Chapter 27 Postwar America

1
Chapter 27Postwar America

• Section 3
• Popular Culture of the 1950s

2
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.

3
Television - 1946
4
Television - 1957
5
Popular TV

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

6
Popular TV

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

7
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

8
1950s 3-D Glasses
9
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.

10
The New Youth Culture

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

11
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.

12
Alan Freed
13
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.

14
Elvis
15
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.

16
Jack Kerouac
17
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.

18
Chuck Berry
19
Ray Charles
20
Little Richard
21
African American Women

• The Crystals, the Chiffons, and the Shirelles,
  paved the way for future womens groups.

22
The Crystals
23
The Chiffons
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The Shirelles
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End of Section 3

• Next Section 4
• The Other Side of Life