[AnAmericanMother]

I can speak authoritatively that "like" as an interjection or "noise word" was very common amongst the "beatniks" in the fifties.

I was there, and they used it, like, every other word, man.

[firebrand]

Right. I forgot about the beatniks. I was thinking of the "she was like" and "he was like" locution for "she said" and "he said."