As the country headed into
the 1950s, rebuilding continued and a number of immigrants from the remaining British Empire were invited to help the rebuilding
effort. As the 1950s wore on, the UK had lost its place as a superpower and could no longer maintain its large Empire. This
led to decolonization, and a withdrawal from almost all of its colonies by 1970. Events such as the Suez Crisis showed that
the UK's status had fallen in the world. The 1950s and 1960s were, however, relatively prosperous times after the Second
World War, and saw the beginning of a modernization of the UK, with the construction of its first motorways.
After World War II the United
Kingdom made a slow return from post-war rationing of food. The economy was also rebuilt slowly but thanks to abundant oil
fields as well as geographical separation from the European continent it experienced more post-war prosperity than the rest
of Europe. The incoming Conservative Party in the 1951 general election, decided to retain the Welfare State and National
Health Service that had been established by the previous Labour administration establishing a post war consensus that would
last a generation. The coronation of a young new Monarch with Elizabeth II instilled a sense of national revival but the debacle
of Suez triggered a sharp decline of national confidence linked to the withdrawal from colonial possessions in Asia.
Welcome to Butlins Memories, the web's biggest
resource for Butlins nostalgia and information. Why not click to find out a bit about us, use the menu on the left to go straight
to your camp or follow any of the links below to visit other sections of the site. We now have around 3,000 images online
plus an additional 2,500+ in the User Photo Galleries. Thanks for visiting!
1950s birth
of British rock
The trad jazz movement spawned an offshoot when Chris Barber's Jazz Band introduced interval
entertainment with their banjo player Lonnie Donegan playing guitar "skiffle". He had an unlikely hit with his version
of Leadbelly's "Rock Island Line", recorded in 1955 and becoming a hit in both Britain and the U.S.A. in 1956.
Skiffle introduced the idea of music being easy to play and spawned "skiffle groups" across the country, including
"The Quarrymen" in Liverpool who would later become the Beatles. The folk scene also increased the appetite for
Blues, bringing across artists like Big Bill Broonzy and Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee but there was a puritanical insistence
on keeping music acoustic.
American rock and roll had an impact across the globe in the 1950s, perhaps most intensely
in the United Kingdom, where record collecting and trend-watching were in full bloom among the emerging "teenage"
culture prior to the rock era, and where colour barriers were barely an issue. The British were quick to follow the success
of Elvis Presley and in 1958 three British teenagers formed a rock and roll group, 'Cliff Richard and the Drifters (later
renamed Cliff Richard and the Shadows). The group recorded a hit, "Move It", marking not only what is held to be
the very first British full-on rock 'n' roll single, but also the beginnings of a different sound British rock,
prophesying "they say it's gonna die, but let's face it; we just don't know what's going to replace it".
In the 60s other British groups would show them. They were not alone in copying the genre, others included Tommy Steele and
Adam Faith.
Cliff Richard and The Shadows
became the most influential band in the UK and set standards for following British (and American) groups. With two guitars,
bass guitar and drums, they also changed the way the guitar was featured, introducing the Fender Stratocaster and the concept
of a "lead guitar" virtuoso (Hank Marvin) to the rock scene and featuring an electric bass guitar instead of the
usual standup bass. Appealing almost exclusively to and hugely popular with youth in Britain (including the nascent Beatles)
as well as across Europe, Cliff and the Shadows also influenced many UK teenagers to begin buying records, a trend which would
reach a peak with The Beatles a few years later. The group also paved the way for the Beatles in other ways, touring the US
(without much fanfare) and whetting US record companies' appetites for a youth-oriented band to market stateside.
An African American vocal style known as doo-wop
emerged from the streets of north-eastern cities such as New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. Doo-wop, with its smooth harmonies,
was the closest rock style to mainstream pop in the mid-1950s. The Orioles helped develop the doo-wop sound with their hits
"It's Too Soon to Know" (1948) and "Crying in the Chapel" (1953). Other important African American
doo-wop groups included the Coasters, the Drifters, the Moonglows, the Teenagers and the Platters. The style spread to singing
groups of other ethnicities, such as the Capris, Dion and the Belmonts, the Earls, and the Tokens. The term "doo-wop"
was taken from the ad-lib syllables sung in harmony in doo-wop songs. Two songs in particular may lay claim to being the "first"
to contain the syllables "doo wop" in the refrain: the 1955 hit, "When You Dance" by The Turbans, in which
the chant "doo wop" can be plainly heard; and the 1956 classic "In the Still of the Night" by The Five
Satins, with the plaintive "doo wop, doo wah" refrain in the bridge. It has been erroneously reported that the phrase
was coined by radio disc jockey Gus Gossert in the early 1970s. However, Gossert himself said that "doo-wop(p) was already
being used [before me] to categorize the music in California." It became the fashion in the 1990s to keep expanding the
definition backward to include Rhythm & Blues groups from the mid-1950s and then even further back to include groups from
the early 1950s and even the 1940s. There is no consensus as to what constitutes a doo-wop song and many aficionados of R&B
music dislike the term intensely, preferring to use the term "group vocal harmony" instead
The Fifties remain a popular nostalgia decade, and
are often seen in the United States in simplified terms by both proponents and detractors. Nicknames for the decade include
the "Fabulous Fifties" and the "Nifty Fifties".
In the United States, different decades have
approached Fifties nostalgia differently. Few people cared for Fifties nostalgia during the 1960s. The vast societal changes
of the Sixties, particularly during the latter half of that decade, made the Fifties look repressive and square by comparison.
Underground cartoonist Robert Crumb satirized Fifties middle-class culture, and Frank Zappa's 1968 album Cruising with
Ruben & the Jets spoofed 1950s doo-wop..
During the 1970s, some people started viewing the Fifties as a calmer,
more innocent time, a time devoid of the scandals, wars, assassinations, riots, and racial strife that had marked American
life during the 1960s and early 1970s. Thus the success of mostly idyllic Fifties-themed entertainment such as the movies
American Graffiti and Grease, and the TV series Happy Days and its spinoff Laverne & Shirley. Fifties nostalgia also appeared
in popular music. 1970s songs such as Don McLean's "American Pie", Elton John's "Crocodile Rock",
and Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock and Roll" reflected the early years of rock and roll and how popular music had
changed since then.
New original retro oldies music. 1950's style
doo wop, rockabilly, swing, rhythm blues & rock n' roll tunes. Download free lyrics & listen to music
samples. Paypal instant digital music mp3 downloads. Buy Jeff O's Oldies Mp3 songs for $0.75ea! ------------------
It's Cool Man! ------------------
Tribute to Patsy
Patsy Cline (b. Virginia Patterson
Hensley September 8, 1932 – March 5, 1963) was an American country music singer who enjoyed pop music crossover success
during the era of the Nashville Sound in the early 1960s. Since her death at age 30 in a 1963 plane crash at the height of
her career, she has been considered one of the most influential, successful, revered, and acclaimed female vocalists of the
20th century. The story of her life and career has been the subject of numerous books, movies, documentaries, articles and
stage plays.
Cline was best known for her rich tone and emotionally expressive bold contralto voice, which, along
with her role as a mover and shaker in the country music industry, has been cited and praised as an inspiration by many vocalists
of various music genres..
Posthumously, millions of her albums have been sold over the past 45 years and she has
been given numerous awards, which has given her an iconic status similar to that of music legends Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley.
Only ten years after her death, she became the first female solo artist inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame. In 2002,
she was voted by artists and members of the Country Music industry as #1 on CMT's television special of the 40 Greatest
Women of Country Music of all time, and in 1999 she was voted #11 on VH1's special The 100 Greatest Women in Rock and
Roll of all time by members and artists of the rock industry. According to her 1973 Country Music Hall of Fame plaque, "Her
heritage of timeless recordings is testimony to her artistic capacity." Among those hits are "Walkin' After
Midnight", "I Fall to Pieces", "She's Got You", "Crazy", and "Sweet Dreams".
Did you know ? Britain
and France talked about a 'union' in the 1950s and even discussed the possibility of Elizabeth II becoming the French
head of state. Once-secret papers from the National Archives have yielded the discoveries.
On September 10, 1956, French Prime Minister Guy Mollet came to London to discuss the possibility of a merger between the
two countries with Prime Minister Sir Anthony Eden.
Film History of the 1950s The 50s decade was
known for many things: post-war affluence and increased choice of leisure time activities, conformity, the Korean War, middle-class
values, the rise of modern jazz, the rise of 'fast food' restaurants and drive-ins (Jack in the Box - founded in 1951;
McDonalds - first franchised in 1955 in Des Plaines, IL; and A&W Root Beer Company - formed in 1950, although it had already
established over 450 drive-ins throughout the country), a baby boom, the all-electric home as the ideal, white racist terrorism
in the South, the advent of television and TV dinners, abstract art, the first credit card (Diners Club, in 1951), the rise
of drive-in theaters to a peak number in the late 50s with over 4,000 outdoor screens (where young teenaged couples could
find privacy in their hot-rods), and a youth reaction to middle-aged cinema. Older viewers were prone to stay at home and
watch television (about 10.5 million US homes had a TV set in 1950).
Many people who visit the British Monarchy web site
have a specific purpose in mind - for example, applying for a message from The Queen for a relative's birthday or wedding
anniversary, inviting a member of the Royal Family to visit their organisation or community, or buying tickets to visit one
of the Royal Residences.
Sterling Times ,_"the virtual scrapbook of
British nostalgia",_is here in celebration of "Uncool Britannia". It's the site where etiquette is still
more important than political correctness. SterlingTimes focuses upon some of the eccentricities of British culture. It's
about old and vintage radio, television, music and literature. It's about Englishness and patriotism.
Jill
Daniels, started her singing career in the late 1970s even in those far off days her similarity to Vera Lynn was well
recognised and earned her the title "The Sweetheart of the Midlands" . At that time Jill was selected
to work in many of the top Cabaret Nightclub Restaurants such as the Talk of the Midlands (Nottingham), Talk of the North
(Eccles) Heart of the Midlands(Birmingham) Embassy Club (London) as Support to Numerous Star acts and bands. (see
list below] Although at that time Jill was renown for her excellent renditions of Vera Lynn favourites. She did
not actually specialise until she was asked to put on a special Show for the VE DAY 50th Anniversary Celebrations and
a whole new show was produced at considerable expense, the music being especially created from scratch for all of the
Wartime Favourites in Jill'singing key, (which happens to be the same as Dame Vera's) to recreate as near
as possible the original versions, The VE DAY Shows were a total success and bookings started flowing in for the
Wartime Show which is known as "HITS OF THE BLITZ". The same success was repeated for the MILLENNIUM Celebrations
and for The Queens Jubilee Celebrations and Jill Daniels is now known Nationally and Internationally as Britain's
No1 singer of WWII Songs and Patriotic Anthems.
Remembering Rock and Roll Artists Of The
'50s, '60s and '70s
Do you remember those endless days of Summer, playing
football until the sun was long gone, ice creams melting before you could eat them in the scorching heat? And what about those
Winters; snow piled so high you could scarcely see out the window?
I am currently hard at work building NC version
2.0, or "Son of Nostalgia Central" as I like to call it. This mammoth task is a complete ground-up re-build of nostalgiacentral.com.
The make-over will take some time - probably the remainder of 2007 - but the end result will provide greatly enhanced content.
Thanks for your patience, and please excuse the dust . . .
Great British Vintage antique mechanical coin-operated
Penny Machines: amusement machines, allwins, automata, working models, ball catchers, diggers, cranes, merchandisers, dropcase
machines, fortune tellers, fruit machines, one arm bandits, betting, gambling and gaming machines, coin-op multi player competitive
games, jukeboxes, polyphons and mechanical music machines, pinball machines and pintables, weighing machines and scales, electric
shock machines, skill games, strength tests, love tests, vending and service machines, 3D viewers, coin-op stereoscopes, peep
shows, mutoscopes - and other old mechanical or electromechanical penny coin slot devices.
YOU
WILL NOT FIND A WIDER SELECTION OF OLDIES ANYWHERE!
I was ten year old in July as the second world war
broke out in September the things I remember about living through a war was, home service, that was school in a neighbours
house which was only in the morning or afternoon we never did a full day. My Dad was unfit for the armed forces so he
did his bit like many others in his position by being a fire spotter that was being on the street after the sirens had gone
with a stirrup pump government issue, there were buckets of sand outside many houses on our street. We had an Andersons shelter
in our yard, half of which was below ground, the smell of damp was awful, the only light was from a candles left in the shelter,
if you forgot to bring the matches in the haste to get down there then you had to sit in the dark, so Dad reinforced the cellar
roof, so that is where Mum and I sat on Friday night of the Sheffield Blitz.
If you love oldies MIDI music, golden oldies, free
MIDI downloads and oldies lyrics then you have arrived at the right site. It's all here. bullet The goal of this
web site is to provide its visitors with the best quality MIDI music contained on the web. Thanks for stopping by, enjoy
your visit.
This page is a joint project between the Harry
S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Libraries developed to provide access to Korean War materials related to the
two administrations occupying the White House during that period.
The comic first appeared on 26 July 1938 and was
published weekly. During the Second World War, The Beano and The Dandy were published on alternating weeks due to paper and
ink rationing. D.C. Thomson's other publications also suffered with the Oor Wullie and The Broons annuals falling victim
to paper and ink shortages. Paper and ink supplies were fully restored shortly after the end of hostilities and weekly publication
of The Beano and The Dandy soon followed. As of 2007, over 3000 issues have been published. The Beano is currently edited
by Alan Digby, who replaced Euan Kerr in summer 2006. Euan Kerr now edits the BeanoMAX, a version of the Beano for older readers.
Its iconic characters such as Dennis the Menace, Minnie the Minx, and The Bash Street Kids have become known to generations
of British children. Earlier generations will remember other notable characters which have been phased out, such as Biffo.
Some old characters have made a return like Lord Snooty.
The comics were distributed in some of the British colonies
or former colonies as well. Because they were sent by sea mail, they would go on sale some weeks after the date shown on the
cover. The comic holds the record for being the world's longest running weekly comic.
When D.C. Thomson's,
The Dandy Comic, was released on the 4th December 1937, it broke the mould on the way comics were to appear forever more.
Prior to The Dandy Comic, childrens comics were broadsheet in size and not very colourful. This is to take nothing away from
their content, but when compared to The Dandy Comic, and later on, The Beano Comic and The Magic Comic, these broadsheets
looked rather staid in comparison. Having said all that, the size wasn't exactly new. The story papers, which had been
going for many years, were already tabloid size, it was just new to comics.
everyHit.com is a website for fans of The British
music scene from the beginning of the rock 'n' roll era right the way through to the present day. It aims to
inform about the world's fastest-moving and most vibrant music industry and promote it across the planet. The site
is non-profit making. There are no sponsors and no banner advertisements.
Charles Hardin Holley was born in Lubbock, Texas to Lawrence Odell Holley and Ella Pauline Drake on Labor
Day, in 1936. The Holleys were a musical family and as a young boy Holley learned to play piano, guitar and violin (his brothers
oiled the strings so much that no one could hear him play.) He was always known as Buddy to his family. In 1949 Buddy made
a recording of Hank Snow's 'My Two-Timin' Woman' on a wire recorder "borrowed" by a friend who worked
in a music shop (not, as is often reported, a home tape recorder)[citation needed], his first known recording During the fall
of that year he met Bob Montgomery in Hutchinson Junior High School. They shared a common interest in music and soon teamed
up as the duo "Buddy and Bob." Initially influenced by bluegrass music, they sang harmony duets at local clubs and
high school talent shows. In Lubbock, Holly attended Hutchinson Junior High School, which has a mural honoring him, and Lubbock
High School, which has numerous features to honor the late musician. His musical interests grew throughout high school while
singing in the Lubbock High School Choir.
Holly turned to rock music after seeing Elvis Presley sing live in Lubbock
in early 1955. A few months later, he appeared on the same bill with Presley, also in Lubbock. Holly's transition to rock
continued when he opened for Bill Haley & His Comets at a local rock show organized by Eddie Crandall, who was also the
manager for Marty Robbins. As a result of this performance, Holly was offered a contract with Decca Records to work alone,
which he accepted. According to the Amburn book, his public name changed from "Holley" to "Holly" on 8
February 1956, when he signed the Decca contract. Among the tracks recorded for Decca was an early version of "That'll
Be The Day", which took its title from a phrase that John Wayne's character said repeatedly in the 1956 film, The
Searchers.
For so many years, historians and casual observers
alike have observed the events of World War II through faded black and white images. What most people do not know is the
fact that quite a large portion of the WWII was shot using color film! However, it wasn't until recently that a lot of
the photographs and motion picture footage was de-classified by the U.S. Government. We don't just have a collection of
U.S. images, but we also have a diverse collection of German, Russian, Japanese, British and Italian photos
British History Online is the digital library containing
some of the core printed primary and secondary sources for the medieval and modern history of the British Isles. Created by
the Institute of Historical Research and the History of Parliament Trust, we aim to support academic and personal users around
the world in their learning, teaching and research.
The museum shows the development of Germany's
armored troops from 1917 to the present with displays of vehicles, weapons, equipment, uniforms, documents and medals. The
museum's exhibits cover all branches of the German armored corps: tanks, mechanized infantry, armored reconnaissance,
anti-tank, self-propelled artillery, and armored engineers.
The Twentieth Century was one of sorrow and joy,
pain and excitement, tragedy and hope. As we stand at the threshold of a new millennium, it is important to take a look back
on where our country has been. Let us be your tour guides through these event-filled decades. When you are finished catching
up on all the happenings of this great century, take our Century in Review Quiz to see how much you really know about this
last century of the millennium.
GREAT MOMENTS OF THE 20TH CENTURY
features nearly 200 audio clips of the 20th Century's
century's most important events from Marconi's first transatlantic radio transmission in December 1901 to the New
Year's Eve celebration in Times Square on December 31, 1999.
The U.S. population was 76,300,000.
The Boxer Uprising ended as U.S. Marines helped Great Britain capture Peking.
A
hurricane & tidal wave killed 5,994 in Galveston, Texas.
William McKinley defeated William
Jennings Bryan for the U.S. presidency — the two had faced off with the same results in 1896.
Dwight
Davis established the Davis Cup for tennis.
Lyman Frank Baum's Wonderful Wizard
Of Oz was published.
The Associated Press was founded.
Popular
songs included The Maple Leaf Rag, You Can't Keep A Good Man Down and Absence Makes
The Heart Grow Fonder.
There were roughly 200 teashops each with a front
shop for selling bakery items and inside one or more cafeteria type counter services for hot meals and beverages. Each shop
had a code number for quick reference. The first was A - Picadilly. The code ran through from A to Z - Kings Cross and then
AA to ZZ followed by A3 - Z9. Provincial and coastal shops had a double letter viz HE - Bournemouth. I can still remember
a few as I was a young draughtsman in the New Teashops works department in the 1950s, drawing the catering equipment that
made up the counters and kitchen.
This three-part feature with discography appeared
in In Tune magazine (November/December 2005 and January 2006). Im publishing it on the web as Clinton has not have enough
acclaim and deserves to have his story told. Whether Ive done him justice of course is another matter. An appreciation
of Clinton Ford by Spencer Leigh In another sense, though,Fanlight Fannyis typical of Clints songbook. His preference
is for little-known but well-written songs from a bygone age. In concert, he resembles a one-man edition of The Good Old Days
as you hear songs that nobody else has sung for years. He is a one-man custodian of the Tin Pan Alley archives who is entrusted
with bringing these songs to life.
Please take the time
to look around the various areas of my site, there's plenty to see! Find out interesting facts about me, my career achievements
to date, my current projects, and how I can improve your stations ratings. Enjoy the great times you grew up in with my Goldmine
radio show, available online now-Enjoy.The Latest Goldmine Show is HERE NOW!
The
Tony James Goldmine Radio Show is updated with a NEW PROGRAMME on THE FIRST OF EVERY MONTH.Best of all it's FREE, Don't
miss it!.We're Talking The Great Times You Grew Up In-The 60s,70s and 80s.If you have spread the word about us-Sincere
Thanks, Tony.
Many years ago, a party of Caroline enthusiasts
travelled from Britain to Holland to sail past our ship Ross Revenge and so to celebrate Carolines 25th anniversary.
Ronan ORahilly spoke to the crowd and wondered if we might meet up again on the fiftieth anniversary. It seemed like
a foolish comment, but come this Easter that milestone date will only be seven years away. How quickly time and life passes
by.
These are vintage 1950s & 1960s rock n roll
movies that contain quintessential music performances and vintage footage of important artists in their prime. If you dig
the original rockers of rock n roll, these are the movies for you!
Beginning in 1955 and finally ending in 1976, Dixon
Of Dock Green was the longest running police series on British television and although its homeliness would later become a
benchmark to measure the "realism" of later police series, such as Z Cars and The Bill, it was an enormously popular
series.
January 8, 2008 would have been Elvis Presley's 73rd birthday.
Yet to fans,Elvis will always be the sleek fellow with the wild hips and the mellow singing voice. Fifties Web
pays tribute to Elvis Presley, the true King of Rock and Roll.
Elvis Presley is The King of Rock-n-Roll and to this day people still buy his music. Even though
he passed away 30 years ago, he continues to be worth several million dollars. Elvis was a legend and no other rock star has
ever come close to filling his shoes. Many people are absolutely obsessed with Elvis, but many of them don't know these
little known facts.
Little Known Facts about Elvis
#1: In Both the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame and Country Music Hall of Fame
While
Elvis was The King of Rock-n-Roll, he also had several country music hits as well. Not only is he in the Rock-n-Roll Hall
of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame, he's even in the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
Little Known Facts about Elvis #2: Won Three Grammy Awards, but None of Them Were for Rock Music
This is one of the most shocking facts. Elvis won three Grammy
Awards, but all of them were for his gospel music. The fact that The King of Rock-n-Roll never won an Grammy Award for his
rock music is unbelievable.
Little Known Facts about
Elvis #3: Had Plastic Surgery in the Mid-1970s
Another
shocker is that Elvis had plastic surgery in the mid-1970s. He had two full face-lifts and rhinoplasty surgery. During this
time he would have been around 40 years old. Its hard to believe that he actually needed these surgeries.
Little Known Facts about Elvis #4: Was the Biggest Tax Payer in 1973
There's no denying the fact that Elvis was filthy rich,
but many people have no idea that he was the biggest tax payer in 1973.
Little
Known Facts about Elvis #5: Made the First Ever Music Video
"Jailhouse
Rock" was the first ever music video.
Little
Known Facts about Elvis #6: Had $5 Million in His Bank Account When He Died
In
August 1977, Elvis had $5 million in his bank account. That is quite impressive, but it's nothing compared to what he
is currently worth.
Little Known Facts about Elvis
#7: Was Worth $45 Million in 2004
It may seem like
a strange fact, but Elvis was worth more after his death than he was during his lifetime. In 2004, Forbes listed him as the
#1 richest deceased person, with a worth of $45 million.
Little
Known Facts about Elvis #8: Only Performed Two Concerts Outside of the US
Reminisce This recalls the golden era of the late
20th century...namely the three decades that helped define our lingering memory of that period, the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.
Coin-operated music boxes and player pianos carved
out a place for automatic pay-per-tune music in fairgrounds, amusement parks and other public places (such as train stations
in Switzerland) a few decades before the introduction of reliable coin-operated phonographs. The first jukebox was an automatic
phonograph produced in 1927 by Rowe International, then known as AMI. Some of these automatic musical instruments were extremely
well built and have survived to this day in the hands of collectors and museums. But commercially they could not compete with
the jukebox in the long run since they were limited to the instrument (or instruments) used in their construction, and could
not reproduce the human voice.
The immediate ancestor of the jukebox, called the "Coin-slot phonograph",
was the first medium of sound recording encountered by the general public, before mass produced home audio equipment became
common. Such machines began to be mass produced in 1889, using phonograph cylinders for records. The earliest machines played
but a single record (of about 2 minutes of music or entertainment), but soon devices were developed that allowed customers
to choose between multiple records. In the 1910s the cylinder gradually was superseded by the gramophone record. The term
"juke box" came into use in the United States in the 1930s, derived either from African-American slang "jook"
meaning "dance" or from a name given to it by critics who said it would encourage criminal behavior, this came from
the fake family name Juke. The shellac 78 rpm record dominated jukeboxes until the Seeburg Corporation introduced an all 45
rpm vinyl record jukebox in 1950.
The hula hoop is a toy hoop, usually made of plastic,
that is twirled around the waist, limbs, or neck.
Although the exact origins of hula hoops are unknown, children
around the world have played with hoops, twirling, rolling and throwing them throughout history. Traditional materials for
hoops include grapevines and stiff grasses. Today, they are often made of plastic.
In Egypt around 3,000 years
ago, hoops made out of grape vines were propelled around the ground with sticks. The word "hula" was added in the
early 18th century as sailors who visited Hawaii noticed the similarity between hula dancing and tripping hoops.
From 1954, for generations of children, Saturday
morning was one of the great highlights of the week. Although the weekday "Children's Hour" provided rich entertainment
for those between the ages of potty and puberty , Uncle Mac's selection of record requests was something very special:
you might even hear your name being read out! Sheer bliss!!! His opening words "Hello Children Everywhere!" and
the string orchestra signature tune of 'Puffing Billy', became symbols of the Fifties every bit as evocative as Dan
Dare, Meccano and grey flannel shorts.
Children's
Hour—at first: "The Children's Hour", from a verse by Longfellow—was the name of the BBC's principal
recreational service for children (as distinct from "Broadcasts to Schools") during the period when radio dominated
broadcasting.
Children's Hour was broadcast from 1922 to 1964, originally from the BBC's Birmingham station
5IT, soon joined by other regional stations, then in the BBC Regional Programme, before transferring to its final home, the
new BBC Home Service, at the outbreak of World War II. Parts of the programme were also rebroadcast by the BBC World Service.
For the last three years of its life (until 27 March 1964), the title Children's Hour was no longer used, the programmes
in its "time slot" going out under the umbrella heading of For the Young.
In the United Kingdom, Children's
Hour was broadcast from 5pm to 6pm on weekdays, this being a time when children could be expected to be home from school,
and was aimed at an audience aged about 5 to 15 years: in its earliest years, at least, the concept of the "teenager"
had scarcely been invented. Programming was imbued with Reithian virtues, and Children's Hour was often criticised, like
"Auntie" BBC itself, for paternalism and middle-class values. It was nonetheless hugely popular, and its presenters
were national figures, their voices instantly recognisable. Derek McCulloch was closely involved with the programme from 1926,
and ran the department from 1933 until 1950 when he had to resign for health reasons.
Dan Dare is a classic British science fiction
comic hero. The comic hero was first created by Frank Hampson in his "Dan Dare - Pilot Of The Future" science-fiction
strip-cartoon series in 1950. The series was distinguished by its snappy dialogues, meticulously illustrated artwork and complex
story lines. The popularity and quality of the comic series remained high throughout the 1950s.
Initially, Dan Dare was surrounded by a varying cast of characters that included Digby, Professor Peabody,
Hank Hogan, Sondra and Sir Hubert Guest. The series was also aired five times a week on Radio Luxembourg during 1950s. Dan
Dare appeared in the first issue of "2000 AD" magazine in 1977. The strip got a major changeover in 1987 and became
more like a space opera. Dan sported a "tough guy" look and led a team of space commandos. Dan Dare starred in a
series of three computer games during the 1980s. The series featured spacecrafts of various designs as products of the inhabitants
of other planets. Later an experimental time-traveling ship "Tempus Frangit" was also introduced into the series.
Freddie Baker LIVERPOOL SINGER/SONGWRITER
Welcome to Reel Classics, the Internet's most
comprehensive site dedicated exclusively to Classic Movies. Comprising over 2500 pages and more than 3 gigabytes of content
(with much more on the way), it may well be the biggest too. Enjoy your look around and remember to come back soon. Reel
Classics is constantly being revised and updated.
Fred Dibnah passed away on Saturday 6th November
2004 at Bolton Hospice following a brave battle with cancer. Fred's family pass on their thanks for the messages
of condolence they have received. In the Spring of 2005 Fred's last series for the BBC will be screeened but in
the meantime if you require any information on Fred's past series, videos or books please contact the BBC.
Often dismissed as 'greasy spoons', classic
cafes are actually little gems of British vernacular high street design. This site celebrates their ambience and architecture
with over 130 vintage London Formica caffs reviewed, revealed and reappraised.
The 60s also saw the most spectacular technical
achievement of the 20th Century when America won the Space race and man landed on the moon in July 1969 - but the greatest
shock of the decade was the assassination of President Kennedy in 1963.
The second half of the sixties were
the years of change. No year in the decade saw greater change than 1967. It was the year of Peace and Love. It was a year
perfectly summed up in San Francisco by Scott McKenzie. Dressed in a kaftan, beads and bells and wearing flowers in his hair,
McKenzie looked a right pratt.
The village by village contact site for anybody
researching family history, genealogy and local history in the UK and Ireland. Every UK county, town and village has a page
for family history, local history, surname and genealogy enquiries. Use the search box to find your village or town.
"For this is total war, and total war is war
right inside the home itself. Emptying the clothes cupboards and the larder, screaming its threats through the radio at the
hearth - burning and bombing it's way from roof to cellar."
J B Priestley. Postscript 1940
When the Young@ Heart began in 1982 the members
all lived in an elderly housing project in Northampton, MA called the Walter Salvo House. The first group included elders
who lived through both World Wars. One of our members had fought in the Battle of the Somme as a 16 year old and another,
Anna Main, lost her husband in the First World War.
Although most people
know me as a researcher of West Texas rock ‘n’ roll music of the 1950s, and a historian of Buddy Holly
and the Crickets, I’m really interested in the big picture, that of the entire 1950s music era.
This
website is devoted, as the title states, to the Rockin’ 50s. This is the title of my website, my magazine,
and my business. Aside from various lists of related items for sale, I also offer a News And Announcements
board and an interactive message board where you can ask any question pertaining to the 1950s and someone will
come along and answer it for you. I have a lot of very knowledgeable people supporting this board and the
amount of information they possess is scary, but very useful for all of you!
So have fun exploring and browsing
the various links and I hope you find whatever you are looking for.
"Ain't nothing but
a hound dog" was barely heard through a crowd of wild teenagers of the 1950's listening to their teen idol, Elvis!
This teen idol was perfect for this crowd of teens. Teenagers in the fifties wanted to be different and alike at the same
time. They wanted to be cool, but "different". This is why Elvis was perfect for them. Rock and Roll was brought
into the world at this time and most parents thought it was unsuitable for a family audience. The teenagers loved him though,
they thought he was the greatest thing on Earth. The 1950's was a very exciting decade and it still is. It was a time
of happiness, individuality, and plain old fun.
The Wayback Machine plays the greatest songs ever
recorded from 1955 through 1979, starting with Bill Haley and the Comet's Rock Around the Clock, the song that started
it all
Paul J. Warwick is Boston's half baked Bean bringing you the"Wayback Machine" covering the
45 RPM sounds of 1950s to late 70s. Paul's humorous look at these areas is not only entertaining for all ages of listeners,
but also a wonderful trip down memory lane that everyone enjoys. A wonderful addition to the Flaming Oldies Showcase Series.
Hey Chickie Baby, this site is rated Cool
for Cats, hep Chicks, Greasers, Motor heads, Beats, Cool Kittens and Sandra Dee's. Site contains over 400 Photos of Fifties
Cars, Fabulous 50's Visitors memories and pictures, nostalgia, Pinups, Retro Fashions and Fun Shopping. Oldies Clip-art,
all the Fifties, all the time, completely modern and up to date.
YouRememberThat.com is an online community
focused on sharing and reminiscing about pop-culture video, audio, and images that stir our memories of the past - old television,
theme songs, commercials, print advertisements, and more. We've got the sights and sounds you remember from the 30s, 40s,
50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and beyond...
Come join our friendly community and start sharing your memories! If you
are a Baby Boomer or Gen Xer, you will find this to be the site for memories!
This site is rated G (maybe PG on
some posts) you can always feel comfortable sharing this site to your mother, kids or grandkids!
Welcome to the Early Blues Website
There is precious little evidence that
the commercially inspired fusion of black and white music that lay at the heart of rock and roll has made a significant contribution
to inter-racial understanding or that the new generation of white blues fans has much appreciation of the context of human
suffering from which this suddenly trendy music evolved. Still as they see the promise of socio-economic advancement that
was once assumed to be nothing less than their national birthright give way to diminished hopes and frustrated expectations,
a number of Americans of every race in every region may one day come to appreciate the difference between hearing the blues
and feeling them. If so, just as the blues once so clearly chronicled the failure of Delta society to live up to
its ideals (or to celebrate ideals, consistent with the life experiences of the majority of its members), their remarkable
musical legacy may eventually transcend geographic boundaries and racial barriers to focus critical popular attention on the
discrepancies between the real and ideal in not only regional but national life as well.”
Did we really look like this ? see pic below
Lost in the Fifties ''close your eyes
baby, follow my heart, call on the memories, here in the dark, we'll let the magic take us away, back to the feelin's
we shared when they played ..''
Welcome to British TV History, which concentrates
on historic broadcasts, timelines, archive issues and TV technology, from the earliest days of mechanical television to todays
digital broadcasts
Everyone feels some nostalgia for the TV programmes
that they watched when very young, so here we attempt to bring back to you some of the flavour of television in the Fifties.
An introduction to TV in the Fifties, testcards, the BBC Clock and the major milestones of TV progress in the '50s
feature in this section. A few video clips are included to illustrate how it all worked. The Potter's Wheel, London
to Brighton in Four Minutes and those Announcers with the BBC accents like MacDonald Hobley and Sylvia Peters. Woodentops,
Mr.Turnip, Hank the Cowboy, Hopalong Cassidy, The Bumblies, Billy Bunter, Sooty, Ivor the Engine, Tony Hancock, The Cisco
Kid, Crackerjack, Robin Hood, Rin Tin Tin, Dixon of Dock Green, Captain Pugwash, Maigret, Bilko, Whacko!, Whirlybirds.....
and loads more!
We're talking about Fifites Rock 'N'
Roll, Rockabilly, Doo Wop, Rhythm & Blues, Pin-Ups, Tattoos, Hot Rods, Weekenders etc.
Welcome to British TV History, which concentrates on historic broadcasts, timelines, archive issues and TV
technology, from the earliest days of mechanical television to today’s digital broadcasts
updated 23 Jan 2009
This page is dedicated to TV shows from the
past, with a selection of links to pages looking back at classic TV shows.
Wheel of Fortune is an American television game show created by Merv Griffin.
Three contestants (occasionally three pairs of contestants) compete against each other to solve a word puzzle, similar to
those seen in the game hangman. The name of the show comes from the large wheel that determines the dollar amounts and prizes
won (or lost) by the contestants.
The show first aired in 1975 on daytime network television. The current version,
in its 26th Season, has been syndicated in prime time access since September 19, 1983 and has been the most watched syndicated
program since May 1984. It is the longest-running syndicated game show in American television history, and the second-longest
in either network or syndication (behind the current CBS version of The Price is Right, which began airing in 1972). It is
also the third longest running first-run syndicated program in the United States, behind Entertainment Tonight (which began
in 1981) and the now-canceled Soul Train (which aired new episodes from 1971-2006). The show is produced by Sony Pictures
Television and syndicated by CBS Television Distribution (which was formerly King World Productions).
Pat Sajak
and Vanna White have hosted this version of the show since its debut, and Charlie O'Donnell has served as announcer since
early 1989. Jack Clark served as the show's announcer until his death in July 1988. M. G. Kelly and Don Pardo filled in
between 1988 and 1989 before O'Donnell, who had previously announced the daytime version
The early 1950s was a time remembered for its innocence,
timeless style (excepting perhaps pink tail-finned Cadillacs), the end of the Korean War, and the end of the big band era.
By the end of 1953 "Rock Around The Clock" would be an international hit for Bill Haley and the Comets, and shortly
thereafter Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Fats Domino, and Elvis Presley would take the limelight away from the crooners.
