chapter 27 postwar america section 3 popular culture of the 1950s

Chapter 27Postwar America

Section 3

Popular Culture of the 1950s

The New Mass Media

• The popularity of television increased as it became more affordable.

• 1946 – 7,000 to 8,000 sets in the U.S.

• 1957 – 40 million

• Advertising and sporting events became more common.

Television - 1946

Television - 1957

Popular TV

• Ed Sullivan’s variety show Toast of the Town provided a mix of comedy, popular song, dance, and acrobatics.

Popular TV

• 1956 – the quiz show Twenty-One caused an uproar after it was discovered that many of the show’s contestants were given the answers prior to the show.

Hollywood Adapts to the Times

• With the increase in television, the movie industry lost viewers.

• They tried many things to lure people to the theater, including 3-D glasses and cinemascope.

• Cinemascope – movies shown on large panoramic screens

1950s 3-D Glasses

Radio Draws Them In

• Radio had to try to attract listeners as well.

• They began using recorded music, news talk shows, weather, public-service programming, and shows for specific audiences.

The New Youth Culture

• Young Americans rebelled against the conformist ideals and looked to controversial styles in music and literature.

Rock ‘n’ Roll

• 1951 – Alan Freed gained permission from his manager to play African American rhythm and blues on the radio.

• Listeners loved it, and white artists were copying the sound to form a new style called rock ‘n’ roll.

Alan Freed

Elvis Presley

• 1956 – Became the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll”.

• Very popular with teens, but parents disliked the music.

• Several cities banned rock music.

• This led to the generation gap, or cultural separation b/w children and parents.

Elvis

The Beats

• Mostly white artists which highlighted the values gap that existed in the U.S.

• 1957 – Jack Kerouac published On The Road which described freewheeling adventures with a car thief and a con artist.

Jack Kerouac

African American Entertainers

• Most were shut out by tv.

• A.A. rock ‘n’ roll singers had an easier time gaining acceptance.

• Chuck Berry, Ray Charles, and Little Richard recorded hit songs.

Chuck Berry

Ray Charles

Little Richard

African American Women

• The Crystals, the Chiffons, and the Shirelles, paved the way for future women’s groups.

The Crystals

The Chiffons

The Shirelles

End of Section 3

Next: Section 4

The Other Side of Life