The Fabulous Fifties
Your crazy great-aunt just passed away. In her will, she left you an old, run-down drive-in movie theater.
In the will, there were three conditions: it must remain a drive-in, it's yours and you can't sell it to make
way for a shopping mall, and last, it must be a living time capsule for the 1950's, the decade in which she
was a teenager and the one she considered the greatest of them all.
In order to pay the property tax bill, you're going to have to get it up and running using nothing but stuff
from the 1950's. Hopefully, you'll gain some insight as to why modern youth culture really exploded
during that decade.
In order to get your drive-in running, you have to do several things:
1. Create a 1950's-style advertisement for your feature: Decide on a triple feature to be shown on the
screen. Choose a science fiction movie, a movie made in 3D, and an Elvis Presley movie. Copy and paste
a picture of the movie poster for each one. Remember, they must all have been made during the 1950's.
2. Come up with a playlist of songs to play during intermission: Decide what kind of music you'll play
in the parking lot before the feature. You'll need at least three rock 'n' roll songs performed by different
African-American artists and three rock 'n' roll songs performed by different white artists. Each song
should come from a different year in the 1950's. Your playlist should contain the title, year, artist, and
picture of the artist. Go to the fiftiesweb to get started in 1955. Click on the other years to get further
songs.
3. Gather photos of miscellaneous products and decorations from the 1950's: You'll need to decorate
your concession stand using at least five photos, etc. of famous people and things from the 1950's. Also,
give at least three examples of products from the 1950's that you might sell at the concession stand. Once
again the fiftiesweb can help you to get photos. Once you're on this page, don't be afraid to snoop around
for other stuff. You can find a lot of what you need right on this site.
4. Develop a list of TV shows from the era: Find at least three television shows that people might have
watched instead of going to the drive-in that night. Go to the fiftiesweb and take your pick of the shows
made in the 1950's. Include the title, the years it was on TV, and a picture of the show if possible.
5. Get at least three photos of different types automobiles that might show up in your parking lot:
Go to Rewind The Fifties to find dozens of photos, then choose your favorites. Include the year of the car,
type of car, and a picture.
6. Choose two fads or crazes during the 1950's: Head back to the fiftiesweb for this.
Last, explain why you think youth culture emerged the way it did during the 1950's.
1. Movies
2. Song Playlist
3. Concession Stand
4. T.V. Shows
5. Cars
6. Fads or crazes
1. The GI Bill was intended to help returning WWII veterans get inexpensive mortgages
and college tuition. How successful was it?
http://www.detroityes.com/webisodes/2002/8mile/021106-04-8mile-berlin-wall.htm )
2. Congratulations! You have just been married. Take a look at this Home Economics
textbook to find some tips on how to be the perfect housewife (or what to expect of her if
you are the husband).
3. What should be expected of the housewife? the husband/father? What does Life
Magazine say?
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/752219/remembering_life_magazines_1956_de
scription.html (female role) http://93778645.nhd.weebly.com/the-1950s.html (male role)
4. Time to move to the suburbs! You and your spouse have decided to buy a house in
Levittown, NY. Why are you wanting your own house and how much will it cost you?
5. Variety shows were also popular during the 1950s and the Ed Sullivan Show was one of
the best. Click on the link above to read more about the show. Elvis was a frequent guest
on the Ed Sullivan Show. Not all teenagers were allowed to watch Elvis though and his
performances were often censored. Why was Elvis a controversial guest, and how was he
eventually "allowed" to be on TV (i.e. how did the tape him?) Use
http://www.elvispresleymusic.com.au/pictures/1956_1957_elvis_ed_sullivan_show.html
6. As exciting as it was, not everyone wanted to conform to the mainstream culture (that's
sarcasm!!). One outspoken group was the Beatniks. Click on the lick to read more about
where the word "beat" comes from.
7. Congratulations - you have fraternal twins. Pick a male and female name.
www.weddingvendors.com/baby-names/popular/1950s/
8. Your older son is now a teenager. Is he a greaser or soc and why?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greaser_(subculture)
www.loti.com/fifties_history/Teenage_Life_in_the_1950s.htm
9. List 2 teen idols that your son might have looked up to.
boomers-fifties-pinups.com/50s_idols.html
10. List 5 slang terms with the definition that your character uses.
www.fiftiesweb.com/fashion/slang.htm
11. Name 1 dance that was popular in the 1950’s and describe it.
www.loti.com/fifties_favorite_50s%20-dances.htm
12. At a recent dinner party, a "free thinking" twentysomething called you an Organization
Man (or your husband, if you're the wife). What did he mean?
http://www.yourdictionary.com/organization-man
13. Just like your son, you want to be accepted (and admired) by your peers. One
requirement for the admiration of your peers was a "Diners Club Card." It was a status
symbol. What exactly was it?
http://history1900s.about.com/od/1950s/a/firstcreditcard.htm