How has the Atomic Bomb Influenced American Culture?

Many Americans have seen the two recent films, Oppenheimer and Elvis. Well, I’ve been wondering lately if there is any cultural connection between them. If so, it would likely have become visible in the 1950s. While the A-bomb and the H-bomb were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August of 1945, the 50s is the first full decade under their shadow.

Elvis is the first Superstar of Rock-n-Roll. Is there anything about living in the wake of The Bomb that set the stage for his massive appeal?

What about the phenomena of Rock-n-Roll itself? Once those bombs had demonstrated their awesome power to the World, they became a part of “Civilization” – especially in Western countries, and most especially in the USA. As Oppenheimer showed, The Bomb was our baby.

What effects, if any, did living with the very real threat of The Bomb being used again have on the minds of the folks, like us, who lived through the 50s, or were born into that time frame? How, if at all, did this life-threatening milieu shape our cultural values? (Although I’m focusing on popular music here, the same questions can be asked about films, food, and fashion, among other things.)

The NYC radio disk jockey, Alan Freed, is widely credited with popularizing, and redefining, the term “Rock-n-Roll.” Its original meaning contemplated sex (get it?). He was among the first to play music by Black artists mixed in with the music of young Whites. For example, he often played the record “Sixty Minute Man” by the Black group, Billy Ward and his Dominoes. The lyrics include the line, "I rock 'em, roll 'em all night long." He promoted the energizing sound of the White group, Bill Haley & His Comets, particularly the 1954 tune, “Rock Around the Clock.” (It was featured in the movie, Blackboard Jungle.)

The business dimension of Rock-n-Roll was also developing in the 50s. Unfortunately, it wasn’t always above board. For example, Freed was caught up in the “Payola” scandal, in which DJs took “gifts” from music companies to give extra play time to their recordings.

There was also the practice of White musicians “covering” the songs of Black musicians. This was hinted at in the movie Elvis, but not fully explained. Black singer, “Big Mama” Thorton recorded the song “You ain’t Nothing but a Hound Dog,” which was recorded in Los Angeles in 1952. While it reached #1 in the R&B charts, it had few sales among the White record buying public. Then Elvis Presley “covered” it in 1956. Of course, it became an instant hit. It was his biggest selling single, selling over two million copies in the first year, and over 10 million to date. The song became a badge of the era. Unhappily, Big Mama didn’t get any royalty payments from Elvis or the company that recorded the record. Opps, the Elvis movie forgot that point.

Perhaps there are hints in the lyrics of Rock-n-Roll music that reveal the connection between the genre and The Bomb. One important song in the emergence of American Rock-n-Roll is “Tutti Fritti,” by Little Richard. Everyone knows its refrain, “Tutti Frutti, aw rooty … A-wop-bop-a-loo-mop-a-lop-bam-boom!” Surely there is some hidden meaning here that, if artfully extricated, could shed light on how The Bomb has helped shape our culture.

As an aside, Tutti Frutti can also serve as a rather embarrassing instance of a White guy covering a Black guy’s song. Just compare Little Richard’s rendition with that of Pat Boone:

Little Richard,  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F13JNjpNW6c;

Pat Boone,  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFxTvffJqOg Ouch!

It’s unlikely that living in the wake of The Bomb had anything to do with the business conduct of the record companies. But the question remains as to what, if any, influence on our culture The Bomb has had. I’m still searching for answers.

William J. Kelleher, PhD

@InterpretivePo1 

 PS

After talking about my question with a friend, he asked ChatGPT for an answer. Although not very specific, it replied with a long list of items. I’m posting it after the References for anyone who is interested. 

References

Alan Freed

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Freed

Blackboard Jungle

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackboard_Jungle 1955

Including Sidney Poitier in his breakout role as a Black teen in a mostly White high school.

Hound Dog (Song’s History)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hound_Dog_(song)

Compare these recordings,

Big Mama Thorton “You ain’t nothing but a hound dog,”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvbSXVc451Q

Elvis singing Hound Dog on the Milton Berle Show, June 5, 1956

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJnVQDA9rHA

For a critique of the Elvis movie, and a very informative history of Hound Dog see,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6YFhlUsuUg

Rock Around the Clock

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_Around_the_Clock

Tutti Frutti (song history)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tutti_Frutti_(song)

For a list of related resources (but no answer to my key question) see,

Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in popular culture

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_bombings_of_Hiroshima_and_Nagasaki_in_popular_culture 

ChatGPT

The cultural interaction between the invention of the atom bomb, epitomized by J. Robert Oppenheimer, and the explosion of the Elvis Presley phenomenon is a fascinating study of two transformative events in American history. Here’s an outline to understand this interaction:

### I. Historical Context
1. **World War II and the Manhattan Project**
   - Development of the atomic bomb during WWII (1942-1945).
   - Robert Oppenheimer as a central figure in the Manhattan Project.
   - The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.
2. **Post-War America**
   - The emergence of the Cold War and nuclear anxiety.
   - Economic prosperity and the rise of the American middle class.

### II. The Atom Bomb and Cultural Anxiety
1. **Nuclear Fear and the Cold War**
   - Public fear of nuclear war and its portrayal in media.
   - The influence of nuclear themes in literature, film, and art.
   - The symbol of the atom bomb as both technological triumph and existential threat.
2. **Impact on American Psyche**
   - Pervasive sense of vulnerability and uncertainty.
   - Shifts in public discourse towards survivalism and existentialism.
   - Influence on scientific discourse and political policies.

### III. The Rise of Elvis Presley
1. **Birth of Rock 'n' Roll**
   - Elvis Presley’s emergence in the mid-1950s.
   - Fusion of African American blues, gospel, and country music.
   - Elvis as a cultural icon and symbol of youthful rebellion.
2. **Cultural Shifts**
   - Challenge to conservative social norms.
   - The rise of teenage culture and consumerism.
   - Music as a form of escapism and identity for the youth.

### IV. Interplay Between the Two Phenomena
1. **Contrasting Symbols**
   - The atom bomb as a symbol of destruction and technological prowess.
   - Elvis as a symbol of youthful energy, rebellion, and cultural transformation.
2. **Common Themes**
   - The search for identity in a rapidly changing world.
   - Responses to fear and uncertainty: escapism through music vs. existential confrontation.
   - Transformation of American culture through technology (bomb) and media (music).

### V. Cultural Legacy
1. **Long-term Effects of the Atom Bomb**
   - Continued nuclear arms race and disarmament movements.
   - Ongoing cultural representations in media and literature.
2. **Legacy of Elvis Presley**
   - Enduring influence on music and popular culture.
   - Presley as a pioneer in the breaking down of racial barriers in music.

### VI. Conclusion
- The dual impact of the atomic bomb and Elvis Presley on American culture highlights a period of profound transformation.
- Both phenomena contributed to shaping the collective consciousness, reflecting the complexities of technological advancement and cultural change.
- Understanding their interplay offers insight into the dynamics of American society in the mid-20th century, marked by both innovation and turbulence.

This outline captures the broad strokes of how these two seemingly disparate events interacted within the cultural landscape of the time, influencing public sentiment, cultural expressions, and societal shifts.