April 26, 2018
Volume 48 - No. 17
By Friedrich Gomez
Some of us were not even around in the 1950s. Not even born during the 1960s, either. And yet, countless Americans in their teens and 20s today know much about the ‘50s and ‘60s era through cult films, such as “American Graffiti,” and “Fast Times At Ridgemont High.”
At this year’s summer-long 2018 Annual “Cruisin’ Grand” event here in downtown Escondido, take a gander around you and you’ll often see teenaged girls in poodle dresses and pony tails, and teen-boys emulating the clothing and hairstyle of yesterThe The Paper Paper -- 760.747.7119 760.747.7119
website:www.thecommunitypaper.com website:www.thecommunitypaper.com
email: email: thepaper@cox.net thepaper@cox.net
year!
Today, teenagers in Japan, England, Germany, South America and other foreign countries have created clubs which copy the American-style clothing of the ‘50s and ‘60s era. For example, Elvis Presley impersonatorcontests are an annual occurrence overseas, as are Marilyn Monroe look-a-like events and fan clubs. From our iconic comic books, movies, hot rods and muscle cars against the backdrop of America’s own music invention -- rock ‘n’ roll - our 1950s and 1960s culture has proven irresistible nostalgia and lives on, even beyond our own American
shores.
Much of what occurred in 1950s and 1960s America is not lost on the socalled ‘Old Timers’ – much of that culture is recalled and re-lived in our history classes. Close your eyes and journey back in time onboard our imaginary time machine and see what was reshaping America, and the world at large, during the 50s and 60s.
Hurry -- before we depart! Quickly! Climb onboard our time machine and put on your safety belts. Here is our fun multiple-choice quiz just for you
and, in the process of having fun, we’ll learn much about our spinning Blue Marble back then.
Whoa! Our first stop . . . is the year 1957. IN 1957 THE RUSSIANS LAUNCHED THE FIRST SATELLITE TO ORBIT OUR PLANET EARTH. WHAT WAS THE SATELLITE’S NAME? A. Cosmonaut 1 B. Pravda 1 C. Sputnik 1 D. Bolshevik 1 If you selected “C” Sputnik 1, well, you didn’t miss any of your history
Cruising thru the 50’s & 60’s - See Page 2