Culture of the 1950s and Fun Facts from the 50s

The 1950s was a fun decade, known as the Fabulous 50s. If you're turning 51 to 60 years old, you were born during the era of diners, sock hops, soda shops, and the beginning of rock and roll. What we now call "classic" cars were on the road, and prosperity and optimism were everywhere. A loaf of bread was 14 cents, and penny candy was really a penny!

Here are some interesting facts from the 50s decade:

1950
• Silly Putty is introduced to the world.
  
  
• The FBI introduces its "10 Most Wanted" List
  
  
• Florence Chadwick of San Diego, CA swims the English Channel in 13 hours, 20 minutes
  
  1951
• CBS broadcasts the first baseball game in color: Brooklyn Dodgers vs. Boston Braves
  
  
• The CBS "Eye" is introduced
  
  
• The United Nations headquarters opens in New York City
  
  1952
• Mr. Potato Head is the first toy to be advertised on television
  
  
• The polio vaccine is tried for the first time on the family of Dr. Jonas Salk, the man who invented it
  
  1953
• Pregnancy is talked about for the first time on television during "I Love Lucy." Lucy gives birth to "Little Ricky" on the show on the same night that she delivers her son, Desi Jr.
  
  
• T.V. Guide is published for the first time
  
  1954
• The Department of Defense, or DOD, declares "Hail to the Chief" to be the official music that is played to announce the presence of the president of United States
  
  
• The worlds's first nuclear powered submarine, called the Nautilus or SSN-571 is launched by the U.S. Navy in Groton, CT
  
  
• Elvis Presley makes his first recording called "That's All Right"
  
  
• Peeps, the marshmallow candy is introduced
  
  1955
• Disneyland, the first themed amusement park, opens in Anaheim, CA
• Rosa Parks is arrested after refusing to give up her seat to a white person on a Montgomery, AL bus
  
  
• The Congress of Industrial Nations and the American Federation of Labor, the two largest labor unions in the U.S., merge to form the A.F.L.-C.I.O.
  
  1956
• An employee of Zenith named Dr. Robert Adler invents the first T.V. remote control
  
  
• Play-Doh, in off-white, is introduced
  
  
• Norma Jean Mortenson changed her name to Marilyn Monroe
  
  1957
• Wham-O began production of Pluto Platters, also known as the Frisbee
  
  
• "Leave It to Beaver" premieres on television
  
  1958
• The Wham-O company trademarks "Hula Hoop" and within 6 months, sells 20 million of them!
  
  
• A 1958 Chevy Corvette originally sold for $3,591
  
  1959
• Buddy Holly, J.R. Richardson (The Big Bopper), and Ritchie Valens all die in a plane crash.
  
  
• Ruth Handler introduces "Barbie" at the New York City Toy Fair.

During the culture of the 1950s in the United States, conformity was expected and people tended to follow the group rather than stand out from the crowd. Life was regarded as very conservative as we look back at that time period. There was a "traditional" family where the wife was a stay home mom, and the husband earned the paycheck. People wore similar hair styles and clothes, and decorated their homes in the trend of the 50s. Young and old alike started watching popular television shows like: "The Jack Benny Show", "The Ed Sullivan Show", "I Love Lucy", and "Dragnet".

Here you can look at a specific year from the 50's for some interesting facts and fun information about the culture in the United States.