I saw at another message board once someone ask the question "Why Can't People Admit That the 1950's Were Great?" They ran down a list of things....like economic boom, patriotism, family values....that they reasoned as why that decade should be revered. Of course a bunch of people chimed in with a laundry list of reasons why the 1950s WEREN'T great. But it was an interesting discussion nonetheless. So....in your mind, what's your opinion of the 1950s? Based on what you saw (if you were were alive and remember it) or what you've spectated from history books and archive footage. Even if you disagree that the 50s were great, is there anything about it that stands out in your mind as positive or something that you wish was in effect today?

I was only a little girl but had much older brothers. I remember a lot about it
It was perhaps the most stable decade economically. I'd say that it was the last true period of innocence, even through the start of changes in the younger generation. "Music" started to take a controversial turn for the young (rock 'n' roll), and kids began to rebel against society. The Beat Generation was the first counter-culture. But it was a decade of hope. And I remember having a lot of fun as a small child.
Fast-forward another 5 years, through doo-wop, Beach Boys, and hula-hoops ~ another good era ~ to 1965 and many things changed radically. I'm SO glad that I was a part of those two decades.

I don't feel bad I wasn't there to see it but I guess if you were a wealthy white male it was great.

AtownPeep wrote:

I don't feel bad I wasn't there to see it but I guess if you were a wealthy white male it was great.

My mother comes from the 50s, she always said I would've enjoyed the 60s.

My mom was poor in south philly, the daughter of an irish woman and italian man. the irish shunned her. even the whites were segregated by heritage then. However, she loved the era... she grew up on bandstand, during a time where boys respected girls, and new inventions were coming into homes--- even when they could not afford tvs/stereo, the neighbors would push theirs to the windows for all to enjoy.

I kind of think that we all romanticize the time period that we grew up in though. I loved the 80s... the music, and the clothes-- the hair really needed to go... but it was a great time for me. so i imagine that ppl see the 50s that way.

Bluesmama was right tho.. it was a time of innocence that was soon lost. Back then you wouldnt hear the word "hell" on TV... now you hear dick and pussy... and thanks to NYPD Blue, we have nudie shots.

Better than now.

It was the decade that brought us "commie panic". That probably did far more harm than good. Segregation, racism, sexism. Pass.

Not if you were black...

JM130ELM wrote:

Not if you were black...

Or female. Or gay. Or non-religious...

I was just around for the last half of the decade but even if I don't remember much of it first hand the negatives still out weighed the positives.

Elvis Presley!

Only if you were in a very select demographic; one that no one in my family was.

Well I certainly wasn't around to give a real depiction of it. From the looks of it though, it seems like it would have been mostly pleasant to the people who fit into that that sunshiny suburban "Ozzy & Harriett" mode, but I'm sure more people didn't than did. My perception of that era is that it was repressed, chaffed and hypocritical.

CatEyes10736 wrote:

Well I certainly wasn't around to give a real depiction of it. From the looks of it though, it seems like it would have been mostly pleasant to the people who fit into that that sunshiny suburban "Ozzy & Harriett" mode, but I'm sure more people didn't than did. My perception of that era is that it was repressed, chaffed and hypocritical.

Even they didn't in their real lives. Neither did Bing Crosby or any pretty much any other great "role model" during that time.

Personally, I don't know anyone who was around at the time who longs for their return. Seems to me the fifties gets a nice little buffering by the way television depicted life at the time.

Chris wrote:

Personally, I don't know anyone who was around at the time who longs for their return. Seems to me the fifties gets a nice little buffering by the way television depicted life at the time.

I think a lot of people probably equate the 50's with "Happy Days" which was a very sanitized version of the time.