Growing up Growing up in the 1950s in the 1950s

in Canadain Canada

Background stats-Canada Background stats-Canada in the 1950sin the 1950s

• Prime Minister was: Louis St. Louis• Population of Canada was: 13,712,000• British 48%; French 31%; Other 21%• Rural population: 6,012,000 (43%)• Urban Population: 7,700,000 (57%)• Under 20 years old5,100,000 (est) (37%)• The Flag: Union Jack/Red • Family size: 3.7 • Provinces: 10; Newfoundland joined Confederation in

1949• Life Expectancy: 68 years• Radio Stations: 120• Televisions Stations: 0• Average Hourly Wage$1.20

Post-War Period meant lots Post-War Period meant lots of changes in Canadaof changes in Canada

• Several hundred thousand Canadian veterans returned after serving in the army and navy and air force in the war

• Some rejoined their families and others started new families

• Some brought home their war brides and children born during the war

• Emigration from Britain and Europe were welcomed

Increase in birth rate Increase in birth rate = BABY BOOM= BABY BOOM

Canada became a youth-Canada became a youth-centered societycentered society

• Increase in production of toys

• Child-care products

• Bicycles

• New schools were built

• Big shortage in number of teachers

• Classrooms were overcrowded

• Many new immigrants became teachers

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Canadian Industry adapts Canadian Industry adapts to manufacturing to manufacturing

technology to make technology to make consumer goodsconsumer goods

• Canadians bought new conveniences:– Nylon stockings– Wash-and-wear clothing– Disposable tissues– Hair spray– Cake mixes– Transistor radios– Power lawnmowers– Vacuum cleaners– Sewing machines– Washers and dryers*Production of these items helped to sustain the economic growth

Television comes to Television comes to CanadaCanada

• A great way of learning about new products through commercials (aired every 10 minutes)

• TVs helped change Canada to become a more consumer society

• Canadians got American broadcast signals

• Imagine your TV has one channel, no remote control, no VCR and no DVD player and that the picture is in Black and White. There is an antenna on your TV that you have to move around to get a clear picture. And you think it is the best ever… that was the TV of the 1950s.

• How is this similar to or different from Televisions today?

Fears about TVFears about TV

• Not good for children to watch because it would prevent them from learning to read

• Too much American programming

• Too much violence

• Do you think that the same opinions are still true of TV today in Canada?

Popular T.V. Shows were:Popular T.V. Shows were:

• I love Lucy• Howdy Doody• The Ed Sullivan Show• Davy Crockett• Wonderful World of Disney

• *Canadian children hand items based on the characters of these shows including: lunch boxes, Davy Crockett raccoon skin hats

CBC-Canadian Broadcasting CBC-Canadian Broadcasting CorporationCorporation

• 1948—Canadian government provides funding to create a national and distinctly Canadian TV service.

• 1952-stations open in Toronto and Montreal (Canada’s two largest cities)

• 1954—add Halifax and Vancouver

• Helped link Canadians from Coast to Coast

TV and its impact on TV and its impact on Canadian SocietyCanadian Society

• T.V. was all live. No way to correct mistakes

• TV Table invented so that people could watch TV during meal times.

• TV dinners- included an appetizer, main course and dessert. A way to make dinner fast and watch TV at the same time.

Why do think that TV was so influential in changing

Canadian society? Explain.

What role does TV play in our society today? Whatdo we use the TV for?

How has the internet taken over the role of the TVin the lives of Canadians?

TV DinnersTV Dinners

CBC TV ProgrammingCBC TV Programming• Popular and cultural programs

• American favourites were played

• Shakespeare plays, intellectual panel shows, info-science and quiz shows, comedies and variety shows

• Hockey Night in Canada with Foster Hewitt became a popular show

SuburbiaSuburbia• Definition: a residential district located on

the outskirts of a city

• Solution for reducing traffic congestion caused by too many cars on the roads, traffic jams and air pollution

• First suburban area in Ontario—Don Mills

Houses in the suburbs all looked the same!

SuburbsSuburbs• Suburbs-communities developed in the outskirts

of the cities with lots of parkland, schools, libraries, curved streets, buried telephone wires and less congested

• By 1954- ¼ of a million Canadians lived in the suburbs

• People liked green, open spaces that were quiet• Shopping malls were created to be more

convenient, carrying all the items that people would need without going downtown.

Little Boxes- Malvina ReynoldsLittle boxes on the hillsideLittle boxes made of ticky tackyLittle boxes, little boxesLittle boxes all the same

There's a green one and a pink oneAnd a blue one and a yellow oneAnd they're all made out of ticky

tackyAnd they all look just the same

And the people in the houses all went to the universityWhere they all were put in boxes, little boxes all the sameAnd there's doctors and there's lawyers and business executivesAnd they're all made out of ticky tacky and they all look just thesame

And they all play on the golf course and drink their martini dryAnd they all have pretty children and the children go to schoolAnd the children go to summer camp and then to the universityWhere they all got put in boxes, and they all came out the same

And the boys go into business and marry and raise a familyIn boxes, little boxes, little boxes all the sameThere's a green one, and a pink oneAnd a blue one and a yellow oneAnd they're all made out of ticky tackyAnd they all look just the same

Toronto gets a subway, Toronto gets a subway, 19541954

Houses in Don MillsHouses in Don Mills

What would it take to build What would it take to build a new suburban area now?a new suburban area now?

You be the urban planner. Using the 5

Design principles draw out how you might

organize a new community.

Be sure to include: at least 2 streets of

houses, a park, a church, a school, a

shopping centre, a police station, a fire hall

• The neighbourhood principle – Community was broken into 4 neighbourhood quadrants that surrounded a shopping centre, Don Mills Centre. Each neighbourhood had a school, a church and a park.

• Separation of pedestrian and vehicle traffic – Paths for pedesterians were created to take residents through parks to schools and the town centre. Roads slowed down traffic because of their winding roads, T-intersections and cul-de-sacs.

• Modernist architecture and modern aesthetic – Don Mills Development controlled the architectural design, colours, and materials of all buildings in Don Mills.

• Creation of a greenbelt – neighbourhood parks were linked and provided Green spaces for residents to enjoy the great outdoors.

• Integration of industry into the community – Residents lived and worked in the same area.

Teenagers in the 1950sTeenagers in the 1950s

• Ages 13-19 saw themselves as a distinct group

• They had leisure time and spending money

• Canadian society was very strict and conservative. For example, teenagers who wore blue jeans to school were suspended

Teenagers Rebel.Teenagers Rebel.If you were a 1950s teenager you would…

• rebel against things in society that were too formal.

• You would speak your own language, listen to your own music, and have your own fashion style

• You wanted to have an impact on society• You might have had a Generation Gap

between you and your parents• You had a fear of not fitting in. Of your friends

calling you an “odd-ball” or “different” You wanted to be part of the “in-crowd”

5 different groups of 1950s 5 different groups of 1950s teenagers—which one teenagers—which one

would you fit into?would you fit into?

HipstersHipsters– Popular teens that had presence and style– They were the dominant group

Rockers and HoodsRockers and Hoods

• Interested in car engines and motorcycles

• Not very interested in school

• Have greasy long hair

• Wear black leather jackets and blue jeans

BeatniksBeatniks

• Non-traditional group

• Wear black clothes, dark sunglasses, long hair, beards for men and straight hair for women

• Read and speak progressive poetry, like music and art

• Like to go to dark coffee houses where dark music and jazz are played

SquaresSquares

• Dress and behave as clones of their parents

• “old-fashioned” and “odd balls”

• Do well in school

Teeny boppersTeeny boppers

• Young teens and pre-teens (12-14 year olds)

• Trying to be like older teens