Radio Commercials Of The 1950s – Gordon Skene Sound Collection –
It was conspicuous consumption, although you wouldn’t call it that back then. The 1950s were about the quality of your life – the quantity of your work and how much of the American Dream were you getting.
The Fifties started off uneasy – still in the process of rebuilding from World War 2 and finding ourselves knee-deep in another one; this time Korea. We managed to get out of a recession and America was re-tooling from the War effort to tap into that overflowing reservoir, the Consumer.
Despite the ever-present looming of a Cold War and the non-stop pressure of Communist infiltration of our way of life, America was in the process of settling in to its new role as leader of the Free World and certainly the wealthiest ever to walk the earth.
So as America was coming off years of rationing and shortages and “doing without”, it was now officially time to enjoy life. And who better to show you what you needed in order to accomplish that than Madison Avenue?
The evolution of the Commercial – the slogan – the impression, even down to the method in which the message was delivered was evolving. Jingles and inescapable slogans – and for the new communication device, Television, an indelible impression.
But Radio was, for the most part, the main avenue in which Conspicuous Consumption could drive points home and get America singing the virtues of Coca-Cola or Buick. The end result being a stampede of potential consumers to retailers and the pursuit of all things new, sparkling and fun-inducing.
And lest you draw a jaundiced eye to the commercials extolling the virtues of smoking, America was a nicotine chimney and some of the most creative commercials were aimed directly at the smoker. Since we no longer even advertise cigarettes, it’s interesting to hear just how much effort was put into making smoking one of the primary activities in this new leisure society.
So for the next hour or so (give or take) here is a sampling of what America was being bombarded with all day every day in order to persuade you to buy things, lots of things – because the quality of your life depended on it and conspicuous consumption was a virtue.
If you’ve never heard them, prepare to be amazed and maybe a little incredulous.
Press Play and dive in.
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