Download - 1950s: Changing American Culture TV, Music, and the Suburbs.

1950s: Changing 1950s: Changing American CultureAmerican Culture

TV, Music, and the SuburbsTV, Music, and the Suburbs

1950s Pop Culture1950s Pop Culture

A. Economic StabilityA. Economic Stability1. After the war, soldiers returned 1. After the war, soldiers returned home to find jobs and fair wages.home to find jobs and fair wages.2. The Great Depression was over!2. The Great Depression was over!

a. Great jobs in manufacturing, a. Great jobs in manufacturing, business, business, marketing, and industry marketing, and industry (chemistry and (chemistry and engineering).engineering).

b. Unemployment and inflation b. Unemployment and inflation were low, were low, leading to steady income.leading to steady income.


B. Changing LandscapeB. Changing Landscape1. Many Americans, working in large 1. Many Americans, working in large industrial cities, did not want to live in industrial cities, did not want to live in the cities!the cities!2. 2. Interstate HighwaysInterstate Highways

a. In the US, President Eisenhower a. In the US, President Eisenhower pushed forward new construction on a pushed forward new construction on a lightning fast highway system, lightning fast highway system, connecting cities with rural areas.connecting cities with rural areas.


b. This highways led to faster drive b. This highways led to faster drive timestimes

c. American workers began to move c. American workers began to move outside of the cities, into areas that outside of the cities, into areas that became known as suburbs.became known as suburbs.

1. A normal commute of 20-35 1. A normal commute of 20-35 minutes minutes

(Today it is 30-60 min!!)(Today it is 30-60 min!!)

1950s Pop Culture1950s Pop Cultured. First “Suburb”d. First “Suburb”

1. Levittown, NY1. Levittown, NYa. Builders Bob and a. Builders Bob and

Alfred Alfred Levitt are Levitt are credited with credited with designing the “suburb” designing the “suburb”

neighborhood.neighborhood.2. Mass produced homes- 2. Mass produced homes-

Could Could finish a fully built finish a fully built house in 16 house in 16 minutes!!!!minutes!!!!

3. The typical suburb is based 3. The typical suburb is based on on the Levitt model today!the Levitt model today!


C. Pop CultureC. Pop Culture

1. Due to good economic times, 1. Due to good economic times, demand increases for entertainment demand increases for entertainment and fun activities.and fun activities.

2. New technology, better sound and 2. New technology, better sound and cameras, leads to what some call the cameras, leads to what some call the “Golden Age of American Culture.”“Golden Age of American Culture.”


3. 1950s Entertainment3. 1950s Entertainment

a. Televisiona. Television

1. “I Love Lucy”- Lucille Ball1. “I Love Lucy”- Lucille Ball

b. Moviesb. Movies

c. Musicc. Music

1. Rock and Roll1. Rock and Roll

Elvis Presley, the BeatlesElvis Presley, the Beatles

2. Blues2. Blues

3. Country Western3. Country Western


D. Rebellion in the 1950sD. Rebellion in the 1950s1. “Beat” movement1. “Beat” movement2. 2. BeatniksBeatniks challenged the new challenged the new America, they were free thinkers, America, they were free thinkers, rejected “normal” life.rejected “normal” life.

a. Jack Kerouac, writer- a. Jack Kerouac, writer- On the On the RoadRoad

Famous book of loneliness and Famous book of loneliness and rebellionrebellion

b. Alan Ginsberg, poet- b. Alan Ginsberg, poet- HowlHowl