1. Chapter 27 Postwar America
Section 3
Popular Culture of the 1950s

2. The New Mass Media
The popularity of television increased as it became more affordable.
1946 – 7,000 to 8,000 sets in the U.S.
1957 – 40 million
Advertising and sporting events became more common.

3. Television

4. Television

5. Popular TV
Ed Sullivan’s variety show Toast of the Town provided a mix of comedy, popular song, dance, and acrobatics.

6. Popular TV
1956 – the quiz show Twenty-One caused an uproar after it was discovered that many of the show’s contestants were given the answers prior to the show.

7. Hollywood Adapts to the Times
With the increase in television, the movie industry lost viewers.
They tried many things to lure people to the theater, including 3-D glasses and cinemascope.
Cinemascope – movies shown on large panoramic screens

8. 1950s 3-D Glasses

9. Radio Draws Them In Radio had to try to attract listeners as well.
They began using recorded music, news talk shows, weather, public-service programming, and shows for specific audiences.

10. The New Youth Culture
Young Americans rebelled against the conformist ideals and looked to controversial styles in music and literature.

11. Rock ‘n’ Roll
1951 – Alan Freed gained permission from his manager to play African American rhythm and blues on the radio.
Listeners loved it, and white artists were copying the sound to form a new style called rock ‘n’ roll.

12. Alan Freed

13. Elvis Presley 1956 – Became the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll”.
Very popular with teens, but parents disliked the music.
Several cities banned rock music.
This led to the generation gap, or cultural separation b/w children and parents.

14. Elvis

15. The Beats
Mostly white artists which highlighted the values gap that existed in the U.S.
1957 – Jack Kerouac published On The Road which described freewheeling adventures with a car thief and a con artist.

16. Jack Kerouac

17. African American Entertainers
Most were shut out by tv.
A.A. rock ‘n’ roll singers had an easier time gaining acceptance.
Chuck Berry, Ray Charles, and Little Richard recorded hit songs.

18. Chuck Berry

19. Ray Charles

20. Little Richard

21. African American Women
The Crystals, the Chiffons, and the Shirelles, paved the way for future women’s groups.

22. The Crystals

23. The Chiffons

24. The Shirelles

25. Next: Section 4 The Other Side of Life
End of Section 3
Next: Section 4
The Other Side of Life