1950sWVQL

__**1950s**__


 * Facts**
 * 1) In the 1950s a new form of music was introduced —Rock and Roll. Originated by the African Americans Rock and Roll was composed of an electric blend of rhythm and blues with electric beats. Elvis Presley, the unofficial king of Rock and Roll wore flashy cloths and gyrated his hips with led some parents to believe that Rock and Roll brought a heightened state of sexuality that they found to be unproductive. Teenagers would listen to Rock and Roll behind closed doors for fear of their parents reaction.
 * 2) During the era of the 1950s adolescences would spend majority of their leisure time at a dance, in drive-in movie theaters, ice cream parlors, or at poos and music halls. Teenagers done more than any previous generation. The advertising and marketing industries appeal to the children's new way of life style and advertised convenient items such as television sets, music records, trendy fashions, and the automobile. Teenagers would purchase such goods with allowance money which earlier generations were never granted with.
 * 3)  Teenagers were introduced to an affordable item that previous generations only dreamed of obtaining —the automobile. During the 1950s access to automobile were extremely high and affordable. Many adolescences saw the automobile as an escape from the control of their parents, rebels like James Dean who rode motorcycles, wore leather jackets, grew his hair long, and displayed a sense of mistrust of authority also helped popularize the automobile.
 * 4) Movies became increasingly popular throughout the 1950s because they exhibited the attributes that teenager viewed on an everyday basis. Film stars such as Doris Day played the idealized girl next door, and Marilyn Monroe played the sensual side of American women, while simultaneously stimulated the fantasies of men. Movies also exhibited teenagers belief to rebel against their parents such as //Rebel without a Cause//. Movies shaped the way many teenagers behave during the 1950s.
 * 5) Teenagers played strict gender roles in society, women were the barbie dolls and Marilyn Monroes and men played the James Deans. Women would wear poodle skirts which not only showed their ankles but also showed the knees in some instances. Women would bundle their hair into ponytails and men would style their hair as flat tops. Jeans and saddle shoes were also very popular accesories during this era.
 * Primary Sources**

-This photograph was taken in the year 1953 and show teenage girls wearing dog collars fastened around thier ankles over thie socks which happened to be a popular trend that year. Wearing a collar on the left ankle signified that the girl was in a committed relationship while wearing a collar on the right ankle indicated the the girl happened to be single.

January 24, 1956
//BOYS// ACADEMIC HIGH SCHOOLS AND HUTCHINSON-TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOLS //Note:// The apparel recommended for boys should be worn in standard fashion with shirts tucked in and buttoned, and ties tied at the neck. Standard of dress for boys, while in school shops or laboratories, should be determined by the school. //GIRLS// ACADEMIC AND VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOLS
 * Recommended:**
 * 1) Dress shirt and tie or conservative sport shirt and tie with suit jacket, jacket, sport coat, or sweater
 * 2) Standard trousers or khakis; clean and neatly pressed
 * 3) Shoes, clean and polished; white bucks acceptable
 * Not Recommended:**
 * 1) Dungarees or soiled, unpressed khakis
 * 2) T-shirts, sweat shirts
 * 3) Extreme style of shoes, including hobnail or "motorcycle boots"
 * Recommended:**
 * 1) Shirt and tie or sport shirt and tie
 * 2) Sport shirt with sweater or jacket
 * 3) Standard trousers or khakis; clean and neatly pressed
 * 4) Shoes, clean and polished; white bucks acceptable
 * Not Recommended:**
 * 1) Dungarees or soiled, unpressed khakis
 * 2) T-shirts, sweat shirts
 * 3) Extreme styles of shoes, including hobnail or "motorcycle boots"
 * Recommended:**
 * 1) Blouses, sweaters, blouse and sweater, jacket with blouse or sweater
 * 2) Skirts, jumpers, suits or conservative dresses
 * 3) Shoes appropriate to the rest of the costume
 * Not Recommended:**
 * 1) V-neck sweaters without blouse
 * 2) Bermuda shorts, kilts, party-type dresses, slacks of any kind
 * 3) Ornate jewelry
 * 4) T-shirts, sweat shirts

-In the 1950s the number of youth rebelling had increased in staggering numbers, and raised alarm amongst the general public who feared this gereation was doomed to juvenile delinquency. To discourage delinquency and gang like behavior, and to encourage conformity to proper social roles, public school across the nation institued dress codes. For males, blue jeans, t-shirts, and motorcycle boots were highly discouraged while sports coats and ties were favored. For females, the wearing of slacks were highly discourage and deemed unfeminine. This dress code was adopted by the state of New York in 1956.

"Infobase Learning - Login." //Infobase Learning - Login//. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2011. [].
 * Work Cited**

"Infobase Learning - Login." //Infobase Learning - Login//. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2011. [].

"Infobase Learning - Login." //Infobase Learning - Login//. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2011. [].

Loan Star College-Kingwood. "American Cultural History - 1950-1959." //LSC-Kingwood Library//. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2011. [].

"Main Menu." //The History of Rock and Roll//. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2011. [].