To What Extent Did Ameircan Culture Change 1945-55 Flashcards
What song by Bill Haley and the Comets became a national pop music hit in 1955?
Rock Around the Clock
What was Elvis Presley’s first pop music hit?
Heartbreak Hotel
What percentage of American homes had televisions in 1955?
76 percent
Which sitcom began on US television in 1951?
I Love Lucy
What radio show, known for its rock’n’roll theme, began in Cleveland in 1952?
Moondog’s Rock’n’roll Show
What percentage of American homes had televisions in 1952?
2.9 percent
What was the first sitcom on US television?
The Goldbergs
Who launched the first nationwide television entertainment show?
Ed Sullivan
What group was found guilty by the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)?
Hollywood Ten
Which film starring Marlon Brando dealt with gangs of motorcyclists?
The Wild One
What play by Arthur Miller deals with the Salem witch trials?
The Crucible
During which global conflict did Hollywood produce patriotic films to support the war effort?
Second World War
Which Hollywood directors made films about the US Navy and Air Force during the Second World War?
John Ford and William Wyler
What significant political conflict was Hollywood a part of after 1945?
Cold War
What labor issues affected Hollywood after 1945?
Strikes
Who was the head of the Screen Actors’ Guild that aided HUAC’s investigation in 1947?
Ronald Reagan
Fill in the blank: The Hollywood Ten refused to cooperate with _______.
HUAC
What was the Hollywood Ten charged with in 1947?
The Hollywood Ten were charged with contempt of Congress for refusing to cooperate with HUAC.
Who were some of the supporters of the Hollywood Ten?
Supporters included major film stars like Humphrey Bogart, Henry Fonda, Gene Kelly, Katharine Hepburn, and Frank Sinatra.
What did the Committee for the First Amendment advocate for?
The Committee campaigned to defend the right of Americans to free speech.
What was the public’s initial reaction to the HUAC investigations?
Initially, the public tended to support Hollywood workers in the investigation.
What significant outcome resulted from the HUAC investigations?
A blacklist was produced of Hollywood actors and writers who would not be employed in the film industry.
What was the consequence of being blacklisted in Hollywood?
Blacklisted individuals were dismissed without compensation and many were forced to work overseas.
Which famous actor won an Oscar under an assumed name?
Dalton Trumbo won an Oscar in 1953 for the screenplay of Roman Holiday, which he scripted under an assumed name.
What was the impact of the HUAC investigations on Hollywood films?
Hollywood tended to avoid controversial topics in films for over a decade following the investigations.
What was Arthur Miller’s play ‘The Crucible’ about?
‘The Crucible’ was a veiled attack on the HUAC investigations, focusing on the Salem witch trials.
Did Arthur Miller get blacklisted for his actions?
No, Miller was not blacklisted as he cooperated with the HUAC investigation regarding his own past.
What was the percentage of households with a television in 1948?
2.9 percent
What was the percentage of households with a television in 1955?
Just over 76 percent
How many commercial television stations were licensed by the FCC in 1946?
Six television stations
How many commercial television stations were licensed by the FCC by 1956?
442 television stations
What transformed popular entertainment in the USA?
The huge rise in television ownership
What impact did television have on entertainment in the USA from 1920-55?
Television brought high-quality entertainment and news programs into homes, allowing people to experience popular entertainment that was previously reserved for the middle class. By 1960, the TV Guide outsold all other magazines, and average weekly attendance at movies fell from 90 million in 1946 to 47 million in 1956.
What is a tenement?
A block of flats (apartments) usually of poor standard in low-income areas of inner cities. One of the worst areas for tenements in New York City was the Bronx.
What major sporting event was televised for the first time in 1947?
Major League Baseball’s World Series was televised for the first time in 1947.
Which networks dominated US television in the 1950s?
The American Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), and Columbia Broadcasting Systems (CBS) dominated US television.
What was the significance of the sitcom ‘The Goldbergs’?
‘The Goldbergs’ was a sitcom that told the story of a Jewish working-class family living in a Bronx tenement in New York City, first airing in 1948.
What was the premise of ‘Father Knows Best’?
‘Father Knows Best’ focused on life in a suburb and portrayed the typical middle-class father, Jim Anderson, and his supportive wife, without any political references.
What was the most popular sitcom of the 1950s?
‘I Love Lucy’ was the most popular sitcom of the 1950s, focusing on the home life of Lucille Ball and her husband, Desi Arnaz.
What was the premise of the game show ‘The $64,000 Question’?
‘The $64,000 Question’ placed contestants in isolation booths to answer demanding questions and was sponsored by Revlon.
How were women and ethnic minorities portrayed in 1950s television?
Women were often portrayed as loyal housewives, while ethnic minorities were typically shown in servile roles, with few exceptions.
What was the significance of Edward Murrow’s ‘See It Now’?
‘See It Now’ looked at serious issues, such as the McCarthy anti-communist crusade, and began the decline of McCarthyism.
Who was the feisty Molly?
Molly was a character featured in the context of American television in 1953.
What was the impact of bringing black personalities into American homes according to Sullivan?
Sullivan believed it would undermine racism and force white audiences to reassess their prejudices.
Who did Sullivan believe would ultimately end Jim Crow?
Sullivan suggested that children would be the ones to finally lay Jim Crow to rest.
What marked the rise of teenage culture in the 1950s?
The 1950s saw teenagers become rebellious and financially empowered due to the post-war economic boom.
What factors contributed to the independence of teenagers in the 1950s?
Parents wanted to offer their teens a different experience from the Depression and WWII, leading to more independence.
What developments benefited teenagers in the 1950s?
The availability of cars and the development of fast food were significant benefits for teenagers.
How did businesses respond to the rise of teenage culture?
Businesses developed teenage fashion to capitalize on the emerging teenage market.
What new form of popular music was associated with teenage culture?
Rock’n’roll was the new form of popular music associated with teenage culture.
How did television programming and films influence societal views in the USA from 1920-1955?
Television programming and films helped develop the idea of a new social group, portraying youths as juvenile delinquents and disrespectful of adults.
What was the media’s portrayal of youth culture in the 1950s?
The media claimed that gangs of youths roamed the streets engaging in violence, with popular films like those featuring Marlon Brando and James Dean addressing teenage alienation.
What did Alfred Kinsey’s research reveal about sexual behavior in the 1940s and 1950s?
Kinsey’s findings claimed that 95 percent of males had been sexually active by age 15, suggesting a significant shift in teenage sexual behavior compared to previous generations.
What was the impact of Fredric Wertham’s ‘Seduction of the Innocent’?
Wertham claimed comic books corrupted youth, leading to 13 states passing laws regulating comic book content by 1955.
How did the magazine Time contribute to perceptions of teenage culture in the 1950s?
In 1955, Time produced a special edition called ‘Teenagers on the Rampage!’, reinforcing beliefs among parents that teenage culture was rebellious.
What concerns did parents express about comic books in the early 1950s?
Parents worried that comic books negatively influenced their children’s behavior, comparing the situation to wartime invasions and expressing fears about the future of mankind.
What role did rock and roll play in teenage culture?
Rock and roll epitomized the new teenage culture, contrasting with adult music from the WWII era and allowing teenagers to express financial independence through music.
What were the origins of rock and roll music?
Rock and roll originated from black American music in the Old South, evolving into a distinct sound in northern cities during the Great Migration.
Who was Alan Freed and what was his contribution to rock and roll?
Alan Freed coined the term ‘rock and roll’ and popularized the genre through his radio show, Moondog’s Rock’n’roll Party, starting in 1952.
What was the significance of the song ‘Shake Rattle and Roll’?
Recorded by Big Joe Turner in 1954, it was one of the first successful rock and roll records, showcasing the genre’s appeal.
How did the song ‘Rock Around the Clock’ impact rock and roll’s popularity?
Released in 1955, it became a national hit and exemplified the genre’s widespread appeal, performed by artists like Chuck Berry.
What cultural origins did rock’n’roll music have?
Rock’n’roll music originated in black American culture.
However, it gained popularity when reformed by white artists.
What event in 1955 marked a significant moment for rock’n’roll?
In 1955, Bill Haley and the Comets performed ‘Rock Around the Clock’, which became a nationwide success.
This song appeared in the film ‘The Blackboard Jungle’, about teenage rebellion.
Who is considered the first national teenage idol of rock’n’roll?
Elvis Presley is considered the first national teenage idol of rock’n’roll.
He gained fame for his dance moves, looks, and powerful voice.
What was Elvis Presley’s first number one song?
Elvis Presley’s first number one song was ‘Heartbreak Hotel’, released in 1955 with RCA.
How did the Cold War affect Hollywood and the US film industry?
The Cold War influenced Hollywood and the US film industry in various ways, including themes of patriotism and anti-communism.
Why did television become popular in the period 1945-55?
Television became popular in the period 1945-55 due to its accessibility and the rise of consumer culture.
How were women and ethnic minorities portrayed in US television from 1945-55?
Women and ethnic minorities were often portrayed in stereotypical roles in US television during 1945-55.
What do Source 9’s insights reveal about middle-class parents’ feelings towards cultural changes in the USA after 1945?
Source 9 reveals that many middle-class parents had concerns about the cultural changes occurring in the USA after 1945.
How significant was television as an influence on US society from 1945 to 1955?
Television was a major influence on US society during this period, with evidence showing its increasing availability and impact.
However, its influence changed over time as the number of televisions available increased.
