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Re: What Were People Like in 1960?

Remember that TV programs of that day showed us that Ricky and Lucy slept in different beds. Ozzie would never have said anything about 'colored' people or the Japanese or the Jews, as men on "Mad Men" routinely do.

Example 1 -- "How do I say this -- have we ever hired any Jews?" Response: "Not on my watch."
Example 2 -- [A young female secretary has just produced several creative ideas for an older account executive. He relates this to her boss in awed language.] "It was like watching a dog play the piano."

There are many others. Ordinarily we do not see minorities except as elevator operators, janitors, waiters or restroom attendants.

Something like 2-2.5 million goes into research to be certain that everything is correct for the period. The director apologized for the IBM typewriters seen on desks during season one because they date from 1961. The series begins in March 1960. during the final months of the Eisenhower presidency. The current series on cable now has reached the summer of 1965, and the main character has realized that he, like many other men his age, has a real drinking problem.

If at all interested, let me suggest that you find the DVD of "Mad Men" Season one. You can decide quickly whether this is your cup of tea. Most women quickly recognize male behavior of that period and become angry, but that's just the way it was (and is -- we just mask our behavior better today).

In my opinion, cannot watch this series casually -- it takes the use of a certain set of muscles to absorb and appreciate. It's some of the most nuanced and subtle writing and acting and set design you're likely to see on screen. I could chose hundreds of examples, but will have to settle for one. Behind closed doors, the main character's young secretary says, "Thank you, Don." For just a second you see a slight expression of surprise on his face. Then you realize she didn't address him as "Mr. Draper" as she always had in the past. No attention is called to it. It's just there for an instant and gone, one of hundreds of tiny details that make up the picture of that time.

If interested, take a look at these clips from YouTube --
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfuMhXcLa-Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOQfBdCT-AI&feature=related

Does this look like "Ozzie and Harriet"? My father came home in a bad mood more than once, and dinner might be a lot like this --
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEICkRt9FcY&feature=related

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Re: What Were People Discussing in 1860?
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Re: What Were People Like in 1960?
Re: What Were People Like in 1960?
Re: What Were People Like in 1960?
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Re: What Were People Discussing in 1860?
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Re: No, Slavery did not Cause the Civil War