What Were the Early 1950s Like?
A Buick from the 1950s
Thanks to Pixabay
Life as a Boy
I remember very little about the first six years of my life. A broken left arm and an acute appendectomy between my fifth and sixth birthdays were traumatic events that I still sometimes dream about. Other than those experiences, my first long-lasting recollection of events began in 1951. During 1951-1953, I began school and started to experience events from daily life related to the Korean War that I share with my readers in this article.
Life in West Allis
I was born in Milwaukee in 1944 and lived there until about 1949. At that time, Dad got a job at Allis Chalmers Corporation in West Allis so my younger sister, parents, and I moved to a small lower apartment on South 63rd Street. Mom and Dad enrolled me in a small Catholic School, Saint Mary's Help of Christians on South 61st Street. I vividly remember Sister Colleen, my second-grade teacher. She was very kind and beautiful and encouraged me to become an altar boy. When I didn't go to school, I remember walking down the block with my father to visit my paternal grandfather and grandmother who lived three blocks away. Every summer we would jump into Dad's old late 30s Ford and drive up to Marshfield 200 miles away to visit my maternal grandparents. I loved going up there because there was so much room to play in a big field with my aunt who was one year older than me.
Recollections of Korean War
General Douglas MacArthur played a big role in the Second World War (World War II) and the Korean War. MacArthur was a five-star Army General who had been the U.S. commander-in-chief and hero of Pacific troops who had defeated Japan during World War II in 1945. He had also overseen Japan's American occupation following the war's end. When the Korean War broke out on June 25, 1950, with North Korea's occupation of South Korea, President Truman appointed MacArthur as commander-in-chief of UN troops in Korea. Starting with the Battle of Inchon in September of 1950, the UN troops under MacArthur's command had landed behind North Korean lines and pushed the North Koreans out of Seoul and past the 38th Parallel back into North Korea.
1. General MacArthur's Recall From Korea And Return to America
During 1951-1953, there were a lot of events related to the Korean War that I still recall. The first of these was the return of General Douglas MacArthur to America and Milwaukee in April of 1951. According to Wikipedia and other historians, MacArthur believed it was necessary to take the Korean War into China to destroy North Korea's supply depots out of China. Truman disagreed. When MacArthur's UN troops crossed the 38th Parallel into North Korea, the Chinese sent troops in defense of North Korea which led to UN losses. Due to these actions and insubordination to Truman, the President replaced MacArthur with General Ridgeway as commander-in-chief of UN troops on April 11, 1951.
I did not find out until later that Milwaukee had been MacArthur's legal home for many years. Therefore, it wasn't surprising that Milwaukee had staged a gala homecoming welcome for its Pacific hero. Early in the afternoon of probably a Saturday, I remember walking with my parents up to the corner of Greenfield and National Avenues to catch a glimpse of MacArthur's motorcade.
2. Playing With Toy Soldiers
At age seven or eight, I had great fun playing with toy soldiers on the living room floor. At that time, you could buy three-inch hollow cast metal toy soldiers in dime stores like Woolworth's for a nickel apiece. I especially liked to line up the flamethrower, bazooka man, and grenade thrower. Soldiers were my heroes at that time because they were brave and strong and fought to defeat the Reds in Korea.
3. Reading Combat Comic Books
At the same time, I was playing with toy soldiers, I can recall being sprawled out on the floor reading "Combat" comic books by probably Marvel. It was thrilling to see the heroic American soldiers fighting the evil Communists in Seoul.
4. News Reports About The War on Radio
There wasn't much TV to watch in the early 50s; therefore, the radio was on a lot in the house. On many occasions, I could hear news flashes about the war that reported, for example, that the UN forces had advanced 10 yards in one day with heavy fighting. Much of the later action in this three-year war was fought in the trenches.
5. Ending the War
By 1952, when it appeared the war was developing into a stalemate, there was a great sentiment in the States to end the war and bring the troops home. In 1952 before the presidential election while visiting grandma in Marshfield, she said she was voting for "Ike" (President Eisenhower) because he was bringing the boys home. Grandma was interested in this because Uncle Raymie was a machine gunner with the U.S. Army in Korea. Eisenhower was elected in 1952, and the U.S. troops returned when the war ended on July 27, 1953.
Toy Soldiers
Thanks to Pixabay
USAF Korean War Footage 1950
Radio Shows During The Early 1950s
During the early 1950s, I recall listening to just as much radio as watching television. Some of my favorite programs were as follows:
1. The Lone Ranger
"The Lone Ranger" ran on the radio from 1933 until 1955. Wikipedia reports that, according to legend, six Texas Rangers were ambushed one day by outlaws. One of the Rangers survived and was nursed back to health by an Indian named "Tonto." As his mission in life, the Lone Ranger, a masked man riding a white horse named Silver, vowed to fight injustice in the old American West. His loyal companion, Tonto, accompanied the Lone Ranger.
It seemed like almost daily I tuned into the latest 30-minute episode of The Lone Ranger. The program began with the incredible music from the "William Tell Overture." Then, the booming baritone voice of The Lone Ranger, spoken by Bruce Beemer, thrilled me with the sound of "Hi Ho Silver." Clayton Moore later played The Lone Ranger on TV, but the TV show could never approach the excellence of the radio program. I guess it's because I could imagine more by listening.
2. Milwaukee Braves Baseball Broadcasts
It was 1953 and the Braves' first year in Milwaukee having just moved from Boston. I was thrilled listening to play-by-play broadcasts of Earl Gillespie. He made the game come to life with such expressions as "somersault catch" and "holy cow!"
3. Billie The Brownie"
I would listen every day after school in December right before Christmas to "Billie The Brownie." This was a Christmas show, and "Billie" was one of Santa's elves. This show did much to get kids excited about the coming of Christmas. I remember writing a letter to Santa and having it read over the air.
The Lone Ranger TV Show
TV Shows During The Early 1950s
TV did not start to become popular in America until the early 50s. My folks had a small 12-inch black and white TV with a built-in phonograph. Some of the shows I remember watching were:
1. The Howdy Doody Show
Howdy Doody was a kid's TV program running from 1947 to 1960. The show was presented by Buffalo Bob Smith who held the talking puppet called Howdy Doody. I especially remember Clarabell the Clown and Flub a Dub as two of Howdy Doody's friends. There was also Princess Summer-Fall-Winter-Spring who also caught my fancy.
2. Quiz Shows
Mom and Dad often watched "You Bet Your Life" hosted by Groucho Marx on Friday evenings. Although this quiz show was funny, I preferred watching "What's My Line?" hosted by John Daly on Sunday evenings. I can still remember Dorothy Kilgallen and Bennett Cerf as some of the blindfolded celebrities on the panel who had to guess the identities of mystery guests on the show.
3. Variety Shows
There were a lot of variety shows during the early 1950s. My favorite was the Burns and Allen Show which aired on Saturday evenings. George Burns and his wife Gracie Allen were two hilarious comedians. We often visited my Uncle Augie to watch this show because he had a big 27-inch screen TV.
4. Sitcoms
The sitcom I remember best from the early 50s is Amos N' Andy. Although it showed for only three seasons 1951-53, I greatly enjoyed watching Amos, Andy, and the Kingfish's hilarious attempts to get rich.
Movies During The Early 1950s
I didn't see many movies as a young kid, but I recollect many of them having war or religious themes.
1. Movies With War Themes
Undoubtedly due to the heroic actions of American servicemen, war movies such as "From Here to Eternity" were popular during the early 1950s. My school gave me tickets to watch movies, and on one Saturday morning, I saw "Sergeant York" starring Gary Cooper. It was a great film, and I can still remember the scene in the movie where Sergeant York had just captured a large group of German soldiers single-handedly during World War I.
2. Movies With Religious Themes
Movies with religious themes were also popular during the early 1950s. How can I forget viewing "The Robe" starring Richard Burton with my dad at the Paradise Theater! This was a Biblical epic film and the first movie released in widescreen using Cinemascope. Dad shed a tear during that movie.
3. 3-D Movies
3-D movies became very popular in 1953 with close to 5,000 theaters across America showing these films. According to Wikipedia, stereoscopic linear polarization was used for the movies. While watching the film, viewers wore glasses with red-blue or red-green filters. By wearing these glasses, it appeared that the images in the movie were jumping off the screen. I saw my first 3-D film in 1953 while visiting Grandma in Marshfield.
Music During The Early 50s
Sounds of Hank Williams and Patty Page were ubiquitous for me in the early 50s. Dad enjoyed listening to Hank Williams's records on his phonograph. Some of his favorite songs were "Lonesome Blues," "Your Cheating Heart," and "My Son Calls Another Man Daddy." Mom, on the other hand, loved "The Singing Rage," Miss Patty Page. Countless times I heard Ma humming to "Doggie in The Window."
Although almost 70 years have passed, memories of the early 1950s are still etched in my mind. The heroic brave soldiers from the Korean War, The Lone Ranger, and ballplayers for the Milwaukee Braves became my heroes and role models. The experiences during the period 1950-1953 did a lot in setting a tone and defining my life.
Growing Up in the 50s
Remembering the 50s
Other Hubs Related to My Memories of the 1950s
- Technology in the 50s and 60s
Technology in the 50s and 60s was less advanced than it is today. This hub tells how the telephone, slide rule, phonograph records, film projectors, and the transistor radio were used in daily life. - Memories of Living in the City 1950-1953
I spent almost the first ten years of my life living in the city. In this article I recall my life in West Allis, Wisconsin, during the early 50s. I remember my apartment, school, and experiences.
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
© 2012 Paul Richard Kuehn
Comments
Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on September 22, 2013:
Schoolmom24,
I'm happy you enjoyed reading about this hub. Yes, our childhoods of the past are entirely different from the childhoods of today. Thanks for the votes.
Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on September 22, 2013:
Peggy,
Thank you very much for commenting on this hub. I do remember reading your hub about the 50s and liking it very much. I appreciate the up votes and your sharing of this hub.
Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on September 22, 2013:
pstraubie48,
Thank you very much for your great comments. I'm happy you enjoyed the hub and can identify with my experiences. Thanks for the votes.
Schoolmom24 from Oregon on September 22, 2013:
I really liked reading this...I've always enjoyed reading about childhood memories in various decades. I didn't come along until the 60's but by now my childhood is also extremely nostalgic and of a completely different era than today. I have always liked early television shows when I've seen them as reruns on TV so it was fun to hear your personal recollections. Voted up!
Patricia Scott from North Central Florida on September 22, 2013:
Thanks for sharing this. It is so interesting to read of what others remember and experienced in those early years. This is so very similar to what I experienced.
Great share Voted up ++++
Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on September 22, 2013:
Loved this Paul! I also wrote a hub titled Good Old Days of Growing up in the 1950s. I can relate to many of the same things that you recall. I wouldn't trade that background for anything! All kinds of up votes and sharing this!
Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on May 12, 2013:
ketage,
Thank you very much for sharing your memories of the 50s. I'm happy you enjoyed this hub and I really appreciate your comments.
ketage from Croatia on May 12, 2013:
My dad bought me marvel combat comics and toy soldiers when I was young, this sure did bring back some good memories. And depending on how much we drink, me and my dad burst into song singing my cheating heart :) great hub :) voted up interesting :)
Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on July 07, 2012:
littlemarkiesmom,
Thanks a lot for reading my hub and your comments. Yes, life seemed a lot simpler when I was a kid. I still had a lot of fun even though there were no cell phones, video games, and Internet.
littlemarkiesmom from The hot, humid South on July 07, 2012:
Well, I wasn't even thought of in the 50's, but I still thoroughly enjoyed reading your hub. :) I love stuff like this and as someone else mentioned, so much better when told through someone's own personal experiences. Even though I didn't live through that era, I can't help but feel like we've lost something along the way. My heart goes out for kids now who miss out on the simple pleasures of life. I am happy to share with you though that my 6 year old is an avid fan of both toy soldiers and comic books. :)
Great hub! :)
Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on May 08, 2012:
Thank you very much for the nice comments. I will definitely check out your hub about the fifties. I'm glad we have something in common.
Mary Craig from New York on May 07, 2012:
Wow! Memories! Unfortunately, I remember little about the war and MacArthur but I do remember all the rest. I was 6 in 1953 so I guess I can use that as an excuse. I do remember the TV shows. We didn't have a lot of choice back then so most people were watching the same shows, talking about them and enjoying them. I'll always remember the Lone Ranger because my father's name as Clayton and it wasn't a very common name. Voted up, and interesting. (I wrote a hub entitled Child of the Fifties so we are on the same wavelength.)
Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on May 05, 2012:
Virginia, Thank you very much for reading and the favorable comments.
Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on May 05, 2012:
Vellur, thanks for reading and the favorable comments. No, I don't have the toy soldiers or the comic books. I wish I had them because they would bring back more memories.
Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on May 05, 2012:
Sue, Thank you very much for reading and the favorable comment.
Virginia Kearney from United States on May 05, 2012:
You are about the same age as my husband's brother (now deceased) and we have tin soldiers of his like that which were from France (where my husband's mother was born). I also enjoyed hearing your memories of this time. There are so many little real-life things which were so important at the time but which get missed and passed by when told in histories. Voted up and interesting!
Nithya Venkat from Dubai on May 05, 2012:
Old memories to cherish - enjoyed reading your hub. An insight into 1950s. Now we have so many news channels, radio programmes and endless tv programmes to watch. Do you have those toy soldiers still, by any chance?? Voted up. Awesome.
Juliette Kando F I Chor from Andalusia, southern Spain on May 05, 2012:
This is a very nice Hub Paul. It is so much more interesting to learn about history through someone's personal life. Reading "The Early 1950s as Experienced by a Young Boy " almost felt like my own grand dad was telling me the story.
