History- Changes in culture and entertainment

• Teenager


  Young person with more free time and money than previous generations
• Rock'n'roll music in the 1950s


  • Strong rhythm, easy to dance to, appealed to white teenagers
• DJ Alan Freed's role in rock'n'roll

  Played R&B records but labelled the music rock'n'roll to bridge the gap between white and black audiences
• African American and Hispanic rock'n'roll artists

  • Chuck Berry
  • Little Richard
  • Ritchie Valens
• Elvis Presley


  Most popular music artist in American history, released first hit song Heartbreak Hotel in 1956
• Television in 1960s America

  • 87% of homes owned a TV set, replaced radio as key source of home entertainment and news, helped break down regional differences
• Popular 1950s TV sitcoms

  • I Love Lucy
  • Leave It to Beaver
• Film industry response to television

  • Made movie-going experience different and more exciting with colour, widescreen format, and gimmicks like 3D
• Film stars of the time

  • Glamorous like Marilyn Monroe
  • Rebellious like James Dean and Marlon Brando