MOVIES

Until 1966, a stringent "Production Code" dictated what could (and could not) be shown in a Hollywood motion picture. Kisses on film were timed and a commode, for example, could not be shown.  A film, such as Warner Brothers' "Baby Doll," tame by today's standards, was considered "dirty" in December 1956 and was banned to such a degree that it was shown in very few cinematic venues...let alone the local shopping mall movie house.

The Production Code began to crack in the late 1950s. In 1968, as films became more explicit, a rating system was assembled by the Motion Picture Association of America; G - All ages admitted, M - Parental discretion advised, R - Those under 17 not admitted without parent or adult guardian and X - Those under 17 not admitted.

This system was revised in 1970, when the M rating was altered to GP (General, with Parent). Unfortunately, GP was widely regarded to indicate "general public". The rating was revised again, in 1972, to read PG (Parental Guidance suggested).  

MUSIC

In the 1950s and early '60s, the standard "Top 40" AM station would play a variety of music. Things were not like today, when every song and artist is categorized, homogenized and pigeon-holed into a specific genre...with radio stations also being highly genre-specific.

Back then, you would have the standard pop vocal tunes by Al Martino or Kay Starr. Instrumentals were also in vogue. Tunes such as "The Poor People of Paris" (Les Baxter), "Wonderland By Night" (Bert Kaempfert ["Bart Kamp-fert"]) or "Love Is Blue" (Paul Mauriat ["Mary-aht"]) all hit the Billboard number one spot.

DJ's might also throw in a cross-over Country & Western song now and then, such as "Ring of Fire" (Johnny Cash) or "Harper Valley PTA" (Jeannie C. Riley). Even a jazz tune might be played, such as "Take 5" (Dave Brubek Quartet) or "Desafinado" ["Day-zaf-uh-nah-doh"] (Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd). Before the advent of "Rock & Roll" in the mid-1950s, there were various girl and guy groups; i.e., The Andrews Sisters, Four Lads, McGuire Sisters and Ames Brothers. 

Rock and roll began to change the popular music scene in the late '50s and early '60s. "Pop" music was altered even more when the "Fab Four" arrived -from Liverpool, England- in January 1964. Perhaps the biggest change occurred as the "Baby Boom" generation matured and began buying records, en masse, in the mid-to-late 1960s. At this time, the recording industry experienced its largest growth period ever. 

Anyone who wasn't around back in the day might not believe the media hoopla that surrounded the American introduction of Great Britain's Beatles, in early 1964. Nicknamed "The Fab Four," they would go on to revolutionize rock music in a way that no single artist or group has done before or since.

Photo from Library of Congress

RECORDS AND TAPES

The technological advance from the antiquated, low fidelity 78 rpm record was delayed by the Great Depression and World War II. Immediately following the end of the global conflict, two new phonographic mediums were introduced. 

Columbia Records debuted its sonically superior 33 & 1/3 "Long Playing microgroove" disc on June 21, 1948. Available in 10 and 12 inch formats, the "LP" would be the standard for prerecorded music until the advent of the digital compact disc in the 1980s.

Competitor RCA Victor countered with the introduction of its 7 inch 45 rpm disc, on March 1, 1949. At first, the 33 & 1/3 and 45 formats vied for market prominence. Eventually, both prevailed. 

In the first photo we have the first mass-marketed 12 inch 33 & 1/3 "Long Playing" vinyl disc. It is Columbia Record's number ML4001, the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto by Nathan Milstein and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Bruno Walter. The album hit music stores in June 1948. Directly above is the label of the very first mass-marketed 45 rpm "single." RCA Victor's number 48-0001-A, "Texarkana Baby" -by Eddy Arnold- was released in March 1949.

Photo 1 from https://www.discogs.com

Photo 2 from http://www.collectorsfrenzy.com