The fifties are sometimes considered a “golden age” within the history of the United States. The economy was booming, Elvis was rocking, and things were looking positive. The Korean War was ending, leading to a time of temporary Cold War “peace.” Jackie Robinson led the Brooklyn Dodgers to six National League pennants and one World Series title as the color barrier was slowly breaking throughout the a Civil Rights movement. The fifties were also a new era for Hollywood. Many movies around the time were about the Cold War and the spread of communism. Others, however, were more so about the teenage years of the baby boomers. One movie that highlighted this time period’s “beta” theme was Rebel Without a Cause.…
In the Cold War era of communist witch hunts, and blacklisting, Hollywood executives had even more pressing worries: the imminent death of the studio system and the meteoric rise of television, which subsequently led to a drastic decline in ticket sales. To combat the drop in profits, the studios quickly sought to attract moviegoers—particularly families—from the living room by enhancing and exploiting their medium's technological advantages, namely its relatively large image size and its color format. Not coincidentally, the 1950s were the first decade of drive-in movie theaters, stereo sound, wide-screen formats, and epics shot in glossy color, and a full gamut of movie such as 3-D film technology.…
Ed Sullivan - Ed Sullivan was known for being a famous show host. In 1948, CBS had Ed Sullivan host a new show, which was called The Ed Sullivan Show. His show was a success because he was able to appeal to the audience with great shows or acts from other famous celebrities. Sullivan was also great at recognizing talent in people. In the 1950s, he made many people into stars. The Ed Sullivan Show took place in the Ed Sullivan Theater, where a new show is now being aired, The Late Show with David Letterman. Ed Sullivan was a successful show host and star maker in America of the 1950s.…
The 1950s meant the emergence of the teenager; it also brought peace and prosperity to many. And during the fifties there were far more American films released in Australia, and they became more popular than many Australian films. Films were of great influence to the youth of the 1960s, films such as The Wild One and Rebel Without A Cause showed a new type of teenager, one who was not only different, but was rebellious. This new view of what a teenager could be gave birth to the idea of "bodgies" and "widgies" which is what many teenagers became known as during the fifties.…
Belton, John. "The 1960 's: The Counterculture Strikes Back." American Cinema/American Culture. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1994. 339-61. Print.…
In the 1950’s, Rock and Roll took over the airwaves for a multitude of reasons. The youth of the generation was one of the largest groups of youth due to the Baby Boom after World War I, they were avid listeners to the radio, and could afford to purchase music due to the prosperity of the period. The sounds of Rock and Roll were a culmination of black rhythm and blues joined with white popular music, country and western, as well as, jazz (Dominick, 2013). One of the most famous singers of the time was Elvis Presley, who went on to sell over 1 billion records globally (Elvis Biography).…
On October 18th, 1926, a person was born who would change the face of the music industry for decades to come. Chuck Berry, born Charles Anderson Edward Berry, was considered to be one of the most popular and influential performers of the 1950’s, 60’s, and 70’s. Even more so, he would go on to be known by many as the father of Rock n’ Roll. He had a new distinct sound that people really enjoyed as well as his clever lyrics that made people connect to the songs on a deeper more personable level. Throughout this essay I will show the early stages of his life leading up to his prominent dent in the music world, and the lasting impact he had for decades to come afterwards.…
Chuck Berry started playing guitar and singing in his early childhood. He is often recognized as one of the first individuals to create the Rock’n’Roll sound and the pioneer of this genre of music. Johnny B Goode is amongst the most known Rock’n’Roll piece of all the time.…
Elvis Presley has made a unique contribution to American history. Earning the title of The King of Rock and Roll proved his influence and redefinition of American music. “In the 1950’s, the South was heavily racially segregated, but Presley’s music broke past these racial barriers. He allowed African American music to be accessible to white American youth who had never really been exposed to it” (Marcie Wallace 100). Elvis’ radical style pushed the boundaries of social and moral values and changed the music industry forever. His impact can be proven through his performance, his status as a musical icon, and the presence of his legacy in today’s society.…
-Elvis Aaron Presley was the first widely known rock and roll singer star. He was named the King of Rock and Roll.…
For someone who completed just three big feature films in his brief career, the effect of James Dean on popular culture is truly remarkable. It is not just the films themselves, but the persona and the magnetism that James Dean exhibited that attracts such fascination and admiration. James Dean's performances hint at so much more. His reaction to the world around him seems to sum up how so many young people around the world relate to their lives.…
The 1950s was a very influential time for the United States as well as the world. Music was changing, teenagers were gaining more freedom, and music was evolving into something no one had heard before. In a time where rebellious teens were looking for a new sound, and a new look, Buddy Holly came forth as the ideal artist to comply.…
In the United States, during the 1950s the rise of rock and roll and popular black Rhythm-and-Blues were converged together. Elvis Presley also referred to the King of Rock was one of the most successful and popular artists of the mid-1950’s who explored the musical genre of rock and roll and the Blues. He was an influential American singer, actor, and guitarist who had an immeasurable impact of world culture. Elvis Presley was and still is the most significant figure or idol in rock and roll history, who revolutionized the way American music sounded, looked, and was preformed through his sexually and seductive performance and dress styles till this day on.…
In the 50s, several things happened to shock and awe the entertainment business; such as the invention of the teleprompter, TV's first soap opera, "The Little Rascals" TV show, and the "I Love Lucy" TV show. But the most important thing about the entertainment in the 50s was the actors and actresses. Through out the 50s there were hundreds of actors and actresses. To name a few Vivien Leigh, Audrey Hepburn, Marlon Brando ,Grace Kelly, Bette Davis, Katharine Hepburn, Burt Lancaster, Bing Crosby, Dorothy Dandridge, Judy Garland, Elizabeth Taylor, and Doris Day. Each of these performers have received Oscars nods for their played roles. Audrey Hepburn was born on May 4, 1929 in Belgium. Hepburn was a cosmopolitan from birth as her father was an English banker and her mother a Dutch baroness. In the movies she appeared as a delicate adolescent, a look which remained until her last movie Always (1989) directed by Steven Spielberg. Her career as actress began in the English cinema and after having been selected for the Broadway musical "Gigi" she debuted in Hollywood in 1953. With Roman Holiday (1953) she won an oscar; her favorite genres were the comedies like Sabrina (1954) or Love in the Afternoon (1957). At the end of the sixties she retired from Hollywood but appeared from time on the set for a few films. From 1988 on she worked also for UNICEF. Born Marlon Brando, Jr. on April 3, 1924 in Omaha, Nebraska to a calcium carbonate salesman and his artistically inclined wife Dorothy, "Bud" Brando was one of three children. An enigmatic superstar widely regarded as America's greatest actor, Marlon Brando has been a Hollywood icon since the early 1950s. Brando was by all accounts "difficult" even as a youngster, having been expelled from sev eral schools, including a military academy. Upon being prodded by his father to find some direction for himself, he chose to follow his muse to New York. Brando made his debut on the boards of Broadway. Brando was invited by…
I was barely a year old when Elvis, James Dean, and Marilyn Monroe had begun to electrify the silver screen. Back home? Old pictures retain a homegrown charm about them: a tiny me sprawled on the grass, my mom seated beside, a gleaming black Buick parked nearby.…