Popular Culture in the 1950s

• When did the term 'teenager' become common?

  During the 1950s
• How much they spent

  In 1957, it was estimated that on average the teenager spend between $10 and $15 a week compared to $1 - $2 in the early 1940s. Teenagers’ annual spending power climbed from $10 billion in 1950 to $25 billion in 1959.
• What was expected of children before the war in terms of work?

  Children were expected to work to support their families upon leaving school
• What was uncommon for children before the 1950s?

  Graduating from high school or college
• What percentage of students completed compulsory education before the 1950s?

  Fewer than two out of three students
• How did the economy change after the war, and what was its impact on teenagers?

  The booming economy allowed parents to support their children, leading to more teenagers finishing education and going to college
• What did parents begin to insist their children do after the war?

  Finish education and go to college
• What were the effects of these changes on teenagers compared to previous generations?

  Teenagers had more leisure time and spending power than previous generations
• What were the key changes in the lives of teenagers from before the 1950s to after the war?

  • The term 'teenager' became common in the 1950s.
  • Before the war, children worked to support families.
  • Graduating from high school or college was uncommon.
  • Fewer than two out of three students completed compulsory education.
  • After the war, a booming economy allowed parents to support children.
  • Parents insisted children finish education and go to college.
  • Resulted in more leisure time and spending power for teenagers.
• Popular figures


  Figures like James Dean and Marlon Brando became emblems of teenage rebellion. In 1953 the film The Wild One, Brando’s character leads a motorcycle gang.
• Teenage boys


  Teenage boys became ‘thrill seekers’ who raced cars, drank heavily and formed gangs. Teenagers got a reputation for being rebellious, secretive and aggressive.
• American Businesses


  American businesses soon realised that they could sell products to teenagers, and they targeted their advertising to cash in on teenagers’ growing purchasing power.
• Rock and Roll


  A new style of music spread across America in the 1950s – Rock and Roll. It had a strong rhythm and was easy to dance to which appealed to teenagers. The lyric often contained sexual references and was unpopular among older Americans. This made it even more popular with teenagers. It became linked with teenage crime and gang culture. A 1956 TV performance by Elvis Presley was watched by a staggering 82% of Americans.
• Television


  One of the most popular products in the 1950s was the TV. At the start of the decade, there were about 3 million TV owners; by the end of it, there were 55 million, watching shows from 530 stations. The average price of TV sets dropped from about $500 in 1949 to $200 in 1953. TV also helped make professional and college sports big businesses, and sometimes provided excellent comedy and dramatic shows to vast audiences that might not otherwise have had access to them.
• Movies

  In the period following WWII when most of the films were idealised with conventional portrayals of men and women, young people wanted new and exciting symbols of rebellion. Hollywood responded to audience demands - the late 1940s and 1950s saw the rise of the anti-hero - with stars like newcomers James Dean. Due to television (a small black and white screen) becoming affordable and a permanent fixture in most people's homes, the movies fought back with gimmicks - colour films, bigger screens, and 3-D.