Ping!
I thought this review might interest you.
We sure could use Joe McCarthy today, intoning in that great voice of his, to Barack Hussein Obama:
“Senator Obama, are you now, or have you ever been, a member of the Communist Party?”
Mad Men is my second favorie show after The Office. Having grown up in the 50’s and early sixties for me it was the best of times. If I have a choice in the next life to live in any era of the past it would be the 50’s. The best of times...
High taxes, two recessions, small houses, the shift from tight-nit neighborhoods to atomized suburban ones (thats for the Catholic SoCons out there), "consensus" politics between the "modern Republicans" and the liberal Democrats. Don't get me started on those GD awful school films about hygiene that they were STILL showing on Lawn Guyland into the 80s.
Much of what we think of as "the 60s" had its roots in the 50s. Rock and Roll, the sexual revolution (see Kinsey and Hefner), alternative cultures (see the beatniks), folk music (much bigger in 1959 than it was in 1969), among other things.
From my perspective, the 1950s were the germination of the cultural revolution, the 1960s were its springtime, and the 1970s were when it reached full bloom and became mainstream (witness high divorce rates, pot in every high school, swing clubs, disco, etc.).
To know what the real 1950’s were.. you have to under stand the 1940’s both the war and post war...
The 30somethings of 1950’s had been the fast living party now because tomorrow you may die 20somethings survivors of the war's years...
The stereotype of the 1950’s was a thin veneer
Bump for later.
From what I have seen of it, I would call “Mad Men” a nasty caricature, rather than an accurate depiction, of the 1950’s.
Notice that the only really decent character is the bearded beatnik with the black girlfriend.
Has Hugh Hefner ever reviewed it, I wonder?
>>>the priest sat on the edge of his bed, picked up his guitar, and thrashed out an impassioned version of a Peter, Paul and Mary song.
The priest in question is Tom Hanks’ son. Where would Hollywood be without nepotism.
Love this show. It is appointment TV for me. As a younger woman, I am fascinated by the gender dynamics in the show. It always leaves me with so many questions about everything from that era; from TV shows to music to drinking to work etiquette. I think it is a truly wonderful show.