Category: 1950s

Disneyland as a Major Discovery of the 1950s Discovery Decade

Discovery is a better name for the 1950s, thanks in part to the Disneyland theme park. The popularity of Disneyland helped Walt Disney spread happiness and joy during a decade of discovery.

Disneyland in California was first opened in 1955 by WED Enterprises. Disney created his theme park to make his visitors feel that Disneyland was truly the happiest place on earth. Due to the technological innovations made by the Imagineers and Walt Disney, Disneyland is one of the most popular vacation trips. Disney had made a huge effect not only in one small city but the whole country. Its popularity attracted people from all over the nation who also wanted to visit this new idea of a theme park. Although this decade had struggles with war and economy, that did not stop Disney from finding a way to create happiness through his ideas.

A few reasons why Disneyland became very popular is because of its films, TV debuts, and advanced technology. Disney used certain items of technology, such as the multiplane camera, to create many amazing animated films. One of the greatest inventions in the 1950s was the television in which Walt Disney promoted many of his films and shows. Some of the most iconic films that Walt Disney produced were ‘Cinderella’ and ‘Peter Pan’, both created in the 1950s. One of Disneyland’s most popular features is its audio-animatronics. Animatronics are robotic figures that are able to move, talk, and act like living beings; they were built by Disney’s design teams. A few popular animatronics at Disneyland are the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’, ‘Enchanted Tiki Room’, and ‘Haunted Mansion’. Disney’s creation of animatronics is still some of the most popular films being watched today. His discoveries allowed him to be able to attract his audience by using storytelling. The innovative technology that was used made this theme park a fairytale. Those who were able to visit had never experienced anything like Disneyland.

Walt Disney’s creative imagination was a major factor in his life that helped him become extremely successful. He was born in Chicago Illinois, then later in his life moved to Hollywood, California. Disney grew up on a farm with his four other siblings. He was an extremely well-known founder of Disneyland theme parks, family entertainment enterprises, animator, and producer of television films and motion production. When Disney was younger, he loved cartoon animations and commercial art. He moved to Hollywood later in his life and started working on his first successful creation of Mickey Mouse. Disney’s discovery of all that he has created has led him to huge successes to this day. He had a dream when he was young, he worked hard and dedicated his life to doing what he loved and his dream had come true. He inspired many to keep pursuing their dreams.

The 1950s was undeniably a decade of discovery. America had been struggling with economic issues and stress from the Korean War. Disneyland opening truly had a positive impact on America. ‘The Decade of Discovery’ is the best title for the 1950s because this was America’s time of growth, development, and creativity. There were new ideas being made and different inventions being created all in hopes that they would be useful in the future. The discoveries made in the 1950s have been extremely effective and continue to be beneficial to this day.

Essay on 1950s Black Fashion

With the end of the Second World War in 1945, came the revival of romanticism and haute couture within the world of fashion. After a period of rationing everything from food to fabrics and styles such as the ‘Utility Dress’ being the trend during the war, the revival of romanticism was greatly welcomed by many. Although the previous era focused on loose silhouettes and boxy fittings, fitted clothing, and the hourglass figure made a strong comeback. Designers such as Christian Dior, Balenciaga, Givenchy, and the return of House Chanel were the prominent fashion leaders of this period. Although the war had ended there was still a shortage of resources around the world, one of these being fabric. Many designers had to adapt and create with as little fabric as possible due to the shortages. Although not all designers respected this, one of them being Christian Dior. The two designers that will be examined are the House of Dior and the House of Chanel.

In 1905, Christian Dior was born in Granville, Normandy. His beginning was unlike other fashion leaders. He studied political science in college and opened an art gallery at 21, selling works by artists such as Salvador Dali and Braque. He first entered the fashion world when his family lost their fortune. With this huge loss, Dior also lost his apartment after selling all his art pieces, he was forced to sleep on a friend’s floor, “Christian Dior’s dark days living rough and of a pauper’s diet resulted in him contracting tuberculosis and he had to have a year in convalescence.” (Christian Dior (1905- 1957), 2020). Dior was known as one of the best fashion illustrators of the century (Christian Dior (1905-1957), 2020) and sold fashion sketches to houses such as the House of Worth and many other big names, which then led to Dior being trained by Piguet and Lelong. By 1946, Dior opens his own couture house at 30 Avenue Montaigne with the aid of a wealthy industrialist, Marcel Boussac.

In 1947, Dior released his first collections, En 8 and Corolle, which were soon known as the “New Look”. Dior wanted his collection to be an escape from a “Poverty-stricken, parsimonious era, obsessed with ration books and clothing coupons”. (Donaldson, 2020)This collection was inspired by three aspects; his childhood surrounded by luxury and seeing his mother’s dresses, “The Barretts of Wimpole” play also played a huge role with its references to femininity, softly draping fabrics, and flattering hats, however, “the true inspiration came from Berard and the sketches he made with Dior about what the collection should say.” (Christian Dior (1905-1957), 2020) Dior wanted to revive the romanticism that was so present in the 1820’s and 1830’s.

His famous “The Bar Suit” outfit from the “Corolle” line, 1947, was highly controversial when it was released. This suit consisted of a silk peplum jacket and a wool skirt. This was a very bold choice from Dior since the majority of the world was still rationing and there was a shortage of fabric. His choice of silhouette was also going against the new “norm” which was loose, draping, and almost boxy silhouettes. Dior decided to bring back the small waist which was immensely popular up until the late 19th Century. The “Bar Suit” was a clear and loud rejection of the 1920’s and 1930’s style. This created a strong divide amongst women, with feminists being outraged that he would bring back the restrictive style that they fought so much to shake. However, many women were huge fans of the style and silhouette believing that he successfully brought back romanticism and femininity after such difficult and dark years previous. The suit does not fail to impress, with its hand-stitched, pleated black crepe fabric which was very heavy and 5.5 meters long, sparing no expense with the shortage of fabric during this time. The teacup suit jacket was made using shantung silk with cotton padding on the front to give the jacket its peplum shape. (V&A · Fashion unpicked: The ‘Bar’ suit by Christian Dior, 2019)The suit is exactly what I would imagine as the essence of upper-class femininity. It is elegant, flowing, and subtle yet eye-catching.

Thanks to Dior and many other designers, Haute Couture, and romanticism were on the rise yet again. In 1939, just before the war, Chanel closed her salon. She reopened it in 1953 at the age of 71, challenging Dior’s “New Look”. Chanel, like other designers, was not keen to welcome back the silhouettes that Dior had revived. “Chanel felt his designs were neither modern nor suitable for the liberated women who had survived another war” (Krick, 2004). Instead, she made her come back with her famous tweed suit which was not a complete success, however, she persevered onwards adjusting the suit and eventually becoming the icon for the new generation. Her suits were exceedingly popular due to their non-restrictive and light fabrics. The suits successfully merged two worlds; femininity and comfort, which were a huge hit with the majority of females.

With her status and customers returning in large volumes, she had succeeded in her comeback and fashion revolution. Now that Chanel had returned, she released a bag, which was so popular the style is still used to this day. The iconic bag was known as 2.55, named after the month and year it was released, and it was a quilted handbag. She brought a new style to the shoulder strap bags which, like her suits, were strong yet lightweight. (Inside CHANEL, 2020). Chanel continues to be the symbol of one of the highest forms of elegance.

Here is an image of Chanel’s famous tweed suit worn outside the Chanel Salon. This suit was the first professional suit made solely for women. The suit was originally made from tweed however with growing popularity and adjustments to fit the new generation, the suit was also made in solid fabrics too.

The suit is a very modern feminine outfit and embodies luxury and elegance associated with higher-class women, even to this day I would associate Chanel clothing with the upper classes and the very wealthy.

It was a very lightweight and practical suit, which was a breath of fresh air for women who wore the last 19th century clothes. The suit is so light it has a gold chain in the hem and around the collar to add weight and keep its shape.

Below are two evening gowns, one created by Chanel in 1958 (right) and the other created by Dior in 1949 (left). Although there are many clear differences, the two dresses embody the highest form of elegance and sophistication. Both dresses also have a form of layering, with Chanel’s being at the bottom and Dior’s cascading from the waist. Chanel continues to create lightweight clothes whilst Dior opts for heavier and much more fabric for his clothes.

Although Christian Dior and Gabrielle Coco Chanel were complete opposites, they have both paved the path for today’s fashion and have stood against the test of time. Chanel has very much remained with their style and values from the beginning, creating high-end luxury fashion and supplying practical elegance for those who can afford it. Dior has changed their style greatly over the years adapting to the changing world in which we live. I believe Dior is as popular, if not more than they were when they first began. Christian Dior has managed to keep their Haute Couture status whilst also entering the fast-growing world of street fashion. By signing Asap Rocky to be their face of the street fashion within Dior they have successfully cemented themselves as one of the many pillars of this culture. (DeLeon, Klanten and Niebius, 2018).

I believe without Christian Dior and Gabrielle Coco Chanel’s creations the fashion in the 1940s and 1950s would not have been so revolutionary in the revival of romanticism, feminism, and Haute Couture itself. Both designers succeeded tremendously with the revivals in their ways. The post-war period benefitted greatly from the two extremely different designers challenging the norms of their time.

References

1. (Anon, 2020) Metmuseum.org. 2020. [online] Available at:
2. (Christian Dior (1905-1957), 2020) The Business of Fashion. 2020. Christian Dior (1905-1957). [online] Available at:
3. (Design is fine. History is mine., 2020) The design is fine. History is mine. 2020. Design Is Fine. History Is Mine.. [online] Available at: https://www.design-is-fine.org/post/65541357270/coco-chanel-evening-dress-1958-paris-v-a-this
4. (DeLeon, Klanten and Niebius, 2018) DeLeon, J., Klanten, R. and Niebius, M., 2018. The Incomplete. 3rd ed. Berlin: Gestalten, pp.115,116.
5. (Donaldson, 2020) Donaldson, S., 2020. The New Look And Its Impact.
6. (FMP Research: CoCo Chanel’s impact on feminism, 2020) Sophia. 2020. FMP Research: Coco Chanel’s Impact On Feminism. [online] Available at:
7. (Krick, 2004) Krick, Jessa. “Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel (1883–1971) and the House of Chanel.” In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/chnl/hd_chnl.htm (October 2004)
8. (Pin on Fashion Inspo, 2020) Pinterest. 2020. Pin On Fashion Inspo. [online] Available at:
9. (V&A · Fashion unpicked: The ‘Bar’ suit by Christian Dior, 2019) Victoria and Albert Museum. 2019. V&A · Fashion Unpicked: The ‘Bar’ Suit By Christian Dior. [online] Available at: https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/fashion-unpicked-bar-suit-dior

Effects of Consumerism in the 1950s Essay

The growth and spread of consumerism was a mass culture ideology that was accepted by many due to the promises it gave and how it reshaped the economy. Consumerism has been implemented into American society since the 1920’s when Herbert Hoover was in office. Consumerism in the 1950s was a cultural ideology that, in addition to social changes, brought us our convenient economy and our modern ideas about American life. From the end of the Great Depression to the end of the 60s, the American people had this desire to reshape their economy for the future. This was because they wanted to set America to a new frontier and this was the perfect time to do so. After World War II, America witnessed an economic boom unlike any other, and due to the prior position many Americans were in they wanted to prosper and pass this new life throughout the family. America was looking a lot more promising, adults were finding good paying jobs, students were graduating college at a higher rate, and children became the focus of this new economy, but why and what were they being promised?

The postwar period saw an increase in Americans’ access to financial products. Throughout the 50s and into the 60s virtually all measures to promote commercial goods, consumer demands, financial products, and services have become more widely dispersed. This started the dispersion of the ideology of consumerism, which started in the 20s but became largely available to all in the 50s. A larger variety of assets was held by more and different types of US families, especially those with lower incomes and net worth, as well as among racial and ethnic minorities.

With a growing economy and new industries making their way into America it was more than likely to carry credit card debt over this period. Consumers at nearly all income levels had more mortgage debt, although again there was the least change in the top quintile. This was supposed to happen though and the banks ended up rewarding people if they were to spend enough on their credit cards eventually, this ideology that was made possible by the adults in America soon targeted the youth of America. The shift to revolving credit that took place in the 1950s and early 1960s allowed borrowers to customize their repayment plans. Suddenly, consumers could choose whether they would repay the entire balance or only a required minimum. By the 1980s, required minimum monthly payments were dramatically reduced, such that a consumer could finance a dinner at a restaurant over the years.

Consumerism came closely involved with patriotism. This is seen right after the war this ideology was mass spread, and this was because Americans were required by law to spend a portion of their income every year. Americans were making more money than before, and that was a reason for the spread of consumerism after World War II. Ads started targeting children and adults saying that the reason to buy this was because it was better and more efficient and they wouldn’t just say that they would prove it by showing all smiles of the people who have the product, infomercials did the same, but at the end the sole purpose was to support your homeland in any way possible.

The realties that the American people could grasp at this time were more extended than the money in their account. This is what fueled the American people in knowing and being encouraged to get the latest and greatest product and in turn, they would be helping their country. Assets were held by more U.S. families than your typical family, such as ones with lower incomes as well as racial and ethnic minorities. This ideology reached a lot further than your typical Caucasian family and the determination to get what you wanted was possible for all and was encouraged. The new intended target audience went from adults to children.

In this time the most important thing was buying and having the feeling of having the newest and most efficient product so in turn paying the bank back was the topic for many families. This further supports the idea that banks wanted families to spend more and to keep this ideology in their heads to hopefully influence the next generation, which worked. The fact that families could choose to pay for a dinner in 6 months tells you that interest was really low and that this would only encourage consumers to spend more even if they might not have the money available at that time. The question of who was really in charge of the money, the bank or the borrowers didn’t seem to affect anyone. The bank was good at making the consumer feel that money was nothing and this new idea of credit would soon take over and so in the end everyone feels like they have control over their cash that comes in and out.

It was smart for a family to capitalize on this because interest rates were really low. This is because they wanted Americans to buy and buy after the fall of the market and how the Great Depression brought about a harsh reality for all American people. No one wanted this to happen again, so banks gave the people what they wanted, which was encouraging them to buy and buy even if they couldn’t afford it at the moment because interest rates were low and credit cards were introduced. In return, people bought and bought and contributed to the new growth of America’s economy to ensure that it would never happen again.

Expendability was indeed a central aspect of much of the culture of the 50s & 60s: it was both a physical fact of many products and a symbol of belief in the modern age. Obsolescence was not only accepted by the fashion-conscious young, often it was positively celebrated. An awareness of the role, meaning, and significance of expendability is, therefore, crucial to a full understanding of 1960s culture. But ‘style obsolescence’ was not a 1960s invention: it can be traced directly back to the ‘high mass- consumption’ stage of post-Second World War consumerist America and has its origins even earlier in the century. The idea that one disposes of artifacts or products before one needs to to buy a more up-to-date or desirable version is at least as old as consumerism and capitalist society. It is only in the twentieth century that products themselves have been designed and manufactured with some form of conscious style obsolescence.

The social changes are what was expected to come from this new way of living, the “throw-away” culture. This presents the fact that during the 50s and throughout the decade expendability was part of the culture of the time. This means that the good could be used a certain amount of time productively and efficiently until it would finally become obsolete. This is what fueled consumerism and what was believed to be a symbol of the modern age. Obsolescence also plays a big role in understanding why consumers wanted more from the businesses and thought there was no need to keep this product because the new one introduced something else. This is what created competition between businesses and introduced the competitive market we know today of always innovating and re-creating to survive.

Obsolescence then helps establish an understanding of what was ideology back then and how strong of a presence it had on the American people. The loss of frugality and the introduction of excessive spending is quite evident, this is because the people have placed their wants in front of their needs and this is purely for self-gain and to prove oneself in this new society. This idea that one should throw away their old product to buy the new one most likely means that the American people have always wanted to buy and spend excessively. Americans before this era weren’t in the financial position to do so or just didn’t find the old American market to be as efficient or productive as imagined. This explains why consumerism just found its way into American society and wasn’t forced and that’s because we’ve always wanted it and were just waiting for the businesses to appeal to more people and steadily produce and produce more goods and to bring about these goods something they wouldn’t have done before by taking more risks in whichever way the consumer saw fit.

Large corporations also developed holdings overseas, where labor costs were often lower. Workers found their own lives changing as industrial America changed. Fewer workers produced goods; more provided services. With such changes, labor militancy was undermined and some class distinctions began to fade. Farmers, on the other hand, faced tough times. Gains in productivity led to agricultural consolidation, as farming became a big business. Family farms, in turn, found it difficult to compete, and more and more farmers left the land. Other Americans moved too. In the postwar period, the West and the Southwest continued to grow — a trend that would continue through the end of the century. An even more important form of movement led Americans out of inner cities into new suburbs, where they hoped to find affordable housing for the larger families spawned by the postwar baby boom. Using the techniques of mass production, Levitt cut costs for both sides. Levitt’s houses were prefabricated, or partly assembled in a factory rather than on the final location. As suburbs grew, businesses moved into the new areas. The number of these centers rose from eight at the end of World War II to 3,840 in 1960.

Many Americans at this time had the realization that with consumerism came a demand for fast repetition and similar quality through and through and if it can be repeated then it can be replaced. This made the workers use their skills to survive and move from working in the factories by producing goods for 10+ hours a day, and then assessing their skills by finding services that many Americans would want. This drastic change caused smaller businesses to fall behind and corporate businesses to grow bigger, this is because the bigger businesses moved to more prosperous cities and busy suburbs to meet the demand of the consumers. This ends up creating a monopoly causing small businesses to leave and go further out from the populous cities to try there.

The growth in production benefits the people who want to live and fulfill the ideals of the American life. William J. Levitt an American real estate developer, who wasn’t new to the idea of consumerism and made houses for the people living in the suburbs and throughout populous cities. To save money for himself, the houses were all identical and this allowed for them to be mass-produced. Since they were mass-produced, these houses didn’t have premiums or upgrades to add on, which allowed for a non-competitive price for the consumer. Houses during this time were important and one wanted to live in the city because they were close to all the businesses and companies and didn’t have to wait for a long time. At this time the ideology of consumerism made everyone have an interest in buying and then in turn selling or disposing of the goods.