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1950s
- 2. War • The Cold War - 1947-1991(ish) • The Korean War - 1950–1953 • NATO • Warsaw pact • Free world • Domino • Common market
- 3. Nuclear Weapons Nuclear weapons were no longer a threat but a part of daily life. • Nukes • Thermonuclear • Fall-out • Overkill • Kiloton and Megaton • Mushroom Cloud
- 4. The Space Race The US assumed it was ahead of the race – until the launch of the Soviet Sputnik. • Cosmonauts • Count-down • Blast off • Space programme
- 5. Television In 1952, the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II was watched by millions on their personal ‘boxes’ • Pay television • Cinerama • Videotape • Transistor radio
- 6. Music Country music dominated the early fifties but in the latter half of the decade – rock and roll was king. • Skiffle • Discotheque • Albums • hi-fi • Stereo system
- 7. Fashion Fashion is always evolving and this decades trends included the A-line and Stiletto heels with a Bouffant • Y-fronts • Tracksuits • Lycra • hair spray • Back combing
- 8. Cuisine Technology was influencing food as well as the fast food from the US. • Fish finger • Garlic bread • Tandoori • Wok
- 9. Youth Culture The 50s was a decade where the Youths were in the spotlight. • Beat generation • Angry young man • Teddy boys • Beatniks • Flicknife
- 10. “Out of the Closet” Although S E X was still a taboo subject things were a little more sexy – even in the papers. • the pill • Sex kittens • Consenting adults
- 11. Modernism A new brutal modernism was occurring in both architecture and art. • High-rise • Pop art • Abstract expressionism
- 12. Science and Medicine What a decade for science and medicine! • Double helix • Big bang • Open heart • By-passes • Transplants • Pacemakers
- 13. Transport Small and nippy vehicles dominated the roads. • Traffic warden and Meter maid • Bubble car • Vespa • Chopper
- 14. Typical Media
Editor's Notes
- The Cold War was a state of political and military tension after World War II between the democratic West (US and NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) allies) and the communist East (the Soviet Union and its allies). They never declared war but were involved in proxy wars such as the Korean War as well as the arms race and the space race. The Korean War was between North Korea and South Korea. The North invaded the South. China and Russia fought for the North and The UN and America fought for the South. The Chinese and North Koreans were prepared to end the war in 1952 but because Stalin wanted to continue fighting they were unable to end the war until after his death in 1953 NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organization Warsaw pact – a military communist alliance Free world – non communist countries Domino – once one country falls, they’ll all fall Common market – another name for the EU
- By the end of the decade the anti-nuclear protest movement began to grow, opposing nuclear technologies. Nukes – a pet name for nuclear weapons Thermonuclear – weapons where explosions are caused by reactions Fall-out – residual radioactive material Overkill – when the destruction exceeds what is necessary Kilotons and megatons – units of explosive power (kilo = 1,000 tons of TNT. Mega = 1,000,000 tons of TNT) Mushroom cloud – so named because of the shape of the explosion
- The Sputnik was the first artificial space satellite. The threat of losing spurred the US to evolve its space programme to beat the Russians. Cosmonaut – is simply a Russian Austronaut. With the introduction to personal televisions – to be discussed later – peopoe became more familiar with the jargon such as count-down and blast-off.
- The box – is an affectionate name for the television Pay television meant that people had to pay to watch certain channels although this was only in the US A cinerama is an early type of cinema. It projects images simultaneously from three projectors onto a curved screen. People used to dress in their finery at these theatres! The videotape was also invented which meant that people could store moving images and replay them. The new technologies meant that these new portable radios could grow to become the most popular electronic communication device in history.
- Prominent rock and roll artists in the fifties were James Brown, Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly. Skiffle – a type of blues and jazz style music Discotheque – teens would often go to discos to listen to the popular music Albums were relatively new and kids were able to buy them for their stereo systems Hi-fi – is another piece of equipment for playing records.
- Y fronts are the underwear of choice for athletes because they don’t ride up! Lycra and tracksuits were also important to the athletics as it was 195 when Roger Bannister first ran the 4 minute mile. Hairspray became popular again with the bouffant hair and for men – it was all about the slick back – like Elvis.
- Rationing ended in 1953 so food was more plentiful and adventurous due to open trade routes Foreign foods also began to make a more prominent appearance with garlic bread and tandoori. People were able to make Asian food at home with the availability of the wok. Commercialised in 1953, the fish finger was the beginning of frozen prepared dishes.
- Beat generation – rejected conventional society and valued free expression. Angry young man - outspoken against existing social and political structures Teddy Boys were a subculture that wore drainpipe trousers and hair in a quiff. They typically liked rock and roll music. Beatniks were another subculture, characterised by black hair and were part of the beat generation The flicknife was easily hidden and the blade was spring operated. It was the weapon of choice in violent clashes between subcultures and the government. This is also the decade where the phrase “see you later alligator” originated.
- The permissive (tolerant) sixties were on the way and the commercial introduction of the pill in the US in 1957 brought with it new attitudes to sex. Sex kittens (cute and innocent looking) were on the television. Despite all of these new thoughts, it was still unacceptable for consenting adults to come “out of the closet”
- High rise flats were new to Britain in the fifties and new types of art were emerging: pop art and abstract expressionism. Abstract expressionism is a spontaneous and surreal art form with elements of futurism and cubism. Pop art emerged in the mid fifties as a development of abstract expressionism influenced by media and culture. Andy Warhol is the most renouned artist in this field.
- In 1953, James Watson and Francis Crick suggested the first accurate model of DNA based on an X-ray by the commonly forgotten Rosalind Franklin. The big bang theory was coined in 1949 and the theory continued to develop through the decade. Medicine progressed rapidly with new terms being coined to explain all of the new developments. Open heart means just that, a By-pass provided an alternative route for blood – like roads did around cities. On 23rd December 1954 the first successful kidney transplant took place and in 1958 the first fully implantable pacemaker was installed.
- Meter maids were simply female traffic wardens The bubble car was the choice of car because of its small and economical status. It was aptly named due to its shape! “Keeping up with the Jones’s” wanting what your neighbour had or better. Vespas were popular with the stars of the 50s including Audrey Hepburn and John Wayne – so naturally everyone wanted one! The helicopter was developed and used throughout the Korea nwar and developed nicknames such as chopper and whirlybird – reference to the rotors The hovercraft was also invented
- Dixon of Dock Green – 1955 – 1976 (BBC series about daily life at a London Police Station) Crackerjack – 1955 – 1984 (Children’s television entertainment) Sunday Night at the Palladium – 1955 – present (British television variety show) Opportunity knocks – 1949 – 1990 (Television and radio talent show) The Titfield Thunderbolt – 1953 (comedy about a group of villagers trying to keep their branch line open after British Railways decided to close it)