Pop Culture & the American Dream of the 1950s

1. Pop Culture & the American Dream of the 1950s How does pop culture influence the “American Dream”?

2. American Business • As economy grew in the 50s more people move into higher-paying white collar professions (managers, sales, clerical) • Corporations expand buying other companies, creating conglomerates that paid well but promoted “sameness” • Businesses did not promote creativity or “rocking the boat” • Another new business strategy was the franchise • Ray Croc who bought McDonalds & franchised out the business and used simple “assembly line method for restaurants

3. American Consumerism • In addition to store credit, banks began issuing credit cards to make it easier to buy new products • 1950s saw major spending spree in America, as new products were introduced: televisions, hi-fi stereos, dishwashers • In addition to new products, businesses also used planned obsolescence (don’t last as long so you buy a new model) • Advertising increases in 50s becomes $6 billion industry

4. Life in Suburban America • Middle-class whites leave the cities, go to suburbs “white flight” • In the suburbs, Americans enjoyed shopping malls, bowling, reading books and watching television • Although women working outside of the home increases, 1950s television glorifies women as homemakers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oay9VxFVFmE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvYZ3gpZMpY

5. The Baby Boom • A huge population explosion begins in the late 1940s and 1950s called the Baby Boom (4.3 miilion per year at its height) • New developments in medicine include Dr. Jonas Salk’s polio vaccine • Dr. Benjamin Spock writes best-selling book on child care • Day care centers and new schools are built to deal with the increasing “baby boom” population

6. Automania • Due to suburban living, advertising, and easy credit a car culture known as “Automania” is born • Drive-up/in restaurants and movie theatres become popular • Eisenhower & Congress approve Interstate Hwy allowing quick transportation, high-speed trucking, and further hurt RRs • Interstate also allows people ability to flock to vacation spots like lakes, beaches and amusement parks like Disneyland

7. Entertainment of the 50s • Hollywood introduces 3-D films and 50% of films are in color • However, television is the biggest form of entertainment, 500 new TV stations and 95% increase in sales of TVs • Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is formed to regulate broadcast mediums • Popular TV shows include Honeymooners, I Love Lucy, Leave it to Beaver, Mickey Mouse Club & Howdy Doody http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZ8IBQ0MNKs&safe=active https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIslhp9vqqw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NPzLBSBzPI&safe=active

8. However, a quiz show scandal broke in 1958 when it was revealed contestants on Twenty-One got answer in advance • Quiz shows like Twenty-One, Tic-Tac-Dough and Jeopardy were hugely successful • Invention of TV Guide & TV Dinners make viewing easier https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49Qn38WdTTs

9. Teenage Consumerism • Many businesses begin gearing products towards teenagers, since they spent millions on products, movies & food • Comic books, hygiene products, soft drinks, and fashion were marketed to teenagers The Beatniks • Beat movement centered in San Francisco & Greenwich Village, NY focused on those who didn’t follow mainstream conformity • Beatnicks read poetry in coffee houses, practiced Zen Buddhism, experimented w/ drugs & saw themselves as “counter-culture”

10. Rock ‘N Roll • Popularized by teenagers of the 1950s, Rock ‘N’ Roll records made millions & artists were watched on American Bandstand • Elvis Presley brings Rock ‘n Roll into the mainstream https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgdufzXvjqw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGZm7EOamWk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ROwVrF0Ceg Bill Haley, Richard Penniman, Chuck Berry are some of biggest artists of the decade