1950's Ameeerica ... why so appealing?

[1sostatic]

Why does 1950s America look so good ?
is the the ladies styles? , cars? a sense of the idealic ? , slower pace of life? ...what is it?

...or is it BS? ... a time just as wierd and bonkers as today - but in a different color? behind a different lens?
or was it really that great?

all the best

From your friendly stupid Brit, with a love of old things and meeericaaan history?... Including the Dukes of Hazzard, yawaaal! .. but that was a different era.

 

[detritusmaximus]

Myth and nostalgia.
Like anything it was great for some, not so okay for most.
And the vast majority of people are always a little oblivious to how things are until around age 12, so childhood usually seems like a good time.

 

[midlife]

It's the Barbie phenomena!

 

[Sheriff41]

It was a prosperous time for America as industry and production turned from military efforts to commercial. Many Americans had money, hope and ambition, and the industrial base provided luxuries and conveniences not previously available.

Other countries, like the UK, had similar experiences. There are people all over the world are still living the Rockers and Café racer lifestyles. Seaside holidays. Queen Elizabeth II inspired hope and many fans the world over.

The best of those years may be all we see and hear about. When all you hear is the good it can be appealing.

 

[c9zx]

The 1950s were better for some than others, as it is now and has always been and will be. Please study history, it is the teacher of all things that matter the most. One of the reasons 1950s America looks so good is the the rest of the "western world" was in ruins. America had suffered little damage and emerged as a manufacturing and military super power. We even managed to overcome a staggering national debt, not unlike what we have today. Europe, in desperation, turned to socialism as the remedy for all of their, very real, aliments. America was able to continue on with robust capitalism. Socialism by design, yields at best, mediocrity (unless you are in charge, almost the same here). So people in America in the 1950s had more ability to choose, and more money to indulge their desires. No so in much in the rest of the world, and it still isn't. Were the 1950s good for me? So so. I lived indoors, had enough to eat and went to school. I learned that if I applied myself, and refused to fail, that I could have a much better life. And I did. The alternate explanation is, we got lucky. Chuck

 

[detritusmaximus]

Probably the biggest factor in why the 50s were so 'great' is the post war boom.
As C9 says, we had it good while everyone else was in ruins. The biggest reason is WW2. Without it, or something like it, we would have still been muddling along into the 21st century.
One, we were not devastated by war. Two, we built a manufacturing juggernaut during the war that when it ended left a massive surplus of tools, equipment, facilities, materials and labor ready and waiting. All of the servicemen, more often than not were trained in technical and support roles and all those that were undaunted by the challenges and risks of civilian life after a lifetime in foxholes.
And half a world to supply and rebuild.
All of that and The Marshall Plan.
That confluence of circumstances is unlikely to happen again anywhere for a century or two.
It's almost impossible to believe the Boom wouldn't have happened.

 

[jscott]

 

[jscott]

Men were men, women were women. We did not need helmets when we rode our bicycles. Hand sanitizer did not exist. The only thing on line were freshly washed clothes. We were challenged to games like baseball, football, etc. (that were actually played outside, not on a computer), as Tictok did not exist for us to try to drink drain cleaner as a challenge. The list is endless!!

 

[Stanglover]

View attachment 80039

Men lost their balls............. literally.

 

[Kilgon]

Several things attributed to making that era stand out. First, people got along and respected each other. A lot of this came from the bonding of vets overseas and those back home working together and contributing to the war effort. We were ALL Americans, plain and simple. Kids had a mother to come home to after school and families spent Sundays together, usually over a big meal. You got your news from a newspaper or the local tv news and most reporters had integrity. You mind wasn't flood with all the false narratives the fly around on the internet today. Religion played a big part of most Americans lives in one way or another. I never knew an atheist until I was in my late 20's. The teaching of the 10 commandments and the fear of hell seem to help keep a lot of us in line. We had winners and looser and I never knew a kid that went off crying when they lost. School sports were for everyone, not just those that excelled. Teens had places to hang out, from the drive-in theaters to the local burger joints that had the car hops to wait on you. Yes, a lot people still had hardships back in those days but in my opinion life overall was simpler. So yes, when I look back at the 50's I have to say that they were great years, especially to be growing up in.

 

[Cleveland Crush]

Men lost their balls............. literally.

Stanglover, men lost'em via this method?

 

[Cleveland Crush]

Stanglover, men lost'em via this method?

 

[Stanglover]

Several things attributed to making that era stand out. First, people got along and respected each other. A lot of this came from the bonding of vets overseas and those back home working together and contributing to the war effort. We were ALL Americans, plain and simple. Kids had a mother to come home to after school and families spent Sundays together, usually over a big meal. You got your news from a newspaper or the local tv news and most reporters had integrity. You mind wasn't flood with all the false narratives the fly around on the internet today. Religion played a big part of most Americans lives in one way or another. I never knew an atheist until I was in my late 20's. The teaching of the 10 commandments and the fear of hell seem to help keep a lot of us in line. We had winners and looser and I never knew a kid that went off crying when they lost. School sports were for everyone, not just those that excelled. Teens had places to hang out, from the drive-in theaters to the local burger joints that had the car hops to wait on you. Yes, a lot people still had hardships back in those days but in my opinion life overall was simpler. So yes, when I look back at the 50's I have to say that they were great years, especially to be growing up in.

That's is exactly the way I grew up in England during the 50's and 60's. Both nations had and still do, have a lot in common besides speaking the same language. Things have drastically changed over the last 20-30 years and not for the best either. Personally, I'm glad I'm in the last quarter of my life, but I dread to think what my 8 year old grandson will face in his lifetime.

 

[Stanglover]

Ah, now I get it.

 

[Mark Jones]

I'm with Stanglover, I am glad I am on the backside of my life. God help the young! They are in for the times of their lives (in old people's opinions). I would suspect that our parents said the same when we were young.

 

[NOT A T5]

Hey 1sostatic...did you forget about me and my request LOL, a looong while ago I asked you about a British License Plate that a previous owner had on my '71 Mustang. You told me you would check it out at your DMV or whatever that's called. Now, up up up...NO more slacking, alright LOL!
Sorry for the Hi-Jacking!!

 

[detritusmaximus]

View attachment 80039

I wouldn't wear either one.

 

[detritusmaximus]

Men were men, women were women.

Nothings changed except those that do not conform to this do not have to hide.

We did not need helmets when we rode our bicycles.

Head injuries explain LOTS of peoples behavior. I think back to the things I did on a ten speed in city traffic. I wonder how many heart attacks I gave drivers.

Hand sanitizer did not exist.

Polio did. And the shame of catching mononucleosis in high school. But Mom always yelled about washing behind your ears!

The only thing on line were freshly washed clothes.

I do this. Then again, the online internet seems to be for 'dirty laundry'...

We were challenged to games like baseball, football, etc. (that were actually played outside, not on a computer)

7th grade....tackle football on asphalt, because we were geniuses! Must have been the result of not wearing helmets on our bikes. Or was it the other way around?

as Tictok did not exist for us to try to drink drain cleaner as a challenge.

Nope.....however, there was seeing how high you could jump off the slope of the garage roof and not get hurt. Only took a few months for my cousins broken leg to heal. Then again, he was playing 'solo'.

Take everything I say with a grain of salt. I grew up in the 70s-80s. It was different than the 50's, for sure, but not that different.

 

[vintageman]

I grew up in the 70s and 80s and think that the idea of climbing trees, riding without helmets, getting a broke bone then and now and the constant cuts, bruises, and other injuries were actually good for us. It made us more resilient and taught us to accept how things things hurt or are tough in life. I used these experiences and made a 27 year life in the Army with multiple combat deployments with combat arms units and never gave up if something was hard or made me sweat. Nowadays, individuals think if it is hard, it shouldn't be done or pay someone else to do it. My father taught me that if another man could do it, so could I, I taught my kids the same way. May not be the right way, but I totally believe in not giving up and just because something hurts or is hard, that doesn't mean to stop trying. I am 56 years old and working on my Masters degree in cybersecurity, not because I need it or it will make my job pay me more money, just because a friend said he was going to do it and I decided to join him to give him more motivation to get his. BTW, both of us will be graduating by Christmas of this year. I didn't grow up in the 50s but part of me wishes I would have.

Tom

 

[Kilgon]

I grew up in the 70s and 80s and think that the idea of climbing trees, riding without helmets, getting a broke bone then and now and the constant cuts, bruises, and other injuries were actually good for us. It made us more resilient and taught us to accept how things things hurt or are tough in life. I used these experiences and made a 27 year life in the Army with multiple combat deployments with combat arms units and never gave up if something was hard or made me sweat. Nowadays, individuals think if it is hard, it shouldn't be done or pay someone else to do it. My father taught me that if another man could do it, so could I, I taught my kids the same way. May not be the right way, but I totally believe in not giving up and just because something hurts or is hard, that doesn't mean to stop trying. I am 56 years old and working on my Masters degree in cybersecurity, not because I need it or it will make my job pay me more money, just because a friend said he was going to do it and I decided to join him to give him more motivation to get his. BTW, both of us will be graduating by Christmas of this year. I didn't grow up in the 50s but part of me wishes I would have.

Tom

First, congrats on your continuing education and your upcoming graduation. Never too old to learn. I think you hit the nail on the head with today's youth as far as quitting when something gets hard. Somewhere along the line, things went south. Pushing through hardships and challenges is what makes a person stronger both physically and mentally. Too many people now days are just plain a"" lazy. They have not ambition in life and act as if the world owes them. Growing up we had to do chores, cut the grass and take the trash out. Now day's kids lay around and complain if they have to go get the mail. Sorry to start off on a rant.