1. Pop Culture & the American Dream of the 1950s How does pop culture influence the “American Dream”?

2. American Business As economy grew in the 50s more people move into higher- paying white collar professions (managers, sales, clerical) Corporations expand buying other companies, creating conglomerates that paid well but promoted “sameness” Another new business strategy was the franchise Businesses did not promote creativity or “rocking the boat” Ray Croc who bought McDonalds & franchised out the business and used simple “assembly line method for restaurants

3. American Consumerism 1950s saw major spending spree in America, as new products were introduced: televisions, hi-fi stereos, dishwashers Advertising increases in 50s becomes $6 billion industry In addition to store credit, banks began issuing credit cards to make it easier to buy new products In addition to new products, businesses also used planned obsolescence (don’t last as long so you buy a new model)

4. Life in Suburban America Middle-class whites leave the cities, go to suburbs “white flight” In the suburbs, Americans enjoyed shopping malls, bowling, reading books and watching television https://www.yout ube.com/watch?v =oay9VxFVFmE Although women working outside of the home increases, 1950s television glorifies women as homemakers https://www. youtube.co m/watch?v= gvYZ3gpZ MpY

5. The Baby Boom A huge population explosion begins in the late 1940s and 1950s called the Baby Boom (4.3 miilion per year at its height) New developments in medicine include Dr. Jonas Salk’s polio vaccine Dr. Benjamin Spock writes best-selling book on child care Day care centers and new schools are built to deal with the increasing “baby boom” population

6. Automania Due to suburban living, advertising, and easy credit a car culture known as “Automania” is born Drive-up/in restaurants and movie theatres become popular Eisenhower & Congress approve Interstate Hwy allowing quick transportation, high-speed trucking, and further hurt RRs Interstate also allows people ability to flock to vacation spots like lakes, beaches and amusement parks like Disneyland

7. Entertainment of the 50s Hollywood introduces 3-D films and 50% of films are in color However, television is the biggest form of entertainment, 500 new TV stations and 95% increase in sales of TVs Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is formed to regulate broadcast mediums Popular TV shows include Honeymooners, I Love Lucy, Leave it to Beaver, Mickey Mouse Club & Howdy Doody http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZ8IBQ0MNKs&safe=active http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NPzLBSBzPI&safe=active https://w ww.youtu be.com/ watch?v =DIslhp9 vqqw

8. Quiz shows like Twenty-One, Tic-Tac-Dough and Jeopardy were hugely successful Invention of TV Guide & TV Dinners make viewing easier https://www.youtub e.com/watch?v=49 Qn38WdTTs However, a quiz show scandal broke in 1958 when it was revealed contestants on Twenty-One got answer in advance

9. Teenage Consumerism Many businesses begin gearing products towards teenagers, since they spent millions on products, movies & food Comic books, hygiene products, soft drinks, and fashion were marketed to teenagers Beat movement centered in San Francisco & Greenwich Village, NY focused on those who didn’t follow mainstream conformity The Beatniks Beatnicks read poetry in coffee houses, practiced Zen Buddhism, experimented w/ drugs & saw themselves as “counter-culture ”

10. Rock ‘N Roll Bill Haley, Richard Penniman, Chuck Berry are some of biggest artists of the decade Elvis Presley brings Rock ‘n Roll into the mainstream Popularized by teenagers of the 1950s, Rock ‘N’ Roll records made millions & artists were watched on American Bandstand https://www.yout ube.com/watch? v=ZgdufzXvjqw https:// www.y outube.com/w atch?v =6RO wVrF0 Ceg https://w ww.youtu be.com/w atch?v=s GZm7EO amWk