All Work and No Play?: Leisure in the 50s.

Television ( if your family had one) was one of the biggest sources of entertainment during the 1950s. Variety shows were popular in the early years of TV, as were 'I Love Lucy' and 'Gunsmoke'. Have a look at this clip from 'I Love Lucy', which ran for six seasons.

Going to the movie theatre was another popular pastime in the 50s, with drive-ins or 'passion pits' reaching their peak. The drive in was designed to compliment the windshield of cars ( which were just starting to become affordable for the average family) and provided the ideal setting for families to look after babies while watching a movie and for teenagers and young couples to have some privacy on dates. Popular films included Alfred Hitchcock's 'Rear Window', 'A Streetcar Named Desire' ( starring the delicious Marlon Brando) and 'Ben Hur'.

Oh Marlon, you could scream outside my 1950s balcony any day!

Dance nights were also popular ( particularly for young couples) and would be held each Saturday night at a local hall. Rock n Roll music was just beginning and women the world over were going weak at the knees for Elvis Presley. Other popular musicians included Chuck Berry, Bill Haley and Fats Domino.

Though women didn't play competitive sport, going to the beach and playing tennis at local clubs were popular active past-times. They would ride bicycles and walk for fitness but were yet to be accepted into public gymnasiums as they are today.

Sewing, cross-stitch and knitting were common craft activities. Items such as jumpers, hats, gloves and blankets were often made while women did other things such as look after children, ride public buses or listen to the radio ( even in the 50s, multi-tasking was a major part of being a woman). Have a look at some of the swell hats you could make from this 50s pattern book!