Life in America in 1957 was much simpler. Everybody loved
Lucy and Father always knew best. Make yourself a root beer
float, sit on the davenport, and take a look at life in 1957.
1. You know what they say about the size of a man's fin.
General Motors and Ford were duking it out with their "Olds vs. Edsel" wars. Ford's Edsel included such forward-thinking features
as lights that reminded drivers that it was time to service the engine. Chevrolet opted to put their money into advertising. This is the year that had Dinah Shore singing "See the USA in your Chevrolet" on radio and TV spots. Whatever people chose to drive, the average cost of a car was only $2,749. Brace yourself -- gasoline was only 24 cents a gallon!
2. "Welcome to Babyville."
After World War II, people were settling down and getting back to the business of creating the American dream. Record numbers of babies were born between 1946 and 1964, and even today, this generation is referred to as the "Baby Boomers." By 1957, everybody on the fast track was moving out to the suburbs. Doctors, lawyers, teachers, and cops created a mass exodus to the land of lawn mowers and charcoal grills. With all the new babies being born, it's no wonder that suburbia became known as "Babyville."
 In 1957, President Eisenhower sent army troops to keep the peace during desegregation. |
3. All eyes toward the sky.
In July 1957, American John Glenn set a new transcontinental speed record. The navy test pilot flew a supersonic jet from California to New York in just 3 hours, 23 minutes, and 8.4 seconds.
4. What's with all the hips?
Music lovers had plenty of choices in the year when rock 'n' roll took over the charts. Songs like Sam Cooke's, "You Send Me" and Jimmie Rodgers's "Honeycomb" were popular, but the true sensation of the year was Elvis Presley. He rocked teens across the country with hits like "All Shook Up" and "Jailhouse Rock." You could buy a 45-rpm record (that's the little one) for 79 cents or an album (the big one) for about three bucks. The only problem was that a hi-fi record player cost $79.95.
What else was happening in 1957? Read about more bits of nostalgia on the next page.
