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books:

American Social Classes in the 1950s: Selections from Vance Packard's The Status Seekers (The Bedford Series ...

1 review
Vance Packard

Bedford/St. Martin's, 1995

An excellent study, and a time capsule in itself.
Vance Packard's "The Status Seekers" is a well known compendium and analysis of the nature and development of social classification during the 1950's-a period marked by explosive growth of the U.S. economy, especially among young white families. The thesis of the book, as explained by Packard, is that rather than the creation of a largely classless society in which "all" were gaining the benefits ...

Crime Novels: American Noir of the 1950s: The Killer Inside Me / The Talented Mr. Ripley / Pick-up / Down ...

8 reviews
Robert Polito, Patricia Highsmith, ...

Library of America, 1997

More Noir
This book is the second volume in the Library of America set on American crime noir. I enjoyed the first volume so much that I decided to read the second one during Christmas break. Once again, the LOA has done a nice job of collecting a fine series of stories. These stories were written during the 1950's and 1960's. The book is nice to look at too; it's covered in red cloth with a cloth ...

As Seen on TV: The Visual Culture of Everyday Life in the 1950s

3 reviews
Karal Ann Marling

Harvard University Press, 1998

Very interesting book with wonderful photographs
Very interesting reading. It is amazing to actually see how television has changed American life. I can't even fathom how life would be today, without TV. A great read for all who are interested in American pop culture in the 1950s.

Cahiers du Cinéma: The 1950s: Neo-Realism, Hollywood, New Wave (Harvard Film Studies)

2 reviews

Harvard University Press, 1985

A Must for Real Film Buffs.
What a wonderful collection of essays written by one of the most intelligent groups ever to write (and some direct) about film. This book includes the staff of Cahiers du Cinema polemically discussing aesthetics, what creates an auteur, and debating the best directors of their time. (Each writer has their personal favorites of course, Bazin-Anthony Mann's westerns) All the essays are ...

The 1950s (Fashion Sourcebooks)

3 reviews
John Peacock

Thames & Hudson, 1997

A Great Graphic Survey of Fifties Styles
If you weren't around for the fifties (or just don't remember them because you went through the sixties) and you want to know what the styles were then this book is for you. A clear graphic presentation of how people dressed. Great if you want to get something together for that next fifties dance down in the gymn. It is also under 10 bucks. You can't go wrong. Anyways, these styles will be coming ...

Inspiring Interiors from Armstrong 1950s

4 reviews
C. Eugene Moore

Schiffer Publishing, 1998

Visual nostalgia for how we lived in the fifties.
What sort of rooms did middle-class America live in during the fifties? Just have a look at the 250 room-set photos in this fascinating book. The advertising folk at Armstrong Tiles had the neat idea of showing the companies product as part of a room set to inspire home owners. These photos were used in their ads in the leading consumer magazines of the period. The photos are sharp, well-lit ...

Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and the Civil Rights Struggle of the 1950s and 1960s: A Brief History ...

2 reviews
David Howard-Pitney

Bedford/St. Martin's, 2004

Malcolm and Martin
This book presents the differences between arguably the two most famous civil rights activists of the fifties and sixties, as well as showing the convergence between their ideas and ideals toward the end of thier respective lives. It is readable, succinct and thorough. I highly recommend this book, especially to anyone who will be teaching this period in history to middle or high school students.

Big Rigs of the 1950s (Crestline Series)

2 reviews
Ron Adams

MBI, 2001

Big Rigs of the 1950's . A worthy follow up to 100 years.
after purchasing Ron Adams previous book 100 years of semi trucks I was confident this latest offering would be a worthy addition to my, or any ardent truck enthusiasts book collection. I was not dissapointed! If you are familiar with Rons previous work you will enjoy the many photos,and good quality ones at that,included in Big Rigs of the 1950's accompanied with his usual short but interesting ...

Semi-Trucks of the 1950s: A Photo Gallery
Ron Adams

Iconografix, 2008

After WWII Americans were anxious to re-stoke the economy after a long “make-do with what you have” dry spell. By the 1950s new highways were being built, new trucking companies were being formed and old ones revived. Americans were buying newly-styled cars and the latest technologies once again. Semi-trucks helped pave the way for this huge growth spurt in America with dependable trucks built by Mack, GMC, Chevrolet, Ford, Dodge, ...

Lost Revolutions: The South in the 1950s

2 reviews
Pete Daniel

The University of North Carolina Press, 2000

Excellent appraisal of the Southern paradox
The 1950's South was both a time and a place of contradictions. On the one hand, there was a cultural revolution going on that fused both white and black musical tastes into one revolutionary music genre (rock 'n' roll) and a political revolution that went on (integration) which made the cultural achievements seem to pale in comparison. In essence, the South of the 1950's was a confusing ...

Blueprints of Fashion: Home Sewing Patterns of the 1950s (Schiffer Book for Collectors and Designers,)

3 reviews
Wade Laboissonniere

Schiffer Publishing, 1999

Wonderful reference for dressmakers and fifties lovers
This book begins with an interesting overview of the beginnings of the home-sewing pattern industry, and has many interesting tidbits on that alone. But the real treat is page upon page of reproductions of the fronts of pattern envelopes from the fifties, most in color, and all beautiful. Hundreds of ideas for clothing for today.

Fashionable Clothing: From the Sears Catalogs, Early 1950s (Schiffer Book for Collectors)
Desire Smith

Schiffer Publishing, 1998

Fashionable Clothing from the Sears Catalogs: Early 1950s focuses on wearable, collectible vintage clothing and accessories. The Sears catalogs provide the basis for a comprehensive evaluation of the fashions of this period. There is no guessing as to the dates of the clothing, and the descriptions are unsurpassed in terms of detail and accuracy. Vintage clothing from the early 1950s is extremely desirable to collectors, but it is increasingly ...

Playboy Cover to Cover -- the 50's: Searchable Digital Archive--Every Page, Every Issue

20 reviews
Playboy

Bondi Digital Publishing, LLC, 2007

The First Decade
This is an incredible bargain! I have loved every minute I've spent reading the wonderful fiction, interviews and reviews. (The works of Ray Bradbury, "A Sound of Thunder" and "Fahrenheit 451" are worth the price!) I heartily recommend this collection, and can barely wait for the decade of the 60's to come! What I remember of the 60's, I remember fondly. :) Oh, yeah... the pictorials are ...

Fun Collectibles of the 1950s, '60s & '70s: A Handbook & Price Guide
Jan Lindenberger, Dana Cain

Schiffer Publishing, 1999

Those who grew up in the mid-20th century share many common memories. They had the same teen idols, wore the same groovy clothes, and played with the same toys, thanks to TV commercials. This book has brought out the sentimental streak in all of those people, and has fascinated collectors and students of popular culture. Now in its new and improved second edition, it includes clothing, toys, games, teen magazines, and furniture in color photos ...

Voices of Freedom: An Oral History of the Civil Rights Movement from the 1950s Through the 1980s

4 reviews
Henry Hampton, Steve Fayer, ...

Bantam, 1991

A Treasure! One of the most moving books about the Movement
Starting with the murder of Emmett Till and ending with the political activism in the 80s, this book gives a moving overview of the civil rights movement. Each of the 31 chapters first gives a short summary of the events and then redraws the situation with eye-witness accounts. Many activists like Coretta Scott King, Harry Belafonte and members of the Black Panther Party, to name a few, give ...

Coast to Coast: A Journey Across 1950s America (Travelers' Tales Classics)

1 review
Jan Morris

Travelers' Tales, 2002

Envious Nostalgia
Written in what must be the heyday of the American Dream - before it became soured - this is Jan Morris's lighter travel through a different empire, inducing envy for not having experienced it ourselves and nostalgia for an America that has passed. The journey, undertaken when she was still James, is marvelously evocative and is as detailed as her other works. The travel narrative is as engaging ...

Cartoon Modern: Style and Design in 1950s Animation

18 reviews
Amid Amidi

Chronicle Books, 2006

What a source of inspiration
Fantastic book! This book is well written and is amazingly interesting. A must read for anyone interested in 50's design.

Fashions of a Decade: The 1950s (Fashions of a Decade)

5 reviews
Patricia Baker

Chelsea House Publications, 2006

Good for adults too!
I thought this book was well written, even if it is supposedly for kids. It was full of information, pictures, and interesting trivia. As a free-lance writer and researcher of the Twenties, it's a good book to have in one's personal library!

How to Handle Long Hair -- Recreating Glamorous 1950s Hairstyles

1 review
Miss Ingerid

Bramcost Publications, 2008

Excellent for Pros and the "kitchen sink" stylists
This book was purchased because I was playing a 1950's secretary in our local semi-pro theater company version of the hit musical "H2$". It has great pictures, instructions and even though both the book--and myself--were born in 1954--I could still find the magic combs mentioned as key items in our Sally Beauty Supply store. Even though my arms got too tired to commit to the necessary pin curl ...

Triple Exposure: Black, Jewish and Red in the 1950s
Dexter Jeffries

Kensington, 2004

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