Historical Information

»   What was it like being a teenager in 1950?

The 1950s brought to the world an important revolution when talking about the youth. What being a teen meant, what teens were ought to do, what defined a teen, it all drastically changed from what it used to be. Music and dance played a very important role in said revolution; as Rock and Roll debuted and became an influential part of the youth’s lives. Modern music called for modern dancing, which caused a lot of hip swinging, making this generation a rebellious one. Of course, the increasing influence of sex and drugs added to this new, wild culture.

In fact, the term “teenager” did not exist until the 1950s. It appeared with the need of giving a specific name to this new group of men and women, who are not kids anymore, but aren’t adults either. Their main goal was to enjoy themselves. As for the older generation (their parents), a new mentality came around – they did not want to live stereotyped lives (where dads work and moms stay at home), or at least not as such young age. They wanted to give them more freedom. This situation was a win – win, as teenagers lived with more freedom and parents could relax a little bit. And so the youth had fewer responsibilities, giving them time to spend it with friends, dancing or shopping.

Of course, not all parents were laid back and felt as if Rock and Roll corrupted their children. If you’ve seen the CRYBABY movie, you can perfectly see how there were parents who thought liking Rock and Roll meant hating God.

The youth was noticeably divided, you were either a preppy kid, or a rebel, there was no in between. Jumping from one group to another was a reason to cause a huge controversy in the society.

Sex symbols such as Marilyn Monroe and Marlon Brando were also a big influence in the teen's lives.

                   

»   Holden's use of language is distinctive. Is this the way most teenagers spoke at the time?

The 50’s decade was characterized for having a very vast selection of lingo, such as the one Holden uses. Within the most important slang words I found the next ones:

18 Karat:  All the way, full out.

Cruisin’ for a bruisin’: Looking for trouble.

Fly: Smooth or slick.

Jump: To swing.

No sweat: No problem.

Razz my berries: Excite or impress me.

Schmaltz: Yiddish word for chicken fat, and has been a slang term in the U.S. since the '20s for anything sickeningly sweet or "greasy", especially music or poetry.

Sharp: Fashionable.

I recommend checking out this link for a full list of words: http://fiftiesweb.com/pop/1950s-slang/

»   How did teenagers dress?

There was no special clothing designer for teenagers, as they were expected to dress just as adults did.

Taking the opportunity, and realizing that teenagers had money to give out as there was no tomorrow, fashion designers started creating clothing such as full or tight skirts and rigid petticoats for women. Capri pants also became a hit and started to become acceptable after a photo of Marilyn Monroe wearing a pair surfaced on the media. Collared blouses and sweaters were the way to go.

Men wore shirts, ties and tight formal pants. However, rebels wore dark clothes all the time, wore wrinkled shirts and did everything they could to give out a rough image.

Formal events such as weddings and proms meant dressing up. Young women wore the slightly informal version of the fancy dresses their mothers wore.

»   What did they like listening to?

1950 marked the time when many black people moved into the cities looking for jobs, mixing themselves with white people. This proximity caused the birth of Rock and Roll. Artists like Elvis Presley, Fat Domino, Chuck Berry, and Little Riche played a huge role in how Rock and Roll is viewed today.

Even if Rock and Roll was the top music at that time, not everyone liked it. The first ones on this list were some parents, because they thought it caused juvenile delinquency. The sexual connotations contained in the lyrics made parents try to ban Rock and Roll from being played on the radio, which only caused teens to want to listen to it more.

She touched my hand what a chill I got

Her lips are like a volcano that's hot

I'm proud to say she's my buttercup

I'm in love

I'm all shook up

Mm mm oh, oh, yeah, yeah!

-          Fragment from Elvis Presley’s “All Shook Up”

»   How much did an average person earn per month? What was the income for people like Holden's parents?  

Average family income:         $3,300

Average car cost:                     $1,510

Median home price:               $7,354

(Data from http://www.mybudget360.com/cost-of-living-2014-inflation-1950-vs-2014-data-housing-cars-college/)

In 1950, $3,300.00 USD had the same buying power as $33,073.41 in 2016. People from wealthier families (like Holden’s) had a bigger income than this one.

Sources:

https://crandall1950syoungculture.wordpress.com/

https://crandall1950syoungculture.wordpress.com/social-life/

https://1950steenagers.wordpress.com/the-teenage-rebellion/

http://wwwinfoworld.com/50sslang.htm

https://www.lsrhs.net/departments/history/ShenM/Site/20th_classwork,_handouts_files/1950s%20Slang.htm

http://www.retrowaste.com/1950s/fashion-in-the-1950s/1950s-fashion-for-teens-styles-trends-pictures/

https://crandall1950syoungculture.wordpress.com/rock-n-roll/

http://www.mybudget360.com/cost-of-living-2014-inflation-1950-vs-2014-data-housing-cars-college/