Things That Were Funny in the 50s

Paul spent the 1950s living in a suburb of Milwaukee and also on a small dairy farm in southeastern Wisconsin.

The 1950s

The 1950s were a cherished unforgettable period of my life. During this period I grew from a short, chubby young boy to a strong well-conditioned football player. There were other changes. I moved from the city to the countryside in 1954 and started to experience farm life. Very much was happening around me. In this article, I recall popular fads around me as I was growing up.

1950s Fads: 1954–1956

After moving to a farm, my parents sent me to a Catholic School in Mukwonago, a small village about three miles away. Every day my younger sister and I walked a quarter of a mile to the main road to catch our school bus. From fourth through the seventh grade, I can still remember the following fads as the popular culture of the day:

1. The Red Scare and Civil Defense Drills

There was a big "Red Scare" all over the country, because the United States' chief adversary, the Soviet Union, now had nuclear weapons as of 1949. This meant that nuclear war could break out at any time. As a fourth or fifth grader, I can recall practicing civil defense drills in the classroom. I remember hearing Sister say that when we heard the loud sirens, we were to duck and cover under our desks. From time to time we also saw movies about the evil tentacles of the Soviet Union slowly grasping all countries of the world and making their way to North America.

2. Goiter Pills

Occasionally also while I was in the fourth or fifth grade, everyone in my class had to take a goiter pill. At the time, many people had been developing goiter problems or swelling of the thyroid gland due to iodine deficiency. This was one way of making sure all kids got their iodine if they didn't get it in iodized salt at home.

3. Holy Hours

Every Thursday afternoon for three years while I attended Saint James School, all students had to spend an hour in church kneeling and saying a lot of prayers during a Holy Hour. In Roman Catholic tradition, a Holy Hour entails engaging in adoration of God who is present in the Blessed Sacrament or Eucharist for one hour.

4. Polio Epidemics

Until polio vaccines were developed by Drs. Salk and Sabin and distributed to the population, poliomyelitis or infantile paralysis hit the country hard usually every summer. In the summer of either 1955 or 1956 polio hit my school and one of my classmates died. I remember having to serve Mass for him on the day after he died.

5. The Mickey Mouse Club and Mouseketeers

The Mickey Mouse Club, a variety show for kids produced by Walt Disney, ran on national TV during the years 1955 to 1957. Every day after school I can recall watching the Mouseketeers, as the kids on the show were called. This show was hosted by Jimmie Dodd, and each program had an opening march followed by musical and dance performances by the Mouseketeers. Annette Funicello, Cubby O'Brien, and Karen Pendleton were my favorite Mouseketeers. I will always remember the ending of each show where Karen and Cubby would first jointly sing, "Now it's time to say goodbye to all our company," and then everyone would sing, "M-I-C-K-E-Y," followed by Jimmie Dodd saying, "Y (Why), because we like you." And then the ending would follow by everyone singing, "M-O-U-S-E."

6. Davy Crockett and Coonskin Cap

In 1954 Walt Disney produced a miniseries about the American folk hero and frontiersman, Davy Crockett. We all had to tune into this show about the adventures of Davy Crockett played by Fess Parker. I memorized the song from the miniseries which went as follows: "Born on a mountaintop in Tennessee, greenest state in the land of the free. Raised in the woods till he knew every tree. Killed him a bear when he was only three. Davy, Davy Crockett. King of the wild frontier." Davy Crockett lived during the early 19th century and was well-known for his coonskin cap.

7. Elvis Presley and Rockabilly

I will never forget when I first heard Elvis Presley sing on the radio in January of 1956. He was belting out tunes like "Heartbreak Hotel" and "Love Me" which I quickly took a liking to and often tried to sing. Elvis was one of the pioneers of rockabilly, a combination of country music and rhythm and blues music. He was also famous for greased-back hair and sideburns. When he swayed his hips while singing, he got the girls screaming.

Civil Defense Drill—Duck and Cover (1951)

1950s Fads: 1957–1959

During the years 1957–1959, my folks bought a farm and moved from the Mukwonago to the Burlington area of Wisconsin. I was now attending a new Catholic school and getting ready to start the eighth grade. New trends were continuing to develop in music, dance, and other areas of popular culture. I recall the following from this period of my life:

8. American Bandstand And The Jitterbug Dance

American Bandstand produced by the legendary Dick Clark had its initial showing on national TV in 1957. On this daily show hosted by Dick Clark, teenagers would dance to the top 40 hits of the day. The most popular dance in the beginning years of the show was the jitterbug or swing which had its origins in the '30s. Kids would dance this way to the rockabilly of Presley and other popular singers like Buddy Holly and the Everley Brothers. At a Halloween party with eighth-grade classmates in 1957, I failed miserably and almost broke a girl's arm while trying to do the jitterbug.

9. Hula Hoop

The hula hoop fad started in America in July of 1958. According to Wikipedia, Carlton Products Corporation was the first manufacturer of hula hoops. 25 million were sold in less than four months. At our freshman class initiation party in the fall of 1958, hula hoops could be seen everywhere. I can still see many of my classmates masterfully swinging the hoops around their waists.

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1950s Sock Hop—Poodle Skirt Girl

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.

Questions & Answers

Question: What popular live fish was eaten in the 1950s?

Answer: I am not aware of any popular live fish that was eaten in the 1950s. According to Wikipedia, however, goldfish swallowing was popularized on the campuses of American universities in the late 1930s.

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on July 15, 2020:

I am very happy this article helped with your homework. Did you get a good grade?

Rileigh Ruming on July 15, 2020:

Thanks this helped with my homework!

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on April 24, 2020:

Congratulations! Good for you!

Brooklynn on April 23, 2020:

Yes i got a 100

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on April 21, 2020:

I am very happy I was able to help you. I hope you got a good grade on your project.

Brooklynn on April 21, 2020:

this really helped with my decades days project

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on April 07, 2020:

Thanks for reading and commenting. I am very happy this article helped with your history project.

Leo on April 06, 2020:

Thanks for this, this helped me out a lot on my history project

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on March 02, 2020:

I am very happy to know that this article helped you with a report, Zike.

Zike on March 02, 2020:

This article helped me On a report

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on December 29, 2019:

I am very pleased that enjoyed my article and thank you for your review.

JC Scull on December 29, 2019:

Excellent article. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on December 04, 2019:

I am very happy my article helped you. Did you get a good grade on your art project?

Gabby on December 04, 2019:

Thank you for posting this! It is helping me with my art project! :)

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on December 03, 2019:

Karen,

I am very happy that my article helped for your history project and I hope you got a good grade.

Karen on December 02, 2019:

this helped for my history project

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on November 13, 2019:

Thank you very much for the topic suggestion, Dana. I am very happy you enjoyed reading this article.

Dana on November 13, 2019:

I really enjoyed reading this! You should do an article on the 1950s housewife and just daily living in general compared to now. I think the way that time is portrayed in movies sounds so much nicer than nowadays.

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on November 12, 2019:

Yes, there were many amazing singers from the 50s through the 70s. North Korea wasn't that much of a threat then because it didn't have nuclear weapons. I think you would have liked living 50s-70s.

Eli on November 12, 2019:

I've never been so inspired and amazed at anything in my life. Even the thought of a nuclear fallout is honestly incredible and so hard to comprehend. I know now we have North Korea but I feel like they weren't as much of a threat as the Soviet Union was in the 50s. Also one of my favorite things about the 50s through the 70s was the music. The Platters, Dion, and so many more amazing singers. All of this seemed like a much better time and I wish I could live in it.

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on November 12, 2019:

Thank you for your great comments, Laura. No, our country will never be like it was in the 50s and 60s. These were exciting decades in my life and at that time I never felt prouder to be an American.

Laura James on November 12, 2019:

I was born in 1953, the 50's and 60's were the best times, sadly our country will never be again like back then, hula hoops were the thing I remember my sister and I had ours, mine was orange and hers was green we practiced every day and got very good at it. I can't believe what has happened to America today, can you just imagine there are people today offended by our beautiful flag and they won't allow certain places to hang the flag?? I hang mine right off my porch and that's where it will stay until I die and I don't care who likes it my mom's ancestors was traced back as far as The Daughters of The Revolution and you can't get anymore American then that

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on November 09, 2019:

Happy to hear that you are hooked on the 50s and 60s music. The music back then was much better than it is today. Thanks for commenting.

Liza Moulton on November 09, 2019:

I was born in 1965. My husband and I got introduce to a that played 50's & 60's music and now we are hooked !!!

We have see bands like Robby Vee ,

Richie Lee and the Fabulous fifties ect

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on November 04, 2019:

Sandy, I loved Doo Woop and Motown, too. I also miss the good old days of music. Thanks for commenting!

Sandy on November 04, 2019:

Boy u brought a lot of memories back to me me tyvm magic in my mind...I was born in 1949 and the best music era was in the fifties and 60s..I believe..Doo Woop and Motown..wow how I miss the good ole days xoxo

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on November 02, 2019:

Thank you very much for this interesting information.

Mike Grafft on November 02, 2019:

In 1955, Chevrolet put out their first v8 overhead valve engine it started as 265 cubic inchesby 1957, it had developed into the 283 cubic inch size. 1957 was also the first year that an automobile had 1 horsepower per cubic inch 1957 was also the first factory 4 speed. That little 265 grew to be 350 cubic inches, and was used through the 2000s.

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on October 31, 2019:

Yes, I remember that. Thanks for commenting.

Larry White on October 30, 2019:

On the last song of Mickey Mouse club closing was Mic( Dobbs would say see you real soon) key ( Dobbs would say because we like you) Mouse.

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on October 28, 2019:

Not that I can remember, Thomas. I think they became popular in the 1960s.

Thomas Foo on October 28, 2019:

Were bell bottom pants and poker dot skirts popular in U.S in fifties

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on May 24, 2019:

Yes, both men and women had hair a lot shorter than most people today.

yoyo on May 24, 2019:

short hair

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on April 28, 2019:

As to hairstyles, most people had short hair. Some had the Elvis Presley ducktail and others were greasers.

In the early 50s, I remember playing with metal toy soldiers and Tinker toys. We also collected marbles.

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on April 28, 2019:

Yes, I remember the Elvis Presley ducktail. For toys, we were certainly very physical. Thanks for commenting!

qeyler on April 27, 2019:

As to Hairstyles... the Elvis Presley and for Girls there was the teased hair set on rollers and stuff... as to Toys... Barbie was just invented. Most kids had bikes, skates, scooters... we were very physical

Sophia on April 25, 2019:

What hairstyles were popular in the 50's?

What toys?

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on December 19, 2018:

I grew up in the 1950s and wanted to share with my readers what it was like to live then.

Ethan on December 19, 2018:

What made you do this??

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on April 20, 2015:

Peggy, our experiences during the 50s seem to be similar. While attending Catholic schools through the 8th grade, I also had to attend Mass every morning before classes started. The nuns really enforced discipline in class, and I remember seeing some boys get their ears boxed. Yes, I remember all of the TV shows you have listed. Do you remember watching "Buster Brown" on Saturday mornings? Thanks for the up votes, tweeting, and sharing!

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on April 20, 2015:

Although drills like this were a little scary, my friends and I still had a lot of fun at school. I remember ordering cherry cokes and I haven't had one in a long time. Thanks for sharing your memories of the 50s.

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on April 20, 2015:

&Dolores Monet This duck and cover business seems like only yesterday, but in fact it was 60 years ago! I appreciate your comments about this hub.

Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on April 20, 2015:

I was in elementary school in the 50's and definitely remember the air raid practices where we would duck under our desks for cover. We attended Mass every morning before school started. I never had a poodle skirt but was quite good with the hula hoops although I remember doing that more in the early 60's. Saddle shoes were a big fashion and clothing styles at schools more rigid than today. Boys had to have their shirts tucked in and girls could not wear skirts too high above their knees. (Not bad in my opinion!)

In addition to the Mickey Mouse Club and American Bandstand, I loved shows like Rin Tin Tin; Lassie; The Lone Ranger; Father Knows Best and many, many more. One certainly did not have to worry about ratings back then!

Thanks for bringing back good memories of those days..........except for the air raids, of course. Many affluent people were building bomb shelters back in those days. Up votes, tweeting, sharing and more.

qeyler on April 20, 2015:

I remember going under my desk, bringing my knees to my chest, putting my arms over my head. Yah...would really help if a bomb dropped. It kept us in a state of terror. With fire drills and duck and & cover and the yellow and black signs outside of a lot of basements...any moment now WWIII.

Of course I was a mouseketer...and had the coonskin cap...and we used to order 'vanilla coke' or 'cherry coke' not just a coke at the lunch counter. Flavouring would be added.

Dolores Monet from East Coast, United States on April 20, 2015:

I remember the duck and cover business. We would have to run out into the hall of the school. The smaller kids would squat down near the floor facing the wall while the taller ones stood over them with our arms folded behind our necks. This would be of great help if someone dropped an atomic bomb.

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on April 19, 2015:

I am very happy this hub brings back memories. I really loved watching the Mickey Mouse Club during the mid 50s. Annette was definitely my girl friend and also thought Karen and Cubby were so very cute. Thanks for the votes, pinning, and sharing.

C E Clark from North Texas on April 19, 2015:

I remember almost all of those things except I went to public school instead of Catholic school. We didn't have practice drills for atomic weapon attacks either. I only heard about the panty raids, though I was told one had taken place in the apartment building where I first lived after leaving home. The upper floors were a dormitory for Patricia Stevens finishing school girls in Milwaukee, WI.

Yes, I watched Uncle Dick on Bandstand on black and white TV after school and Davey Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier, on Saturday nights, knew girls who had poodle skirts though I never did. Have no idea what a sock hop is, however. Had a hula hoop, and watched the Mickey Mouse Club with Annette Funicello, and Bobby Burgess (later on Lawrence Welk).

Anyway, very nostalgic. Why haven't I seen this article before? Voted up and interesting, pinned to Awesome HubPages, and shared on HP.

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on November 08, 2014:

Hi Bill! Please excuse my long delay in replying to your comment. I have been writing on Bubblews, but will be spending more time now on Hubpages. I appreciate your comments!

Bill Russo from Cape Cod on September 20, 2014:

Another great article Paul. Though I was a teenager in the 50s myself, a couple of thing were new to me. Excellent work as usual.

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on May 18, 2013:

qeyler,

Thank you very much for stopping by and commenting on this hub. Polio was a scare for me up until 1957. During the summer of 55 or 56 one of my classmates died from it. I'm happy you found this hub interesting.

qeyler on May 18, 2013:

We used to have the drills, how we'd go under the desk...and I was too young then to think what use this would be...there were also yellow and black signs all about the place, indicating air raid shelters in basements.

Polio was cured when I was in school and we lined up for the shots. I used to wear dog tags to school. All of us had dog tags. I guess we really took the possibility of war very very seriously.

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on May 11, 2013:

ketage,

I'm really pleased that you liked this hub and thank you very much for your great comments. I wrote a few other hubs about the 50s and 60s, so I hope you find them as good as this one.

ketage from Croatia on May 11, 2013:

Great hub, was a great read, I was not around yet, but I can almost imagine being there, sounds like interesting times. going to go check out your other hubs for treasures like these :)

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on May 07, 2013:

Mary,

Thanks for stopping by again and commenting on this hub. I, too, remember seeing "Love Me Tender" when it first came out at the beginning of 1957. The Bandstand show I remember watching originated from Chicago in the late 50s. I'm happy you liked this hub and I thank you for your good review.

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on May 07, 2013:

wabash annie,

I'm very happy you liked this hub and that it brought back memories. My parents and I didn't worry about polio that much because we lived on a farm in the countryside. Your great comments are really appreciated!

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on May 07, 2013:

dahoglund,

Thank you very much for your stories about polio and the civil defense air air raid drills. It could have been the summer of 1955 when kids were under quarantine due to polio. I lived on a farm at the time 5 miles outside of Mukwonago, and one of my classmates got polio and died. I remember having to come into the village and serve Mass for him that summer. I really appreciate you commenting on this hub!

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on May 07, 2013:

Moonlake,

Thank you very much for your interesting comments. I never went to a one room school in the 50s, but there were lots of them in the countryside of Wisconsin. Our farm was a half mile north of a small village of 200 people and it had a one room school. My sisters attended it until it closed in 1962. I really appreciate you sharing this hub!

Mary Craig from New York on May 07, 2013:

I can't get a hula hoop to stay up now, must be making them wrong ;) This was great Paul. I was in Catholic School in the fifties and remember every single thing you wrote. In addition to hiding under our desks we had the occasional drill where we all went into the auditorium because it only had a few windows and they were high. Elvis is still my favorite (I saw "Love Me Tender" hundreds of times.) American Bandstand was a must watch for every girl I knew.

Thanks for the memories.

Voted up, useful, awesome, and interesting.

wabash annie from Colorado Front Range on May 07, 2013:

What a down memory lane! Our family managed to escape polio although my mother lived in fear of someone having it. I also remember the fear of Martians and other attacks. There were many good times though and I remember those too. Thanks for writing a great hub!

Don A. Hoglund from Wisconsin Rapids on May 07, 2013:

I remember polio as they used to take up collections in the movie theaters. There was a summer --I don't recall the year--that children were under quarentine which meant we were confined to our own block in the city. Lot of us learned to like our own company that year.

I have heard about the air raid drills but never experience the hiding under the desk. It might have been after I graduated from high school in 1955. I do remember in college that I was in a math class with an oriental teacher. Where I lived there was a weekly test of the sirens. The teacher almost dived under his desk but the student ignored it. A friend of mine worked for a company that made shelters. When the fad was over he bought up some of them thinking they might be sold as fishing huts or something.

I think if I had been around when they had those drills I would have asked what good the desk was going to do against an atomic bomb.

moonlake from America on May 07, 2013:

I remember the 50's and everything you remember but I didn't go to catholic school. In the early 50's I was in a little one room school in Nevada 50 miles from where the atomic bombs were tested. I'm one of the lucky ones, knock on wood that didn't get cancer and die at a young age. Many did when the wind blew in the their direction. Voted up and shard.

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on April 27, 2013:

Alecia,

I'm happy you like this hub and find the 50s interesting. I knew the Mickey Mouse Club was still around in the 90s, but didn't realize American Bandstand was still airing. Who was MCing the show? Do your parents tell you much about the music of the late 50s?

Alecia Murphy from Wilmington, North Carolina on April 26, 2013:

I always find learning about the 50s interesting. My parents grew up in that era and now and then they tell me what it was like. Considering I grew up in the 1990s it was very different but in a lot of ways very similar. We both had the Mickey Mouse Club and American Bandstand was still airing.

Nice hub :)!

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on April 15, 2013:

Cat,

Yes, I guess I should be proud of a skill which most people don't have. And, I really do love what I do.

Cat from New York on April 15, 2013:

Paul,

Okay, I'll buy that... but need I remind you that you teach and translate Chinese? Geesh, I can barely translate English. ;-)

Besides, I'm guessing you love what you do!

Cat

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on April 15, 2013:

Cat,

Thanks for the great compliment! LOL If I had been so smart, I would have become a very successful doctor and retired comfortably now. I wouldn't be spending all of my free time on Hubpages!

Cat from New York on April 15, 2013:

Paul,

I wish I could say I was a nerd in school, I personally, was too worried about being the funniest in class and so I missed out on culture and studies! See, that nerd thing paid off because now you are so stinkin' smart!

Cat

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on April 15, 2013:

Cat,

It's my pleasure that you really enjoyed this hub. Yes, I remember having serious things to worry about. I was a nerd in school and always studied very hard because I wanted to be the best in my class. If I had been a kid with a higher IQ, I would have had more time to enjoy the culture at the time, especially when I was in high school. Thanks for voting up this hub.

Cat from New York on April 15, 2013:

Paul,

I can't say that this brings back memories but I can tell you that I've always been drawn to this era. I think I either was born at the wrong time or lived here in a previous life. There is something about Malt Shops, poodle skirts, juke boxes, and simpler times that have appealed to me. So, I was naturally drawn to this article, but I started to wonder after your first few mentions. Oye, did you guys have some serious things to worry about or what? I guess I don't take those kinds of things into account when I think back to these times. My parents forced me to grow up on records and 8-tracks and I will say that music has never been the same! Both Annette Funicello and Dick Clark were born minutes from where I was born and raised! How cool is that? Davy Crockett and the Mickey Mouse Club, ahh, those were the days! This was great adventure!

Voted up and Awesome!

Cat

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on April 04, 2013:

Seanorjohn,

Thanks for reading and commenting on this 50s hub. I'm very happy you liked it. Even today I can still remember the words to the Davy Crocket song.

seanorjohn on April 04, 2013:

great Hub. As a kid I was still singing Davy Crocket in the sixties. And of course Elvis was just as big a star. Voted up and interesting

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on March 27, 2013:

Hi Mary,

Thanks for stopping by and commenting on my 50s hub. I remember seeing films in school about the bad Communist red scare and how the Communist tentacles were encircling America. Thanks for the vote.

Mary Hyatt from Florida on March 27, 2013:

Hi Paul, thanks for the trip down memory lane this morning. I certainly remember those things you mentioned in your Hub. It was a happy time for me, even though I was afraid Russia would kill us all. I still had an old Poodle skirt until a couple of years ago when I finally threw it out. It was quite rotten by that time. I had saddle oxfords to wear with that skirt, too.

Voted UP.

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on March 27, 2013:

Stephanie,

Thanks for stopping by and reading about my memories of the 50s. It seems like only yesterday. I also remember boys in my eight grade class with ducktail haircuts. I'm glad you liked the hub and thanks for the votes.

Stephanie Henkel from USA on March 27, 2013:

Thanks for the trip down memory lane! The '50's were a fun time to grow up, and I clearly remember air raid drills, the Mickey Mouse Club, Elvis's debut and most of the other things you mentioned. I don't remember ever taking a goiter pill. It was a huge deal when the Salk vaccine was made available, and it was given to us on a sugar cube. Every girl wanted a poodle skirt, but they came down well below the knees in the style of the time. Great hub! Voted up!

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on March 27, 2013:

Deewrgha,

Thank you very much for reading this hub, and I really appreciate your comments and sharing.

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on March 27, 2013:

rajan,

Thanks for stopping by and reading my hub about the 50s. Those days seem just like yesterday whenever I recollect them. I appreciate your comments and especially the sharing of this hub.

deergha from ...... a place beyond now and beyond here !!! on March 27, 2013:

Real nice hub to read. Thanks for sharing your lovely memories with us here. Up and shared

Rajan Singh Jolly from From Mumbai, presently in Jalandhar, INDIA. on March 27, 2013:

Hi Paul, yes I remember a few as I'm maybe a few years junior to you. Interestingly, childhood memories are so pleasant and tend to stick on in memories.

Voted up and interesting and shared.

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on September 13, 2012:

Qeyler,

Thanks for reading and your insightful comments.

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on September 13, 2012:

SweetiePie,

Thanks for stopping by and your great comments. I think you are right in saying that kids today don't seem to have the real world interaction with their friends that kids had years ago.

qeyler on September 12, 2012:

In those days kids were kids. There was a lot of freedom, a lot of unregulated play. You'd ride your bike, with No helmet or pads, and skate, and run up and down and create your own games.

SweetiePie from Southern California, USA on September 12, 2012:

Now the phone booth one is funny. What is the equivalent of that today with smart phones? Maybe everyone can see how many people and their smart phones can hide in a closet? It just seems like in some ways kids could have more zany fun back in the old days. Now people just text each other, and kids do not seem to have as much real world interaction with their friends.

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on June 22, 2012:

TimeTraveler,

I'm glad you enjoyed my hub. Thank you very much for the comments, and hopefully I'll write another hub about the 50s in the future.

Sondra Rochelle from USA on June 22, 2012:

I just published a short hub on the fifties and even used some of the same pix as you! Loved those days, and enjoyed this hub immensely. You reminded me of many things I had forgotten about. Voted up!

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on June 02, 2012:

Teaches12345,

Thanks for reading and the good comments.

Dianna Mendez on June 02, 2012:

Thanks for bringing back all those wonderful memories. My best highlights here are the Mickey Mouse Club, Elvis and those poodle skirts my sisters used to wear. I do remember those drills and the sirens were quite scary.

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on June 02, 2012:

Moonlake,

Thanks for stopping by. I'm glad you enjoyed the hub.

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on June 02, 2012:

Molometer,

Thanks for reading and the favorable comments.

moonlake from America on June 02, 2012:

Pop beads we bought them by the dozens. Every time we got a little money we would buy pop beads.

Silky scarves in all colors that tied around our necks to go with the poodle skirts and can-cans to wear underneath the skirt.

Hair curlers we put a scarf around the curls and even wore them to town. Enjoyed your hub. Voted Up

Micheal from United Kingdom on June 02, 2012:

Like most things that happen in the USA we get it 10 years later (or used too)

I remember some of these fads from 60's Britain.

Great photo's too.

Voted interesting.

Paul Richard Kuehn (author) from Udorn City, Thailand on May 11, 2012:

Hi Nell,

Thanks for reading and the favorable comments.

Nell Rose from England on May 11, 2012:

Hi I loved your memories of the fifties, I was born in 1959 so I just missed it all, but when I see them on tv I often wish I had experienced it, it was so innocent in those days, and people knew how to have fun. The part about the goiter was interesting, as I have a thyroid problem, and I must admit I had never heard of the tablets being taken in schools, cheers nell