1950s By Kate PS I Miss You Guys!!! I’ll be back as soon as they let me!!! Write me e-mails and call me, okay? Learn lots and work hard!

Fifties Facts Population: 151,684,000 (U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of the Census)* Unemployed: 3,288,000 Life expectancy: Women 71.1, men 65.6 Car Sales: 6,665,800 Average Salary: $2,992 Labor Force male/female: 5/2 Cost of a loaf of bread: $0.14 Bomb shelter plans, like the government pamphlet You Can Survive , become widely available

Population: 151,684,000 (U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of the Census)*

Unemployed: 3,288,000

Life expectancy: Women 71.1, men 65.6

Car Sales: 6,665,800

Average Salary: $2,992

Labor Force male/female: 5/2

Cost of a loaf of bread: $0.14

Bomb shelter plans, like the government pamphlet You Can Survive , become widely available

World Events in the Fifties Harry Truman is President until 1952, then Dwight Eisenhower until 1961 In 1953 Julius and Ethel Rosenberg are put to death for being spies. In 1954 Senator Joseph McCarthy begins hearings looking for communists. This is called the red scare. Some people called it witch hunts. In 1954 A case in the Supreme Court called Brown versus the Board of Education decides it is not okay to force children of different races to go to separate schools. 1955 A young wife named Rosa Parks decides not to give up her seat on a bus for a black man and she goes to jail. This starts the Montgomery Bus Boycott. In 1955 a disease called Polio was making children very sick, some were unable to walk and others died, Dr. Salk invented a shot that made it so people would not get the disease any more. 1956 The United States starts a highway system so people can drive more easily between states. 1958 The first airplane companies start in the US and the first US satellite goes into space. 1959 Alaska and Hawaii become he 49 th and 50 th state.

Harry Truman is President until 1952, then Dwight Eisenhower until 1961

In 1953 Julius and Ethel Rosenberg are put to death for being spies.

In 1954 Senator Joseph McCarthy begins hearings looking for communists. This is called the red scare. Some people called it witch hunts.

In 1954 A case in the Supreme Court called Brown versus the Board of Education decides it is not okay to force children of different races to go to separate schools.

1955 A young wife named Rosa Parks decides not to give up her seat on a bus for a black man and she goes to jail. This starts the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

In 1955 a disease called Polio was making children very sick, some were unable to walk and others died, Dr. Salk invented a shot that made it so people would not get the disease any more.

1956 The United States starts a highway system so people can drive more easily between states.

1958 The first airplane companies start in the US and the first US satellite goes into space.

1959 Alaska and Hawaii become he 49 th and 50 th state.

World Events in the Fifties Harry Truman is President until 1952, then Dwight Eisenhower until 1961 In 1953 Julius and Ethel Rosenberg are put to death for being spies. In 1954 Senator Joseph McCarthy begins hearings looking for communists. This is called the red scare. In 1954 A case in the Supreme Court called Brown versus the Board of Education decides it is not okay to force children of different races to go to separate schools. 1955 A young wife named Rosa Parks decides not to give up her seat on a bus for a black man and she goes to jail. This starts the Montgomery Bus Boycott. In 1955 a disease called Polio was making children very sick, some were unable to walk and others died, Dr. Salk invented a shot that made it so people would not get the disease any more. 1956 The United States starts a highway system so people can drive more easily between states. 1958 The first airplane companies start in the US and the first US satellite goes into space. 1959 Alaska and Hawaii become the 49 th and 50 th states.

Harry Truman is President until 1952, then Dwight Eisenhower until 1961

In 1953 Julius and Ethel Rosenberg are put to death for being spies.

In 1954 Senator Joseph McCarthy begins hearings looking for communists. This is called the red scare.

In 1954 A case in the Supreme Court called Brown versus the Board of Education decides it is not okay to force children of different races to go to separate schools.

1955 A young wife named Rosa Parks decides not to give up her seat on a bus for a black man and she goes to jail. This starts the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

In 1955 a disease called Polio was making children very sick, some were unable to walk and others died, Dr. Salk invented a shot that made it so people would not get the disease any more.

1956 The United States starts a highway system so people can drive more easily between states.

1958 The first airplane companies start in the US and the first US satellite goes into space.

1959 Alaska and Hawaii become the 49 th and 50 th states.

1950s Art Williem De Kooning and others continued in their practice of Abstract Expressionism

Williem De Kooning and others continued in their practice of Abstract Expressionism

Lavendar Mist by Jackson Pollock ‘50

Marilyn Monroe by De Kooning ‘54

False Start by Jasper Johns ‘59

Writers and Writing All kinds of books and poems were popular from great literature to penny paper back novels also called trash novels. Plays started to be something even common people would go to see Black people and women started to become much more famous as writers

All kinds of books and poems were popular from great literature to penny paper back novels also called trash novels.

Plays started to be something even common people would go to see

Black people and women started to become much more famous as writers

The Beat Writers Also know as the Beats or the Beatniks, these writers wrote poems that had a beat like music and were very rebellious One of the most famous was Jack Keroauc, from Lowell, Massachusetts, for his poetry and his book, On the Road Another famous beat was Allen Ginsberg

Also know as the Beats or the Beatniks, these writers wrote poems that had a beat like music and were very rebellious

One of the most famous was Jack Keroauc, from Lowell, Massachusetts, for his poetry and his book, On the Road

Another famous beat was

Allen Ginsberg

Science Fiction Writing People liked to write about how things might be in the future in the fifities, they liked to think about things like space, martians and robots. They also wrote about out of control governments. Ray Bradbury wrote the Martian Chronicles Isaac Asimov wrote I, Robot

People liked to write about how things might be in the future in the fifities, they liked to think about things like space, martians and robots. They also wrote about out of control governments.

Ray Bradbury wrote the Martian Chronicles

Isaac Asimov wrote I, Robot

Other Fiction Books J.D. Salinger wrote The Catcher in the Rye , which most high school students still have to read today. The story is about a teenage boy named Holden Caulfield who calls lots of people “phoneys”

J.D. Salinger wrote The Catcher in the Rye , which most high school students still have to read today. The story is about a teenage boy named Holden Caulfield who calls lots of people “phoneys”

William Faulkner wrote many books in the fifties and later, including the book The Town.

William Faulkner wrote many books in the fifties and later, including the book The Town.

James Baldwin was a writer famous for many books and stories but in the 50s one of his biggest was Go Tell It On the Mountain .

James Baldwin was a writer famous for many books and stories but in the 50s one of his biggest was Go Tell It On the Mountain .

Famous Plays Based on a line from a Langston Hughes play Lorraine Hansberry wrote a play about a Black family trying to get ahead called “A Raisin in the Sun”.

Based on a line from a Langston Hughes play Lorraine Hansberry wrote a play about a Black family trying to get ahead called “A Raisin in the Sun”.

Fabulous Fifties Fads The Coonskin Cap The Frisbee The Hula Hoop The Poodle Skirt Saddle Shoes The Ant Farm Letter Sweaters

The Coonskin Cap

The Frisbee

The Hula Hoop

The Poodle Skirt

Saddle Shoes

The Ant Farm

Letter Sweaters

50s Food Bananas Foster Mrs. Eishenhower’s Million Dollar Fudge California Onion Dip Chex Mix Maypo Jello Instant Pudding Marshmello Peeps Ranch Dressing Tang Diet-Rite (Soda) Rice-a-Roni German’s Sweet Chocolate Cake Navy Been Soup Smoothies Non-Dairy Creamer

Bananas Foster

Mrs. Eishenhower’s Million Dollar Fudge

California Onion Dip

Chex Mix

Maypo

Jello Instant Pudding

Marshmello Peeps

Ranch Dressing

Tang

Diet-Rite (Soda)

Rice-a-Roni

German’s Sweet Chocolate Cake

Navy Been Soup

Smoothies

Non-Dairy Creamer

50s Inventions Super Glue Power Steering Videotape Recorder The bar code Hydrogen bomb Radial tires Black box flight recorder Transistor radio Non-stick pan Solar cell Optic fiber McDonald’s Computer hard disk Hovercraft White-out

Super Glue

Power Steering

Videotape Recorder

The bar code

Hydrogen bomb

Radial tires

Black box flight recorder

Transistor radio

Non-stick pan

Solar cell

Optic fiber

McDonald’s

Computer hard disk

Hovercraft

White-out

Fifties Toys Little People Toys ’50 Color Forms ’51 Mr. Potato Head ’52 Matchbox Cars ’52 Plastic Army Men ’53 Robert the Robot ’54 Wheel-Lo ’54 Spud Guns Play Doh ’55 Frisbee ’55 Ant Farms ’56 Yahtzee ’56 Tonka Trucks ’57 Hula Hoop ’58 Chatty Cathy ’59 Troll Dolls ’59 Barbie Dolls ’59

Little People Toys ’50

Color Forms ’51

Mr. Potato Head ’52

Matchbox Cars ’52

Plastic Army Men ’53

Robert the Robot ’54

Wheel-Lo ’54

Spud Guns

Play Doh ’55

Frisbee ’55

Ant Farms ’56

Yahtzee ’56

Tonka Trucks ’57

Hula Hoop ’58

Chatty Cathy ’59

Troll Dolls ’59

Barbie Dolls ’59

Fifties TV (just a few of the shows) I Love Lucy Leave it to Beaver Lassie The Lone Ranger Dennis the Menace The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Amos and Andy The Andy Griffith Show

I Love Lucy

Leave it to Beaver

Lassie

The Lone Ranger

Dennis the Menace

The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet

Amos and Andy

The Andy Griffith Show

Top Ten Fifties Movies Lady and the Tramp (1955) Peter Pan (1953) Cinderella (1950) The Ten Commandments (1956) Ben-Hur (1959) Sleeping Beauty (1959) Around the World in 80 Days (1956) This is Cinerama (1952) South Pacific (1958) The Robe (1953)

Lady and the Tramp (1955)

Peter Pan (1953)

Cinderella (1950)

The Ten Commandments (1956)

Ben-Hur (1959)

Sleeping Beauty (1959)

Around the World in 80 Days (1956)

This is Cinerama (1952)

South Pacific (1958)

The Robe (1953)

Other Fifties Movies A Street Car Named Desire A Rebel without a Cause (with James Dean) East of Eden (with James Dean) Singin’ in the Rain Some Like it Hot Love Me Tender (with Elvis) Jail House Rock (with Elvis)

A Street Car Named Desire

A Rebel without a Cause (with James Dean)

East of Eden (with James Dean)

Singin’ in the Rain

Some Like it Hot

Love Me Tender (with Elvis)

Jail House Rock (with Elvis)

50s Movie Stars Marlon Brando James Dean Marilyn Monroe Cary Grant Elizabeth Taylor Gene Kelly Grace Kelly Charlton Heston Jimmy Stewart

Marlon Brando

James Dean

Marilyn Monroe

Cary Grant

Elizabeth Taylor

Gene Kelly

Grace Kelly

Charlton Heston

Jimmy Stewart

Marlon Brando MARLON BRANDO (1924 - 2004) American leading actor, born in Omaha, who is also known for his "method" technique of acting. Some consider him the screen's finest actor, while others disagree. Marlon Brando went on the stage at age 19 and 4 years later he was the sensation of Broadway in STEETCAR NAMED DESIRE. For Marlon Brando's performances in VIVA ZAPATA, JULIUS CAESAR, and ON THE WATERFRONT he received a British Film Academy award.

MARLON BRANDO (1924 - 2004) American leading actor, born in Omaha, who is also known for his "method" technique of acting. Some consider him the screen's finest actor, while others disagree. Marlon Brando went on the stage at age 19 and 4 years later he was the sensation of Broadway in STEETCAR NAMED DESIRE. For Marlon Brando's performances in VIVA ZAPATA, JULIUS CAESAR, and ON THE WATERFRONT he received a British Film Academy award.

James Dean James Dean invented the role of the troubled teen, serving an an icon to generations of youth. An important symbol of 50's teen rebellion, he burned up the screen. Starring in only three feature films, his defining role was in REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE . His other feature films, EAST OF EDEN and GIANT , are well regarded. Ironically James Dean filmed a public service spot on auto safety shortly before he died in a car wreck in 1955. James Dean was a major influence on some future superstars, including the young Steve McQueen, and Dean's look and attitude is still reflected in young actors today. James Dean is part of an American pop culture "trinity", which also includes Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley.

James Dean invented the role of the troubled teen, serving an an icon to generations of youth. An important symbol of 50's teen rebellion, he burned up the screen. Starring in only three feature films, his defining role was in REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE . His other feature films, EAST OF EDEN and GIANT , are well regarded.

Ironically James Dean filmed a public service spot on auto safety shortly before he died in a car wreck in 1955.

James Dean was a major influence on some future superstars, including the young Steve McQueen, and Dean's look and attitude is still reflected in young actors today.

James Dean is part of an American pop culture "trinity", which also includes Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley.

Marilyn Monroe Marilyn Monroe was the blonde bombshell to end all bombshells. She drove men wild with her sex appeal. Her defining role was in THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH , which contained the famous scene involving her skirt being blown up by an air blast from a subway vent. Marilyn Monroe's notable films include: ALL ABOUT EVE , BUS STOP, GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES , SOME LIKE IT HOT , and THE MISFITS (her last film, and interestingly, Clark Gable's last as well). Marilyn Monroe, more intelligent than she was given credit for, was married to playwright Arthur Miller and baseball great Joe Dimagio, and romantically linked to JFK. She died in 1962 under mysterious circumstances.

Marilyn Monroe was the blonde bombshell to end all bombshells. She drove men wild with her sex appeal.

Her defining role was in THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH , which contained the famous scene involving her skirt being blown up by an air blast from a subway vent. Marilyn Monroe's notable films include: ALL ABOUT EVE , BUS STOP, GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES , SOME LIKE IT HOT , and THE MISFITS (her last film, and interestingly, Clark Gable's last as well).

Marilyn Monroe, more intelligent than she was given credit for, was married to playwright Arthur Miller and baseball great Joe Dimagio, and romantically linked to JFK.

She died in 1962 under mysterious circumstances.

50s Musicians and Singers Buddy Holly Elvis Presley Nat King Cole Frank Sinatra Dinah Shore Bill Haley Little Richard Ray Charles Johnny Cash Chuck Berry Everly Brothers Jerry Lee Lewis

Buddy Holly

Elvis Presley

Nat King Cole

Frank Sinatra

Dinah Shore

Bill Haley

Little Richard

Ray Charles

Johnny Cash

Chuck Berry

Everly Brothers

Jerry Lee Lewis