My 50’s Inspiration

If I had an era to choose it would be the 50’s. I’m such a huge fan of that time and get plenty of 50’s inspiration from the music to movies about the 50’s and of course the classic diner food.

I don’t know too many people who have the same interest but I hope after this post I’ll discover a secret group that loves the 50’s as much as I do!

The 1950’s were mostly identified by Cadillacs, poodle skirts and rock and roll but it was also a time of conflict from The Cold War to the emergence of the Civil Rights Movement. Rosa Parks stood for her right to sit up front in a bus. On a more happy note Disneyland opened it’ doors, Catcher in the Rye is published and good old rock and roll emerges with “Rock Around the Clock” by Bill Haley and His Comets.

Music

I used to listen to this kind of music everyday and it would leave me with a certain sadness and yearning for a different time.

They say music died in the 50’s when Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper’s airplane crashed. Oh, La Bamba and The Buddy Holly Story both tell us this tragic ending.

Some of my favorite 50’s songs are from these guys, Buddy Holly’s That’ll Be The Day, Richie Valens’ Come On Let’s Go, and The Big Bopper’s Chantilly Lace.

If you want to explore the era more you have to give these songs a listen:

Why Do Falls In Love- Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers

Sea of Love- Phil Phillips and the Twilights

Johnny B. Goode- Chuck Berry

In The Still Of The Nights- The Five Satins

Goodnight Sweetheart Goodnight- The Spaniels

50’s Inspired Movies

There are some movies that captured that 50’s feel. It was a time of innocence yet a seeming breakthrough of possibilities. Of course, everything seemed tragic and most movies also left you with an indescribable sadness.

La Bamba

In a time of racial tension, for a young man of Mexican descent to hit the charts was a pretty big feat. I love the movie which starred Lou Diamond Phillips and him singing Donna on the phone it’s a must watch.

Grease

Grease is pretty much the embodiment of the 50’s. The hair, the cars, the clothes, it’s all there. My favorite? The duet of course, Summer Lovin’.

Heart and Souls

This movie is largely set in the present time BUT the flashbacks to his childhood are great. When the kid is dancing to Walk Like a Man in the bathroom with his friends? Love it!

Inventing the Abbotts

If there was a movie to watch to truly feel the 50’s this is one of them. Being rich, being poor, finding love, losing love…

The Man in the Moon

A coming of age story and it stars a very young Reese Witherspoon.

Some notable mentions though not in the 50’s but in the 60’s

Dirty Dancing

The song, I Had the Time of My Life alone already has me in it’s grips but add to that a young woman discovering love and a passion for dancing? I’m sold!

The Outsiders

I first discovered this through the book. It was touching, incredibly sad and at times desperate. The poem, Nothing Gold Can Stay by Robert Frost had me teary-eyed.

Johnny Rockets

When it comes to food automatically you think diners, milk shakes, burgers and fries. I love all of that and was delighted to find that there was a restaurant such as this that I could visit. Johnny Rockets is everything 50’s!

Have I mentioned that I have always wanted to own a jukebox? I thought when I was younger that I would actually get to own one but 3 kids later it seems to be a very small possibility. So now I’m on the lookout for mini versions which I can afford!

Burgers and fries, it’s the classic 50’s meal. Johnny Rockets has loads of choices.

Ah the milkshake… Ordinarily I go for Chocolate but when I last visited I gave their new flavor a try.

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