changes in industry caused huge profits to occur
Some 5,000 companies merged to make larger ones
Automation in industry makes production faster & more efficient than human workers
# of “Blue Collar” jobs fell, “White Collar” jobs rose
Women made up 1/3 of the work force, working in “Pink Collar” jobs, (teaching, nursing, low level clerks, & retail sales)

3. Suburban Migration
Workforce & income changes allowed young couples to move away from the cities
Affordable housing is provided in “Planned Communities”
Most neighborhoods had a single floor plan from which to choose from
The best known suburban development was “Levittown” built by the Levitt Company
These communities grew so fast, that they became small cities themselves
William Levitt

4. Suburban Life The baby boom takes off
During the Depression & WW2, many put off marriage
After the WW2 the largest # of marriages occurred, as well as births – birthrate shot up 90%, an increase of approx. 30 million people
The # of working mothers increased in the 1950s
Many families needed 2 paychecks to stay in the middle class

5. Suburban Life
Families in the suburbs did many things together (couples)
Many of the families were of the same age & income class
Image was everything!
“Keeping up w/ the Jones” was where families tried to out do each other for the “latest” & “greatest” gadgets
PTA’s, Scouting, church going, etc. were activities where everyone joined in & were “seen”

6. The Golden Age of Television
Televisions slowly made their way into homes across the country
By the end of the 1950’s over 46 Million homes had a set
Viewers could choose from sporting events (world series) to situation comedies (sitcoms) like the “Honeymooners” or “I Love Lucy”
Quiz shows & variety shows were popular w/ all audiences

7. Teenagers & Popular Culture
Teenagers found themselves w/ more free time & spending more $ than ever before
They began to spend their time in activities that glamorized “rebellion” to the conformity of the suburbs
America’s first teenage serial killer arises: Charles Starkweather in Lincoln, NE
Killed 11 people in a week’s time

8. Rock & Roll Music Cleveland DJ Alan Freed first used the term
Came from Rhythm & Blues, called “Black Music”
Many stations would not play due to racial & “suggestive” roots…devil’s music
Elvis Presley became the Rock & Roll icon of the period along w/ Buddy Holly
Bill Haley’s “Rock Around the Clock” from the movie “Blackboard Jungle” first real hit
Dick Clark’s American Bandstand: top teenage TV show