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TV Shows of the 1950s

The popular shows of the 1950s are regarded as classics today. Even during the 1950s, television tried to cater to audience of all age groups. Programs like 'The Howdy Doody Show' and 'Disneyland Series' were popular among school-going kids. 'American Bandstand' was a huge hit among the teenagers. Evening was the time for family shows like - 'I Love Lucy', 'The Jackie Gleason Show', 'Your Hit Parade', 'Father knows Best', 'Our Miss Brooks', 'The Burns and Allen Show', etc.

Towards the mid-fifties, live performances of reality TV shows were broadcast for the first time that created a different form of television entertainment. These programs of reality television like Candid Camera, broke the monotony of scripted drama. Mid-fifties was also the time when color television was introduced, but it took another couple of years for it to become a dominant medium. It was closely followed by launching of remote control and transistorized television sets towards 1959. The 1950s was also the time when many categories of programs that are popular today were introduced. Soap operas, crime dramas, and game shows, almost all started during this decade. In fact, the concept of TV guide began at that time to help people keep a track of their favorite programs.

Leisure Activities in the 1950's

Music and Dance

  • Music (mainly rock 'n roll) was made popular by artists such as Bill Haley, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, and Dinah Shore
  • Teens in the 1950's enjoyed dancing to rock 'n roll music, a popular dance that teens did was the jitterbug

Television

  • In the 1950's, television became a dominant mass media source
  • Near the end of 1950, 60 percent of homes owned a television
  • sitcoms (The Honeymooners, Lassie, Father Knows Best, I Love Lucy) became very popular in the mid 1950's

Children

After WWII, Americans were ready to enjoy themselves and be entertained again. This was possible with leisure activities.

  • on long rainy days, children would stay inside and play games like checkers, marbles, chess, and go fish
  • by 1952, 400 scrabble sets were being sold per day
  • comic books were very popular amongst children in the 1950's
  • when the weather was right, children would have fun outside by riding their bikes, exploring neighborhoods, and playing street hockey

What activities did people do?

  • television
  • radio (music, sports, news)
  • drive-in theaters
  • outdoor activities (walking, sports, mountaineering, cycling)
  • music and dance
  • board games
  • comic books
  • road trips

Sources

Family

http://myglyw.org.uk/index.php?id=4287

http://kclibrary.lonestar.edu/decade50.html

http://classroom.synonym.com/kids-used-fun-1950s-16501.html

  • leisure activities were a great way for families to bond in the 1950's
  • the popularity of drive-in theaters peaked in the 1950's, they were an affordable and fun leisure activity that was pleasing to families
  • because automobiles were more common, road trips were a leisure activity that many families did
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