If you ask me, the 1950s was a wonderful decade. For starters, it marked the introduction of some pretty cool products into the marketplace. With that said, here’s a brief rundown on my picks for the best ones:
Color Television
Although televisions were around prior to the 1950s, all of the programming was in black and white. The 1950s brought with it color television, the first issue of TV Guide, the first TV remote control and something that I’ve come to abhor, political ads. Of course the color TVs and remotes of the decade looked nothing like the high tech, flat screens of today. Even so, they were amazing pieces of technology for their time.
TV Dinners
With all the advances in television, it is no wonder that TV dinners also made an appearance in the 1950s. Some of the first ones were made by the Swanson Brothers Company, which I might add still makes a heck of a TV dinner to this very day. However, they look a lot different than their predecessors. When I was a child, the dinners came in aluminum tins and were sealed shut with foil. Nowadays, they come in plastic containers with plastic seals, which make them well suited for use with another 1950s invention.
Wondering what 1950s invention works well with the plastic clad TV dinners of today? Why it’s none other than the microwave. It first appeared in commercial kitchens in the early half of the decade and made its way into consumer’s hands by the late 1960s. I can also tell you from first-hand experience that not all women embraced the microwave at first. I can still remember when my parents bought my grandmother one for Christmas in the 1970s. She was highly insulted and refused the gift. She regarded microwaves as “inventions for lazy women” and didn’t allow one in her home until the late 1980s.
The late 1950s also introduced American moms to disposable baby diapers. The first ones were produced by P&G.; Many women embraced them but not my ancestors. Both my grandmother and my mother refused to use them. I was the one to break away from family tradition in 1989 with the birth of my son. I also have to say that my mother and grandmother were not very pleased with my decision either.
Velcro Hook and Loop
The last 1950s invention to make my list is Velcro Hook and Loop Fasteners. Patented in 1955, it turned out to be one of the only inventions from the decade that my female ancestors embraced whole-heartedly. They adored the product and used it to create all kinds of items for the house. Personally, I adore the stuff too. Three cheers for Georges de Mestral for inventing it.
Source: Personal Experience
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