Do You Remember The Fifties?

[jacksonbrown]

Our eating habits changed substantially during the 1950s.

In 1948, Campbell's introduced V-8 Juice. The same year, the McDonald brothers opened their first fast-food stand - McDonald's, offering a limited menu or burgers and fries, prepared quickly and offered at a low price.

Drive-ins of all types proliferated - eat fast; dine in your car; zoom off. We wanted everything right away - including our food.

In 1949, prepackaged cake mixes were introduced as a 'convenience' food.

Oreo cookies debuted the same year, satisfying (temporarily) America's sweet tooth.

In 1950, Minute Rice debuted. In 1951, a sugary breakfast cereal - Sugar Pops - was introduced.

Within a year, Sugar Smacks and Sugar Frosted Flakes debuted to further address the Nation's craving for sweets.

In 1949, Silly Putty debuted; over 30 million Silly Putty 'eggs' were sold over the next five years. Lego building blocks were introduced the same year. In 1952, Revell began producing plastic kits of model aircraft; model cars soon followed.

In 1956, 'The Steve Allen Show' and 'Playhouse 90' made their first appearances.

On August 5, 1957, 'American Bandstand' went coast-to-coast, having been a local Philadelphia show since late 1952 and hosted by Dick Clark since 1956.

In 1955, Alfred E. Neuman appeared on the cover of MAD magazine as a write-in candidate for President. His campaign slogan was: "What, Me Worry?

The Fifties (http://www.joesherlock.com/TheFifties1.html)

[manaboutown]

YES!!! I loved the fifties, the cars, drive-in movies, road trips on two lane highways through amazing local scenery, hanging out at the local swimming pool during summer, a slower pace of life. People were civil, better dressed and better spoken. Schools taught what we needed to know. People cooked and ate at home at the family dinner table.....aahhh the good old days!

Polio vaccines were developed. Penicillin became available. Interstate highways were being added to our road system.

Sputnik went up while I was in high school and led me to take a year of calculus and two years of Russian which had not been offered prior to that.

To my knowledge none of the kids in my high school smoked dope (yet).

[John41]

creamsickle, fudgesickle, PEZ, Lone Ranger, Subway Series baseball, captain video, howdy doody
wash windows and oil check free, 25 cent gas, WT Grant, dragnet, Texaco Hour, Dumont Television
poodle skirts, bobby socks, saddle strap shoes, bee hive hairdo and french twist, crome bumpers, tail fins, american bandstand, taps on shoes, easter bonnets, peg pants, your hit parade, Ed Sullivan show, duck tail haircuts for men, 78 rpm records,

[Topspinmo]

Our eating habits changed substantially during the 1950s.

In 1948, Campbell's introduced V-8 Juice. The same year, the McDonald brothers opened their first fast-food stand - McDonald's, offering a limited menu or burgers and fries, prepared quickly and offered at a low price.

Drive-ins of all types proliferated - eat fast; dine in your car; zoom off. We wanted everything right away - including our food.

In 1949, prepackaged cake mixes were introduced as a 'convenience' food.

Oreo cookies debuted the same year, satisfying (temporarily) America's sweet tooth.

In 1950, Minute Rice debuted. In 1951, a sugary breakfast cereal - Sugar Pops - was introduced.

Within a year, Sugar Smacks and Sugar Frosted Flakes debuted to further address the Nation's craving for sweets.

In 1949, Silly Putty debuted; over 30 million Silly Putty 'eggs' were sold over the next five years. Lego building blocks were introduced the same year. In 1952, Revell began producing plastic kits of model aircraft; model cars soon followed.

In 1956, 'The Steve Allen Show' and 'Playhouse 90' made their first appearances.

On August 5, 1957, 'American Bandstand' went coast-to-coast, having been a local Philadelphia show since late 1952 and hosted by Dick Clark since 1956.

In 1955, Alfred E. Neuman appeared on the cover of MAD magazine as a write-in candidate for President. His campaign slogan was: "What, Me Worry?

The Fifties (http://www.joesherlock.com/TheFifties1.html)

When I was kid I remember 1956 Ford crown Victoria starliner. Peacock blue and white with ABC interior, prettiest car I ever seen. And to top it off the thunderbird solid lifer engines made sound only matched by flathead V8 with glass packs. Triple black crown Vick’s wasn’t bad either. Something about black and Crome?

[vintageogauge]

No seat belts, no airbags, no power mowers for the average person, dad's still had razor strops that served two purposes, no government handouts per say, if you wanted to eat you worked, cigarettes, beer, and gasoline under a quarter, penny candy that actually tasted good, grease pits in service stations, free lollipops when you bought gas at some stations, beautiful looking cars, just to name a few things that were different.

[Topspinmo]

YES!!! I loved the fifties, the cars, drive-in movies, road trips on two lane highways through amazing local scenery, hanging out at the local swimming pool during summer, a slower pace of life. People were civil, better dressed and better spoken. Schools taught what we needed to know. People cooked and ate at home at the family dinner table.....aahhh the good old days!

Polio vaccines were developed. Penicillin became available. Interstate highways were being added to our road system.

Sputnik went up while I was in high school and led me to take a year of calculus and two years of Russian which had not been offered prior to that.

To my knowledge none of the kids in my high school smoked dope (yet).

But did they sniff airplane model glue or pull cap off Ethel and take whiff?

[billethkid]

No 24/7 media hysteria.
Most Americans for America!

[600th Photo Sq]

Our eating habits changed substantially during the 1950s.

In 1948, Campbell's introduced V-8 Juice. The same year, the McDonald brothers opened their first fast-food stand - McDonald's, offering a limited menu or burgers and fries, prepared quickly and offered at a low price.

Drive-ins of all types proliferated - eat fast; dine in your car; zoom off. We wanted everything right away - including our food.

In 1949, prepackaged cake mixes were introduced as a 'convenience' food.

Oreo cookies debuted the same year, satisfying (temporarily) America's sweet tooth.

In 1950, Minute Rice debuted. In 1951, a sugary breakfast cereal - Sugar Pops - was introduced.

Within a year, Sugar Smacks and Sugar Frosted Flakes debuted to further address the Nation's craving for sweets.

In 1949, Silly Putty debuted; over 30 million Silly Putty 'eggs' were sold over the next five years. Lego building blocks were introduced the same year. In 1952, Revell began producing plastic kits of model aircraft; model cars soon followed.

In 1956, 'The Steve Allen Show' and 'Playhouse 90' made their first appearances.

On August 5, 1957, 'American Bandstand' went coast-to-coast, having been a local Philadelphia show since late 1952 and hosted by Dick Clark since 1956.

In 1955, Alfred E. Neuman appeared on the cover of MAD magazine as a write-in candidate for President. His campaign slogan was: "What, Me Worry?

The Fifties (http://www.joesherlock.com/TheFifties1.html)

Sure I remember one of us ( Gang ) not really a gang, usually me would get a movie ticket and open the Exit Door.

Typically 6-8 guys and 2 girls would run in.

We never got caught. :)/B]

[manaboutown]

Statler Brothers - "Do you remember these?" YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puGQsQux80k)

[davem4616]

Eating out with your parents and siblings was a treat on a special occasion

you'd borrow dad's car on a Sunday, pull into a gas station, everyone chipped in and you'd ask for $2 worth of gasoline and drive around all day with your buddies

Drive in car hops....drive in movie theaters...A& W Root Beer...double dating

most of us had part time jobs to earn some cash to take our girlfriends out and when it snowed and school was cancelled if you didn't have a paper route, we all literally cleaned up shoveling out driveways and walkways in the neighborhood

no drugs, great music...fabulous high school proms....those were the days

we respected out teachers (even the jerks)

[600th Photo Sq]

Aside from my previous post, the singing groups... Hill Toppers, Four Lads, Crew Cuts, Four Freshmen, and the best for me, Four Aces w/ Al Albert the lead singer .

My Sweetheart Sharon H. our song Love is a Many Splendored Thing... yes and sent me a Dear John when I got sent overseas.

Yes she broke my heart.

It Happens to many. Years later I met her and well.

I am a very happy guy without Sharon H.

[Chi-Town]

Want to kill an hour? Check out this 50's cars and music link.

Classic Cars and Music of the 50`s - YouTube (https://youtu.be/r4shNwBE8Pg)

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

1950: the beginning of McCarthyism
1950: the beginning of the Korean War
1955: The Warsaw Pact signed to give the USSR military and political control over Central and Eastern Europe
1955: murder of Emmett Till
1959: Buddy Holly killed in an airplane crash

[Jmiller176]

Killjoy ������

[NotGolfer]

I remember the 50's of Sunday afternoon drives and stopping to visit family friends or relatives. Home-cooked meals from "scratch" (no processed items in the kitchen). Riding bikes all over the neighborhood or town without fear. Playing outside and knowing to go home when it was beginning to get dark. Being told "if you get in trouble at school or community...you'll be in trouble with us at home!" I remember respecting those in authority (no talking back neither). Being in awe when the 1st televisions were being purchased. Hardly anyone had automatic dishwashers or air-conditioning in their homes. People walked more to get to places rather than jumping in a car.

[caseycasebeer]

Goodness, I guess we ARE getting Old(er).
LSMFT ... Lucky Strike Means Fine Tobacco!
Green Stamps!
“... most doctors prefer Pall Mall”
One day ALL cars will have port holes(?) in their fenders! (Buick)
Butter(margarine) came in a bag and you had to add the yellow color by squeezing the little packet (my job)
Canvas water bag hung from the front of your car (If you were on a long trip) (we lived in Yuma...)
‘Ram air conditioning that used evaporative cooling in a device that hung in the passenger window opening.
Playing cards (or balloons) clipped to bike spokes.
Going 100mph with Dad in that ‘new (1952) Oldsmobile “Rocket 88.”
Having to go on a Sunday afternoon “drive” with Grandad&Grandmom in their Packard.
First time seeing Mom&Dad getting ready for the Marine Birthday Ball. (Wow!)(1952?)
Living in a WWII “quonset hut,” and Loving home!
Being amazed at the gigantic (3bdrm) home my folks bought in Orange (CA) for <$10,000!
My paper route selling the “Navy Times.” ($0.25/week?)
...having to ask customer’s to pay for their Navy Times each month.

Sometimes “remembering” can be fun/nostalgic ...and humbling.

[kendi]

Love hearing everyone’s stories. And impressed with all the facts you remember. I only experienced the last 6 months of the fifties which I don’t remember of course. The same year Alaska became a state, don’t think anyone’s mentioned that yet.

[manaboutown]

Love hearing everyone’s stories. And impressed with all the facts you remember. I only experienced the last 6 months of the fifties which I don’t remember of course. The same year Alaska became a state, don’t think anyone’s mentioned that yet.

And Hawaii became a state after Alaska did, later in 1959!

[omimom]

I remember Sundays the most. Getting "dressed" for church, Sunday afternoon dinner, many times with relatives. No stores were open. Parents and aunts and uncles playing cards on a weekend evening with cocktails. Hanging out with family in lawn chairs in the backyard. Getting ready for the start of the school week on Sunday night (bath tub) in time to watch Bonanza and Ed Sullivan. Playing cowboys and indians with the cowboys chasing the indians with toy guns or cops and robbers while running through everyone's yards on the street. Makes me kind of sad how things have changed. I guess that means we really are old.

[Scorpyo]

All I can remember is how expensive it was for me as a kid (born 1948) to play to play in the 50's. For instance, a 10 cent spalding. You could play outside (the Bronx) with it for days. How dare they charge 10 cents. Not like the inexpensive XBox of today. Also, kick the can. I'm sure that can was expensive to someone. Johnny on the pony - another super expensive thing. Stickball - how much did that mop handle cost? In the winter making a ball out of paper and playing in some hallway. There are many others but for me lastly, every Saturday morning the movie theater played multiple shows for kids, one after the other for a total charge of 5 cents. Abbott and Costello, etc. How dare they charge 5 cents for only 2 or 3 full length movies. Thinking back I was what 6, 7, or 8 going to a movies alone. The whole theater was filled with kids under 10. I wish my parents were here today. I'd sue them for child neglect.

[Patents111]

I remember going out with the family to get White Tower burgers-12 for a dollar, as I recall. They weren’t big, but, boy, were they ever good with a bit of ketchup.

[Scorpyo]

I remember going out with the family to get White Tower burgers-12 for a dollar, as I recall. They weren’t big, but, boy, were they ever good with a bit of ketchup.
White Castle. Try them now. Still tasty BUT given our aged digestive systems take a bunch of Tums with you.

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

Yes I also remember Korea ,segregation, unequal rights for women and you could be arrested and were in many states for having sex with a person of your own gender.

[Barborv]

I miss the automat. My favorite was the baked macaroni. The Good Humor man on his bicycle and when he would open that little freezer the smell of toasted coconut. Remember the thing on a stick and you would push up and it was sponge cake with whip cram. Was that called Charlotte Rouse?

[collector0915]

How about Davy Crockett on "Walt Disney Presents," the Spin and Marty serial on "Mickey Mouse Club," watching "Sergeant Preston of the Yukon," going to the Drive-In movie early to play on the playground equipment at the base of the screen, listening to weekly Top 20 countdowns on your transistor radio. Those were the days...………

[mjpuleo]

Those were the good ol' days!

[manaboutown]

I was born in 1942 so I remember when TV first came out. My dad's boss had one, must have had an 8" screen. lol. We watched football on it, one team of little fuzzy blobs against the other.

Howdy Doody was not my thing, but I enjoyed the after school weekday programs showing old westerns, Tom Mix, Hopalong Cassidy and of course Roy Rogers and Gene Autry. A kid I knew was the "sidekick" on the show and later on while in our teens we used to tease him a little about that. We were a little jealous, of course.

I had a gunbelt with two holsters hanging on it holding 44 Colt revolver style cap pistols. I think it was a Lone Ranger item. I also had a pump action Daisy BB gun which I dearly loved. My brother and I played cowboys and Indians for hours, often switching roles.

[Scorpyo]

I miss the automat. My favorite was the baked macaroni. The Good Humor man on his bicycle and when he would open that little freezer the smell of toasted coconut. Remember the thing on a stick and you would push up and it was sponge cake with whip cram. Was that called Charlotte Rouse?
Interesting - automat. My first job - busboy in Bickfords - 23rd street. Lied about my age (15) and used my brothers ID to get the job. Maybe I cleaned up after you. Still waiting for my tip.

[fdpaq0580]

Don't think anyone mentioned Smilin Ed McConnell and his Buster Brown gang (later became Andy's gang) with Froggie the gremlin and Midnight the cat. How about Crusader Rabbit and Rags the tiger? Anyone remember Time for Beanie? Or a spin-off Thunderbolt the Wonder colt?

Wow! Thanks! Now I really feel OLD. Guess I better go take my Geritol.

[Strongel]

I remember playing yokey with elastics, double Dutch skipping, keeping a bag of alleys and prized boulders, separated school yards for boys and girls, long walks to school, collecting soda bottles, walking everywhere, Sunday school, saying Sir and Miss, please and thank you. Oh, and bowling alleys with pin boys; the man with the pony you could sit on and get your photo. My sister got her pony photo but the man never returned and I still feel bad not getting my pony picture...������

[John_W]

I was in the 3rd & 4th grade when the Baltimore Colts won the 1958 and 1959 Championship. I thought that's what teams did every year. Then in the middle of the 4th grade right before Christmas my dad quit his job as a welder at Bendix Radio in Baltimore and we moved to St. Petersburg, florida. What a change. I went from a brand new school with air conditioning, a huge playground and a couple thousand students.

In St. Pete my elementary school only had 1 class of each grade 1 thru 6. The building was about 100 years old, no A/C and wood floors and all the windows were open everyday. Our playground was completely asphalt, besides kickball and tetherball, 4 square become mine and many others favorite sport. It's 4 boxes painted on the ground and you bounce a ball one time to any square until someone misses. We got so good, we played only using our feet. In the 6th grade I was one of only 2 Fire Marshalls, so one day a month me the other guy would mess around all day while we were checking fire extinguishers and exit lights, which took 10 minutes.

If anybody knows anything about big department stores, or Webb City. It was a department store in St. Pete that started as pharmacy by Doc Webb in the 1920's. By the 60's it was 4 buildings. The main building was 4 stories, with a cafeteria in the basement, it had a huge grocery store, a 120 seat lunch counter, a barber shop with 40 barbers, a beauty salon, there the trading posts which I use to buy gas for 19 cents a gallon and sporting goods, fishing and automotive. There was also Boat City and Furniture City, which was 7 stories. They were Walmart before Walmart but even bigger, this is a Webb City 35 cent haircut, I've got my Fire Marshall Belt.

https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/103310668_1646933208804538_1958533575586712482_n.j pg?_nc_cat=104&_nc_sid=8024bb&_nc_ohc=6lWeU9jekmkAX9sR5iU&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=156a7551c149ca7bfb842223623e8051&oe=5F07BBCC

If you ever go looking for the Old Webb City, they closed in the 80's and it was at 9th St. and 1st Ave South, not far from where Tropicana Field is now.

https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/32598557_1806113519411900_5616165163997593600_n.jp g?_nc_cat=100&_nc_sid=6e5ad9&_nc_ohc=JEFbOTsr2W8AX_vQKTC&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&oh=fb5dd6be2ec4dad6a58d7e741fc414d8&oe=5F0A26EA

[LI SNOWBIRD]

How about Davy Crockett on "Walt Disney Presents," the Spin and Marty serial on "Mickey Mouse Club," watching "Sergeant Preston of the Yukon," going to the Drive-In movie early to play on the playground equipment at the base of the screen, listening to weekly Top 20 countdowns on your transistor radio. Those were the days...………
On "Spin and Marty " there was a cow-hand o that show that had a catch phrase "Well, I'll be a blue nosed gopher"
Thanks for the memory

[Aloha1]

I was born in 1942 so I remember when TV first came out. My dad's boss had one, must have had an 8" screen. lol. We watched football on it, one team of little fuzzy blobs against the other.

Howdy Doody was not my thing, but I enjoyed the after school weekday programs showing old westerns, Tom Mix, Hopalong Cassidy and of course Roy Rogers and Gene Autry. A kid I knew was the "sidekick" on the show and later on while in our teens we used to tease him a little about that. We were a little jealous, of course.

I had a gunbelt with two holsters hanging on it holding 44 Colt revolver style cap pistols. I think it was a Lone Ranger item. I also had a pump action Daisy BB gun which I dearly loved. My brother and I played cowboys and Indians for hours, often switching roles.

You forgot Sky King.:)

[manaboutown]

You forgot Sky King.:)

and Lassie as well.

This is a nice recap of the top ten TV shows of the 1950's and a few honorable mentions. It brought back some nice memories. My mother loved "Alfred Hitchock Presents". Top 10 Decade Defining TV Shows: 1950s - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wKlth2yTF8)

[Aloha1]

Boy, these posts bring back a lot of memories. What we all miss here is that our Grandchildren, and to some extent our children, never experienced the freedom to wander around without fear like we did. That makes me sad.

On a lighter note, A couple years ago my 10 year old Grandson was at our house and spotted the stack of LP's in our family room. He asked my wife, "What are those?" My wife pointed to the record player and explained that we put them on there to play music because we didn't have iPods back then. On a roll, she explained how when we were his age, we had 4 channels on the TV, no Microwave Ovens, and no cell phones. After a silent minute, our Grandson replied: "How could you live like that?". Boy have times changed.

afterword: I assume I don't need to explain the term LP to anyone here! :)

[Aloha1]

and Lassie as well.

Gangbusters and Rocky Jones, Space Ranger. Also Space Patrol

[John_W]

Saturday mornings was Sky King, Circus Boy (Mickey Dolenz) the Lone Ranger and the Howdy Doody Show. Those were four great shows. Mickey went on to become the drummer of the Monkees.

[dillywho]

Remember the 50's? I grew up in the 50's.