Historical+Information

=__**How Much things cost in 1949**__= Yearly Inflation Rate **U.S.A.** //-0.95%// **UK** //2.6%//

Average Cost of new house: $7,450.00

Average wages per year: $2,950.00

Cost of a gallon of Gas: 17 cents

Average Cost of a new car: $1,420.00

Minimum Hourly Wage Rate: 70 cents per hour

Bacon per pound: 50 cents

Dobbs Hat: $8.50

Kitchen Table and Chairs: $100.00

[]

=__**Median Income**__=
 * In 1949 the median income for men was 2,754 which is worth about 19,938 in todays economy.
 * The median income for a woman in 1949 was 1,322 which is worth about 9,571 today.
 * The median income for a 15 year old boy was 2,346, today this would be worth 16,984.
 * The average income of a 15 year old girl was 960, but today that amount would be 6,950.

[]

=__**1949 Facts**__=
 * Population 132,122,000
 * Unemployed in 1940 - 8,120,000
 * National Debt $43 Billion
 * Average Salary $1,299. Teacher's salary $1,441
 * Minimum Wage $.43 per hour
 * 55% of U.S. homes have indoor plumbing
 * Antarctica is discovered to be a continent
 * Life expectancy 68.2 female, 60.8 male
 * Auto deaths 34,500
 * Supreme Court decides blacks do have a right to vote
 * World War II changed the order of world power; the United States and the USSR become super powers
 * Cold War begins.

[]

=﻿__Teenage Life in 1949__=

Growing up as a teenager in 1949, prior to World War 2, teenagers were expected to take things in life a lot more seriously. Females were taught how to take care of the household and prepare themselves to be a wife and take care of children. Marriage and preparing for a family more than education or a career, was definite in the lives of teenagers. Teenagers had very little economic freedom, independence, and decision making. Most parents of 1949 had more than likely gone through the depression and a number of wars and wanted more for their children. Parents encouraged teens to attend college, find a skill, and seek a successful career rather than what they were expected to do.In 1949, teens listened to a lot of rock 'n' roll music, Rock 'n' roll music caused teens to be rebellious, defensive, and at times, disrespectful. Parents opposed to rock 'n' roll, despised it and believed it corrupted their children. -Loti.com/fifties_history

If you stepped into a 1940s classroom you'd see girls making dresses, hats, learning to do laundry, and beauty culture. Boys trained hard in physical education which kept them in shape for war. Schools taught lessons in family life, hygiene, and health sex. In relationships, it was marriage, NO sex! Males were expected to have a job or join the army for money to provide for their family.

-http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_was_life_like_for_a_teenager_in_the_

Holden's attitude and his actions towards others may have been just an reaction to life in 1949. Holden attended Pency Prep and it was very obvious he did not want to be there. His parents were wealthy and wanted more from him so sending him there would be a good way to mold him into a good man and educated as well. In 1949 teenagers were unable to make their decisions so now I could easily understand why Holden seemed so bitter and negative all the time. Without freedom, independence, and the ability to make your own decisions it would be very upsetting, stressful and could perhaps cause rebellion.

When you won't just put up with the bullshit they pull Cause they full of shit too When a dude's gettin bullied and shoots up your school And they blame it on Marilyn - and the heroin Where were the parents at? And look at where it's at middle America Now it's a tragedy Now it's so sad to see An upper class city having this happening -Eminem " The Way I Am"

I believed this song relates to Holden in the way of the tone and its deep lyrics. The lyrics to " The Way I Am" talks about how someone so famous and successful has the most problems not drugs, not gambling, but with people. In general the lyrics talk about how people could expect so much from you because of where you came from but in all reality, no one is perfect and everyone is capable of making mistakes whether you live in the ghetto or suburbs. As I've read TCITR I have learned mostly that Holden has a low tolerance for "phony" people. He believes people do things not because they want to but to look good, to impress others. I picked this particular line from " The Way I Am" because in 1949, rock 'n' roll music was the music genre teens loved and parents most definitely hated. Not only because it was " bad" but it also caused teens to be rebellious and disrespectful. In 1949, "wealthy" families most likely sent their children to a private school. We could easily say it was for better education right?? According to Holden, Pency Prep, the school he attended was full of "phonies." In my opinion, Holden indeed was phony himself no different than those around him. The assumption I can make about Pency Prep is that teens were sent there by their parents in hopes that they become famous and/or successful, in other words attending a "great school" would create a great image for an upper class city. With teens listening to rock 'n' roll music parents knew the private schools and high expectations were no longer of any importance.

=Why New York?= Here is a picture of old New York and a old motif of a bar during 1949. But why New York? For what we know Catcher in the Rye is a fictional story. The author J.D Sallinger could have relocated Holden's hometown somewhere else, it could have been in a foreiegn country or other state if Sallinger would have wanted to. But why New York? Readers know the fact that New York is a place for extroverts, Sallinger used New York to emphasis emotions for Holden even though Holden has a strong, unique charecter. As a support to the idea, no one goes to New York by him or her self only and same thing happens to the movies no one goes by him or her self.



This photo shows how some people dressed inthe 1940's.

[]

[]

Men wore "zoot suits," which were very popular. =**Slang Used In 1949**=

A Alderman: A man's pot belly. Ameche: Telephone Ankle: (n) Woman (v) To walk

B Babe: Woman Baby: A person, can be said to either a man or a woman Bangtails: Racehorses Barber: Talk Baumes rush: Senator Caleb H. Baumes sponsored a New York law (the Baumes Law) which called for automatic life imprisonment of any criminal convicted more than three times. Some criminals would move to a state that didn't have this law in order to avoid its penalty should they be caught again, and this was known as a "Baumes rush," because of the similarity to "bum's rush." Be on the nut, To: To be broke Bean-shooter: Gun Beezer: Nose Behind the eight-ball: In a difficult position, in a tight spot Bent cars: Stolen cars Berries: Dollars Big house: Jail Big one, The: Death Big sleep, The: Death (coined by Chandler) Bim: Woman Bindle of heroin: Little folded-up piece of paper (with heroin inside) the bundle (or "brindle") in which a hobo carries all his worldy possessions Bindle punk, bindle stiff: Chronic wanderers; itinerant misfits, criminals, migratory harvest workers, and lumber jacks. Called so because they carried a "bindle." George and Lenny in Of Mice and Men are bindle stiffs. Bing: Jailhouse talk for solitary confinement, hence "crazy" Bird: Man Bit: Prison sentence Blip off: To kill Blow: Leave Blow one down: Kill someone Blower: Telephone Bo: Pal, buster, fellow, as in "Hey, bo" Boiler: Car Boob: Dumb guy Boozehound: Drunkard Bop: To kill Box: A safe A bar Box job: A safecracking Brace (somebody): Grab, shake up Bracelets: Handcuffs Break it up: Stop that, quit the nonsense Breeze: To leave, go; also breeze off: get lost Broad: Woman Broderick, The: A thorough beating Bruno: Tough guy, enforcer Bucket: Car Bulge, as in "The kid had the bulge there": The advantage Bulls: Plainclothes railroad cops; uniformed police; prison guards Bum's rush, To get the: To be kicked out Bump: Kill Bump gums: To talk about nothing worthwhile Bump off: Kill; also, bump-off: a killing Buncoing some (people): Defrauding people Bunk: "Take a bunk" - leave, disappear "That's the bunk" - that's false, untrue "to bunk" - to sleep Bunny, as in "Don't be a bunny": Don't be stupid Burn powder: Fire a gun Bus: Big car Butter and egg man: The money man, the man with the bankroll, a yokel who comes to town to blow a big wad in nightclubs (see [|reference]) Button: Face, nose, end of jaw Button man: Professional killer Buttons: Police Butts: Cigarettes Buy a drink: To pour a drink Buzz, as in "I'm in the dump an hour and the house copper gives me the buzz": Looks me up, comes to my door Buzzer: Policeman's badge

C C: $100, a pair of Cs = $200 Cabbage: Money Caboose: Jail (from "calaboose," which derives from calabozo, the Spanish word for "jail") Call copper: Inform the police Can: Jail Car Can house: Bordello Can-opener: Safecracker who opens cheap safes Canary: Woman singer Case dough: "Nest egg ... the theoretically untouchable reserve for emergencies" (Speaking) Cat: Man Century: $100 Cheaters: Sunglasses Cheese it: Put things away, hide Chew: Eat Chicago lightning: gunfire Chicago overcoat: Coffin Chick: Woman Chilled off: Killed Chin: Conversation; chinning: talking Chin music: Punch on the jaw Chinese angle, as in "You're not trying to find a Chinese angle on it, are you?": A strange or unusual twist or aspect to something Chinese squeeze: Grafting by skimming profits off the top Chippy: Woman of easy virtue Chisel: To swindle or cheat Chiv, chive: Knife, "a stabbing or cutting weapon" (Speaking) Chopper squad: Men with machine guns Clammed: Close-mouthed (clammed up) Clean sneak: An escape with no clues left behind Clip joint: In some cases, a night-club where the prices are high and the patrons are fleeced (Partridge's), but in Pick-Up a casino where the tables are fixed Clipped: Shot Close your head: Shut up Clout: Shoplifter Clubhouse: Police station Coffee-and-doughnut, as in "These coffee-and-doughnut guns are ...": Could come from "coffee and cakes," which refers to something cheap or of little value. Con: Confidence game, swindle Conk: Head Cool: To knock out Cooler: Jail Cop Detective, even a private one To win, as in a bet Copped, To be: Grabbed by the cops Copper Policeman Time off for good behaviour Corn: Bourbon ("corn liquor") Crab: Figure out Crate: Car Creep joint: ?? Can mean a whorehouse where the girls are pickpockets, but that doesn't fit in Pick-Up Croak: To kill Croaker: Doctor Crushed out: Escaped (from jail) Cush: Money (a cushion, something to fall back on) Cut down: Killed (esp. shot?)

D Daisy: None too masculine Dame: Woman Dance: To be hanged Dangle: Leave, get lost Darb: Something remarkable or superior Dark meat: Black person Daylight, as in "let the daylight in" or "fill him with daylight": Put a hole in, by shooting or stabbing Deck, as in "deck of Luckies": Pack of cigarettes Derrick: Shoplifter Diapers, as in "Pin your diapers on": Clothes, get dressed Dib: Share (of the proceeds) Dick: Detective (usually qualified with "private" if not a policeman) Dinge: Black person Dingus: Thing Dip: Pickpocket Dip the bill: Have a drink Dish: Pretty woman Dive: A low-down, cheap sort of place Dizzy with a dame, To be: To be deeply iin love with a woman Do the dance: To be hanged Dogs: Feet Doll, dolly: Woman Dope Drugs, of any sort Information As a verb, as in "I had him doped as" - to have figured for Dope fiend: Drug addict Dope peddler: Drug dealer Dormy: Dormant, quiet, as in "Why didn't you lie dormy in the place you climbed to?" Dough: Money Drift: Go, leave Drill: Shoot Drink out of the same bottle, as in "We used to drink out of the same bottle": We were close friends Drop a dime: Make a phone call, sometimes meaning to the police to inform on someone Droppers: Hired killers Drum: Speakeasy Dry-gulch: Knock out, hit on head after ambushing Ducat Ticket For hobos, a union card or card asking for alms Duck soup: Easy, a piece of cake Dummerer: Somebody who pretends to be (deaf and?) dumb in order to appear a more deserving beggar Dump: Roadhouse, club; or, more generally, any place Dust Nothing, as in "Tinhorns are dust to me" Leave, depart, as in "Let's dust" A look, as in "Let's give it the dust" Dust out: Leave, depart Dutch As in "in dutch" - trouble As in "A girl pulled the Dutch act" - committed suicide As in "They don't make me happy neither. I get a bump once'n a while. Mostly a Dutch." - ?? relates to the police (Art)

E Eel juice: liquor Egg: Man Eggs in the coffee: Easy, a piece of cake, okay, all right Elbow: Policeman A collar or an arrest. Someone being arrested will "have their elbows checked." Electric cure: Electrocution Elephant ears: Police

F Fade: Go away, get lost Fakeloo artist: Con man Fin: $5 bill Finder: Finger man Finger, Put the finger on: Identify Flat Broke As in "That's flat" - that's for sure, undoubtedly Flattie: Flatfoot, cop Flimflam(m): Swindle Flippers: Hands Flivver: A Ford automobile Flogger: Overcoat Flop: Go to bed As in "The racket's flopped" - fallen through, not worked out Flophouse: "A cheap transient hotel where a lot of men sleep in large rooms" (Speaking) Fog: To shoot Frail: Woman Frau: Wife Fry: To be electrocuted From nothing, as in "I know from nothing": I don't know anything **G** Gams: Legs (especially a woman's) Gashouse, as in "getting gashouse": Rough Gasper: Cigarette Gat: Gun Gate, as in "Give her the gate": The door, as in leave Gaycat: "A young punk who runs with an older tramp and there is always a connotation of homosexuality" (Speaking) Gee: Man Geetus: Money Getaway sticks: Legs (especially a woman's) Giggle juice: Liquor Gin mill: Bar Gink: Man Girlie: Woman Give a/the third: Interrogate (third degree) Glad rags: Fancy clothes Glom To steal To see, to take a look Glaum: Steal Go climb up your thumb: Go away, get lost Go over the edge with the rams: To get far too drunk Go to read and write: Rhyming slang for take flight Gonif: Thief (Yiddish) Goofy: Crazy Goog: Black eye Goon: Thug Goose: Man Gooseberry lay: Stealing clothes from a clothesline (see [|reference]) Gowed-up: On dope, high Grab (a little) air: Put your hands up Graft: Con jobs Cut of the take Grand: $1000 Greasers: Mexicans or Italians. A hoodlum, thief or punk. Grift: As in "What's the grift?": What are you trying to pull? Confidence game, swindle Grifter: Con man Grilled: Questioned Gum: As in "Don't ... gum every play I make": Gum up, interfere with Opium Gum-shoe: Detective; also gumshoeing = detective work Gun for: Look for, be after Guns: Pickpockets Hoodlums Gunsel: Gunman (Hammett is responsible for this use; see [|note]) Catamite. "1. (p) A male oral sodomist, or passive pederast. 2. A brat. 3. (By extension) An informer; a weasel; an unscrupulous person." (Underworld) Note Yiddish "ganzl" = gosling

H Hack: Taxi Half, A:50 cents Hammer and saws: Police (rhyming slang for laws) Hard: Tough Harlem sunset: Some sort fatal injury caused by knife (Farewell, 14) Hash house: A cheap restaurant Hatchetmen: Killers, gunmen Have the bees: To be rich Have the curse on someone: Wanting to see someone killed Head doctors: Psychiatrists Heap: Car Heat: A gun, also heater Heeled: Carrying a gun High pillow: Person at the top, in charge Highbinders Corrupt politician or functionary Professional killer operating in the Chinese quarter of a city Hinky: Suspicious Hitting the pipe: Smoking opium Hitting on all eight: In good shape, going well (refers to eight cylinders in an engine) Hock shop: Pawnshop Hogs: Engines Hombre: Man, fellow Hooch: Liquor Hood: Criminal Hooker, as in "a stiff hooker of whiskey": A drink of strong liquor Hoosegow: Jail Hop: Drugs, mostly morphine or derivatives like heroin Bell-hop Hop-head: Drug addict, esp. heroin Horn: Telephone Hot: Stolen House dick: House/hotel detective House peeper: House/hotel detective Hype: Shortchange artist

I Ice : Diamonds In stir: In jail Ing-bing, as in to throw an: A fit Iron: A car

J Jack: Money Jake, Jakeloo: Okay Jam: Trouble, as in "in a jam" Jane: A woman Jasper: A man (perhaps a hick) Java: Coffee Jaw: Talk Jerking a nod: Nodding Jingle-brained: Addled Jobbie: Man Joe: Coffee, as in "a cup of joe" Johns: Police Johnson brother: Criminal Joint: Place, as in "my joint" Jorum of skee: Shot of liquor Joss house: Temple or house of worship for a Chinese religion Juice: Interest on a loanshark's loan Jug: Jail Jujus: Marijuana cigarettes Jump, The: A hanging Junkie: Drug addict

K Kale: Money Keister, keyster: Suitcase Safe, strongbox Buttocks Kick, as in "I got no kick": I have nothing to complain about Kick off: Die Kicking the gong around: Taking opium Kiss: To punch Kisser: Mouth Kitten: Woman Knock off: Kill Knockover: Heist, theft

L Lammed off: Ran away, escaped Large: $1,000; twenty large would be $20,000 Law, the: The police Lay Job, as in Marlowe saying he's on "a confidential lay;" or more generally, what someone does, as in "The hotel-sneak used to be my lay" As in "I gave him the lay" - I told him where things stood (as in lay of the of land) Lead poisoning: To be shot Lettuce: Folding money Lid: Hat Lip: (Criminal) lawyer Lit, To be: To be drunk Loogan: Marlowe defines this as "a guy with a gun" Looker: Pretty woman Look-out: Outside man Lousy with: To have lots of Lug Bullet Ear Man ("You big lug!") Lunger: Someone with tuberculosis

M Made: Recognized Map: Face Marbles: Pearls Mark: Sucker, victim of swindle or fixed game Mazuma: Money Meat, as in "He's your meat": He's the subject of interest, there's your man Meat wagon: Ambulance Mesca: Marijuana Mickey Finn (n) A drink drugged with knock-out drops (v) Take a Mickey Finn: Take off, leave Mill: Typewriter Mitt: Hand Mob: Gang (not necessarily Mafia) Moll: Girlfriend Monicker: Name Mouthpiece: Lawyer Mud-pipe: Opium pipe Mug: Face Muggles: Marijuana Mugs: Men (esp. dumb ones) Mush: Face

N Nailed: Caught by the police Nance: An effeminate man Nevada gas: Cyanide Newshawk: Reporter Newsie: Newspaper vendor Nibble one: To have a drink Nicked: Stole Nippers: Handcuffs Nix on (something): No to (something) Noodle: Head Nose-candy: Heroin, in some cases Number: A person, can be either a man or a woman

O Off the track, as in "He was too far off the track. Strictly section eight": Said about a man who becomes insanely violent Op: Detective (esp. private), from "operative" Orphan paper: Bad cheques Out on the roof, To be: To drink a lot, to be drunk Oyster fruit: Pearls

P Pack: To carry, esp. a gun Palooka: Man, probably a little stupid Pan: Face Paste: Punch Patsy: Person who is set up; fool, chump Paw: Hand Peaching: Informing Pearl diver: dish-washer Peeper: Detective Pen: Penitentiary, jail Peterman: Safecracker who uses nitroglycerin Pigeon: Stool-pigeon Pill Bullet Cigarette Pinch: An arrest, capture Pins: Legs (especially a woman's) Pipe: See or notice Pipe that: Get that, listen to that Pipes: Throat Pistol pockets: ?? heels? Pitching woo: Making love (Turner) Plant (n) Someone on the scene but in hiding (v) Bury Plug: Shoot Plugs: People Poke Bankroll, stake Punch (as in "take a poke at") Pooped: Killed Pop: Kill Pro skirt: Prostitute Puffing: Mugging Pug: Pugilist, boxer Pump: Heart Pump metal: Shoot bullets Punk Hood, thug "A jailhouse sissy who is on the receiving end." (Also as a verb, as in "to get punked.") Puss: Face Put down: Drink Put the screws on: Question, get tough with

Q Queer (n) Counterfeit (n) Sexually abnormal (v) To ruin something or put it wrong ("queer this racket")

R Rags: Clothes Ranked: Observed, watched, given the once-over Rap Criminal charge Information, as in "He gave us the rap" Hit Rappers: Fakes, set-ups Rat: Inform Rate: To be good, to count for something Rats and mice: Dice, i.e. craps Rattler: Train Red-light: To eject from a car or train Redhot: Some sort of criminal Reefers: Marijuana cigarettes Rhino: Money Ribbed up, as in "I got a Chink ribbed up to get the dope": Set up, arranged for? "I have arranged for a Chinese person to get the information"? (Knockover, 203) Right: Adjective indicating quality Right gee, Right guy: A good fellow Ringers: Fakes Rod: Gun Roscoe: Gun Roundheels A fighter with a glass jaw A woman of easy virtue Rub-out: A killing Rube: Bumpkin, easy mark Rumble, the: The news Run-out, To take the : Leave, escape

S Sap A dumb guy A blackjack Sap poison: Getting hit with a sap Savvy?: Get me? Understand? Sawbuck: $10 bill (a double sawbuck is a $20 bill) Scatter, as in "And don't bother to call your house peeper and send him up to the scatter" Saloon or speakeasy. A hideout, a room or lodging Schnozzle: Nose Scram out: Leave Scratch: Money Scratcher: Forger Screw Leave, as in "Let's screw before anybody pops in" Prison guard Send over: Send to jail Shamus: (Private) detective Sharper: A swindler or sneaky person Shells: Bullets Shine Black person Moonshine, bootleg liquor Shine Indian: ?? (Knockover, 89) Shiv: Knife Shylock: Loanshark Shyster: Lawyer Silk, as in "all silk so far": All okay so far Sing: Confess, admit secrets Sister: Woman Skate around, as in "She skates around plenty": To be of easy virtue Skid rogue: A bum who can't be trusted Skipout: Leave a hotel without paying, or a person who does so Skirt: Woman Slant, Get a: Take a look Sleuth: Detective Slug As a noun, bullet As a verb, to knock unconscious Smell from the barrel, Have a: Have a drink Smoke: A black person Smoked: Drunk Snap a cap: Shout Snatch: Kidnap Sneak Leave, get lost, as in "If you're not a waiter, sneak" Type of burglary, as in as in "The hotel-sneak used to be my lay" Sneeze: Take Snitch: An informer, or, as a verb, to inform Snooper: Detective Snort (as in of gin): A drink Snow-bird: (Cocaine) addict Snowed: To be on drugs (heroin? cocaine?); also "snowed up" Soak: To pawn Sock: Punch Soup: Nitroglycerine Soup job: To crack a safe using nitroglycerine Spill: Talk, inform; spill it = tell me Spinach: Money Spitting: Talking Spondulix: Money Square: Honest; on the square: telling the truth Squirt metal: Shoot bullets Step off: To be hanged Sticks of tea: Marijuana cigarettes Stiff: A corpse Sting: Culmination of a con game Stool-pigeon: Informer Stoolie: Stool-pigeon Stringin': As in along, feeding someone a story Sucker: Someone ripe for a grifter's scam Sugar: Money Swift, To have plenty of: To be fast (on the draw) Swing: Hang

T Tail: Shadow, follow Take a powder: Leave Take it on the heel and toe: Leave Take on: Eat Take the air: Leave Take the bounce: To get kicked out (here, of a hotel) Take the fall for: Accept punishment for Tea: Marijuana That's the crop: That's all of it Three-spot: Three-year term in jail Throw a joe: Pass out ?? (Key, 86) Throw lead: Shoot bullets Ticket: P.I. license Tiger milk: Some sort of liquor Tighten the screws: Put pressure on somebody Tin: Badge Tip a few: To have a few drinks Tip your mitt: Show your hand, reveal something Tomato: Pretty woman Tooting the wrong ringer: Asking the wrong person Torcher: Torch singer Torpedoes: Gunmen Trap: Mouth Trigger man: Man whose job is to use a gun Trip for biscuits, as in "You get there fast and you get there alone - or you got a trip for biscuits": Make the trip for no purpose, achieve no results Trouble boys: Gangsters Turn up: To turn in (to the police) Twist: Woman Two bits: $25, or 25 cents.

U Under glass: In jail Up-and-down, as in "to give something the up-and-down": A look Uppers, as in "I've been shatting on my uppers for a couple of months now" or "I'm down on my uppers": To be broke

V Vag, as in vag charge, vag law: Vagrancy Vig, Vigorish Excessive interest on a loanshark's loan Advantage in odds created by a bookie or gambler to increase profit

W Weak sister: A push-over Wear iron: Carry a gun Wheats, as in "a stack of wheats": Pancakes White Good, okay, as in "white dick" Gin ("a gallon of white") Wikiup: Home Wire, as in "What's the wire on them?": News, "What information do you have about them?" Wise, To be To be knowledgeable of; put us wise: tell us Wise head: A smart person Wooden kimono: A coffin Worker, as in "She sizes up as a worker": A woman who takes a guy for his money Wrong gee: Not a good fellow Wrong number: Not a good fellow **Y** Yap: Mouth Yard: $100 Yegg: Safecracker who can only open cheap and easy safes

Z Zotzed: Killed

[]

media type="custom" key="7220977"

To emphasis the feeling of 1949 here are some of the chart topping songs of 1949. Songs are products of collective emotions so to know how to feel like people living in 1949 we need to listen on what they hear.