Lost 50s - Full Documentary 

“Has it ever struck you that life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quick you hardly catch it going?”― Tennessee Williams............................

The best memories of the 50's for me are of my dad & mom who were still young & alive..If you were to go back to the 50's and tell the people what would become of the country in 2023, they would thunk you were nuts.

I have a typewriter from 1959. It still works great and it doesn't need any updates or my login information. It works every time I sit down to use it. Its made of steel. Not fricking plastic!

This video is making me feel so nostalgic. I’m 73…I just said to my 75 year old husband…”Wouldn’t you just love to go back to these times, even if it was just for a day? We live in the UK, we didn’t have drive-in’s, I wish we had, it looks so much fun. We didn’t even have drive through diners, until McDonalds moved here in October 1974. How I wish we had a time machine, I would jump right into it and travel back in time to experience fifties America.

I am 67 1/2. The 50s and 60s were just like that. And I remember all of it. And I miss those times so much.

Oh the memories of the drive-in the commercials lol I was born in '73 and miss my grandparents stories. They helped raise me and made a big impact on my life. Grandpa was from Texas served in army ww2 and Korean War. Cement truck driver. Grandma was 1/2 Cherokee from Arkansas only learned 4th grade picked cotton and wore newspapers and rubber bands for shoe's .worked in the factory making ammunition. I miss them so much they always told me I was smart and bought me my first car.

I have lived thru the the 50’s to the present and in my opinion the 50’s was definitely the best era of time.

I grew up in the 50's and I am so glad I did.It was a great time in this Great Country.

I was born in December 1949 so grew up in the 50s with black and white tv with 3 channels and Dad was always trading cars . We live in small towns and the country. Love the country. Everyone was friendly and safe.

My favorite mode of traveling was the train. My dad worked for Southern Pacific so I was really proud and excited to just go to the train station. It was the end of the first era of romantic rail travel. My coming of age holiday was a 3-week cross country trip with my dad from California to see our relatives in Louisiana. That trip remains pivotal in my life as it set a lifelong course of adventure, happiness and self discovery.

I remember taking my young daughter of three months old ,to Manchester England on a train I sat next to an older lady , she thought I was very. Brave taking a young baby to see my In-laws on my own . I remember the sound of the train , the wheels making that musical Sound , and people in the countryside waving at us . This was 1953 , I remember it well.

My dad was born in 1928 (he had me when he was 46). My mom, who’s 82 now, tells me my dad always drove a Cadillac. He owned his own tile business and did well for himself. At the same time, they didn’t talk much of their upbringing and I wish they would’ve. Everyone is gone now or dealing with illnesses (my mom has Alzheimer’s now, but still has some long-term memory).

I like the 50's and the 60's,What a nostalgia to watch the old past times

It was a great time growing up during the 50's and 60's, I miss it and the people.

this is for sure a 2 am type of getting lost in RU-vid doc

Here in my small town, we still have a lot of the great 50s and 60s nostalgia things, like the drive in, and lots of ppl young and elder have these cars. I love this town.

There was a drive inn theatre in Kermit, WV. We went as a child. They only charged adults and mom would pop huge brown paper bags of popcorn and a cooler with kool-aide. Of course we still got to go get hot dogs in the concession stand. I loved it.

Since I was born in 1951, the 50s ia an important era for me. Thank you, PBS for this excellent presentation. It has really conveyed the essence of that period.

We had no internet and 24 hour a day news , and most people still respected their families and neighbors

My dad was an Iron Ranger. We grew up on Minnesota stories. Many years later I attended the University of Minnesota. Thank you for these wonderful memories.

When I go antique shopping I actually use most of what I buy. I prefer old stuff especially if it "works" which it often does.

1 am 45. And completely in love with the 1950s. I love the cars the homes the furniture. Things aren't made the way they were back then

The 50 's were exciting for all sorts of reasons, but these cars like the 57 classics, are just works of art in their own right !! I'm 59, and looking back to this period, it just seems so natural and right for me, although I 'm a 60's child, and too young to know this 50's period, I always seem drawn to it. Modern technology all well and good, but modern life just does not appeal to me. If I could start all over again and actually remain there , I would not hesitate. If time machines existed, (fat chance of that) I would be using it.

Cant believe I'm watching a documentary about my childhood.

The mid-50's were just coming out of the big band era and along came Elvis,Little Richard,Bo Didley,Jerry Lee,Carl Perkins,Chuck Berry and the list goes on and on.🗽👍

My dad drove a 1958 Buick Special. No seatbelts, air conditioning, air ride shocks, special additions, and solid to the road. I was never in fear of us being rear ended and the steel chrome bumpers was the main factor of that. Nothing foreign about that car. It was American made steel and American labor built for a family of six to head out into the countryside to visit relatives or that leisure Sunday drive.

I remember the drive in theaters very well. The ones we went to in the fifties and right up until the early seventies had long mounds in which the cars would be parked on an incline so the car was tilted up slightly to see the screens better. Our folks had a 1954 Pontiac and would pile all 3 of us kids in our pajamas in the back seat with pillows and a blanket. The speakers were a problem because after the double feature was over, we were all so tired and more often than not our dad would forget that the speaker which was hooked on the window, and drive off ripping the cord off the metal stand. Going to the movies was an exciting night out for us as television was new and many homes in our area didn't even have one. If you did have a tv, it was all black and white and had only one channel.

Most dirt poor, yet quite innocent enough to be happy. You don't miss what you don't know about. Living in that quite remote part of the most southern part of Texas, Laredo, County of Webb, 20 or so miles west of Laredo, almost parallel with the Rio Grande, a stones throw away. We most certainly invented our ways of play and fun in that almost arid land full of brush and rock and cacti. Most memorable of games was the rolling of old tires thru beat up paths, and another was riding down hill in an old metal 55 gallon barrel, crushing over rocks and cactus and all kinds of briars, enough to make it challenging, if and when the got inside, rolling along with you. Another game was jumping into the river off of a rope tied to huge tree branch.

I remember when I was very young. Our parents would bring me and my sister to the drive-in movies dressed in our pj's. Of course, we'd dose off leaving Mom and Dad free to "neck" as we slept. We were joined by two more brothers since then. It was a wonderful time of everything being bigger than life!

It honestly was a great time to be alive.. Things weren"t instant...but after it was done, no matter from cooking, or building, farming, it was an achievement that gave you pride, and respect. Families werent so far apart. And yes, neighbors were almost like family. Ive lived 8 years where i am now, I have no idea what my neighbors names are. Churning ice cream on Sundays, having Koolaid stands, croquet, the sound of window fans.....so many many sweet memories lol. Im having a hard time thinking what kids today will remeber 20 years from now. hmmmm the latest Samsung Note 8, music filled with vulgar lyrics. Silly me..

I loved seeing the '50s revisited. This was just before my time in the sixties. It was a wonderful time and a horrible time scary with the nuclear threat and promising with the economy and life in general. Thank you this was great.

Thank you for the great memories. 👍 I have a humorous note to share. Probably at a minimum one quarter of the population at that time was conceived in the back seat of cars at drive-in theatres! Drive-ins were often fondly referred to as the"CORNFIELD BROTHEL" in casual banter by boys when adults and ladies were not present!

I was born in 1950, but didn’t start experiencing the American dream until 1965 when my mom brought me to California and have a lot of great and pleasant memories to dwell upon!

I was born in 53 but I wish I was born earlier so I could have grown up then.I would love to go back in time to those early days to see what it was like.❤️♥️💖

We loved going to the drive in places and getting food, while sitting in your car. I am 78 and am thrilled to grow up in this era.

The computer punch cards reminded me of my first time writing something in high school that was sent to our local telecom to be processed by their computer. When I got my card back it had GIGO written on it. When I asked my teacher what it meant he said " Garbage In Garbage Out"

I actually found this really inspired. This is perhaps one of the great centers of this country. The fact that people made their homes in such a rugged area, it reminds me how tough Americans were braving the bitter colds of the North. The automobile was the great equalizer that made the vast spaces somehow manageable. With planes and ships, radio and technology, this area was connected to everything, as far removed as it was from the east and west coasts.

Wonderful! Thank you for posting this.

My town is lucky to still have a triple screen drive inn... We all love it

How I wish those days were back. They were truly the good old days!! Nothing like today!

I grew up in the 50👍s and I love this video. Thanks

The best part of living in the '50s was that there were no "Cell Phone Zombies" wondering around or driving. I was in college in the 50s and it was great. I even drove a beautiful 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air hardtop around the campus. Wish I still had it. We also had a great US President Eisenhower from 1953-1961. "I like Ike"

Thank You for posting this video! I loved it!

if i had a time machine that's the era i would keep going back to over and over and over .

The 50's are not lost. Just many of the morals and values.

While I grew up in the 50's, my experiences were not nearly as much fun as this portrays. They have picked the best and flashiest examples of that era. Many of us only saw that from the outside.

What a treat that was. Thank you for sharing and great music as well. I appreciate all of your efforts in putting this together.

Blessed to have grown up in the fifties. Born in 1949 started first grade in 1955.

Ate breakfast, then outside playing with friends until the street lights came on.

I was a kid in the 50's living in the countryside near Superior. One thing I find missing here is that there is no mention of winter. Winter is nearly half the year and can be very severe, but I have good memories of it. Think of "Fargo" by the Corn Brothers.

I remember when you picked-up the receiver and the operator asked, "Number Please.." In the mid-sixties it cost $1.50 more per month to have a push button phone instead of the dial up.

So nice to hear people being proud of this great country. Kids today need to watch this

As an Englishman visiting the USA at 21 year old back in 1969 one of the things I wanted to do was go to a drive in movie,I did and it was great.No drive in movies in the UK. Are there no drive movies in the US anymore ? We drove in in a Cadillac Bonneville painted a gorgeous deep red metallic, I have loved those big American cars ever since.I have retired now and its still my dream to come back to the USA,maybe next year.

My mother and uncles were fortunate enough to be part of such a great generation in our country. I have always thought if time travel was an option, the 50's would be my destination. Maybe the last great American time in history.

Hello! I was born in October of 1950 in MINNESOTA. I lived there until 1974. Thank you for this wonderful time to look back.

I had forgotten that you turned your headlights on for service at a drive-in restaurant.

GREAT VIDEO SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY LOVED THE 50S

Classic years to be alive and have real fun for what we had

All of us 60 yr. olds..70 yr.olds..back then.. we had the world by the tail..never even knew it... sad how it has deteriorated.. hold your head up high.. We lived well!!!👍👍👍😊😊🇺🇸🇺🇸

This is before my time but there's a lot of things that were still happening in the 80s. Like drive-ins and the cool old cars hanging out at the A & W. Too bad drive-ins disappeared.

It was great living in the 1950's! I loved Rock and roll! We didn't have much; mother making $9.00 a week. Dad had died. We made fries and got together on the porch listening to the radio to the dedications. Great memories.

Back when the cars were built like tanks, with bumpers...nowdays you have to replace the front or back end if you want to repair a minor collision. Around 15 yrs ago my local drive-in was re-viltalized, showing a double feature everyday, while still using the grounds for the swap meet on Sat-Sun

wonderful walkthrough history!

There is still a drive in just about 2 miles from me. Only open on weekends. I’m 71, so I’ve been there lots!

wow- I remember those drive in movies. That was big date place where all the young guys would take their dates. It always turned into a wrestling match with me. I don't think I ever watched the entire movie at a drive up theater while being a teenager on a date. Oh to be young again If only I could.

It feels like yesterday, this shows how short life is, I can imagine in 2050 searching about life in 2021

Great video!

Today it is only a matter of where you live. Every city is different as is every community. Same with people and how they live. I managed to settle a days ride from home after traveling the whole Country for work for 30 years. Some things are gone. Basic trust has been ruined, morals, and acceptance are gone. But if you look hard you will find all the good people you need.

We still have a Drive In Theater where I live and the kids love it! Teenagers still put people in the trunk sometimes!

If you look you will notice obesity wasn’t so chronic back in those days

That's a beauiful old art building you mention here in Duluth Minn. I truly hope you can restore it. The story that Buddy Holly and Bob Dylan play in it's history is also inspiring.

I hate to think how many kids were a result of the Drive-In !! lol!! Remember it well fondly!

We still have atleast 2 drive in theaters in our area. And they are well attended!

Back when America was truly great.

THANK YOU FOR THE VIDEO

The photo of the man and 2 kids with the salmon reminds me of when there USED TO BE salmon in the river by our house that dad would catch and we had photos like that of them. The government now protected all the seals and sea lions that used to have a bounty on them. Now there are VERY FEW SALMON for anyone to catch for food, and only the RICH can afford the licenses to fish for the few that are left.

This is probably one of my favorite documentary films. It was very well made

I was born in 1952..... I wish we could go back to this era.

How I wish I had lived during the 50's!! All these free trade agreements killed the middle class such a shame!!

I lived for 5 months in the 50's. I've now lived in 8 different decades.

I may very young but I envy the 50’s even though I was born 50 years later

I miss the 50's ... I missed them by 4 years! Born in 64...

I was born in Texas in 1951 and Ill never forget my parents picking me up at the Cinema in town and they had bought a Star Chief Pontiac.....

Great video! I learned quite a bit.

I remember my dad he bought a 56 Chevy nomad station wagon with the pipes yellow and black. Those pipes sure did sound good for stock.

this brings me back to fond memories of dad working on the tv tubes.. oh lordy lordy right up there with the fuel oil furnace memories

There was a drive in theater down the road from my highschool that my mom took us too when I was little. It was closed down by the time I was in highschool. My friends and I gathered discarded furniture from the side of the road, took it to the big "room" under the screen and used it as a flophouse when skipping classes. There's a Menards sitting on the site now (State St., Saginaw Mi)

So weird I came across this today. I wasn't fortunate enough to have lived during the 50s but love many of the aspects about it from having heard so much about it from my parents while I was growing up - even today they still share old memories (they are both 78 now). Makes me sad to hear Deluth, Minnesota, while all of that horrible stuff is going on there now. Is our country EVER going to make it back to some semblance of the amazing place it clearly was at one time? Though I, sadly, have spent a large part of my life certain I was born too late (of course I was!), lately I am finding more gratitude when I see what younger people are dealing with now. I can say, even though just a sliver, I did get to experience a small portion of good and normalcy as a child in the 70s and teen in the 80s. I was fortunate to grow up in a very nice "middle America" suburb and enjoy an active childhood and teen years that did not revolve around cell phones and internet. Physical activity/bike riding was a constant and there weren't many overweight kids even as recently as the 90s even...so much changed after the internet in the late 90s and of course after 9/11 I think many of us could see things were forever altered. I didn't think it could be topped, but what we are living in now is unprecedented and not in any positive way whatsoever as far as I am concerned. I am almost ashamed to be an American when I see how badly our "watch dog" and "protector" media peddle their propaganda and lies and what we see playing out "politically" online, on tell-LIE-vision and the papers is a circus freak show that is enough to make the strongest person cringe. I love watching stuff like this but it would be nice to be able to make good memories NOW instead of having to take trips down memory lane - it's a bit depressing and now I am nostalgic for a time I didn't even live in. God, please help us get this mess fixed, and please hurry.

A child of the 50s, so wish i could go back

I don’t understand what the current generation has against this time. Why can’t it be this way today but with a futuristic spin on it. What a great time to be alive I envy that generation.

When the future sucks, nostalgia from the past is more appreciated and longed for.

Our fabulous classic car show every Saturday night thru the summer at the sycamore.

The 50's are fascinating. They had no clue how much their optimism partnered with ignorance, and "keeping up with the Jones's" would change the world and not necessarily for the best. The 60's response to the 50's was to tear down the old. Fight the establishment. Change everything NOW, Tune In, Drop Out was too extreme. We are still paying for it today.

Agreed, Sam, agreed. It's very sad.😭😭😭

There was many drive ins in Hawaii too! I think my last drive in experience was watching ghost busters in the early 80s. Out of about five drive ins in Oahu, the last one to close was Kam drive inn in pearl city, Hawaii. Believe it or not, it stayed open until 1998.

Was born in 56. Was a good time to grow up.

The days when you could live and prosper on a average wage, now its all about cutting taxes at the top. Taxes were higher for the corporations , wages were higher compared to cost, and not only did America survived, she prospered.

The cars of thr 50s were actually works of industrial art. They were created during a time of amazing American optimism and innovation. All you have to do is notice how much a well-restored 50s-era American car goes for at a Mecum auto action.

I like how people who didn't even have cars we're still allowed to come down and hang out and that they wanted to hang out with the car club

It brings back old memories