The Baby Boomer Generation – Growing Up In The Fabulous Fifties

The Baby Boomer Generation – Growing Up In The Fabulous Fifties 

The “Baby Boomer Generation” is defined as –  those that were born between 1946 and 1964. They were the result of many thousands of Soldiers returning from the Second World War, to their sweethearts and falling in love all over again. Hence there was a “Boom” of babies that followed in the ensuing years.

What a wonderful decade the 1950’s were to be born into. Bearing the title of a “Baby Boomer” is something to be proud of.

Me, Aged 5

They were times of struggle for many, coming out of the war years. People had been used to living on the ‘smell of an oily rag’, as they had learned to cope through the war and the shortages of many household commodities; and yet somehow they have left a lasting legacy of the many good things that have endured.

The Music of the Decade 

Oh, so many wonderful memories of the music of the decade, the likes of which are still echoing today in many re-makes of these fantastic artists and songs, by the modern singers like Harry Conick Jr, Michael Buble and many others.  Why do these songs continue to last? Could it be because they had lyrics that you could understand, with a story or message, the tunes were catchy and they told of good things not bad.?  Today we even have radio stations dedicated to playing the “Golden Oldies”. We have “Jukebox Saturday Night”. The demand for this music is still as great as ever.

It was the era of the Big Bands, thanks largely to Glenn Miller during the war. We can’t forget the impact of Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Johnny Cash, and Bill Haley and the Comets as they ushered in the age of Rock and Roll. Oh, and let’s not forget the groups such as The Platters, The Andrew Sisters and so many more of the greats. They all had such an influence on the music of the fifties and beyond.  Still fabulous favourites!

The Fifties were the times of the Milk Bars, with Jukeboxes, where you could meet with friends for a Milk Shake or Ice Cream Soda, and listen to you favourite “records”.

Can’t you just hear the young ones today saying “What are records?”  Lol.

Oh yes, I still have a collection of all my old vinyl records (and some 78’s), and it wasn’t that long ago that I heard a whisper that they might just be returning!  Recently heard on the radio people asking where they could buy a turntable. I am so pleased that  I held on to them, as I acquired a Jukebox in 2000 and needed to load he “45’s” into it and what an awesome sound it still provides.

Good things never die!

Games and Leisure Activities 

There were so many wonderful things that the Baby Boomer Generation grew up with in the fifties. Music is only one aspect (although a major part) of the era, but they were days when as children we made our own fun and games.  There was no television, no video games, no computers or cellphones.  All the kids in the neighbourhood played together on the pavement outside our homes. I remember many nights playing square ball under the street lights. My first bike was a Trike, and then the thrill of graduating to a “Chain Bike”, (again with 3 wheels). I didn’t get a 2 wheeler until I was about 10. Indoors we played board games like Checkers and Draughts and cards, a favourite being Old Maid. As a family we listened to serials on the radio in the evening and would await eagerly the next episode.

 On Saturday afternoon the big thing was the kids going to the “pictures” as they were known then, to the Matinee session. It cost us 6d (5c in todays money). We had to go every week to catch the next episode of the “Batman” (or was it “Superman”) serial before the main movie.  How much fun we had rollingJaffalollies down the theatre floor!

The Times & Fashions

 The Baby Boomer Generation could well teach today’s world about recycling also. In those days we could re-cycle our “glass” coca-cola bottles, taking them back to the dairy and getting a “refund” for them. We got 6d for a large one, and 3d for a small one. So of course we were always searching for bottles to return and this would be our pocket money for buying our sweets etc. What better incentive could we have had for recycling?

I well remember the craze we had when it was the time of the “Teddy Boys”.  Everyone wore Lime Green, Shocking Pink or Burnt Orange – socks! Wow, were they bright and gawdy, but we all loved them. They were fun, and the boy’s shoes were called “Winklepickers”, with pointed toes. I always had to clean my brothers every Saturday night before he went out, for 2/- (that is 2 shillings – now 20c). Then there was their trousers, a time when the legs were very tight and they were called “stovepipes”.

Photos were taken then with a “box” camera, which I still have today.

The books that we read were the “Famous Five” series and before that the “Noddy” books, all by Enid Blyton. Still have them too. The comics we read were the “Beano and Dandy”, which my brother got every week without fail. (a box full of them is in my garage).

It is great to still have all these precious treasures, so I can share them and show them to my grandchildren one day. The likes of which they otherwise would never know about and that heritage would be lost forever. I do so hope that my own kids will not just dispose of them when they have to clear up after I have left this world.

I would love to be living in this era now, (I do sometimes), it was so much good, clean fun, and the milk was delivered every day by the Milkman, you could leave your windows open at night, there were no credit cards, some phones were still on party-lines, and everyone was happy!  Those were the days my friend – what happened to them?

This post is getting rather long and I have only scratched the surface of those childhood days, but it is fun to recollect the ‘Good Old Days’, when life was simple and there didn’t seem to be so many stresses to impact on us.

Let me encourage others of the Baby Boomer Generation to also write about their memories of these great times and share with us, so that the generations to come will find out what their families did in days gone by.  Blogging is a wonderful way to be able to express yourself and share with others. I would love you to join me and use this excellent platform where you have a Blog all set up and ready to go.

“Let The Good Times Roll”

All the very best to all of the “Baby Boomer Generation”

Val Astill

http://valastill.wordpress.com

p.s  I have started a Facebook Group where we can chat and “share” our memories of these wonderful times. Please come and join me there.

http://facebook.com/groups/BabyBoomersShareYourMemories

• Posted in: General Articles
• Tagged: Baby Boomer Generation, Baby Boomers, fabulous fifties, music of the fifties