Topic 4 - Cultural change 1945-55

Question 1

Decline of cinema

Answer 1

Cinema attendance → fell from 90 million in 1946 to 46 million in 1955

Question 2

Reasons for decline

Answer 2

Main reason → advent of TVs allowed people to be entertained in the privacy of their own homes
Growth of suburbs → fewer people had access to cinemas

Question 3

TV stations

Answer 3

Rose from 98 in 1950 to 233 by 1954
Sponsored by advertisers → e.g. Colgate toothpaste sponsored the NBC network

Question 4

Popular TV

Answer 4

Provided escapist entertainment for millions
Influenced politics → See it Now exposed Joseph McCarthy
I Love Lucy (sitcom) attracted 50 million viewers

Question 5

Origins of teenage culture

Answer 5

1950 → 41.6% of population was under 24
Many teenagers had jobs and income → encouraged businesses to cater to their interests → e.g. fashion, music

Question 6

Rock and Roll

Answer 6

Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis became huge hits in 1950s
Genre encouraged wild dancing → young people loved it
Older people concerned with sexual energy, rebelliousness