Sep 22
ITV Launches — BBC's Monopoly Ends
Independent Television launched, breaking the BBC's monopoly. Commercial television came to Britain — adverts and all.
🇬🇧United Kingdom · 50s
The Telly Takes Over
ITV arrives, Churchill retires, and rock 'n' roll crosses the Atlantic.
What happened
4 milestones of 1955
Apr 5
Winston Churchill Resigns
Churchill resigned as PM at 80 due to failing health. Anthony Eden succeeded him. The end of an era — the man who led Britain through its darkest hour stepped aside.
Jul 13
Ruth Ellis — Last Woman Hanged
Ruth Ellis was the last woman to be executed in Britain. Her case fuelled the campaign to abolish the death penalty.
Capital punishment — acknowledge the gravity, discuss abolition movement
Jul 1954
Rationing Finally Ends
The last rationing (meat and bacon) ended in July 1954. By 1955, Britons could finally eat freely for the first time in 15 years.
What was playing
70% local · 30% international
What was in cinemas
The Dam Busters
Michael Anderson — Wartime heroism. The bouncing bomb. A British classic.
The Ladykillers
Alexander Mackendrick — Alec Guinness leads a gang of criminals. Ealing's last great comedy.
Richard III
Laurence Olivier — Olivier's Shakespeare on screen. 'Now is the winter of our discontent.'
Summertime
David Lean — Major UK release — TMDB 6.8
The Colditz Story
Guy Hamilton — Major UK release — TMDB 6.8
What was on TV
ITV launches
Sep 1955 — Commercial television arrived. The Gibbs SR toothpaste ad was first.
Dixon of Dock Green
1955-1976 — 'Evenin' all.' The friendly British copper.
Crackerjack!
1955-1984 — Friday children's TV institution. 'It's Friday, it's five to five...'
How much things cost
Currency: GBP
Pint of milk4d
Pint of bitter1s 1d
Cinema ticket2s
Average house£2,000
Inflation: 4.5%
Post-rationing prosperity. Harold Macmillan would soon say 'You've never had it so good.'
Then vs. Now
Inflation-adjusted values
Pint of milkONS
1955 (GBP)
4d
→
Today's value (£)
--
Pint of bitterBBPA
1955 (GBP)
1s 1d
→
Today's value (£)
--
Cinema ticketBFI
1955 (GBP)
2s
→
Today's value (£)
--
Average houseONS
1955 (GBP)
£2,000
→
Today's value (£)
--
Technology
ITV
Commercial television brought choice — and adverts — to British screens.
De Havilland Comet
The world's first jet airliner was British (despite early crashes).
Transistor radios
Portable radios beginning to appear — music on the move.
Pop Culture
Fashion
Teddy Boy suits (drape jackets, crepe shoes)Full skirts with petticoatsWinklepicker shoesBrylcreemed hair
Slang
Smashing— Wonderful, great
Cor blimey— Expression of amazement
Teddy Boy— Youth subculture with Edwardian-inspired style
Behavior
- Teddy Boys were Britain's first youth subculture
- Rock 'n' roll from America was scandalizing parents
- Skiffle — homemade music with washboards — was about to explode
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