Cold War Politics
The US foreign policy that pledged support to nations threatened by Soviet expansionism, first applied to Greece and Turkey in 1947
What is the Truman Doctrine?
In 1945, Raytheon engineer Percy Spencer filed the patent for this now-common kitchen appliance
What is the microwave oven?
In 1954, this iconic TV show featuring a talking horse and his human friend premiered, captivating American audiences.
What is “Mister Ed”?
This wrinkle-resistant synthetic fabric made easy-care dresses possible in the 1950s.
What is polyester?
This 1950s casserole ingredient, often paired with green beans or tuna, came in a condensed form from Campbell’s and was considered a “shortcut to gourmet.”
What is cream of mushroom soup?
This economic aid program provided billions of dollars to rebuild Western Europe after the war, in part to prevent the spread of communism.
What is the Marshall Plan?
In 1953, the structure of this fundamental building block of life was discovered by James Watson and Francis Crick
What is DNA?
his 1955 hit movie starring James Dean became a symbol of teenage rebellion.
What is “Rebel Without a Cause”?
Women applied this heavy cream to soften skin, a staple of 1950s beauty routines.
What is cold cream?
TV shows like Betty Crocker’s helped spread recipes for this light, airy cake.
What is chiffon cake?
From 1948 to 1949, the U.S. and its allies used this massive effort to supply a cut-off West Berlin with necessities
What is the Berlin Airlift?
This revolutionary vaccine was introduced in 1955 and was declared safe after successful trials
What is the polio vaccine (Salk vaccine)?
n 1954, this musician recorded “Rock Around the Clock,” a song that helped usher in the rock ’n’ roll era.
Who is Bill Haley & His Comets?
During World War II, this household item became a luxury as many factories shifted to wartime production, yet women were encouraged to “make do” to keep homes functional.
What is nylon stockings?
This “retro” dessert, introduced in the 1950s, combined flavored gelatin, canned fruit, and sometimes whipped cream, often molded in a decorative shape for parties.
What is a Jell-O mold or gelatin salad?
The fear of the spread of communism in the U.S. during this era was commonly referred to by this two-word term
What is the Red Scare?
In 1955, this first ever atomic-powered submarine was officially launched, a milestone in naval technology
What is the USS Nautilus?
Elvis Presley’s first number one hit on the Billboard charts in 1956, blending rhythm and blues with country.
What is “Heartbreak Hotel”?
This postwar men’s haircut, short on the sides and longer on top, became the standard style for businessmen in the 1940s.
What is the crew cut?
This 1950s dessert, sometimes called “watergate salad” in later decades, originally combined pistachio pudding, canned pineapple, marshmallows, and whipped topping.
What is pistachio salad?
This international organization, founded in October 1945, was established to promote cooperation and prevent future global conflicts
What is the United Nations?
Developed from wartime air-defense technology, this system helped modern weather forecasting emerge in the late 1940s.
What is radar?
This 1960 novel, banned in some U.S. cities for its controversial portrayal of adolescence and sexuality, became a defining work of mid-century American literature.
What is “The Catcher in the Rye”?
This grooming product, first widely advertised in the 1940s, promised men a slick, neat hairstyle and was commonly used in barbershops and at home.
What is Brylcreem?
Before becoming a television icon in the 1960s, this French-born chef trained in Paris and worked at the prestigious L’Escargot restaurant in London, later popularizing classic French cuisine for American home cooks.
Who is Julia Child?