What defines the 1950 who were the idols and what where the icons?

Answer 1

Politically the 50s are defined by the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States. Citizens were tired of crusades like W.W. II and wanted to just enjoy living in the world's richest country. In electing Eisenhower, they elected a politician to soothe rather than leap into military or political events. Traditional values of thrift and frugality existed. But, the fifties generation wanted to spend and buy comfortable things they felt they deserved. Youth now had money and became important to the economy. Buying things "in style" became important. You had to become "one of the crowd." The Beatniks became the non-conformist group of the decade.The fifties had many fads. TV became the center of family entertainment. Davy Crockett show started a coonskin cap craze. Westerns and Quiz shows became major hits on TV. Old vaudeville stars became TV stars- Milton Bearle, Jack Benny, Burns and Allen, Sid Caesar. Disney produced a TV show and movies. The hula hoop became THE toy in 1958, Rock n Roll was named by a NY D-jay named Allen Freed. THE rock icon became Elvis Presley. People began to forgo living in the city and the suburbs developed. Levittown in NY became a major success, leading to other such developments of houses just like the neighbors. The political icon had to be Senator Joseph McCarthy, and his witch hunt for communists in government.