ENTERTAINMENT IN THE 1950s

Radio was the most popular form of entertainment in Australia before television. Teenager requests were always and a hit song had to be Rock ‘n’ roll and American.

Black and white television came to Australia in 1956. Cinema was influenced by America and 74% of films were imported from America. Good quality and great technicolour films were produced because American technology was the most advanced in the world and this attracted the best actors. The 1950s decade was during the Cold War and space travel atomic warfare, the power of modern science and the Cold War was what American cinema used to make fantasy films that explore the real life concerns of the decade.

American actors, actresses and rock ‘n’ roll singers had an influence on teenager fashion like actresses Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn for the girls with tight waisted skirts and tight matching jumper. Marlon Brando and James Dean created the ‘Teddy boys’ look, which dressed in long jackets and thick soled shoes. Elvis Presley and Bill Haley’s rock ‘n’ roll listeners were turned into ‘bodgies and widgies’. They dressed in tight black pants and bright shirts and the boys imitated Elvis’s hair with the slicked back and grease along with the long side burns.

Family Car

Holden car was designed by American engineers. Australians way of life changed in the 1950s when Australians could now build homes away from the rail and tram lines because people could drive to work.

Surfing increased in popularity when surfboards could be attached to roof racks on top of the ‘family car’. The portable battery-powered wireless was produced so listeners could listen at the beach or