Popular Culture in Britain and America, 1950-1975 - Part II

Part II of this vibrant and engaging resource aims to complement the comprehensive thematic areas introduced in Part I with material from brand new source libraries such as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum; the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament Archives at the University of Warwick; the unique archive of British documentary filmmaker, Peter Whitehead; as well as even more material from Bowling Green State University, ITN Source, Mirrorpix and The National Archives, UK.

The additional content in Part II has a strong emphasis on popular entertainment, mass media and consumer culture. The archives and collections have been carefully selected in order to create a unique and well-rounded resource that really brings the everyday ‘popular culture’ of Britain and America from the 1950s to 1970s to life. From the full colour mail-order catalogues, advertising proofs and fashion Mirrorpix, we can really get a sense, not only of what people were buying and wearing, but the (sometimes impossible) aesthetic ideals that they were aspiring to and what appears to be a somewhat unhealthy obsession with synthetic fabrics!

Thanks to the Browne Popular Culture Library at Bowling Green State University and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum we can also get sense of how people sought entertainment; what people were watching in the movie theatres, listening to on their radios and what records they were buying.

We have digitized a vast selection of Popular Entertainment Memorabilia from movie press-kits, TV and movie stills, performer cards and lobby cards. This movie still from the 1967 film, The Graduate, starring a young Dustin Hoffman is just one of hundreds, each capturing a memorable movie moment.

Among the gems that we have selected from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum are regional radio chart listings featuring the most played songs of the week. For example, this ‘Official Top 40 Tunes’ listing from June 1965 shows that 'I Can’t Help Myself' by the Four Tops was the most played record by WAKR FM (Ohio) that week, with 'Satisfaction' by the Rolling Stones coming in at no. 6. Further down the list we can see that Elvis Presley, the Beach Boys and Tom Jones all feature twice.

Part II of Popular Culture in Britain and America, 1950-1975: Rock and Roll, Counterculture, Peace and Protest is an invaluable addition to the resource and continues to explore the range of political, cultural and social themes introduced in Part I.