Journey through Christmases Past - Christmas 1955

 

Welcome to our newest feature, Journey through Christmases Past. This series is a nostalgic celebration of the holidays we all remember...

• The history and traditions of the holiday.
• The décor that filled our homes.
• The toys that defined each decade.
• The television and movie shows that brightened the season.
• The outfits we adored (and the ones we definitely didn’t).

Along the way, I’ll sprinkle in a few of my own Christmas memories. So settle in with a cup of your favorite hot beverage and join me on a journey through Christmases past.

Welcome to Christmas 1955. This is a year when the Cold War is bubbling, the Civil Rights Movement is in full swing, and Elvis is about a month away from appearing on live television for the first time.

In April of that year, Ray Kroc opens his first McDonald's franchise, and the polio vaccine is announced as safe and effective. Disneyland opens in California that summer, and the television set is now an American staple, owned by more than 50% of homes. 

A decade beyond the end of World War II, the "Golden Age of Capitalism" finds the United States producing nearly half the world's goods, television ads bring new products directly into our homes, and what will become known as the midcentury modern style introduces exciting and new decor and furnishings. Check out this book for more about the midcentury kitchen. 

Photo credit: Heinz History Center

Mr. Potato Head, introduced in 1952, is a popular toy in 1955, and holds the distinct honor of being the first toy advertised on television. Originally, inventor George Lerner designed Mr. Potato Head as a kit of plastic pieces that could be added to any kitchen vegetable. His plastic body would not hit the market until 1964. 

Photo credit: The Henry Ford Museum

Another desired toy for Christmas is Silly Putty. Invented by General Electric while they were seeking ways to combat the rubber shortage during World War II, this stretchy, bouncing material became famous thanks to an article in The New Yorker. 

Thanks to the prosperity families experience after the war, adults are curious to find ways to make their lives easier. 

Photo credit: AbeBooks

The happy homemaker might enjoy this cookbook to go with their new handheld electric mixer. Perhaps, the well-dressed man will request a new wool coat or fedora. And with Rock and Roll gaining popularity this decade, a new Philco portable phonograph might be just the thing to play your records. 

Looking for midcentury holiday trends? Check out Midcentury Christmas by Sarah Archer.