The 1950s were some of America’s most critical years. It was an epic decade for pop culture, with iconic movies, TV shows, and celebrities making their mark. Consumers saw the modern American lifestyle take shape during the 1950s, but it was also a time when America saw itself grow both scientifically and politically.
No matter where you were or what you were doing, the 1950s certainly were an exciting time to be alive. Here are some fun facts about the 1950s!
1) TV Dinners Were Introduced
Here’s a fun fact for the year 1953: it’s the year when TV dinners were introduced. These convenient frozen meals that defined 1950s USA were made by the Swanson company. The first TV dinner was composed of a Thanksgiving-style turkey meal complete with cornbread stuffing and peas.
2) A Positive Step toward American Civil Rights
One of the most critical 1950s historical facts is the progress made by the civil rights movement that began almost a decade earlier. One of the highlights is the Supreme Court 1954 ruling on the landmark Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka case, which stated that the racial segregation of blacks and whites into separate schools was unconstitutional.
3) Disneyland Opened
One of the most memorable 1950s fun facts on this list is the opening of Disneyland in Anaheim, California, on 17 July 1955. It was the start of a theme park empire that eventually spread to multiple locations around the globe. However, the original Disneyland holds the honor as the only Disney Park built and designed under the supervision of Walt Disney himself.
4) Rock and Roll Was Born
The highlight of 1950s pop culture in America was the introduction of rock and roll, or “rocking and rolling” music. The term was first coined by Cleveland DJ Alan Freed, and teens across the country quickly grew fond of it. The new music celebrated themes like love and freedom from oppression.
5) A Star Debuted
One of the mainstays of 50s pop culture is Audrey Hepburn, probably the most recognizable Hollywood actress of her era and beyond. She debuted in the 1953 film Roman Holiday, which won her an Academy Award.
6) Everest Was Conquered
One of the most monumental achievements from the 1950s was the first human ascent to the summit of the tallest mountain on Earth, Mount Everest. It was made on 29 May 1953 by the sherpa Tenzing Norgay and British explorer Sir Edmund Hillary.
7) I Love Lucy Debuted
Our 1950s fun facts wouldn’t be complete without mentioning some of our favorite TV shows, and probably the best one of them all is I Love Lucy. One of the most successful sitcoms of all time, it first aired in 1951.
8) First Miss America Broadcast
This 1950s fun fact deals with one of the most iconic pageants in the country: the Miss America Pageant. In 1954, the prestigious event was first broadcast to the entire country on live television from the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
9) NASA Was Established
The most scientifically significant 1950s fact is the passing of the National Aeronautics and Space Act on 29 July 1958, which created the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The space agency went on to achieve the first human moon landing in history just a little over a decade later.
10) Fast Food Was Born
A fast food phenomenon that came to define the American lifestyle, the McDonald’s hamburger chain had its roots in the 1940s – but the McDonald’s franchise under Ray Kroc credits 15 April 1955 as its founding date. The first burgers were sold for a cheap 15 cents each.
11) America Met the Hula Hoop
America was swept up by the hula hoop craze in the 1950s. The iconic toy was first designed by Arthur K. “Spud” Melin and Richard Knerr. It was an instant success, and they sold 25 million units in the first four months
12) The First Indoor Mall Was Opened
Yet another feature of American life was introduced in the 1950s with the opening of the first indoor mall, in Minnesota. Named the Southdale Center, it’s the oldest temperature-controlled indoor mall in the U.S.
13) Barbie Debuted
The now-iconic Barbie doll was first introduced in March 1959 by Ruth Handler and the Mattel company. It was inspired by a German doll called Bild Lilli.
14) A Record-Breaker on the Silver Screen
Ben Hur was released on 18 November 1959 and went on to become one of the most successful films in history. It won a total of 11 Academy Awards, a record that wasn’t broken until decades later by the film Titanic in 1998.
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