14 Things That Happened in the 1950s Everyone Forgets About

How long ago the 1950s feel depends on the generation. It can feel like yesterday or many years ago to those who lived through the decade. To very young generations, it seems like eons.

Regardless of the generation, memories and knowledge of 1950s history can be fuzzy or completely unknown. Still, the decade known for sock hops, rock and roll, and idealized suburban life had its fair share of significant events, fads, and other things, many don’t remember.

Indeed, from scientific discoveries to political upheavals and iconic entertainment, the 1950s remains one of history’s most fascinating and important eras.

1. DNA Double Helix Is Discovered

In today’s day and age, we take for granted our knowledge and use of DNA. We solve crimes and determine paternity, amongst other things, with the use of DNA. So frequently in use, we often forget that scientists did not discover the DNA double helix until recently, relatively speaking.

Indeed, viewers watching an older crime or mystery film or television show will frequently question why DNA does not come into play. In reality, Swiss scientist Friedrich Miescher first identified DNA in the 1860s. However, in 1953, American scientists James Watson and Francis Crick discovered its specific properties, namely the three-dimensional double helix.

This discovery proves revolutionary and crucial to the criminal justice system and other instances where forensic experts employ DNA evidence.

2. Sputnik Launches

On October 4, 1957, the Soviet satellite Sputnik was launched into space. It orbited the Earth for three weeks, ushering in the space race that would dominate the following decade.

Those who lived through it will likely remember the day the Russian satellite launched, especially the time leading up to it. With the Cold War and tensions high between the U.S. and Russia, many Americans watched with trepidation, fear, and uncertainty.

For everyone else, mention of Sputnik typically ranges from vague knowledge to complete ignorance, likely because the fascination and news dominance of space exploration no longer hold the same weight as they once did.

3. Polio Vaccine

When vaccines eradicate diseases, it becomes easy to take that for granted. In the case of polio, a dangerous and infectious disease that attacks the nervous system, the world has Jonas Salk to thank for this eradication.

At its epidemic peak, an outbreak claimed over 3000 lives in the U.S. Just one year later, in 1953, Salk developed his vaccine, testing it on himself first. The following year, 1.6 million children received it in North America and Finland.

Thanks to numerous global efforts over the years, there were only two known cases of the poliovirus as of 2021. Consequently, its development remains in the memories of fewer and fewer people.

4. James Dean Makes Only Three Films

Certain classic film stars, such as Marilyn Monroe and Judy Garland, have become worldwide icons. James Dean unequivocally falls into this category, with his image emblazoned on everything from murals to t-shirts and advertisements. Even those unfamiliar with his films have seen and know of James Dean.

With such iconic status, many do not remember that he only made three films before his untimely death in 1955 at age 24. His three films—Rebel Without a Cause, Giant, and East of Eden—catapulted him into stardom, but his tragic passing helped solidify Dean as an everlasting Hollywood icon.

5. Sir Edmund Hilary and Tenzing Norgay Climb Mount Everest

As of 2023, 6,664 people have reached Mount Everest’s peak. A lofty goal for those who dare to attempt it, climbing Everest remains an impressive feat. However, it does not hold the same weight as when two men from New Zealand and India first climbed the mighty mountain.

In 1953, Sir Edmund Hilary and Tenzing Norgay became the first to successfully reach the top of Everest. Though incredible at the time, this accomplishment does not have continued universal knowledge.

6. The Fall of Batista and Rise of Castro

When leaders like Fidel Castro, whose reign and political career live in infamy, it can be easy to forget how they first came into power. Though today, the world knows Castro as the dictator who brought communism to Cuba, few recall that he was meant to bring about positive change to the country.

In 1959, Castro and many Cuban citizens engaged in a revolution and guerrilla warfare to overthrow leader Fulgerio Batista, believing Castro would lead them into a new era free from the tyranny and corruption of Batista’s regime. Castro became Cuban Prime Minister, but the hope for a future free from dictatorship quickly faded.

7. I Love Lucy Revolutionizes Television

One of the most beloved sitcoms of all time, not a day goes by that I don’t make an I Love Lucy reference. A favorite series for many, myself included, fans can still watch I Love Lucy every single day thanks to streaming services like PlutoTV and Paramount Plus.

However, many generations, even those who lived through it, forget or do not know how much the series revolutionized the television industry- and in numerous ways.

I Love Lucy was the first series to feature an interracial marriage and one of the first to feature a pregnancy. On the technical side, the creators filmed the series on 35mm film with three simultaneous cameras in front of a live studio audience. They also introduced the concept of re-runs and syndication. All new feats for the time, I Love Lucy set the standard for every sitcom that followed and changed the face of the industry.

8. Party Lines

I Love Lucy did more than revolutionize television. It also featured a staple of 1950s life that many have long since forgotten: party lines. Also seen in other films, such as 1959’s Pillow Talk, where they serve an essential plot point, party lines lasted well into the 1980s, though not as dominantly as in previous decades.

Party lines got their name because more than one party could access one telephone line. Still, their existence certainly did not inspire a party-like attitude. In truth, they made privacy non-existent, and emergencies were most inconvenient if you picked up the receiver only to hear another conversation.

Party lines have faded from memories for many reasons, one likely being that individuals don’t want to remember such an annoying experience.

9. Kids Would Polish Their Shoes

People who describe the 1950s as a simpler time often refer to the numerous things defined by their simplicity. Today, we have so many options in footwear, even for children. In the 1950s, kids had few choices in the shoes they wore.

According to Recollection Road, most children wore saddle shoes every day. Unlike today, where shoes get easily discarded when worn out, children of the ’50s would polish their saddle shoes to spiff them up. This made them last longer and consequently saved money.

10. Color Television Sets Were Rare

Today, we take for granted our home entertainment systems. However, in the 1950s, not every household owned a television set, and even fewer had color televisions. If someone in the neighborhood was lucky enough to own one, the house would become a frequent stop for neighbors, especially children who dreamed of seeing shows like Bonanza in color.

The leaps and bounds televisions have gone through make it easy to forget the rarity of color television. With a much higher price ($1000 compared to $300 for a black-and-white television), color television did not become more prominent until the 1980s.

11. Ice Cream as a Special Treat

Another rarity in the 1950s, most households did not have ample space in freezers compared to current models. With little room for anything other than essentials, most families did not keep ice cream in their freezers.

While this would be a nightmare for some today, in the 50s it made getting ice cream more special. Hearing the Good Humor ice cream truck became a delightful surprise and event that few recall or will never experience.

12. Finding Your Shoe Size by X-Rays

Another oft-forgotten happening, in the 1950s, shoppers did not find their shoe size by measuring their foot with a ruler or Brannick Device, the standard measuring tool most remember.

In many 1950s stores, shoppers measured their feet with a Fluoroscope. This X-ray device took images of a person’s foot, including the bones, to obtain an accurate measurement. However, these devices went by the wayside when they discovered the dangerous levels of radiation the machines emitted.

13. The Coonskin Cap Craze

While filmmakers still make the occasional Western film or television series, production has decreased significantly since their heyday in the 1950s and 1960s. Consequently, most have long since forgotten the coonskin cap craze inspired by Fess Parker and the Davy Crockett films.

However, no one should deny their immense popularity among young boys during this decade. According to the Smithsonian Institution, at their height of popularity, “children’s coonskin caps sold at an average of 5,000 per day.”

14. Zip the Monkey Plush Toy

While young generations today rarely know of the children’s program The Howdy Doody Show, even fewer know of the plush toy the show inspired. Even boomers like my parents have no memory of Zip, the monkey, a stuffed animal with a plastic face that resembled the animal that made appearances on the popular series.

This chimpanzee toy wore red overalls or a yellow shirt, much like its real-life counterpart. Today, these toys can be considered collector’s items, but their unfamiliarity makes their selling prices reasonable, such as this one on eBay.