The Fabulous Fifties

1. The Fabulous Fifties

2. VI. Suburban Lifestyle • During the 1950s, the MAIN population shift was from cities to suburbs.

3. VI. Suburban Lifestyle • The baby-boom generation (1946-1964) increased due to advances in medicine, confidence in continued economic prosperity and the return of veterans to family life after the war.

4. VI. Suburban Lifestyle • Jonas Salk developed the first effective vaccine against polio.

5. VI. Suburban Lifestyle • Benjamin Spock wrote a book of advice on child-rearing that sold 10 million copies in the 1950’s.

6. VI. Suburban Lifestyle E. Betty Friedan The Feminine Mystique questioned their roles as housewives.

7. VII. The Automobile Culture • Americans buy cars in record numbers in the 1950’s.

8. VII. The Automobile Culture An explosion in the number of privately owned cars from 1950 to 1960 was due to all of the growth of the suburbs, the availability of cheap, plentiful fuel and the Interstate Highway System

9. VII. The Automobile Culture • Drive-Thru’s, Drive-ins, family vacations and cruising become part of the popular culture.

10. VII. The Automobile Culture C. • The car industry created opportunities and problems.

11. VIII. Consumerism • In the 1950’s, Americans buy more consumer goods than ever before. Lawn mowers, barbeque grills, pools, T.V.’s, Hi-Fi record players, washers and dryers.

12. VII. Consumerism • Planned obsolescence encouraged consumers to buy more goods.

13. VII. Consumerism • Diners Club and American Express cards emerge. • Advertisers appeal to Americans’ desire for status and conformity.

14. IX. Mass Media • TV provides information and entertainment.

15. IX. Mass Media • Programs were usually broadcast live. Popular programs were I Love Lucy... • Staring Lucielle Ball

16. The Honeymooners • Staring Jackie Gleason Audrey Meadows, and Art Carney.

17. The Mickey Mouse Club

18. Howdy Doody • The Howdy Doody Show.

19. Some critics objected to the stereotypes of women and minorities.

20. Game Shows • Twenty One • The $64,000 Question • The Price is Right with Bob Barker

21. IX. Mass Media • In 1961, Federal Communications Commission chairman Newton Minow said that television was a vast wasteland.

22. B. Radio and Movies • Radio and Movies work to maintain their share of the market place. • Movies use to their advantage Stereophonic sound, color, and CinemaScope by 20th Century Fox.

23. Ben Hur, Giant, Around the World in Eighty Days and the Ten Commandments Were spectacular epic movies.

24. Alfred Hitchcock • Introduces eerie suspenseful masterpieces such as Rear Window, The Man who Knew too Much and Psycho

25. 3-D Movies • Three Dimensional Movies were made and were popular for a time. • The Theater would provide the special glasses. • Pictures “leapt out” of the screen. • Creature from the Black Lagoon .

26. X. A Subculture Emerges • The Beat Movement: Centered in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York City’s Greenwich Village. 1. Followers were referred as Beats or Beatniks.

27. Beatniks • Were nonconformists and cared little for material goods. • Adopted the “hip” language of jazz musicians. • Read their poetry in coffee houses.

28. B. Rock n Roll • In the 1950s, both the beat movement and rock 'n' roll were viewed as forms or expressions of rebellion

29. X. Rock ‘n’ Roll • The term Rock n Roll Which was invented by Alan Freed, a radio disk jockey

30. X. Rock ‘n’ Roll • Rock ‘n’ Roll was a mixture of traditional rhythm and blues.

31. 1. Little Richard • Little Richard an African-American performer was responsible for giving birth to Rock n Roll. • His hits Good Golly Miss Molly , Tutti Frutti and Long Tall Sally.

32. 2. Chuck Berry • MAYBELLINE, ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN, SCHOOL DAY, JOHNNY B. GOODE, CARROL and BACK IN THE U.S.A

33. 3. Buddy Holly and the Crickets • Holly's songs include: Peggy Sue, That’ll Be the Day, and It’s So Easy.

34. 4. Ritchie Valens • was only 17 when he recorded his classic version of La Bamba, backed by his self-penned Donna. • Valens, Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper all died on the airplane American Pie. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAsV5-Hv-7U • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6uEjifqTaI

35. 5. Elvis Presley • Elvis Presley became known as the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.

36. 5. Elvis Presley • Elvis made rock n’ roll popular with whites. • Hits included Heartbreak Hotel, Hound Dog, Don’t be Cruel and Blue Suede Shoes. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpzV_0l5ILI -Jailhouse Rock • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WskoC67VhuY&feature=related • Blue Suede Shoes Live

37. XI. African-Americans in the 1950’s. • Many of the decades greatest performers included Nat King Cole. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8tRTZIx298 Unforgettable, Live

38. XI. African-Americans in the 1950’s. • Lena Horne, Harry Belafonte and Sidney Portier

39. XI. African-Americans in the 1950’s. • Harry Belafonte

40. XI. African-Americans in the 1950’s. • and Sidney Poitier.

41. XI. African-Americans in the 1950’s. • Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in professional baseball. • Played for the dodgers • Rookie of the Year and MVP • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnDp45PfOC0&NR=1

42. XI. African-Americans in the 1950’s. • During the 1950s, radio stations could be counted on to provide programming of special interest to African-Americans.

43. Bracero Program • In the 1930’s over 500,000 Mexicans were deported • During WWII there was a need for workers as Americans went away to war so an Open Border policy was created. • Truman signed Public Law 78 in attempt to protect Bracero workers. • Operation Wetback (1954) – over 1,000,000 Mexican were deported • Leads to organization of wages, housing and unions for Bracero workers and the rise of Caesar Chavez in the 1960’s

44. Termination Policy • An attempt in the 1940-60’s to end government relations with Indian reservations and tribes • It attempted to assimilate Native Americans and grant them all civil rights as Americans. • It also removed connection to Federal Government solely (not State County or City Gov’s.) • It was unsuccessful and Led to rise groups like AIM – American Indian Movement in the 1960’s

45. Emmitt Till • Age 14 • Murdered in Mississippi • Whistled at a white woman and reportedly flirted with her at a convenience store, she told her husband • Husband Roy Bryant and half brother JW Miliam went to his house at 12:30 and pulled him out from uncles care to teach a lesson. • Pistol whipped boy and he remained defiant and unscarred so they shot him in the head • Body was found days later in a river wrapped in barbed wire with a 70 pound cotton gin tied to him, he was unrecognizable.

46. Funeral and Court Case • Open casket funeral brought additional attention to this case. • Uncle identified Bryant and Milam (one of first times in black stand up to whites) • Men are acquitted by White male jury in 67 minutes (wouldn’t have taken so long had we not stopped to drink a soda pop) • Outrage across US helps to further advance civil rights legislation • Men later admit to crime and explain in “look” magazine how and why they did it. (not double jeopardy = no retrial) • Men never feel guilt and event state before death they felt ripped off that they did not get $$ or royalties from the event and its popularity

47. D. Civil Rights • Rosa Parks became one of the most important symbols of the civil rights movement in the 1950s. • Sparks the Montgomery Bus Boycott • Leads to the rise of Martin Luther King Jr.

48. D. Civil Rights • Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that schools would be desegregated. • Segregation should end with “all Deliberate speed” • What does this mean? • Lead in to the civil rights era of the 1960’s