The 1950s, an age of postwar optimism, suburban sprawl, and burgeoning consumerism, introduced a host of groundbreaking products into the average American home. These items, once symbols of modernity and convenience, quickly became indispensable parts of daily life.
Yet, as technology marched forward and health standards improved, many of these iconic objects faded from the scene. Here are seven popular 1950s staples you rarely, if ever, see today.
1. The Rotary Phone
Before the ubiquity of touch-tone dialing, let alone smartphones, the rotary phone was the communication centerpiece of the home. With its iconic disk and satisfying, tactile whir as the finger wheel returned to its place, it was a symbol of reliability.
The shift: The introduction of electronic touch-tone dialing in the 1960s offered speed and efficiency that the rotary system couldn’t match. Today, the rotary phone is an aesthetic choice for retro decor, replaced entirely by mobile and digital landlines.
2. The Slide Rule
A few generations ago, the slide rule was the indispensable tool for scientists, engineers, and students—the primary method for complex calculations before the digital age. It was a mechanical analog computer used for multiplication, division, roots, and logarithms.
The shift: The invention and rapid adoption of the electronic pocket calculator in the 1970s rendered the slide rule instantly obsolete. It became one of the clearest examples of a sophisticated technology being entirely replaced by a simpler, faster electronic version.
3. Lever-Operated Metal Ice Cube Trays
In the post-war kitchen, before automatic ice makers were standard in refrigerators, the metal ice cube tray was a source of minor daily frustration. These trays featured a metal lever that, once pulled, would crack the ice, theoretically releasing the cubes.
The shift: The trays were gradually replaced by flexible, silicone, or durable plastic trays, which eliminated the metallic taste and the loud, often unsuccessful struggle with the lever. Modern refrigerators, of course, feature automatic ice dispensing, making the tray itself unnecessary.
4. The Poodle Skirt
A sartorial icon of the 1950s, the poodle skirt was a wide felt circle skirt often decorated with an appliquéd poodle design (sometimes featuring a sequined leash). Popularized by teenagers and dancers, it was synonymous with rock-and-roll youth culture.
The shift: Like many fast fashions, the poodle skirt declined rapidly in the 1960s as styles shifted toward mod, minimalist, and more tailored looks. Today, it remains exclusively as a costume piece for 1950s-themed parties.
5. Metal Lunch Boxes
The 1950s and 1960s were the golden age of the metal lunch box, particularly those featuring detailed, often brightly colored lithographed images of popular TV and movie characters. Durable and distinct, they were status symbols for schoolchildren.
The shift: Safety regulations in the late 1970s and 1980s led to their replacement with softer, safer, and better-insulated plastic and fabric lunch bags. Today, the vintage metal lunch boxes are highly sought-after collector’s items.
6. X-Ray Shoe Fitting Machines (Fluoroscopes)
Perhaps the most alarming item on this list, X-ray shoe fitting machines were common fixtures in shoe stores from the 1930s through the 1960s. They allowed customers and sales staff to view the bones of the foot inside the shoe to ensure a “perfect fit.”
The shift: As the public and regulatory bodies became aware of the dangers of repeated, unnecessary radiation exposure, these machines were finally banned in the U.S. and globally throughout the 1960s and 1970s due to the health risks they posed to both customers and store employees.
7. Asbestos-Containing Household Products
Asbestos was once hailed as a miracle material due to its fire-resistant and insulating properties. In the 1950s, it was used ubiquitously in household items, including floor tiles, insulation, paint, and even certain kitchen potholders.
The shift: Public health studies confirmed asbestos as a potent carcinogen linked to mesothelioma and other lung diseases. Regulatory agencies mandated its phased removal and eventual ban in consumer products, making any remaining 1950s items containing asbestos a significant health hazard. The awareness of these risks forever changed how we approach product safety and material science.
I remember the dial phones and the ice metal trays. Before we had a dial telephone we had one without the dial and when picking up the receiver to make a phone call an operator would ask for the telephone number the caller wanted to make a phone call to. The Omaha phone numbers at this time included an exchange plus 4 numerals. When a dial phone replaced this phone a dial tone was heard when picking up the receiver we would dial the 1st two letters of the exchange followed by 4 numerals. Eventually the exchanges were replaced by a 3 digit prefix. Three digit area codes were added to make direct long distance phone calls possible without operator assistance. The number 1 was then added to precede the area code for long distance dialing. Many people incorrectly refer to the zero in telephone numbers as O, the letter following N in the alphabet. The letter O is at the same place on the phone as the number 6. Whenever one mentions a telephone number with the zero in it one should always say zero, not OH.