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What was the 50's really like ? ( Vanity )
me

Posted on 06/05/2005 6:37:36 AM PDT by sushiman

I would like to hear from folks who were adults during the 1950's ( I was born in 1952 ) about what it was really like back in those days . In nostalgiac moods I often wish I would go back , as an adult , and see for myself if it was a wonderful as I remember it with romantic , childhood visions ...I know this is a very broad topic ...any memories , thoughts , etc...would be appreciated ...


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To: Lando Lincoln
Everyone had clothes lines - even in the winter.

Remember my mother taking clothes of the clothes line during the winter months and having them stiff as a result of freezing. Also remember how fresh and clean clothes smell that dry outside on a clothesline.

101 posted on 06/05/2005 9:06:38 AM PDT by BluH2o
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To: sushiman
This is a great thread - some fine memories and forgotten trivia have been dusted off.
Also sad too, comparing all this stuff, even the bad, with what's become of our country...
102 posted on 06/05/2005 9:11:34 AM PDT by tomkat
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To: sushiman
I started school in 1952. On the whole, as many others have attested, 1950's America was a wonderful time and place in which to gow up. The Cold war was very real, as they had just stopped shooting in Korea, and in fact WWII was still painfully recent.

There was never the hysteria about nuclear war that the media would have you believe. After all, we had just used two nukes a few years back, and while they were awesome no one thought Armageddon was just around the corner. The development of ICBM's did make things more tense but it never dominated public consciousness. We were too busy building superhighways and suburbs amd beautiful long sleek cars. We trusted our President (Ike) and military to do what needed to be done.

The media and academia have a longstanding campaign to deconstruct the 50's and make it out to be like some terrible era. They lie. It is part of their ongoing attack on the American culture and American dream. The fact is, like others, I could write a book on all the ways in which life in the 50's was halcyon compared to what followed.

The sitcom "Leave it to Beaver" has become a synecdoche for what the Left would call the "illusion of the 50's." But it was no illusion. The 50's was the dawn of suburbia, and the mass exodus from the cities. The suburban lifestyle was real for millions, even without air conditioning. The show was so popular because people could relate to it! Obviously life was hard for some, and no one did housework in high heels, but on the other hand, most women were homemakers, and appeared to me to enjoy their lives. There was something to do in the community every night of the week, and everyone belonged to one group or another. You knew your neighbor, and the grocer and the milkman and the plumber, because in the 'burbs they were your neighbors too.. Crime was trivial, divorce rates were low, and before the advent of the Pill, teen prgnancy was rare.

It is useful to ask why the left is threatened by a congenial sitcom of 40 years ago, and why they need to assault a bygone era when life was good.

103 posted on 06/05/2005 9:38:25 AM PDT by hinckley buzzard
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To: hinckley buzzard
I too recoil when people laugh at "Leave it to Beaver" as if it was some sort of idiotic fantasy. Except for the fact that June Cleaver did dress a little well for house cleaning (in fact I have seen episodes where she is not dressed up for cleaning), it is far more like our real life than what is on now.

I was glad to see Barbara Billingsley defend the show as realistic as far as she could remmeber, on one interview a few years ago.

104 posted on 06/05/2005 9:58:22 AM PDT by yarddog
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To: kassie

Oh good grief! Remember rabbit ears and tin foil? LOL, somebody would have to stand and hold those things to keep the picture clear enough to see. I kinda one-upped you kassie.........we did have regular schools in my time......hehehehee. My parents used to talk about the schools you went to. One room, stove in center......then it turned back into the church on Sunday. Those are great stories. My grandchildren LOVE to hear my mama talk about the "old days". *~*


105 posted on 06/05/2005 10:05:06 AM PDT by Dawgreg (Happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have.)
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To: sushiman

Black and white TV. All two channels.
Chesapeake Blue Crabs (from there).
Catch your own, no license required. Ditto with fish. Swimming in the Potoamc, and not worrying about having shots unless you stepped on a nail.
Wooden skiffs, rowing, having to wrap the cord to start the outboard.
Mr/Mrs/Miss, never yeah, but always Yes sir, Yes m'am, No sir, No m'am.
Two (or more) for a penny candy.
Scrounging pop bottles for the 2 cent deposit.
32 cent packs of smokes, 50 dollar cars, bicycles with one gear and balloon tires.
Three cent stamps, penny postcards, silver dimes and quarters and halves. Once in a while an Indian Head penny in your change. Silver certificates and United States notes (blue and red seals on the bills.)

Getting spanked for jumping up and down on the car, even though it did not leave a dent.

'A' Model John Deeres, church every sunday, cutting christmas trees, County fairs, Streetcars in D.C., I could go on and on....


106 posted on 06/05/2005 10:05:25 AM PDT by Smokin' Joe (Grant no power to government you would not want your worst enemies to wield against you.)
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To: sushiman

Daddy built us a fallout shelter. It took a lot of work; and it made me feel safe to know that he loved us that much.


107 posted on 06/05/2005 10:07:43 AM PDT by bannie (The government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend upon the support of Paul.)
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To: Jimmy Valentine

Mom was June, and Dad was Ward. There were, however, 6 of us kids.


108 posted on 06/05/2005 10:08:36 AM PDT by bannie (The government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend upon the support of Paul.)
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To: Ditter

But the cars were wonderful ships.


109 posted on 06/05/2005 10:09:29 AM PDT by bannie (The government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend upon the support of Paul.)
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To: jamaly

Sometimes in the summer, we slept outside. (Bakersfield, CA)


110 posted on 06/05/2005 10:10:38 AM PDT by bannie (The government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend upon the support of Paul.)
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To: ken21

Kids had mothers.

Fathers took care of the families.


111 posted on 06/05/2005 10:11:08 AM PDT by bannie (The government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend upon the support of Paul.)
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To: Tijeras_Slim
That's TERRIBLE.
I was eating a jelly bean while reading this and nearly choked.
112 posted on 06/05/2005 10:11:14 AM PDT by LongElegantLegs ("Se habla, MoFo!")
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To: LongElegantLegs

In the 50's the Heimlich Maneuver had not been developed. ;)


113 posted on 06/05/2005 10:12:31 AM PDT by Tijeras_Slim (Now that taglines are cool, I refuse to have one.)
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To: Doctor Stochastic

The racial thing wasn't so bad in the west. I've talked to friends who've said that it wasn't like you hear about in the South. It wasn't as integrated as it should have been; but it wasn't as overt in the west.

Why didn't we stop the pendulum when things were truly fair?


114 posted on 06/05/2005 10:13:34 AM PDT by bannie (The government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend upon the support of Paul.)
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To: tomkat

TV! We got our first in about 1956?

Mickey Mouse Club 4:00 every day.

Today is Tuesday.
You know what that means?
We're gonna' have a special guest!
So roll out the carpet,
Strike out the band,
And give out with a hip-horray!
Hip horray!
Wiggle your ears
Like good Mousekateers
We're gonna' present our guest today
'Cause Tuesday is Guest Star Day.



115 posted on 06/05/2005 10:18:21 AM PDT by bannie (The government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend upon the support of Paul.)
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To: sushiman

53 in August! ^5! Year of the Dragon!


116 posted on 06/05/2005 10:18:54 AM PDT by bannie (The government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend upon the support of Paul.)
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To: Tijeras_Slim

Guess that'll teach me to steal candy from children while reading Free Republic...


117 posted on 06/05/2005 10:21:22 AM PDT by LongElegantLegs ("Se habla, MoFo!")
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To: tertiary01

Tertiary...we might be neighbors! (Bakersfield)

They delivered the milk from Hiett's Dairy.

Blue Birds would go out to the dairy and buy ice cream there.


118 posted on 06/05/2005 10:22:56 AM PDT by bannie (The government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend upon the support of Paul.)
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To: LongElegantLegs

I seem to be the only truly chatty one left on here.

:(

Guess I drove everyone else off.

:(


119 posted on 06/05/2005 10:24:21 AM PDT by bannie (The government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend upon the support of Paul.)
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To: bannie

I'm in Napa now, but grew up in the East Bay (Richmond) and we left our doors unlocked then too. No one would mess with us because they knew we deer hunted and had rifles and such. But I do not remember a time we ever intentionally left our cars unlocked, because teenager in those days loved to "take" them for joyrides.

There were dairies out in El Sobrante at that time although I can't remember all their names. I think Valley View Dairy might be one. The milk was soo good!


120 posted on 06/05/2005 10:39:21 AM PDT by tertiary01
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