1. 1950s Culture and Society

2. Did you know that this came out in the 1950s? Silly putty

4. TV Changes American Life Scientists worked on TV since 1920s By end of WWII, ready for home use Between 1945-1950, 5 million TV’s were sold In 1959, 40 million were sold

5. Use of TV Politics – V.P. Candidate Nixon used TV to appeal to public Checkers Speech – 1954 Senate-Army Hearings Altered career of Senator Joe McCarthy Advertising – Combination of picture & sound had more persuasive potential than radio – By 1960, TV = major method of advertising – Commercials developed

6. Programming I Love Lucy Texaco Star Theater with comedian Milton Berle = 1 st big hit – Nicknamed “Mr TV” American Bandstand appeal from cultural movement of 1950s – Rock & roll – Hosted by Dick Clark > forum for artists but also showed fashion/trends – On TV until 1987

7. Programming Continued… Introduction of Daytime dramas (soaps), crime drama, game show TV guide helped keep track Some questioned effects on kids Scandal in 1950s with rigged games (Quiz Show) 1954 CBS & NBC begin color broadcast

8. Technology Computer – 1951 available for commercial use – Called UNIVAC (universal automatic computer) – Weighed 30,000 lbs – Cost: $50,000 – International Business Market (IBM) Polio -Most contagious disease – Worst year on record 1952 with 57,000 cases – Scientist Jonas Salk developed vaccine

9. Children Baby Boom – Peak in 1957 – Baby born every 7 seconds Extra-curricular – Additional opportunities in Boy/Girl Scouts, music lessons, toys – 1 st generation raised with TV Dr. Benjamin Spock – Child Care: women stay at home – Not spoil, use discipline – Family dynamics

10. “Boom” Economically – Threats of nuclear war but economic success – World’s greatest economic power (yet just 67% of world’s population) Socially – Baby boom – William Levitt created community of homes (Levittowns) – Stocked with appliances

11. New Communities Levittowns affordable > GI Bill – Not diverse (wouldn’t sell to African Americans) – “Cookie cutter” – Suburbs because crowding in cities Sunbelt: warmer S.W. part of US – Air conditioning – CA = major destination Highways – Ike favored highway development – 1956 Congress approved funding for 40,000 miles of highway system

12. 1950s Rebellion Many rebelled against sameness & conformity – Marlon Brando & James Dean (actors) – Jack Kerouac & Beat Generation took position of outsiders > borrowed language from jazz music & rejected social norms

13. ’50s Music Music = rebellion of youth – Rock ‘n’ Roll: combo of bluegrass & rhythm & blues Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis – Doo-Wop: “bubble gum” music Angels: “My Boyfriend’s Back” The Penguins: “Earth Angel” The Five Stains: “In The Still of the Night”

14. Women In general, maintained a traditional role Marriage – Average age for women to marry in 1940= 21.5, drops to 20.1 in 1950 – 1950: 60% of women 18-24 are married Working – Women = 50% of workforce but earn only 60% of what men do; jobs are temporary & few in upper-management Rights – Betty Friedan begins women’s rights movement – Activist vs. Housewife (June Cleaver)