1. The world of The Outsiders
1960’s America
The world of The Outsiders

2. General Setting
The Outsiders presumably takes place in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where S.E. Hinton grew up.
We mostly see the east side of the city, from the perspective of the Greasers.

3. Tulsa , Oklahoma USA

4. Tulsa , Oklahoma

5. Guys’ Fashion Madras Shirts Hair Grease
During the time period of the novel, Soc “types” would wear madras shirts and khakis. You can see an example of typical clothing below.
Madras Shirts
James Dean embodied the cultivated Greaser image. Leather jacket, jeans, white t-shirt and boots were typical of boys who emulated the free and uncontrolled lifestyle Dean seemed to live.
Hair Grease

6. Girls’ Fashions

7. Music

8. Movies

9. Actors Paul Newman John Wayne Doris Day Liz Taylor Sidney Poitier
Jane Fonda
Jerry Lewis

10. Technology

11. Phones for six year olds
Now

12. Phones for six year olds
Then…

13. Phones when my grandparents were kids

14. BASIC Programming Language First Commercial Satellite First LED lights Direct Distance Dialing

15. Drive-ins
Watching movies at the drive-in theatre was a popular thing to do, especially for teenagers.
The car culture was a big part of society.
You’ll notice that cars are often mentioned in the novel.

16. T.V. 1966 Get Smart Batman The Andy Griffith The Monkees Show
I Dream of Jeannie
Get Smart
Batman
The
Andy
Griffith
Show
The Monkees
Ponderosa
Star
Trek

17. Sports…just sayin’

18. Cars
Here are two cars and a gas station that are mentioned in the novel.
Chevy Corvair
1965 Ford Mustang
DX Gas Station

19. Drive-in Restaurants
These restaurants were a typical place to take a date. They were also where gangs hung out.

20. The American Dream
Happiness for the characters of The Outsiders was a girl, a car, some money, a strong group of friends, and probably an ice-cold bottle of soda.
How much has changed?