Technology of the 1950’s

Booming

Children’s

Toys

Around the House

The 1950’s Kitchen

TV’s Hottest

Years

Around the Houseo The 50’s had a lot of major inventions that we still

use to this day in our everyday lives.o Some of these inventions include:

The remote control• Back in the 50’s, it plugged into the TV.

Super glue Saran wrap TV dinners Liquid paper (or we know it as white out)

o Other inventions did not carry out as popular such as: Bubblegum flavored cigars Portable sauna

Booming Children’s Toyso A lot of popular toys today got their start in the 50’s.o Boys toys would include:

Electric trains Comic books Manual scooters Small green army men Legos Matchbox cars Tonka trucks Baseball cards

o Girls toys would include: Paper dolls Hula hoops Barbie took off in the 50’s Jacks with the ball

Booming Children’s Toys Cont’d

o There were a lot of toys for girls and boys. These would include toys such as: Silly putty Pogo sticks Mr. Potato Heads Slinky Record players Frisbees Ant Farms Playdoh

The 1950’s Kitcheno The 1950’s kitchen was the center of the home.o The floors usually consisted of either wood planks or linoleum tiles.

The retro floors consisted of black and white or red and white checkered linoleum tiles.

o Counter tops were made of laminate material with curved edges. The laminate was often patterned with boomerang designs. The edge around the countertop was usually a shiny chrome banding.

o Cabinets were usually wood or plastic.o They had laminate, round tables with a chrome metal banding and

chrome legs.o The colors were usually bright and vibrant. The most popular colors

were: Green Pink Aqua Orange

The 1950’s Kitchen Cont’d

o The appliances around the kitchen consisted of: Egg poacher Pressure cooker Food mixer Refrigerators (ice box) Washing machine

• They didn’t have a separate room for laundry like we do now.

Vacuum• They kept their vacuums and other cleaning supplies in a closet in

the kitchen.

Coffee makers Stainless steel appliances

• Stoves• Sinks• Refrigerators

o The first color television was invented in 1950’s. Was not popular in households due to extremely high prices

and lack of broadcast. There were few color programs on TV.

o Color televisions in a household were extremely rare. Usually only wealthy families were fortunate enough to have

color televisions.

o Some models of televisions were: 1951 Philco

• 12 inches.

1956 Emerson Portable• Not as portable as played out to be.• Weighed 24lbs.• Has an AM radio

1957 RCA • 8 inches.

Televisions Hottest Years

o !957 GE Portable 9 inches Metal body 13 pounds

o 1958 RCA Color TV 27 inches

o 1959 Silvertone “Suburbanite” Constructed with fiberglass. (very high tech at the time) Suburbanite is the 1950’s “Jetsons” style.

Televisions Hottest Years

My Linkso "YouTube - 1959 First EVER Barbie Commercial." YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

21 May 2007. Web. 01 Mar. 2010. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8-avPUxyno&feature=player_embedded>.

o Eric. "Erics Vintage Television Sets." Vintage TV Sets. Web. 01 Mar. 2010. <http://www.vintagetvsets.com>.

o "Pop History - Inventions of the Fifties." The Fifties Index - Oldies Music, Classic TV, Fifties History, Fifties Clothes, Burma Shave, Elvis, American Bandstand, Sixties Fashion and more. Apr. 2009. Web. 01 Mar. 2010. <http://www.fiftiesweb.com/pop/inventions.htm>.

o Hoppers, Lindy. "Kitchen Appliances!" Swing and Lindy Hop in DC. Web. 01 Mar. 2010. <http://www.jitterbuzz.com/indkit.html>.

o "Retro Kitchen Appliances and Decor - LoveToKnow Interior Design." Home Interior Design | Interior Design Ideas and more... Lovetoknowinteriordesign. Web. 01 Mar. 2010. <http://interiordesign.lovetoknow.com/Retro_Kitchen_Appliances_and_Decor>.