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

2. 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.

3. The Baby Boom Years (02:17)

6. 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. 1956 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

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

11. 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. 1970 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.

13. 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

16. 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.

18. 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 1956. 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 1956. 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

19. Baby Boom - TV Dramas Daytime Soap Operas- Hawkins Falls- 1950-1955 Daytime Soap Operas- Hawkins Falls- 1950-1955 Dragnet- 1950-1970- Jack Webb Dragnet- 1950-1970- Jack Webb Alfred Hitchcock Presents- mystery/ suspense dramas that came to an end after the last commercial. 1955-1962 Alfred Hitchcock Presents- mystery/ suspense dramas that came to an end after the last commercial. 1955-1962 Dick Powell Theatre Dick Powell Theatre Kraft Suspense Theatre Kraft Suspense Theatre Studio One Studio One The Whistler The Whistler Superman- Starring George Reeves- 1951-1957 Superman- Starring George Reeves- 1951-1957 Perry Mason - Lawyer- 1957-1966 Perry Mason - Lawyer- 1957-1966 Robin Hood- 1955-1958 Robin Hood- 1955-1958 Route 66- 1960-1964 Route 66- 1960-1964 Highway Patrol- 1955-1959 Highway Patrol- 1955-1959 The Grey Ghost- 1957-1959 The Grey Ghost- 1957-1959 The Fugitive- 1963-1967 The Fugitive- 1963-1967 77 Sunset Strip- 1958-1964 77 Sunset Strip- 1958-1964 Ben Casey- Doctor show- 1961-1966 Ben Casey- Doctor show- 1961-1966 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Perry Mason Robin Hood Route 66

20. Baby Boom - Westerns Roy Rogers- 1951-1957 Roy Rogers- 1951-1957 Hopalong Cassidy- 1949-1951 Hopalong Cassidy- 1949-1951 Gene Autry- 1950-1956 Gene Autry- 1950-1956 Death Valley Days- 1952-1970(Ron Reagan) Death Valley Days- 1952-1970(Ron Reagan) Sgt. Preston of the Yukon- 1955-1958 Sgt. Preston of the Yukon- 1955-1958 Tombstone Territory- 1957-1958 Tombstone Territory- 1957-1958 Rough Riders- 1958-1959 Rough Riders- 1958-1959 Swamp Fox- 1959-1961 Swamp Fox- 1959-1961 Johnny Ringo- 1959-1960 Johnny Ringo- 1959-1960 Laredo- 1967-1969 Laredo- 1967-1969 Here Come the Brides- 1968-1970 Here Come the Brides- 1968-1970 Bat Masterson- 1958-1961 Bat Masterson- 1958-1961 Annie Oakley - 1952-1956 Annie Oakley - 1952-1956 Branded- 1965-1966 Branded- 1965-1966 Cisco Kid- 1950-1955- “Oh, Cisco, Oh Poncho” Cisco Kid- 1950-1955- “Oh, Cisco, Oh Poncho” Davey Crockett- 1954-1955 Davey Crockett- 1954-1955 Gunsmoke- 1955-1971 Gunsmoke- 1955-1971 Life and Times of Wyatt Earp- 1955-1961 Life and Times of Wyatt Earp- 1955-1961 Lone Ranger- 1949-1957 Lone Ranger- 1949-1957 Maverick- 1957-1962 Maverick- 1957-1962 Riflman- 1958-1963 Riflman- 1958-1963 Rin Tin Tin- 1954-1959 Rin Tin Tin- 1954-1959 Wild Bill Hickock- 1951-1958 Wild Bill Hickock- 1951-1958 Yancy Derringer- 1958-1959 Yancy Derringer- 1958-1959 Zorro- 1957-1959 Zorro- 1957-1959

21. Baby Boom - Variety Shows American Bandstand- Dick Clark- 1952- 1987 American Bandstand- Dick Clark- 1952- 1987 Arthur Godfrey- 1949-1959 Arthur Godfrey- 1949-1959 Milton Berle Show- 1948-1967 Milton Berle Show- 1948-1967 Ted Mack’s Original Amateur Hour- 1948- 1970 Ted Mack’s Original Amateur Hour- 1948- 1970 Your Show of Shows- Sid Ceasar and Imogene Coca. 1950-1954 Your Show of Shows- Sid Ceasar and Imogene Coca. 1950-1954 Perry Como Show- 1948-1963 Perry Como Show- 1948-1963 Colgate Comedy Hour- 1950-1955 Colgate Comedy Hour- 1950-1955 You Hit Parade- 1950-1959 You Hit Parade- 1950-1959 Jack Benny Show- 1950-1965 Jack Benny Show- 1950-1965 People are Funny- Art Linkletter- 1954-1961 People are Funny- Art Linkletter- 1954-1961 George Gobel Show- “Lonesome George”- 1954-1960 George Gobel Show- “Lonesome George”- 1954-1960 Ed Sullivan Show- 1948-1971- “A really big shew” Ed Sullivan Show- 1948-1971- “A really big shew” Diana Shore Show- 1951-1963 + 1974-1980 Diana Shore Show- 1951-1963 + 1974-1980 Lawrence Welk- 1955-1977 Lawrence Welk- 1955-1977 Red Skelton- 1951-1971- “God Bless” Red Skelton- 1951-1971- “God Bless” Ernie Kovacs- 1952-1962 Ernie Kovacs- 1952-1962 Jackie Gleason- 1952-1970 Jackie Gleason- 1952-1970

22. Baby Boom - Comedy Shows Amos and Andy- 1951-1953 Amos and Andy- 1951-1953 Andy Griffith Show- 1960-1968 Andy Griffith Show- 1960-1968 Bachelor Father- 1957-1962 Bachelor Father- 1957-1962 Batman- 1966-1968 Batman- 1966-1968 Beverly Hillbillies- 1962-1971 Beverly Hillbillies- 1962-1971 Brady Bunch- 1969-1974 Brady Bunch- 1969-1974 Burns and Allen- 1950-1958 Burns and Allen- 1950-1958 Car 54 Where are you?- 1961-1963 Car 54 Where are you?- 1961-1963 Make Room for Danny- Danny Thomas- 1953-1964 Make Room for Danny- Danny Thomas- 1953-1964 Dennis the Menace- 1959-1963 Dennis the Menace- 1959-1963 Many Loves of Doby Gillis- 1959-1963 Many Loves of Doby Gillis- 1959-1963 Get Smart- 1965-1969 Get Smart- 1965-1969 Gilligans Island- 1964-1967 Gilligans Island- 1964-1967 I Dream of Jeannie- 1965-1970 I Dream of Jeannie- 1965-1970 I Love Lucy- 1951-1957 I Love Lucy- 1951-1957 The Honeymooners- 1952-1961 The Honeymooners- 1952-1961 Leave it to Beaver- 1957-1963 Leave it to Beaver- 1957-1963 Mr. Ed- 1961-1965 Mr. Ed- 1961-1965 Ozzie and Harriet- 1952-1966 Ozzie and Harriet- 1952-1966 Topper- 1953-1955 Topper- 1953-1955 Grouch Marx- You Bet Your Life- 1950- 1961 Grouch Marx- You Bet Your Life- 1950- 1961 Father Knows Best-1954-1963 Father Knows Best-1954-1963

23. Baby Boom - Kid’s Shows Captain Kangaroo- 1955-1984 Captain Kangaroo- 1955-1984 Ding Dong School- 1952-1956 Ding Dong School- 1952-1956 Flintstones- 1960-1966 Flintstones- 1960-1966 Flipper- 1964-1967 Flipper- 1964-1967 My Friend Flicka- 1956-1958 My Friend Flicka- 1956-1958 Howdy Doody- 1947-1960 Howdy Doody- 1947-1960 Jetons- 1962-1963 Jetons- 1962-1963 Lassie- 1954-1971 Lassie- 1954-1971 Mickey Mouse Club- 1955-1957 Mickey Mouse Club- 1955-1957 The Monkees- 1966-1968 The Monkees- 1966-1968 Bozo the Clown- 1961-Today- Chicago TV Bozo the Clown- 1961-Today- Chicago TV Romper Room- 1954-1992 Romper Room- 1954-1992 Soupy Sales show- 1960- Pie in the Face. Soupy Sales show- 1960- Pie in the Face.

24. Entertainment (07:50)

25. Sports & Games (02:36)

26. 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.

27. Lifestyles (07:57)