The 1950’s
Actresses
• “Marilyn Monroe”
Real name- Norma
Jean Baker
• Appeared in
– Some Like It Hot
– Gentlemen Prefer
Blondes
– Niagara
– Seven Year Itch
Actresses
• Elizabeth Taylor
• Appeared in
– A Place in the
Sun
– Cat on a Hot Tin
Roof
– Who’s Afraid of
Virginia Woolf.
Actors
• James Dean
• Appeared in
– Rebel Without A
Cause
– East of Eden
– Giant
Actors
• Marlon Brando
• Appeared in
– On The
Waterfront
– Guys and Dolls
– Julius Caesar
– The Wild One
Actors
• Paul Newman
• Appeared in
– Cat on a Hot Tin
Roof
– The Long, Hot
Summer
– The Rack
– Until They Sail
Early 50’s
• Wholesome artist with
sweet lyrics controlled
the charts.
• Feel good music set
the mood for post
WWII.
Birth of Rock and Roll
• Alan Freed was the
first DJ who played
black R&B and Rock
and Roll.
• Sam Phillips recorded
for anyone, any color,
anytime and
anywhere.
Alan Freed
Sam Phillips
The King
• Elvis the “pelvis”
started a musical
revolution.
• He is known as one of
the most famous
musicians of all time.
Musicians of the 50’s
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Little Richard
Johnny Cash
Buddy Holly's
Chuck Berry
"Fats" Domino
Jerry Lee Lewis
Frankie Avalon
Hairstyles
• No blow-dryers
were used to
create the 50’s hair
dos.
• Hair pins and hair
spray gave the
women the look
they wanted.
Hairstyles
• The very popular
Poodle cut was worn
by Lucy.
• Perms were also very
popular.
Teenage Hairstyles
• Strait hair was out
soft and curly was in.
• A ponytail with a
chiffon scarf was
worn to casual
events.
Men's Hairstyles
• A “duck tail” was
worn by the
“greasers” or
rebellious boys.
• Crew cuts and
Flat tops were
worn by teens.
• Adult men wore
clean, short hair.
Make-Up
• Peaches and cream
• Narrowed eyebrows
• Natural
blush/Natural eye
shadow
• During the night with
eyeliner and red
lipstick
Historical Events
• Creation of the Hydrogen Bomb
• Korean War
• Selective Service Bill lowers draft age
to 18 ½.
• Julius and Ethel Rosenberg are
executed for stealing A-bomb secrets.
• Eisenhower elected President
Historical Events
• Brown vs. the Board of Education
rules that segregation is illegal.
• Rosa Parks won’t give up her seat
on the bus.
• Montgomery Bus Boycott
• US Surgeon General reports link
between cigarettes and lung cancer.
Historical Events
• 1,000 army paratroopers called in by
Eisenhower to ensure the integration of
Central High School.
• Soviets launch Sputnik 1. First manmade
satellite.
• Schools start to become privatized in order
to avoid enrolling blacks.
• Alaska and Hawaii become 49th and 50th
State.
Popular Activities
• Lego
• Barbie
• Hula Hoops
• Roller Skating
More Popular Activities
• Watching Sporting Games
• Playing Board Games
• Playing Outside
• Watching T.V.
• Silly Putty
• Matchbox Cars
• Cards
Arnold Palmer
• Sports first
television hero.
Charles
Sifford
•
1st Black golfer to
win PGA
sponsored event.
Ben Hogan
• First Black woman in National
Tennis tournament.
• “Golfer of the year”
• Won US Open after near fatal car
crash.
Althea Gibson
Ted Williams
• Played for
Boston Red
Sox
• Baseball’s
highest paid
player$125,000.
Popular T.V.
Shows
I Love Lucy
The Most Popular
Dick Clark
•
•
•
•
•
Leave It To Beaver
The Lone Ranger
American Bandstand
The Honeymooners
Superman
Kids Shows
• Mickey Mouse Club
• Lassie
• Howdy Doody
Fashion
Women
• Women were
groomed and
tailored, and wore
heels and gloves.
• Swing skirts and
pencil cut style
dresses with
girdles.
• Peter pan collars.
Shorts and Pants
Men’s Fashion
• Gray flannel suits/with
hats
• Cowboy shirts
• Plaid shirts
Female Teen Fashion
• Saddle shoes
• They wore dresses
everyday
• Jumpers with blouses
• Sailor outfits
• Poodle skirts
Male Teen Fashion
• Preps wore cardigan
sweaters or
letterman's jackets.
• “Greasers” wore white
t-shirts, blue jeans,
and black jackets.
Political Events
• President Truman orders to
develop the hydrogen
bomb.
• Senator McCarthy
launches a crusade to rout
out communism in
America. “McCarthyism” is
born.
• Korean War begins.
• The first usable electricity
from nuclear fission is
produced.
Inventions
• First Copy Machine
• Paper Mate- First
Leak Free Ball
Point Pen
• Solar Powered
Wrist Watch
• Play-Doh
• Television
• Disposable Diapers
Inventions
• First Plastic Coke
Bottle
• Sputnik 1
• Pantyhose
• First Convention
Microwave oven
• UPC
• Polio Vaccine
• Liquid Paper
Cars
• Corvette
• Thunderbird
Disneyland
• Disneyland opened
on July 17, 1955.
• It had 18 major
attractions.
McDonald’s Opens
Drive-Ins & Drive-Thrus
People really enjoyed drive-ins because you
could put the kids in their pajamas and spend a
cool summer evening at the drive-in, rather than
heading for the city and a stuffy indoor theatre.