Life in the 1950s: Stability, Suburbia, and the TV Revolution, and the Birth of Rock and Roll
The Transition of 1953 and the Eisenhower Presidency
The End of the Korean Conflict: In 1953, the United States reached a truce agreement with the North Koreans and the Chinese.
President Eisenhower's Priority: By resolving the conflict, President Dwight D. Eisenhower fulfilled a campaign pledge. His goal was to move past the war and make America's domestic life his primary focus.
Public Sentiment: Citizens felt a sense of relief and security with Eisenhower in office. One observer noted, "He was gonna really take care of The United States. He was gonna take care of us personally. And it was a good feeling."
Lowering the Rhetoric: A key objective of the Eisenhower administration was to lower the national sense of crisis and the intensity of political rhetoric.
A Historical Turning Point: By 1953, the American public had been in a state of continuous crisis since 1929, spanning the Great Depression, World War II, the Berlin Blockade, and the Korean War.
Social Vision: Eisenhower aimed to return the country to the social atmosphere of his childhood—a "simpler country" characterized by: * White males having the final word in society. * Women maintaining the home ("keeping the home fires burning"). * A focus on business as the primary engine of American life.
The Economic Boom and the Rise of Consumerism
Post-War Transformation: By late 1953, the post-WWII economic boom had already fundamentally changed the United States.
Financial Confidence: For the first time since 1929, Americans felt self-confident, with money being actively saved in banks.
Wage Growth: Real wages were increasing at a rate of per year, an "incredible" rate for the era.
The Consumer Society: The 1950s saw the rapid emergence of a consumer-driven economy, with people buying and selling more than at any previous point in history.
The Shift to White-Collar Work: This period marked the first time in American history that more citizens were employed in white-collar professions than in manual labor.
Ascendant Professions: Advertising, marketing, and public relations became the preferred career paths. * Dialogue on Public Relations: In a period anecdote, a man admits he knows nothing about public relations, to which the reply is: "Who does? You got a clean shirt, you bathe every day, and that's all there's to it."
Corporate Culture and Social Conformity
The Corporate Team: In the shadow of the Cold War, participation in the American economic machine was viewed as a patriotic duty. Employees were expected to adhere strictly to corporate rules.
Uniformity in Dress: The "man with a gray flannel suit" became a cultural icon. Salesmen were often told where to buy clothes, and while variety existed, it was limited to blue or gray suits and white shirts.
Social Pressures: Deviating from the norm called unwanted attention to oneself. Consequently, "Nobody did. We all look the same."
Professional Customs: Expectations included social drinking at lunch, typically "at least two drinks… preferably martinis." Ordering a Perrier would result in being laughed at.
Gender Roles in the Workplace: * Secretaries: Job advertisements often explicitly specified "good looking." * Dialogue on Secretaries: When a new employee, Mr. Wright, is introduced to his secretary, Miss Norris, his colleague remarks, "They always give a new man the prettiest secretary." * Management: There were no female managers; the concept was not even considered.
The "Crabgrass Frontier": Suburbia and Domestic Stability
Marriage Trends: By 1957, of all marriageable men and women were married. Society was structured around couples; those who were divorced were often excluded from social circles like barbecues.
The Suburban Move: By the end of the 1950s, one-quarter (1/4) of the US population lived in tract homes in modern suburbs.
Conformity of Housing: Houses were often indistinguishable, leading to anecdotes of residents being unable to find their specific home because everything looked similar.
Community and Child Rearing: Suburbs like Lakewood were viewed as ideal environments for raising children. Facilities were geared toward families, such as obstetricians being open until .
Stability After Trauma: For parents who survived the Great Depression and World War II, a suburban home represented a "wreckage from many of the things that had troubled their early lives"—a sanctuary of stability.
The Middle Class Expansion: The powerful economy propelled families into the middle class at a rate of more than people per year.
"Keeping up with the Joneses": People often bought new merchandise just to match their neighbors' lifestyles. The delivery of a new television to one house would immediately trigger the neighbors to desire one as well.
The Television Revolution
The Growth of the Medium: In the early 1950s, television became an obsession. Consumers would watch the set even when only a test pattern was visible.
The Death of Radio: Radio, previously the staple of household entertainment, was virtually abandoned as talent moved to TV.
Programming and Live TV: Most early TV was broadcast live, including all the inherent flaws and mistakes of live performance.
Prominent Figures: Talents like Milton Berle and newscaster Edward R. Murrow successfully transitioned to the new medium.
Cultural Dominance: Television became so integral that people would schedule medical appointments around shows like I Love Lucy.
Market Saturation: By the mid-1950s, only a few years after commercial introduction, television sets were in three-quarters () of American homes.
Viewer Habits: Americans were spending one-third () of their waking hours watching television.
The Salesman’s Window: The three major networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC) provided a "window on the world" that served as a platform for constant advertising for products like Westinghouse refrigerators.
The Beginnings of Cultural Change
Hugh Hefner and Playboy: In 1953, at age 27, Hugh Hefner launched Playboy magazine. It was a direct challenge to the nation's obscenity laws.
Marilyn Monroe: She was the first "playmate of the month," but the magazine also promoted the "girl next door" as someone who also enjoyed sex.
Social Impact: Hefner did not put his name on the first issue because it was considered dangerous and sensational for the time. Within a year, the magazine was selling copies per month.
Rock and Roll and the Elvis Phenomenon
Origins in "Race Music": Early proponents included singers like Lloyd Price. Initially, this music had no specific name and was played on very few radio stations (e.g., only two in New Orleans).
The Labeling of Rock and Roll: By 1955, the genre was officially called Rock and Roll.
The Youth Reaction: 15-year-old Marty Rosenblum from Wisconsin recalls hearing Little Richard for the first time and feeling his "whole world changed."
The "Devil's Music": Many station managers refused to play artists like Little Richard, labeling the genre "the devil's music," which only increased its appeal to teenagers.
Racial and Social Tensions: Parents feared the music because it was rooted in Black culture.
Sun Records: Owner Sam Phillips argued that kids weren't falling in love with a specific race, but rather the "vitality of the music."
White Musicians in the Genre: Artists like Bill Haley and his Comets began finding success on the charts.
The Arrival of Elvis Presley (1956): * Elvis became the genre's first superstar. * Observers described a "wave of energy" and "stillness" when his songs played in soda shops. * His appeal was linked to his haircut, his provocative hip movements, and his "rebellious feelings." * The Ed Sullivan Reaction: In July 1956, columnist and TV host Ed Sullivan called Elvis's act "vulgar and suggestive." However, due to his immense popularity, Sullivan booked Elvis on his show less than two months later.