America of the 1950s was a beaming nation, full of optimism following the triumph of World War II. Business activity and economic growth generated a doubling in advertising expenditure by the end of the decade. My impression of America during the fifties was that it appeared to be a magical time when people lived honourably, and hard-work and dedication were valued and praised. The theory many people possessed was of a ‘sparkling America’, ‘pleasant America’ or ‘rich America’, and in general people were willing to believe this.
