Crossroads: American Popular Culture and the Vietnam Generation

Vietnam: America in the War Years

by Mitchell K. Hall

The Vietnam War affected nearly every aspect of American life. It altered the economy, challenged citizens to reassess their values, and played a key roll in the downfall of two presidential administrations. However, most people's attention remained focused on their daily lives―including the latest movie, the baseball score, and the new group on American Bandstand. But those elements were not immune from the war's effects.

American popular culture changed dramatically during the Vietnam era―from Leave it To Beaver to All in the Family and from Bobby Darin to Bob Dylan. In Crossroads , historian Mitchell K. Hall explores the popular culture that shaped the baby boomers and the transformation that generation wrought in movies, television, sports, and music. As he traces the evolution of American culture, Hall looks at the ways in which these cultural elements not only underwent radical structural changes, but also reflected the upheaval and unrest in Vietnam era America.

Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Wayne · Rating 2 out of 5]

A straightforward and formulaic review of the era after WWII to the end of the Vietnam War. Mostly a breezy inventory of what happened in movies, radio, music, and sports during these decades, with a little light analysis. A few folks -- Elvis, The Beatles, Allan Freed - are rewarded with more than a couple of paragraphs, but mostly it's a view from the interstate at 70 mph.