I don’t know about you, friends, but I wrote 2010 for the first time a few weeks ago, and my jaw almost dropped to the floor.
2010
It’s almost too much to comprehend, isn’t it? In honor of the New Year (and a new decade), I thought it only appropriate – and fun, of course – that we take a little retrospective walk down memory lane. I’ve always been the sort of girl who had a thing for history; in school, I went through obsessions: ancient Egypt, Colonial America, the psychedelic ’60s.
And so I introduce to you a series that will help us ring in the New Year…
Decade Love.
First up, the fabulous ’50s.
The ’50s By The Numbers:
*Population: 151,684,000 (U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of the Census)*
*Unemployed: 3,288,000
*Life expectancy: Women 71.1, men 65.6
*Car Sales: 6,665,800
*Average Salary: $2,992
*Labor Force male/female: 5/2
*Cost of a loaf of bread: $0.14
*Bomb shelter plans, like the government pamphlet You Can Survive, become widely available
Historical milestones:
*Dwight D. Eisenhower is inaugurated as President.
*Republican Senator Joseph R. McCarthy of Wisconsin is investigated by the Senate Privileges and Elections subcommittee.
*In the case of Brown versus Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas the Supreme Court rules racial segration in public schools unconstitutional.
*The first transcontinental television broadcast is presented.
*The Salk vaccine against polio is introduced.
*The Korean War comes to an end.
*Rosa Parks takes a stand (or seat, rather) against segregation.
*Marilyn Monroe releases some of her most notable films.
*The Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The King and I premiers on Broadway
*Bedtime for Bonzo, starring Ronald Reagan, is released by Universal Pictures.
*Ralph Ellison’s The Invisible Man is published.
*The children’s morning television series “Captain Kangaroo” premieres on CBS.
*Elvis Presley joins Sun Records and what would come to be called Sun’s “Million Dollar Quartet” – the foursome that also included Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash.
*Blue jeans, rock & roll and comic books become increasingly popular.
*Thanks in part to Eisenhauer’s expansion of the US highway system, the first suburbs flourish and Suburbia is born.
*Barbie makes her debut.
*Teens mingle in diners and sock-hops.
*The poodle skirt and leather jacket rule the teen fashion scene.
[Info and photos via American Cultural History, Duke University, and photos via VINTAGE RETRO]
Kristin says
The fabulous fashion from that decade slays me. SO gorgeous. And classic Barbie never gets old!
Melanie's Randomness says
This is such a cute post! I love the 50's & all it's glamour!! My mom has a Gigi doll like in the photo. So cute.
Whatever Dee-Dee wants says
This is a fun series! I cant wait to read more.
amanda rose says
very cool.
xoxo says
Love the 50's. the dresses, the calm cool detective's, black and white movies. Why wasn't I born in the 50's?
Cafe Fashionista says
What a well-researched and fun post, Melissa! I will forever be obsessed with the fifties!! 🙂
Mademoiselle Frou-Frou says
i agree with you about the 50's. my mom grew up in that era and she says we missed out not experiencing those days. oh well…actually i would have loved to have lived in the 40s!
xoxo alison
http://www.froufroufashionista.blogspot.com
Couture Cookie says
Oh my goodness, the average 50s salary would barely cover my rent! I loved reading all these fun facts, though, not to mention admiring the retro pictures! There is no one more glamourous than Barbie!
Genie of the Shell says
Nice glamour shots! I am inspired to wear a 1950s cocktail dress to family Christmas… Hooray for mothers-in-law who keep EVERYTHING, throughout the decades, and give old stuff to their daughters-in-law. 😀 I wonder if my future adult children will be so excited about my 1990s grunge attire…
prashant says
SO gorgeous. And classic Barbie never gets old!
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Viewtiful_Justin says
That Barbie actually looks like it has a personality. She's not vacant and stupid looking like Barbies now. Very cool.
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Cindy Margott says
I agree with you about the 50's. my mom grew up in that era and she says we missed out not experiencing those days.