Kids crowd to get a closer look at Benny Goodman and his orchestra, 1940. Via/ U.S. National Archives“High school boys in jalopy. Genoa, Nevada,” 1940. Via/ Library of Congress“Motorcycle and Hill Climb Recreation. His first hill climb. The fellow on the left is fixing the gear shift for him while the other is explaining how to take the bumps.” 1940. Via/ U.S. National ArchivesTeenager window shopping, 1940. Via/ U.S. National Archives
After the start of World War II, women and teens took jobs that men would have otherwise held, giving them exposure to new skills and steady wages coming in. With less supervision and a little bit of spending money, teens were free to go to the movies or to a bike rally or dancing in their free time. The girls’ magazine, Seventeen, was first released in 1944 as the teenager was coming into its own as a stage of life.
“Hayward, California. A typical small town phenomenon: Saturday in the pool hall. The youths here are of high school age. Though the town in which they live has other recreational facilities–tennis courts, a swimming pool, a baseball field, etc.–the local pool hall is their social center after school and over the weekend,” 1940. Via/ U.S. National ArchivesVia/ Library of Congress
