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The past is not a monoculture.
Aug. 27th, 2013 10:10 amI've been listening to old-time radio in the car, and I just finished I just, finished listening to the January 30 1950 episode of "Let George Do It", sponsored by "Standard Stations, and independent Chevron stations throughout the west."
"Let George Do It" was a pretty interesting premise for the first three or four episodes, being lighthearted, humorous mysteries, but it rapidly became just another two-fisted hard-boiled detective show. But I'm still listening to it. Still, what was REALLY interested in this show -- from 30-1-1950 -- was the commercial at the end of the broadcast:
Sure, in the 1950s, people assumed that the mother would MOSTLY take care of the house, and the father would MOSTLY make the money -- but also that mothers could have supplemental jobs and fathers could do at least some errands and childcare.
Just because the television was black-and-white doesn't mean that the society was.
"Let George Do It" was a pretty interesting premise for the first three or four episodes, being lighthearted, humorous mysteries, but it rapidly became just another two-fisted hard-boiled detective show. But I'm still listening to it. Still, what was REALLY interested in this show -- from 30-1-1950 -- was the commercial at the end of the broadcast:
"Who drives the kids to school in stormy weather? Who uses the car to do the family shopping and other errands around town? In a lot of families, these are equally-shared duties. And if you want to be extra-nice to the person who is going to use the car next, let me give you a tip. Before you put the car away, Make sure that there is plenty of Chevron Supreme gasoline in the tank..." Blah, blah, blah, and so forth.
Sure, in the 1950s, people assumed that the mother would MOSTLY take care of the house, and the father would MOSTLY make the money -- but also that mothers could have supplemental jobs and fathers could do at least some errands and childcare.
Just because the television was black-and-white doesn't mean that the society was.