For those of you who remember, what was it like to be a teenager in the 1950's?

Question

Being a teen in the 50's has been glorified, glamorized and romanticized for years. Must've been quite an era to be a young person. Who can tell me about it?

Answer 1

A Hell of a lot different than today.

It was the best time to be living in America after the end of W.W.11.

Everything was exciting. The cars were the best ever made. T.V. shows were spectacular.

Growing up in the 1950's, you felt that life was good, that America was standing tall, that there was nothing that couldn't be done...the sky was the limit.

Money didn't matter. Friends were everywhere. People greeted you on the street like they knew who you were.

Compare this to what the new teenagers are like today, and what happened was that the freaky times of the 1960's became molded in the psyche of the people, and although styles have changed, what remains is a different way of living where nothing is new and good, and many feel depressed and lost.

...just so lost. It's a shame. I wish we could see those times again. I think we never will. The trends of the 1960's continued on and stood around ever since.

The 1950's will always be known as the age of innocence.

You will understand me better when you look to answer questions here, and see how many ask insulting or dirty questions.

That would not have happened fifty years ago.

footnote:

In public schools then, the three biggest offenses by teenagers were:
Chewing gum in class, shooting spit balls, talking out of turn.

Recently:

Carrying a weapon to school, teenage pregnancy, drugs.

Answer 2

Not everyone was cool.Popular music was for adults and everyone until the early 50s, the change was radical. They had swing in the 40s before, but it only survived in the hearts of those in that generation. The hit parade was the most popular show on TV. they would act out the popular songs of the day. Like a live music video.


I remember the very day when they tried some of Elvis songs. It was actually funny to see old Russell arms in a motor cycle jacket and hat singing don't be cruel.

A short time after everything began to change. There were no hippies yet but there was a village group called beatniks. They usually wore black clothing , had goatees.

They wore tams ( the french style hat ) and a new language was born. Beatniks were into jazz and were artist. in the 60s the beatniks gave way to hippies also born of Greenwich village in NY.

As for me , I saw the Dodgers leave brooklyn, Even though the Korean war was going on , I didn't know it.


I knew at age 10 in 1955 , I could travel anywhere by myself with out fear.

In school we learned what to do in the event of nuclear war. Every wednesday all the boys wore white shirts with neck ties and the girls wore a white blouse with skirt and a handkerchief pinned on. we marched in height order and the boys and girls held hands as we walked.

Trolly cars ran the streets of brooklyn, the subway was a dime , my brothers remember a nickel for the subway.

I remember paying 20 cents to go to the movies, the fancey theater was 50 cents.

Movies were continueous and you didn't have to leave.

On saturday 25 cartoons 2 or three full features and a short.

older girls wore the starched pointy bras , we thought that's what they looked like.

Pony tails were in, teased hair didn't come until the sixties.

Guys used to hammer holes in their muffelers to make more nose. the DA hair styles were in for the cool guys everone else had crew cuts, really short with white walls.

In my 1952 class picture I saw poodle skirts.I turned 13 in 1958 which means I know a lot more about the 60s than the 50s. I know I always felt safe.

Oh I forgot. there was no plastic, toys were made of wood, rubber or metal.

Answer 3

My mom was a teenager in the Fifties. She graduated high School in 1960 and told me it was exactly like they portray in teh movies. The poodle skirts, clean living. Her mother (my nana) actually moved her out of a neighborhood and to a different school because mom started becoming friends with the "loose girl" She cant say enough good about the 50's. Personally I think it was a magical era from what she has shared with me, however I do think the race issue wasnt appropriately addressed.

Answer 4

I bet it was nice. If I could go back in time I would go to the 50's. I was born in 72 but I love to hear my parents talk about the 50's sounded like heaven.

Answer 5

i wasnt born until the '90s srry

Answer 6

i have no clue i was born 1985 woo hoo... go stoner 80's lmao j/k. i was a result of drugs and alcohal

Answer 7

i was born in the 90's. sorry

Answer 8

sorry i cant help you my mom wasnt even born yet

Answer 9

i was not born yet