In 1954, what was the #1 hit song and who sang it?
195
1954 Billboard Top 10 Hits
1954
Nov. 21, 1953 - Jan. 1
Jan. 2 - Feb. 26
Feb. 27 - Mar. 12
Mar. 13 - Mar. 19
Mar. 20 - Mar. 26
Ma. 27 - Apr. 9
Apr. 10 - May 28
May 29 - Aug. 6
Aug. 7 - Sept. 24
Sept. 25 - Nov. 5
Nov. 6 - Nov. 12
Nove. 13 - Dec. 3
Dec. 4, - Jan. 21, 1955
Rags To Riches
Oh My Papa
Secret Love
Make Love To Me
Secret Love
Make Love To Me
Wanted
Little Things Mean A Lot
Sh-Boom
Hey There
This Ole House
I Need You Now
Mr. Sandman
little things mean a lot / kitty kallen
Tony Bennett
Eddie Fisher
Doris Day
Jo Stafford
Doris Day
Jo Stafford
Perry Como
Kitty Kallen
Crew-Cuts
Rosemary Clooney
Rosemary Clooney
Eddie Fisher
The Chordettes
What was the price of a 1952 Cadillac Coupe de Ville?
Model
Number
Body
Style
Doors
Model
Seating
Factory
Price
Shipping
Weight
Producti
on Total
52-62
6219
4-door
Sedan
5
3636
4151
42,625
52-62
6237
2-door
Club
Coupe
5
3542
4174
10,065
52-62
-
6237DX
Coupe
DeVille
5
3962
4205
11,165
6267X
Converti
ble
Coupe
5
4110
4419
6,400
52-62
-
What hit TV show portrayed the events of women named “Lucy” and “Ethel”
often getting into trouble?
Lucy and Ethel Chocolate Factory
List 3 popular slang words from the 1950’s.
The Top 15 Slang Words for the 50’s
1. Made in the Shade – This 1950’s slang term was used to describe something or someone that was guaranteed to be or is a success. I.e. “Did you hear
that Danny got into Yale? He’s got is made in the shade, man.
”
2. Peepers – A slang word used to describe glasses in the 1950’s. I.e. “Hey, take a look at that nerd with those massive peepers on his face
3. Split – This 50’s slang word was used in reference to leaving a place, often very quickly. I.e. “I’m bored, let’s split!”
4. Threads – This is a descriptive slang word used in reference to a person’s clothing. I.e. “Those are some cool threads you’ve got on, man.”
5. Burn Rubber – The 50’s slang term was used when talking about accelerating a car hard and fast, often used in relation to “hot rodders” of the
time. I.e “Let’s burn rubber and show them what this hot rod can really do
6. Hot Rod – Used to as a descriptive term for typically American made muscle cars that were modified with large engines for linear speed with
usually a very flashy exterior. I.e. “Did you see that new hot rod, Johnny brought to the dance? It was unreal!”
7. Get Bent! – This 1950’s slang term was used when someone wanted to tell someone off or to go away. I.e. “Johnny, get bent! I’m over you!”
8. No Sweat – Slang term used to explain that something was no problem or easy. I.e. “I fixed that leaky faucet for you, it was no sweat.”
9. Nosebleed – The 50’s slang word was used to address or reference someone in a disparaging way, usually a nerd, geek, etc. “Hey nosebleed, watch
where you’re going next time, huh?”
10. Pad – Used to reference a person’s home. I.e. “This is a nice pad you’ve got here, Johnny.”
11. Righto – This slang word was used when someone wanted to agreed with another person. I.e. “You want to take out the trash? Righto, mom.”
12. Greaser – Originally used to describe a guy with tons of hair product in his hair, but within a few years it was used to describe a certain group of
1950’s youth. I.e. “John Travolta in Grease was the ultimate greaser, don’t you think?”
13. Heat – The 50’s slang word was used to describe police, usually by the younger crowd or the less savory subset of society. I.e. “I think that’s the
heat, man, let’s split!”
14. Kook/Kookie – This was a slang word used to describe someone who was odd, weird, nuts, crazy, etc. I.e. “Did you see that guy wearing the tin foil
hat, he’s such as kook!”
15. Ankle-biter – This term was used to describe a young child who was often found crawling around on the floor at around ankle height. I.e. “That little
ankle-biter of yours is really cute.”
What 3 celebrities died in what is known as “The Day the Music Died”? What
day did this occur on? What famous song interprets this event?
Don McLean- American Pie (with Lyrics)
Feb. 3 , 1959
What prominent doctor was known best for his books and ideas about child
care / child raising in the 1950’s?
Benjamin Spock
Spock was the first pediatrician to study psychoanalysis
to try to understand children's needs and family
dynamics. His ideas about childcare influenced several
generations of parents to be more flexible and
affectionate with their children, and to treat them as
individuals, whereas the previous conventional wisdom
had been that child rearing should focus on building
discipline, and that, e.g., babies should not be "spoiled"
by picking them up when they cried.
List 3 developments / inventions that occurred in the 1950’s?
1951-UNIVAC 1 First commercial computer.
Super glue invented.
1953-Francis Crick and James Watson discover
the ``double helix'' of DNA. Dr. Jonas Salk
announces discovery of the vaccine for
poliomyelitis. TV color broadcasting began.
1952- Mr. Potato Head
patented. Sony, a
brand new Japanese
company, introduces
the first pocket-sized
transistor radio
1955- The first home microwave ovens are
manufactured by Tappan. They cost $1300
which really slows sales!
1954- Oral contraceptives invented.
1956- The first computer hard disk used.
The first commercial videotape recorder is
introduced.
1957- Velcro is patented by George de Mestral
of Switzerland. Eveready produces "AA" size
alkaline batteries
1958-The Hula Hoop invented by Richard
Knerr and Arthur "Spud" Melin.
1959-The Barbie Doll was invented.
What kind of hairstyle can be linked with the term “greasers”?
The Platters, 1950s, with variations of the crew cut and ivy league
Pompadour Hairstyle
Duck’s Tail Hairstyle
What fast food franchise first opened in 1955?
Ray Kroc opened his first restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois (near Chicago), and the
McDonald's Corporation was created
Ray Kroc Documentary McDonalds History
Who were Able and Baker?
Monkey Able is shown being released from its
life support capsule after a ride through
space.
1959: Space monkeys (Universal News)
Able and Baker were launched into space on May 28, 1959 in the nose cone of JUPITER
Missile AM-18. They reached an altitude of 300 miles and a distance of 1500 miles while
travelling at speeds over 10,000 miles per hour on their brief trip into space. They
successfully withstood forces 38 times the normal pull of gravity on earth and were
weightless for approximately 9 minutes. This mission marked the first successful recovery
of living beings after their return from space.
What was the Payola Scandal?
On January 25, 1960…the National Association of Broadcasters proposed that radio disc jockeys
accepting payment from record labels for broadcasting particular songs would be charged a $500 fine
and spend a year in prison. The practice, known as payola, had provoked an extensive investigation by
the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) .
The first court case involving payola was in 1960. On May 9, Alan Freed was indicted for accepting
$2,500 which he claimed was a token of gratitude and did not affect airplay. He paid a small fine and
was released. His career faltered and in 1965 he drank himself to death.
Disk jockey Alan Freed is widely credited with coining the term “rock and roll” to describe
the uptempo black R&B records he played as early as 1951 on Cleveland radio station WJW.
Who in March 1958 became known by the number 53310761?
Elvis Presley is inducted into the U.S. Army at the Memphis Draft Board and is
assigned serial number 53310761.
Elvis Presley - G.I. Blues (new edit) 1960
Review Quiz
1. Dr. Jonas Salk developed a vaccine for what crippling disease?
2. Who paid $2.7 million for the franchise rights to McDonalds restaurant?
3. What was the No. 1 situational comedy of the 1950’s?
4. What happened on Feb. 3, 1959?
5. Over 19,000,000 copies of this book was sold in the 1950’s?
6. What kind of hairstyle can be linked with the term “greasers”?
7. What happened every 7 seconds in 1957?
8. What Cleveland, OH, disc jockey was indicted for accepting bribes to play particular
songs on the radio? What was this scandal called?
9. What was the significance of the Able and Baker space mission?
10. What happened to Elvis Presley in March, 1958?