T. V . Dinners
In 1952, the first frozen dinners on oven-ready aluminum trays were introduced by Quaker States Foods. It was joined by other companies including Frigi-Dinner. Meals offered main entrées with sides such as beef stew with corn and peas, veal goulash with peas and potatoes, and chicken chow mein with egg rolls and fried rice. Swanson, a prominent producer of poultry in Nebraska, promoted the widespread sales and adaptation of frozen dinners by using its nationally-recognized brand name with an extensive national marketing campaign nicknamed "Operation Smash" and the clever advertising name of "TV Dinner," which excited the public about the new, easier way to do dinner for their families after a long day at work.
Jukeboxes
A jukebox is an automated music playing the device that was invented in the 1940s, but reached their highest popularity in the 1950s because it was the decade of emerging rock & roll. The machines were usually coin operated (costing only about a nickel a song), so that customers in diners and bars could pay to play the music that they wanted to hear, instead of a D.J. or a live band performance. They stored many tracks, and had buttons with numbers and letters on them that when entered in combination, would play a specific song. The model most popular in the 1950s was the 1953 Seeburg M100C. This was the jukebox exterior pictured in the popular sitcom, Happy Days. It played up to fifty 45 rpm records making it a 100-play. It was a very colorful jukebox with chrome glass tubes on the front and mirrors in the display. Popular hits included songs from Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Louis, Doris Day, Rosemary Clooney, Kay Starr, and Patti Page.
Diners
Due to the Space Race, diners in the 1950s took on what people of the time thought of as a futuristic, space-inspired style. This change also occurred as a result of the population shift from the cities to the suburbs. Odd shapes and angles, bright colors, shiny stainless steel exteriors and large windows were incorporated into designs as a way to attract passing motorists. The style, called "Googie," originated in Southern California and was adopted in many establishments, such as bowling alleys and motels. Other new developments included air conditioning, ventilation, and lighting. Although the food served and prices charged were likely to be consistent within a region (with the exception of areas with large immigrant populations that served more ethnic cuisines), diners still offered more variability and individuality than fast food restaurants, which gave them tough competition and caused them to struggle. Meals included the classic American breakfast (eggs, bacon, pancakes), the classic American lunch (sandwiches, chips, french fries), and the classic American dinner (hamburgers, hot dogs, Philly cheese steaks). They were also often open 24 hours a day, becoming a large part of the busy city life along with night clubs and bars. In television and cinema such as The Blob, Happy Days, and Diner, diners acted as a symbol for the period of prosperity and optimism in White America at the time. As in real life, they are shown as the place where teenagers met after school and went on dates.
Not only are many historic diners still standing today, but 50s imitation diners are still built and franchised, such as Andy's.
Not only are many historic diners still standing today, but 50s imitation diners are still built and franchised, such as Andy's.
Letter Sweaters
This was common apparel for high schoolers in the 1950s. Varsity letters, also called monograms, is an award in the United States for excellence in school activities, mainly sports. It signifies that its owner was a varsity team member, and it is awarded after a certaiin standard was met. The letters, placed on sweaters and then later on varsity letterman jackets, were made in the color of the school that the wearer attended and was constructed by felt materials. The letter is from the name of the school, and pins for different sports and other activities may be put on it to show what the student was involved in. This spread outside of the high school range when many colleges also started sporting this style. In the 1980s, It became a fad again in hip hop fashion. This is ironic because it was initially a symbol of accomplishment in a time of rock & roll.