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This Web Page Covers the 1950s as the years 1950 through 1959:
The 1950s are considered a time of innocence, as television became our primary medium for entertainment and news. BUT, the culture was changing, as the civil rights movement began this decade.
The 1950s are considered a time of innocence, as television became our primary medium for entertainment and news. BUT, the culture was changing, as the civil rights movement began this decade.
Culture:
The civil rights movement began in earnest, with the landmark Supreme Court ruling of Brown vs. the Board of Education in 1954. In the early 1950s the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States opened the door to the beginnings of the right for all Americans to an equal and fair education regardless of race, creed or religion.
During this time, racial segregation was still present in the U.S. and other countries. The Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s would soon begin. Key figures like Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X and Rosa Parks highlighted and challenged those who were against equal rights and freedoms for Afro-Americans.
In 1957, the Little Rock Nine integrated the Central High School, which was a key event in the fight to end segregation in schools and other public places in the U.S. These developments among others would be key talking points in the advancement of equal rights across the world over the years to come.
Hugh Hefner launched Playboy magazine in 1953.
Disneyland opens July 1955.
Beatniks and the Beat Generation, an anti-materialistic literary movement whose name was invented by Jack Kerouac in 1948 and stretched on into the early-mid-1960s, was at its zenith in the 1950s.
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The civil rights movement began in earnest, with the landmark Supreme Court ruling of Brown vs. the Board of Education in 1954. In the early 1950s the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States opened the door to the beginnings of the right for all Americans to an equal and fair education regardless of race, creed or religion.
During this time, racial segregation was still present in the U.S. and other countries. The Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s would soon begin. Key figures like Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X and Rosa Parks highlighted and challenged those who were against equal rights and freedoms for Afro-Americans.
In 1957, the Little Rock Nine integrated the Central High School, which was a key event in the fight to end segregation in schools and other public places in the U.S. These developments among others would be key talking points in the advancement of equal rights across the world over the years to come.
Hugh Hefner launched Playboy magazine in 1953.
Disneyland opens July 1955.
Beatniks and the Beat Generation, an anti-materialistic literary movement whose name was invented by Jack Kerouac in 1948 and stretched on into the early-mid-1960s, was at its zenith in the 1950s.
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Television:
The popularity of television skyrocketed, particularly in the US, where 77% of households purchased their first TV set during the decade.
Sitcoms offered a romanticized view of middle class American life with,
Emmy-winning comedy, included,
Other Popular TV Series included,
Westerns in particular dominated television, including,
Besides the above, a number of long-running TV Western series became classics in their own right. Notable TV Westerns include:
The popularity of television skyrocketed, particularly in the US, where 77% of households purchased their first TV set during the decade.
Sitcoms offered a romanticized view of middle class American life with,
- The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1952–1966),
- Father Knows Best (1954–1960),
- The Donna Reed Show (1958–1966) exemplifying the genre.
Emmy-winning comedy, included,
- Love Lucy (1951–1960) starred husband and wife Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball and enjoyed such popularity that some businesses closed early on Monday nights in order to allow employees to hurry home for the show.
- In Life of Riley (1953–1958), blue collar Chester A. Riley (William Bendix) became the prototype for a long line of bumbling television patriarchs that included Fred Flintstone and Archie Bunker.
- The Honeymooners (1955–1956) followed bus driver Ralph Kramden (Jackie Gleason) and his sewer-working sidekick Ed Norton (Art Carney)
- while archetypal suburban life was limited in Leave it to Beaver (1957–1963), purportedly the first sitcom to be told from a child's point of view and the first to strike a blow for television realism by displaying a toilet in an early episode.
Other Popular TV Series included,
- Dragnet (1952) starring Jack Webb representing police procedural drama,
- British syndicated series The Adventures of Robin Hood (1955-1959) starring Richard Greene representing historical drama,
Westerns in particular dominated television, including,
- Gunsmoke (1955-1975) with James Arness and Amanda Blake representing the western. Mid-decade,
- Warner Bros. produced a group of five westerns with Maverick (1957-1962) starring James Garner,
- Cheyenne (1955-1963) starring Clint Walker led the group in popularity.
Besides the above, a number of long-running TV Western series became classics in their own right. Notable TV Westerns include:
- The Gene Autry Show (CBS: 1950-1956)
- The Roy Rogers Show (NBC: 1951-1957)
- The Lone Ranger (ABC: 1949-1957)
- The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok (CBS/ABC: 1951-1958),
- The Rifleman (ABC: 1958-1963),
- Wanted: Dead or Alive (CBS: 1958-1961),
- Have Gun – Will Travel (CBS: 1957-1963),
- The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (ABC: 1955-1961),
- Bat Masterson (NBC: 1958-1961),
- Tales of Wells Fargo (NBC: 1957-1962),
- The Range Rider (1951-1953),
- The Cisco Kid (1950-1956),
- Bonanza (NBC: 1959-1973),
- The Virginian ( NBC: 1962-1971),
- Wagon Train (NBC: 1957–62 then ABC: 1962–65),
- Trackdown (CBS: 1957-1959),
- Annie Oakley (1954-1957),
- Sugarfoot (ABC: 1957-1961),
- The Adventures of Kit Carson (1951-1955),
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater (CBS: 1956-1961),
- Death Valley Days (1952-1970)
- and many others.
Movies:
Big budget sword and sandal epics like,
For science fiction:
Teen films include:
Low budget teen films punctuated with rock and roll soundtracks were produced through the decade with provocative titles such as,
Teen and sci-fi genres were wedded in B-film The Blob (1958) with Steve McQueen in his first starring role; while teen horror flick I Was a Teenage Werewolf (1957) launched Michael Landon's Hollywood career.
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Big budget sword and sandal epics like,
- The Robe (1953),
- Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954),
- The Ten Commandments (1956),
- Ben-Hur (1959),
- Cleopatra (1963),
- Hercules (1958) and its follow-up Hercules Unchained (1959).
For science fiction:
- Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956),
- The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951),
- Invaders from Mars (1953),
- Them! (1954),
- The War of the Worlds (1953),
- The Time Machine (1960),
- It Came from Outer Space (1953),
- The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953),
- Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954),
- The Thing from Another World (1951),
- This Island Earth (1955),
- Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (1956),
- Destination Moon (1950),
- Forbidden Planet (1956),
- Queen of Outer Space (1958),
- 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954),
- When Worlds Collide (1951),
- Japanese films included:
Teen films include:
- The Wild One (1953), starring Marlon Brando as an outlaw biker.
- MGM's Blackboard Jungle (1955) examined race and class dynamics in an inner-city high school, and is regarded by some as the spark that lit the Rock and Roll revolution by featuring Bill Haley & His Comets' Rock Around the Clock over the opening credits. Screenings of the film occasionally led to teen violence and vandalism, and, for some, the film marks the start of visible teen rebellion in the 20th century.
- Rebel Without a Cause (1955) thrust its angst-ridden star James Dean to international stardom, and, unlike Blackboard Jungle, told its story from the viewpoint of its teen characters, another James Dean film East of Eden (1955) showcased his extraordinary talent as an actor.
- Gidget (1959) set off a wave of light-hearted teen beach party and surfing movies that alluded to sex but respected 1950s taboos, conformism, and traditional values.
- Love, sex, marriage, divorce, alcoholism, dysfunctional families, and adultery were themes of A Summer Place featuring Sandra Dee and Troy Donahue as teen lovers and Dorothy McGuire and Richard Egan as their adulterous parents.
Low budget teen films punctuated with rock and roll soundtracks were produced through the decade with provocative titles such as,
- High School Hellcats (1958),
- High School Confidential (1958),
- Girls in the Night (1953),
- Girls Town (1959),
- Hound-Dog Man (1959),
- Lost, Lonely and Vicious (1958),
- Running Wild (1955),
- Hot Rod Girl (1956),
- Teenage Devil Dolls (1955),
- The Violent Years (1956).
Teen and sci-fi genres were wedded in B-film The Blob (1958) with Steve McQueen in his first starring role; while teen horror flick I Was a Teenage Werewolf (1957) launched Michael Landon's Hollywood career.
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Music:
Rock-n-Roll and Electric blues emerged in the mid-1950s as the teen music of choice with
Doo-wop was another popular genre at the time. Popular Doo Wop and Rock-n-Roll bands of the mid-to-late 1950s including
Rock-n-Roll and Electric blues emerged in the mid-1950s as the teen music of choice with
- Sam Cooke,
- Jackie Wilson,
- Gene Vincent,
- Chuck Berry
- Fats Domino
- Little Richard,
- James Brown
- B.B. King,
- Muddy Waters,
- Howlin' Wolf,
- John Lee Hooker,
- Bo Diddley,
- Buddy Holly,
- Bobby Darin,
- Ritchie Valens,
- Duane Eddy,
- Eddie Cochran
- Brenda Lee,
- Bobby Vee,
- Connie Francis
- Johnny Mathis,
- Pat Boone,
- Ricky Nelson,
- Elvis Presley was the musical superstar of the period with rock, rockabilly, gospel, and romantic ballads being his signatures.
- Bill Haley,
- Jerry Lee Lewis,
- The Everly Brothers,
- Carl Perkins,
- Johnny Cash,
- Conway Twitty,
- Johnny Horton,
- Marty Robbins
Doo-wop was another popular genre at the time. Popular Doo Wop and Rock-n-Roll bands of the mid-to-late 1950s including
- The Platters,
- The Flamingos,
- The Dells,
- The Silhouettes,
- Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers,
- Little Anthony and the Imperials,
- Danny & the Juniors,
- The Coasters
- The Drifters,
- The Del-Vikings
- Dion and the Belmonts.
Economy:
The United States in the 1950s experienced marked economic growth - with an increase in manufacturing and home construction amongst a post-World War II economic boom. There was a large-scale expansion of the middle class in the 1950s. Unions were strong, comprising almost half the American work force. Politics tended to be moderate, with extremist positions being out of favor.
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The United States in the 1950s experienced marked economic growth - with an increase in manufacturing and home construction amongst a post-World War II economic boom. There was a large-scale expansion of the middle class in the 1950s. Unions were strong, comprising almost half the American work force. Politics tended to be moderate, with extremist positions being out of favor.
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Technology:
The first polio vaccine, developed by Dr. Jonas Salk, was introduced to the general public in 1955. Sputnik 1 was launched in 1957. The US then launched Explorer 1 three months later, beginning the space race. The Interstate Highway System enabled more efficient cross-country automobile transport.
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The first polio vaccine, developed by Dr. Jonas Salk, was introduced to the general public in 1955. Sputnik 1 was launched in 1957. The US then launched Explorer 1 three months later, beginning the space race. The Interstate Highway System enabled more efficient cross-country automobile transport.
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Political Climate:
The Cold War and its associated conflicts helped create a politically conservative climate in the country, as the quasi-confrontation intensified throughout the entire decade. Fear of communism caused public Congressional hearings in both houses of Congress while anti-communism was the prevailing sentiment in the United States throughout the period. Conformity and conservatism characterized the social norms of the time.
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The Cold War and its associated conflicts helped create a politically conservative climate in the country, as the quasi-confrontation intensified throughout the entire decade. Fear of communism caused public Congressional hearings in both houses of Congress while anti-communism was the prevailing sentiment in the United States throughout the period. Conformity and conservatism characterized the social norms of the time.
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Military Engagements:
Korean War & the Cold War with the Soviet Union. The overthrow of Fulgencio Batista by Fidel Castro, Che Guevara and other forces in 1959 resulted in the creation of the first communist government in the western hemisphere. The Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 led to a confrontation between the United States, Cuba, and the Soviet Union.
Korean War & the Cold War with the Soviet Union. The overthrow of Fulgencio Batista by Fidel Castro, Che Guevara and other forces in 1959 resulted in the creation of the first communist government in the western hemisphere. The Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 led to a confrontation between the United States, Cuba, and the Soviet Union.