Scavenger Hunt: THE '50s
The 1950s were, for the most part, years of peace and prosperity. Millions of families moved to the suburbs. Americans liked Dwight D. Eisenhower, their kindly war-hero president. Television became popular; I Love Lucy and Gunsmoke were hits. Teenagers chose their own fashions and music. And Elvis Presley thrilled young people and shocked their elders.
Through the scavenger hunt, popular subjects and major historical events will be explored. Each section will have a set of directions for you to follow to complete the scavenger hunt. All answers should be typed below the question.
Section 1: Commemorating Stamps
Below there are ten stamps commemorating the 1950s. With each stamp comes a question. Use the Internet and various websites provided to find the answer to the questions.
THE KOREAN WAR
The Korean War (1950-1953), the first major United Nations military action, claimed the lives of more than 50,000 Americans. U.S. and other U.N. forces fought to oppose the invasion of South Korea by Communist troops.
Question 1:
In Washington, D.C., the Korean War Veterans Memorial includes a patrol of 19 stainless steel statues depicting ground troops in the war. The memorial was dedicated on July 27, 1995. Why was that date special to the men and women who fought in the Korean War?
U.S. LAUNCHES SATELLITES
The first successful U.S. Earth satellite, Explorer 1, was launched January 31, 1958. The second, Vanguard 1, was launched March 17, 1958. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was formally established October 1, 1958.
Question 2:
Explorer 1 is among the many aircraft that are on display at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. That spacecraft provided evidence that supported "the first major scientific discovery of the Space Age." What was that discovery?
The Web site:
http://www.nasm.edu/galleries/gal100/gal100.html
To find the answer to that question, go to the Milestones of Flight
POLIO VACCINE DEVELOPED
Polio epidemics peaked in the '50s, with almost 58,000 new cases in 1952 alone. A vaccine developed by Dr. Jonas Salk and federally approved in April 1955 helped control the spread of the disease when it was administered nationwide.
http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/global_health/home/News/poliotrial.html
Question 3:
Salk's vaccine was released in 1955. Twenty years later -- in 1974 -- how many cases of polio were diagnosed in the United States?
DR. SEUSS'S THE CAT IN THE HAT
The Cat in the Hat was written and illustrated in 1957 by Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel). This masterpiece uses repeated syllables, rhythmic verses, and fanciful drawings to teach children to read and to use their imagination.
Question 4:
Dr. Seuss wrote children's books before he wrote The Cat in the Hat. His first children's book was rejected by 43 publishers before a friend published the book for him. What was the title of that first book?
TAIL FINS AND CHROME
Cars of the '50s were large and ornate. Automakers attracted buyers with annual style changes. Tail fins, dazzling grilles, chrome trim, and hardtop convertibles were popular, as were big V-8 engines and three-toned paint jobs.
Question 5:
Only 400 of the Cadillac Eldorado Broughams were built in 1957. That year, the average new Cadillac sold for $5,539. And you could buy a house for $10,000! How much did one of the limited-edition Broughams cost?
DRIVE-IN MOVIES
With postwar prosperity, the blossoming of suburbia, and the national love for cars and movies, drive-in theaters were natural attractions for new American families. Teenage couples found privacy and sometimes watched the movie.
Question 6:
Drive-ins became popular in the 1950s, but the first drive-in was built on the East Coast of the United States in 1933. Where was that drive-in?
The Web site:
http://www.americandrivein.com
To find the answer to that question, go to the
The American Drive-In Movie Theater Web page and click on Take a Tour.
STOCK CAR
RACING
Races involving stock cars, modified versions of ordinary passenger cars, attracted drivers and fans alike. The 1950s witnessed a boom in stock car racing, and the first Daytona 500 was held in 1959.
Question 7:
In the history of the Daytona 500, one racer has won the race more than any other. He has won the race seven times. Who is that racer?
.
ROCK 'N' ROLL
With roots in rhythm and blues, country and western, and gospel, rock 'n' roll crossed racial lines. Some adults found the rhythms rebellious and threatening, but the lyrics and loud music appealed directly to teenagers.
Question 8:
Since the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame opened in Cleveland in 1986, more than 150 individuals and groups have been inducted. In 1999, ten new inductees were honored. Which one of the inductees below was not among those inducted in 1999?
·  Fleetwood Mac
·  Billy Joel
·  Paul McCartney / ·  Dusty Springfield
·  Bruce Springsteen
·  the Staple Singers
The Web site:
http://www.rockhall.com
To find the answer to that question, go to the
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Web page.
I LOVE LUCY
I Love Lucy (1951-1957) was one of the most popular shows in TV history. Lucille Ball starred as a zany homemaker trying to break into show business. Her real-life husband, Desi Arnaz, costarred as her bandleader husband.
Question 9:
In Episode 2 of I Love Lucy (October 10, 1951), Lucy and Ethel want to celebrate the Mertzes' wedding anniversary at a night club. Where do Ricky and Fred want to go?
The Web site:
http://www.lucylibrary.com
To find the answer to that question, go to the
The Lucy Library Web page and check out the Episode Guide.
Two New States
In 1959, Alaska and Hawaii will be added as the 49th and 50th states of the United States.
Question 10:
When were Alaska and Hawaii officially recognized as states? Two dates
Section II: Toys of the 1950s
Directions: Below is a list of toys from the 1950s. Your task is to arrange the items in their proper order that they became popular during the 1950s. Some toys were created before the 50s, but became popular during the 50s.
For each of the following items you need to identify: 1) the year it was introduced; 2) how it was introduced (t.v., magazine, store); 3) who invented or introduced; 4) a picture of the product; 5) arrange them in chronological order
Items
Wiffle ball
Mr. Potato Head
Gumby
Silly Putty
Lego
Barbie Doll
Frisbee
Hula Hoop
Scrabble
.
III. The Drive-In Job
Your crazy great-aunt just passed away. In her will, she left you an old, run-down drive-in movie theater. In the will, there were three conditions: it must remain a drive-in, it's yours and you can't sell it to make way for a shopping mall, and last, it must be a living time capsule for the 1950's, the decade in which she was a teenager and the one she considered the greatest of them all.
In order to pay the property tax bill, you're going to have to get it up and running using nothing but stuff from the 1950's. Hopefully, you'll gain some insight as to why modern youth culture really exploded during that decade.
You will need to accomplish several things to get your drive-in open for business. First, read an article on the 1950's drive-in theater. Then you will determine the films to be shown, decide what music you'll play during intermissions, and decorate your concession stand. In addition, you will discover some television shows that were shown during the 1950's, observe the types of cars that might be in your parking lot, and devise a place for children to participate in their favorite fads of the 1950's. Finally, you will put together a journal of your opening weekend experiences.
The Process
In order to get your drive-in running, you have to do several things:
1.  Decide on a triple feature to be shown on the screen for your opening weekend. Choose a science fiction movie concerning aliens or a mutated animal, a movie made in 3D, and an Elvis Presley movie. Remember, they must all have been made during the 1950's. The name of the film, year of release, and the movie poster need to be included in the answer below.
2.  Come up with a playlist of songs to play during intermission: Decide what kind of music you'll play in the parking lot before the feature. You'll need at least three rock 'n' roll songs performed by different African-American artists and three rock 'n' roll songs performed by different white artists. Each song should come from a different year in the 1950's. Your playlist should contain the title, year, and the artist. Go to the fiftiesweb to get started. Click on the other years to get further songs.
3.  Gather photos of miscellaneous products and decorations from the 1950's: You'll need to decorate your concession stand using at least five photos, etc. of famous people and things from the 1950's. Also, give at least three examples of products from the 1950's that you might sell at the concession stand. Once again the fiftiesweb can help you to get photos. Once you're on this page, don't be afraid to snoop around for other stuff. You can find a lot of what you need right on this site.
4.  Develop a list of TV shows from the era: Find at least three television shows that people might have watched instead of going to the drive-in that night. Go to the fiftiesweb and take your pick of the shows made in the 1950's. Write a short summary of information about each show such as actors, years on TV, and plot.
5.  Get at least three photos of different types automobiles that might show up in your parking lot: Go to Rewind The Fifties to find dozens of photos, then choose your favorites.
6.  Explain one fad or craze during the 1950's: Create an area that children might participate in one of the fads of the 1950's. Head back to the fiftiesweb for this. In a short essay, explain what the fad was. Include some photos that might help explain the fad.