Gee Whiz Wally, what happened to the 50’s

Looking back a history, it seems as the 1950’s was an age of utopian bliss.

With multi- colored ranch style homes set in a Garden of Eden surrounding, filled with June Cleavers “Leave it to Beaver” and Jim Anderson as “Father Knows Best” families. The Norman Rockwell’s of that generation painted lovable, humorous, attractive families, which were America’s idea of the only way of life. This subtle portrayal of heavenly domestic existence gave people of that age the drive and backbone to strive for a better life. Radio and television had the same message and with their point of views and desire to touch the people of American with the same subliminal message of nirvana.

However, like generations before, there were struggles. Smaller struggles, but still struggles. Things like juvenile delinquents running amuck. Or communist propaganda being pushed on college campuses, and the first oral contraceptive was invented.

The 50’s generation seemed to be a restless one, and this moving generation waited on nothing. They moved from small country settings to city life and by 1960 there was 1/3 of the U.S. was living the suburban fantasy. Most people seemed satisfied with their way of life, but others were uneasy with the way the world was changing so quickly.

The 50’s started the auto revolution. During this time, the number of cars in the U.S. nearly doubled from 39 million to 74 million. By 1960, 80% of American families had at least one car and 15% had two or more.President Eisenhower, even though he was fully against it, left a legacy of the Interstate Highway Systems.

It was said of him "the greatest public works program in the history of the world” was this undertaking. The new freeway system allowed the military to move more freely, it was known as the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways. It also allowed the U.S.

populace an easier way to evacuate in case of a Soviet crisis. The author, Lewis Mumford, predicted that Americans would be sorry for, "all the damage to our cities and our countryside.” He said, “Our national flower is the concrete clover.” I guess we should have listened to him.The auto industry opened a long run of successful doors for the culinary entrapanures. It provided businesses to offer food to the car owner and also opened up the door for Drive-in theaters.

It was becoming a McDonald’s generation and by 1959 at least 100 McDonalds restaurant had opened their doors. With burgers being only15cents, the business did extremely well. Along with the tide of fast food the car also brought the independence of young people. Teens worked part-time jobs, they were given pay for things they did around the house, parents made more money so they were able to give their children more money to spend on enjoyable things.

Teens began to hang out at drive-ins, roller-rinks, diners, and ice cream joints. But even with these innocent past times, parents worried that the youth of that age would be pulled into trouble and end up as a juvenile delinquent.Juvenile delinquency was a problem in that time, though small, it was still and issue. Fights among gang members, vandalism, and car theft were of focus. A play and several movies were written idolizing these youths.

“West Side Story,” and “Rebel without a Cause.” Fashion had changed drastically and teens of that generation adopted styles from the movies and began to wear, leather jackets, and have radical hairstyles, at least to the adults of those days. Needless to say, the movement of rebellion of that age did not overtake America.Racial involvement of black against white became highlights in the news.

Revolts of blacks standing up for their civil rights. This quickly evolved into the Civil Rights Movement and became a revolution that is still active today. One major incident took place with the ruling of Brown vs. Board of Education. When Governor Faubus posted troops around a school so that the nine African American students would not be able to attend classes. Many more came after that.

The world was now on fire for equal rights. When Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white woman the U.S. stood still.

This gave way to Montgomery Bus Boycott. Dr. Martin Luther King was elected to lead the Montgomery boycotts. From his speeches and participation he was catapulted into high standings within the black community. Being an advocate for non-violent behavior the SNCC evolved.

It inspired young black people to speak without fear and in non-violet ways. At the end of the 1950s, African Americans started to see equality for their race.Reaching the end of the Atomic Age, Nifty Fifties, or Baby Boomers as it was referred as, the U.S.

had seen a war end, our servicemen returning home, and American industry picking up. There was a shift to young men return to their normal routine and way of lives. People married and began families, and bought new homes. They also began buying goods which were only available to the military and created commercial growth and new jobs.

This flourishing group of Americans facilitated the nation to grow into a great place to live. There was now stability in the nation. Sadly, this was short lived, and by the time they hit the early 1960’ the era of the 50s disappeared. The generation of the unyielding, uptight socialites gave way to a larger personal freedom and mindset.

The new ideals of being free from social constraints of the previous generation were introduced. The 50’s way of thinking was now unconventional. They were now entering into the twilight zone, a zone of the hippy movement, of love, peace, drugs, and rock and roll. The world would never be the same.