A little bit of story

 

After World War II ended our society compelled us to reconsider our values and attitudes. As a result, the lifestyle that we used to have before the war took a dramatic turn when the war was over.

A lot of changes came with this twist in the story like political changes or the family values, but now let´s just focus on one question: What was it like being a teenager in 1950?

Being a teenager in the 50`s

Before the War teenage boys used to go to the military or they had to look for a job to support their families. Teenage girls used to think about taking care of the household and the marriage.

 But this changed in the 50´s.  Teenagers became more rebellious and independent.

The war had just ended but the world didn´t felt safe, so they had to create a safe, secure, calm and orderly community in which a lot of post-war Americans could start a family. So in that moment the people had a lot to do,  teenagers were´nt the most important thing, so in one way teens were marginalized by the adults, who didn't want to be bothered with the very different values of teenagers. Those felt left out, ignored, disenfranchised. What did they do? 

They started to heir music, but it was music that talked about them, like songs about high school, about relationships, about cars and parties. Those were sang by other teens. 

They wanted some recognition of their generation, and when it came they took advantage of it. They started to build their new generation, they created their own image and style. 

So we have seen that these generation had a lot of special characteristics. Let´s see more about them.

50´s Slang

We can think that maybe Holdan is so desperate to talk with somebody that he want to attract attention and he create his own words, his own language, but no. Holdan lived in the 50´s and at that time they had a different slang. Maybe it is hard to us to try to understand why did people used to talk with words like "phony", it sounds like "phone"; but every era, every generation have their own slang, for example, today we use words (If we can call them words) like "yolo" or "lol". If a teenager from the 50´s hear that he would probably think that we are speaking another language. But these are not the 50´s, this is the future and we were tired of writing an extra letter in the word "babe" when we can just write "bae", it is more useful :) :) :) 

Slang is a essential for all teens, no matter where they live or what era we are talking about. Words come in and out all the time. But one of the main characteristics of the 50s slang was that they added "ville" to many of their words, for example coolsville or deadsville. These is an example of what people can do with the words, and what teenagers did in the 50s with the english. 

Here we have a list of some slangs that were used in the 50s by teens: 

• Going Ape - to explode or be really mad
• Are you writing a book? - You're asking too many questions
• Bad news - Depressing person
• Blast - A good time
• Boss - Great
• Square - A regular, normal person
• Nerd - Bill Gates without the money
• No sweat - No problem
• Passion Pit - Drive-in movie theater
• What's buzzin, cuzzin - What's new?
• Wail - Go fast
• Tank - A large sedan - usually driven by parents or older people
• Threads - Clothes
• Unreal - unbelievable
• Wazoo - Your rear end
• Cookin' - Doing it well
• Spaz - Someone who is uncoordinated
• Royal shaft - Badly or unfairly treated
• Righto - Okay
• Tear ass - Drive very fast
• Radioactive - Very popular
• Pound - Beat up
• Cloud 9 - Really happy
• Cat - A hip person
• Bread - Money
• Cool it - Relax, settle down
• Bash - Great party
• Bobbed - Shortened (as in haircut)
• Greaser - A guy with tons of grease in his hair. Later this was used to describe an entire group of people (think Fonzie)
• Cranked - Excited
• Crazy - "Like crazy,man". Implies an especially good thing
• Dig - To understand and approve
• Fat City - Happy
• Flick - A movie
• Hang - As in "hang out" which means not doing much
• Heat - The Police
• Hip - Someone who is cool
• Later, gator - Goodbye
• Like crazy - Really good
• Make out - A kissing session

 50´s fashion 

Teenagers were ignored by department stores and were expected to dress like their parents. They had the money to buy it because since teens no longer had to work in order to help their parents; they began to take part-time jobs or they would receive a monthly allowance in order to spend on non-essential things such as clothes, but the trends in that moment were ugly for teens, they wanted something different, something revolutionary.

Teens were strongly influenced by film, television, magazines and persuaded to use their money, and the society convinced them that the clothes were something that they needed.

These single young people with cash from paid work soon had their own fashions, own music, own cafes, own milk bars and by the end of the decade even their own transport in the form of fuelled scooters. Teenagers suddenly dominated style in clothes, haircuts and even travel abroad. A generation gap began to emerge.

The important thing is that people were beginning to feel a little more freedom when it came to their fashion choices. No longer did people feel like they had to conform to a certain look for certain situations.

American influence on European teenagers was huge. Rock and Roll idols including Elvis Presley, Bill Hayley, Jerry Lee Lewis and film stars James Dean and Marlon Brando set fashions almost unwittingly. The main looks for teenagers were greasers and preppies.

Pat Boone and Frankie Avalon inspired the conservative preppy look for boys, with sweater vests and suede shoes (also made famous by Elvis Presley). Lucille Ball, Annette Funicello and Connie Francis inspired high-waisted, full skirts and backwards cardigans, while Marilyn Monroe pushed cultural boundaries with her sexy versions of conservative classics.

Greasers followed the standard black leather and denim jeans look set by Marlon Brando in "The Wild One" in 1953 and later emulated in the 1978 film called "Grease". They raced about town on motorbikes and were consider scandalous.

Typical Teen Girl Attire

Teen girls in the 1950s often wore petticoats under gathered skirts with cardigan sweaters. It was common to wear cardigans backwards so the buttons were not visible from the front. They wore bobby socks and saddle shoes or, for the more grownup teens, stockings and modest low heels. For casual situations, teen girls wore pedal pushers or dungarees rolled up to mid-calf with ballet flats, according to Head Over Heels History. Teen girls wore full dirndl or circular skirts with large appliqués on their clothing. Neat pleated skirts were also popular.   The pleated skirts were made from a then new fabric called Terylene (polyester) which helped maintain razor sharp sunray pleating.

The skirts were supported by bouffant paper nylon or net petticoats. On top, teens wore scoop neck blouses, back to front cardigans, tight polo necks or three quarter sleeve white fitting shirts often with a scarf knotted cowboy fashion at the side neck. These teen clothing fashions that originated in America, filtered to Britain in watered down fashion.

 Typical Teen Boy Attire

Most teen boys in the 1950s dressed in preppy styles with cardigan sweaters, button-down shirts and thin ties. The pullover sweater vest was a popular item. The rebels, inspired by their film idols, wore dungarees, T-shirts and black leather jackets. The “Teddy Boy” trend (Represented by the band the Stray Cats) involved single-breasted jackets worn long with velvet trim. Teddy Boys often wore their hair greased and swept back with long side burns.

Teddy Boys “appeared” in London’s East End in 1952. Just four years later the look had crept into every passage and street corner.

First, a Teddy Boy starts with carefully kept hair (called a “DA”) and long sideburns. He kept a comb on him at all times in case anything fell out of place.

Next, he dons a white poplin shirt (with Boston collar), and a shoestring tie. In between the long-sleeved single-breasted drape jacket and shirt was a flamboyant satin or Lurex waistcoat.

His pants were typically narrow cut, they were called “drainpipes”. The Teddy Boy finished off his outfit with a pair of suede shoes with thick soles (called “brothel creepers”) that covered brightly colored socks.

Here we have a video

                          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgZ650X6Ln8





Music

Today we hear our music on our phones, we have Spotify. In the 50´s it was a little different, firstly because they didn´t have all the technology that we have today, and also because of the type of music. Today we hear pop or “reggeton”, but in that moment the music meant a lot of things, the music showed how was the society and all the “problems” that they had.

 The 1950's were a time of changes and the music of the decade both reflected the cultural changes that were happening while still holding on to the social norms of the past. After the disturbing effects of World War II, the US was about to embark on a musical journey that would change the face of music for decades to come. Racial tensions were being strained with the beginning of the civil rights movement and music reflected many of those tensions. 

Rhythm & Blues (R&B) and Rock 'n' Roll popularized "black" music and many African-American musicians rose to prominence and enjoyed success, but while some were able to collect the benefits of their work, many others were forgotten or denied access to audiences through segregation. A lot of people believe that during the 50s many of the white artists stole music from African-Americans and capitalized on it for their own benefit in a way that the original artists could not. A perfect example of this happening is when Pat Boone was made to cover Little Richard's song "Tutti Frutti" and Boone's version topped higher on the charts, while considered by many to be the inferior version of the song. 

Others believe that the popularization of R&B and Rock 'n' Roll only helped to bridge the gap between blacks and whites and further the civil rights movement. While those genres paved the way for future music, traditional pop and country music clung to the past with old standards remaining popular and a multitude of covers topping the charts. Either way, this decade was a time of innovation that helped to influence everything that we listen to on the radio today.

Rock 'N' Roll

The 1950's saw the emergence and rise of Rock 'n' Roll and Rockabilly. Carl Perkins was one of the pioneers in the creation of rock music and his style is often referred to as "Rockabilly" because it sounds like a combination of country and R&B music with rock influences. Some artists that were popular in the rockabilly genre were Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis and Gene Vincent. Perkins wrote and recorded his chart-topping hit "Blue Suede Shoes" in 1955 and the song was then covered by Elvis Presley and enjoyed even more success. 

Elvis Presley is thought to be the "King of Rock 'n' Roll" by many. He get famous after beginning a professional relationship with Sam Phillips - a studio owner who wanted to market "black music" to white audiences. Elvis was more successful in this  effort than any other artist of the time and he  characterized the Rock 'n' Roll style and teenage rebellion of the 1950's. One incident that best exemplifies these qualities in Elvis was his controversial performance with hip gyrations on the Milton Berle Show in 1956, a performance that shocked the conservative sensibilities of adults during the time but drew in the youth as his performance on the Ed Sullivan Show only a few weeks later drew in nearly eighty-percent of the television viewing audience. 

While Elvis is largely responsible for the popularization of rock music, it is important to remember the original African-American artists who created the genre and were pushed out of the rock scene like Little Richard, Chuck Berry, The Coasters, Chubby Checker, Fats Domino and the many others who were not afforded the opportunity to even record their music. 

Traditional Pop and Standards

Traditional Pop music of the 1950's refers to the music that was popular before the rock and roll music came into the the principal music in the middle of the fifties, it also refers to music that was popular at the same time as the beginning of rock and roll music during the rest of the decade but remained largely free of rock influences. Some examples of traditional pop artists who were popular during the decade were Perry Como, Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole, Patti Page and Dean Martin. Often the most popular musicians in this genre translated well in television as they would sometimes have their own television variety shows or music specials. 



































They sang a lot of original material, but a lot of their most popular hits were American standards, or songs that had been released many years previously but were already well known by the public. Most songs in this genre could be classified as being simple and melodic with catchy lyrics. Many of the traditional pop artists of the 1950's were interpreters of pop standards who would take the old well-known songs and put their own individual style into it. Some of the most popular interpreters were Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, and Doris Day. This genre was greatly influenced by jazz, swing and big band. 

 Country

Johnny Cash and Hank Williams defined the Country and Western style of music during this decade. Cash’s music was more of a country sound with a rockabilly influence and his songs often centered around a certain theme, including life and relationships. He also strived to integrate humor into his lyrics to make his collection well-rounded and respected by a variety of audiences. Because of his compassion for his fellow human being, he performed many times for inmates in several prisons across the country and his most famous performances resulted from Folsom Prison. In similar musical style, Hank Williams was a prominent singer and songwriter of the decade. 

He continues to be a country music icon and helped to popularize the Honky Tonk style of country music, characterized by the piano and ragtime sound combined with country and rockabilly harmonies. His most popular songs, including “Hey Good Lookin’” and “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” have come to define the country style of the 1950s. He also helped to create the Outlaw Country genre – a style which included songs about spirituality and rowdy times. Other country artists also began their careers in the 1950s but did not reach the height of their success until the next decade, like Patsy Cline and Conway Twitty. Country music also served as catch-all genre where many artists, like Connie Francis, Frankie Laine, and Pat Boone, might record one or two singles with a country influence but would remain largely producers of traditional pop music during the decade. 

 Rhythm and Blues

Rhythm and Blues emerged from the jazz music of the 1940's and it came to be a term for blues music that was a little more upbeat. Rhythm and Blues of the fifties combined jazz, doo-wop, blues, and gospel to create a unique sound during the decade. Many R&B artists of the decade were originators of rock music and a lot of the songs that came out of the fifties in the rhythm and blues genre are one in the same with the rock 'n' roll genre. A lot of the most popular songs of rock music enjoyed time on the R&B charts during the decade. Many African-American musicians who pioneered rock music were somewhat pushed into the category of R&B artists by music producers who were trying to make way for white rock 'n' rollers to capitalize on the new genre. This genre is largely populated by African-American musicians with many white artists and musical groups covering the original material and turning R&B songs into traditional pop songs with a more mainstream sound (like the Chordettes and the Crew-Cuts). Some of the most notable R&B artists of the decade include Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, Sam Cooke, The Drifters, The Platters, Ray Charles and Lloyd Price. 

We can see that the music reflects and shows a lot of the society and the generation. It is a way to express ourselves, to express what we feel and what we think. 



Here we have some lyrics of the most poplar songs of that moment: 

 Elvis Presley – Blue Suede Shoes Lyrics

 Well, it's one for the money

Two for the show
Three to get ready
Now go, cat, go

But don't you
Step on my blue suede shoes
You can do anything
But stay off of my blue suede shoes

Well, you can knock me down
Step in my face
Slander my name
All over the place

Do anything that you want to do
But uh-uh, honey
Lay off of my shoes
Don't you step on my blue suede shoes
Well, you can do anything
But stay off of my blue suede shoes

Let's go, cat!
Ah, walk the dog

You can burn my house
Steal my car
Drink my liquor
From an old fruit jar

Do anything that you want to do
But uh-uh, honey
Lay off of my shoes
And don't you
Step on my blue suede shoes
Well, you can do anything
But stay off of my blue suede shoes

Ah, get
Yeah

Well, it's one for the money
Two for the show
Three to get ready
Now go, cat, go!

But don't you
Step on my blue suede shoes
Well, you can do anything
But stay off of my blue suede shoes

Well, it's
Blue, blue
Blue suede shoes
Blue, blue
Blue suede shoes, yeah!
Blue, blue
Blue, suede shoes, baby
Blue, blue
Blue suede shoes
Well, you can do anything
But stay off of my blue suede shoes!

 Little Richard - Tutti Frutti Lyrics

Wop bop a loo bop a lop bom bom!

Tutti frutti, oh rutti
Tutti frutti, oh rutti
Tutti frutti, oh rutti
Tutti frutti, oh rutti
Tutti frutti, oh rutti
Wop bop a loo bop a lop ba ba!

I got a gal, named Sue, she knows just what to do
I got a gal, named Sue, she knows just what to do
She rock to the East, she rock to the West
She is the gal that I love best

Tutti frutti, oh rutti
Tutti frutti, oh rutti, ooh
Tutti frutti, oh rutti
Tutti frutti, oh rutti
Tutti frutti, oh rutti
Wop bop a loo bop a lop bom bom!

I got a gal, named Daisy, she almost drives me crazy
Got a gal, named Daisy, she almost drives me crazy
She knows how to love me, yes indeed
Boy you don't know what she do to me

Tutti frutti, oh rutti
Tutti frutti, oh rutti, ooh
Tutti frutti, oh rutti
Tutti frutti, oh rutti
Tutti frutti, oh rutti
Wop bop a loo bop!

Oh tutti frutti, oh rutti
Tutti frutti, oh rutti, ooh
Tutti frutti, oh rutti
Tutti frutti, oh rutti
Tutti frutti, oh rutti
Wop bop a loo bop a lop bom bom!

I got a gal, named Daisy, she almost drive me crazy
Got a gal, named Daisy, she almost drive me crazy
She knows how to love me, yes indeed,
Boy you don't know what she do to me

Tutti frutti, oh rutti
Tutti frutti, oh rutti
Tutti frutti, oh rutti
Tutti frutti, oh rutti
Tutti frutti, oh rutti
Wop bop a loo bop a lop bam boom!

 How much did an average person earn per month?  What was the income for people like Holden's parents?  

The 1950s were a time of great prosperity and economic growth in the United States. Today, looking at the decade objectively, we realize it wasn’t quite the post-war utopia portrayed in the media of the day or the nostalgic recreations since. Nonetheless, many look back fondly on what they view as a simpler time. One thing a lot of folks envy from that time is the cost of living.

  

The average family income:        $3,300

The average car cost:                     $1,510

The median home price:               $7,354

If you were to live like someone in the 1950s, you could live fairly comfortably. Indeed, by mid-twentieth century standards you’d be well-off, even with a modest income.

  

Here's what the cost of living was in 1950:

Living:
New House $8,450.00
Average Income $3,216.00 per year
New Car $1,511.00
Average Rent $75.00
Movie Ticket $0.65 each
Gasoline $0.18 per gallon
U.S. Postage Stamp $0.03 each


Food:
Granulated Sugar $0.85 for 10 pounds
Vitamin D Milk $0.84 per gallon
Ground Coffee $0.70 per pound
Bacon $0.50 per pound
Eggs $0.24 per dozen
Fresh Ground Hamburger $0.49 per pound
Fresh Baked Bread $0.17 per loaf

Interesting facts --> How americans spend their money 

Sources: 

http://nostalgiacafe.proboards.com/thread/264/1950s-everyday-life
http://es.slideshare.net/guest3bd2a12/back-to-the-1950s-presentation

https://socialdance.stanford.edu/Syllabi/fifties.htm

https://www.lsrhs.net/departments/history/ShenM/Site/20th_classwork,_handouts_files/1950s%20Slang.htm

http://www.rockin-teen-parties.com/1950sslang.html

http://www.retrowaste.com/1950s/fashion-in-the-1950s/1950s-fashion-for-teens-styles-trends-pictures/
http://www.retrowaste.com/1950s/fashion-in-the-1950s/
http://www.retrowaste.com/1950s/fashion-in-the-1950s/1950s-teddy-boys-style-trends-history-pictures/
http://fiftiesweb.com/fashion/1950s-teen-clothes/
https://crandall1950syoungculture.wordpress.com/fashion/
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