Do You Remember The Fifties?
 

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

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).

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,

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?

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.

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

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

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]

Statler Brothers - "Do you remember these?" YouTube

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)

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

Classic Cars and Music of the 50`s - YouTube

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

Killjoy 🤨

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.