50s Teen Scenes

It was the end of WWII. However, the world felt far from safe: impending war in Korea, frightening talk of Communism, threatening talk of nuclear war. Even amid new fights and threats, post-war America's priority was family: feeling safe and secure within structured communities.

Elvis Presley = 1954

But, where did that leave the teenager? The teen was between...sandwiched in between child and young adult. In fact, the term 'teen-ager' was coined during this time — the 50s, the era where the teens started to hear music about their world, love songs about high school sweethearts, wild parties and fast cars. This was the age of rock 'n' roll — the devil's music of Elvis Presley, the rebelliousness of James Dean. A new culture was born and there was no stopping it! Long live rock 'n' roll!

James Dean - 1954

"What I remember most about the 50s were rules.  Rules, rules, rules... for everything.  Rules about clothes — which clothes you could wear when.  Rules about church.  Rules about streets.  Rules about play. The dance rules were different.  Dance with girls and hold this hand, but then... you could do whatever you wanted to do!  Dance looked like freedom.  The only freedom this kid knew." —John McKeon

Embrace the Past...

Images from 1950s Unlimited...

 

 The dance craze: The Jitterbug

Want to learn the jitterbug?

Groovie Movie (1944). Funny jitterbug instructional video.