Greaser (1950s)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses of the term, see Greaser
Greasers are a subculture that originated in the 1950s among eastern United States white youth street gangs, and then became popular among other types of people.
Their name came from their greased back hairstyle, which involved combing back hair using hair oil. Greasers liked rockabilly and rock and roll music, by artists such as Elvis Presley, Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran. Their fashion style of leather jackets and denim jeans was inspired by Marlon Brando's movie The Wild One. Some greasers rode hot rods or motorcycles. The style was imitated by many youths not associated with gangs, as an expression of rebellion. In the 1950s, these youths were known as hoods, the term "greaser" originating in the fifties revival of the 1970s.<ref>Marcus, Daniel. Happy Days and Wonder Years: The Fifties and the Sixties in Contemporary Cultural Politics. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 2004. p. 12.</ref>
Contents |
[edit] Fashion
Common items in a greaser's wardrobe included Sir Guy shirts, white or black T-shirts (often with the sleeves rolled up); white wife beater undershirts (as outerwear); Daddy-O-style shirts; black, blue or khaki work jackets, Levi denim jackets; leather motorcycle jackets; blue or black Levi's 501 or 505 jeans (with the cuffs turned up about four inches); Dickies work trousers; motorcycle boots or steel-toed engineer boots; brothel creeper shoes; Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars basketball shoes; bandanas and chain wallets. Tattoos were common, particularly among gangs.
Common hairstyles included the pompadour and the more combed-back Folsom style. These hairstyles were held in place with generous amounts of hair wax (pomade). Popular brands included Royal Crown, Black & White and Murray's.
[edit] Revivals
The term greaser reappeared during in the 1970s in the United States, during a revival of 1950s youth culture. Movies featuring greasers included The Lords of Flatbush (1974), Grease (1978) (and its sequel, Grease 2), Eddie and the Cruisers (1983), and The Outsiders (1983). Greasers also appeared in the Happy Days television series (1974-1984).
There have been several revivals of the greaser subculture all over the world. The popularity of movies such as The Wild One , American Graffiti and Rebel Without a Cause saw the greaser culture revived in the late 1970s (with TV shows such as Sha Na Na). 1950s-style restaurants like Johnny Rockets and 1950s-style advertisements are testaments to the fascination with the era.
Greasers in the 2000s focus on 1950s fashions, tattoos, rockabilly music and classic American hot rods and custom cars, such as the 1932 Ford, 1959 Cadillac and 1949-51 Mercury.
[edit] Alternate names
The greaser subculture was largely an American youth phenomenon, but had similar counterparts in other countries. The 1950s and 1960s British equivalent to the greaser was the Rocker, who evolved from the Ton-Up Boys and Teddy Boys. In Britain, the term greaser only came into use later when Hells Angels and hippy bikers became prevalent in the 1970s. Rival subcultures (such as the skinheads) sometimes referred to greasers simply as grease.
- Australia and New Zealand -Bodgie(female equivalent was Widgie)
- Estonia - Lõngus (Greasers = Lõngused).
- Scandinavia - Raggare
- South Africa - Ducktails.
- France - Blousons Noirs (black jackets}.
- The Netherlands - Nozems or the Amsterdam variant Dijkers.
- Ireland - Nadsacks from the Gaelic Gnad, meaning grease or oil.
- Germany, Austria and Switzerland) - Halbstarke or Rocker
- Rhode Island - Mondos
- Japan - Bosozoku, "Takenoko" (bamboo shoots), "Amegura" (after the movie American Graffiti), or "Yankii" (probably from the American "Yankee")
[edit] References
<references/>
[edit] See also
- Rock and roll
- Bosozoku
- Hot Rod
- Leather jacket
- Mods and Rockers
- Scooterboy
- Motorcycle gang
- Outlaw motorcycle club
- Punkabilly
- Psychobilly
- Rockabilly
- Rockers
- Rocker jacket
- Brylcreem
- Pomade
