Entertainment products were more affordable than ever before, in the 50s. Australian women were freed from time-consuming household tasks with the advent of many labour-saving home appliances, while increased car ownership decreased travel time significantly, allowing more leisure time for entire families.
Radio
Radio was the most popular form of entertainment in Australia prior to the introduction of television.97 percent of Australian household were estimated to have owned a radio set, in 1955. Families were brought together to listen to music shows, drama serials, light entertainment and quiz programs.However the broadcasting of television in homes from 1956, forced radio stations to change their programming to play mainly music, sport and news.
Cinema
Like all other entertainment mediums, cinema was greatly affected by the advent of television. Rather than going on outings to the movies, many families stayed at home and watched television instead. As a result, cinema attendance suffered and declined markedly.
In an attempt to win back lost audiences, cinemas offered innovative new features. Technicolour, wide screens, stereo sound and 3D movies became common in theatres around Australia.
Despite the challenge posed by television, cinema remained the leisure activity of choice for people spending a night out. Drive-in cinemas became a popular way of watching movies in the 1950s. The first drive-in cinema in Australia opened in Melbourne in 1954 and within two years, another 23 had sprung up across Australia. The popularity of the drive-in can be attributed to the rapid increase in car ownership and the growing number of young families who found drive-ins a more convenient way to take small children to the cinema.
Films
Locally-made Australian films were in short supply throughout the 1950s and this period is widely considered to be a low point in Australian film-making. A few Australian films were shown, notably The Glenrowan Affair (1951) and Summer of the Seventeenth Doll (1959).
In 1955, Charles Chauvel's groundbreaking film Jedda was the first Australian movie to be released in colour. It also tackled controversial Indigenous/colonial themes and was the first Australian film to star Indigenous actors.
Throughout the 1950s, many film makers were unwilling to risk using little-known Australian actors. Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, for example, cast overseas actors in each of its four lead roles.
Throughout the 1950s, most films screened in Australian cinemas were American or British, paving the way for foreign cultural influences to easily infiltrate Australian popular culture.
Television
Television was first introduced in Australia in September 1956, just in time for the Melbourne Olympics. In a matter of a few short years it had become the nation's most popular form of entertainment. 50 percent of families in Sydney were estimated to have owned a television set, by 1959.
Grainy black and white and broadcasts were limited to just a few hours each night, throughout the early days of broadcast. As a result, television viewing was treated as a 'special event' and did not have the powerful sway over everyday lives and schedules that it would in later decades.
Throughout the 50s Australian television broadcast news, quiz shows, movies, music and sport. Many Australian-made programs were essentially visual broadcasts of existing radio shows, or 'radio with pictures'. Many popular TV hosts, like Brian Henderson, were former radio presenters.
A majority of television programs were imported from overseas and Australians were exposed to foreign cultures like never before. American productions like Perry Mason and I Love Lucy soon became Australian favourites.
While television was widely accepted by Australians in the 1950s, a small proportion of society were opposed to it. Small portions believed that Australia would be over- run by American culture through television, thus threatening the development of the Australian identity. A few believed that television content was superficial and unsophisticated and was neither educationally nor culturally beneficial. Another concern voiced by Australians, was that television would encourage people to become passive and less active in the community.
Other forms of Entertainment Comic books were extremely popular in the 1950s and American invented hula hoops grew in popularity. Swimming at beaches was also favoured, as more people learned how to swim and surf; lifesavers began to patrol beaches and swimsuits adopted a more comfortable and practical design.
Television became increasingly popular in Australia during the 50s.
3-D stereoscopic film methods were used to film movies for cinemas, to diversify from ever popular television
American television sitcom I Love Lucy starring Lucille Ball became popular with Australians during the 50s