The years from the end of World War II to the end of the 1950s were dominated by powerful changes in American life. The first was the birth of the Cold War, and the great fears that it created. Also, it was the dramatic growth of affluence, which transformed the lives of many. America’s economy had made a great recovery after the great depression in 1929. Many things were changing in the 1950’s. Pop Culture,technology, and the role of women changed throughout the years in 1950. Although the 1950’s were pretty much known for the greaser styles, doo wap music and breakthrough advertisements styles and morals continue to be an inspiration. Women were submissive and expected to be the perfect housewives. They were expected to stay home, cook …show more content…
It was dominating the communication industry. The average American watched about 6 hours of tv a day. The Howdy Doody show and the Mickey Mouse Club were popular kid shows where kids sang and danced on the show. I Love Lucy was the most watched show in the 50’s by adults. Leave It To Beaver was also a popular show which brought up issues of troubled teens for example, alcoholism and divorce. There was a decrease in theater attendance. It was more convenient to just watch tv at home than to go to the theater. Singing in the Rain, 12 Angry Men, and the Bridge on the River Kwai were on the top of the movie list. Hula Hoops were a favorite of children. 20 million were sold in the first 6 months of production. Within 2 years over 100 million were sold. Another popular toy was Mr.Potato Head. It was the first toy to be advertised on television. But Barbie was the most legendary toy. Other toys included Silly Putty and toy cars. But the most important part of American lifestyle was music. Adults preferred jazz such as The Weavers, Teresa Brewer, and Tony Bennett. Rock and Roll was the most popular though. Teens flooded record selling stars purchasing over 70 percent of all rock and roll records. It turned Rock and Roll idols into overnight millionaires. One very common Rock and Roll artist was Elvis Presley. Who sold more than one million copies of his album. His top records were Don't Be Cruel and Blue Suede Shoes.