Greaser (1950s)

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Greaser is an American English slang term from the 1950s for a youth whose hair was combed back with various oils, "greased" back, and who was usually, although not always, associated with a street gang.

Greasers were a subculture originating as a style among white eastern US street gangs. The style was imitated by many youths not associated with gangs as an expression of rebellion. Some of these included those who rode hot rods and motorcycles. Music of the Greasers was Rockabilly, Elvis Presley, Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran and other "rebellious" music of the era. Their fashion style of leather jackets and denim jeans was inspired by Marlon Brando's The Wild One. Later movies and television programs glorifying Greasers would include The Lords of Flatbush (1974), the Happy Days series (1974-1984); the film Grease (1978) and its 1982 sequel; Eddie and the Cruisers (1983) and its 1989 sequel, and The Outsiders (1983).

Contents

1 Fashion
2 Alternate names
3 Revival
4 See also

Fashion

Common items in a Greaser's wardrobe were Levi's 501 or 505 jeans in a blue or dark blue, worn with the ends cuffed about 4 inches; Dickies work pants, white or black t-shirts with the sleeves rolled up, white "wife beater" shirts, steel-toed engineer boots, creepers, 'Daddy-O' styled shirts, Chuck Taylor All-Stars basketball shoes (known as "Chucks"), bandanas, chain wallets, black, blue or khaki work jackets, and leather motorcycle jackets. Tattoos were common, particularly among gangs.

Common hairstyles included the "pomp" or a more combed back "Folsom" style.

1959 Cadillac Eldorado, a Greaser favorite

Alternate names

The Greaser sub-culture was and is largely an American youth phenomenon, but had similar looking counterparts in other countries where Rockabilly music was followed. The 1950's and 1960s British equivalent to the Greaser would be the Rocker. Rockers evolved from the Ton-Up Boys and Teddy Boys ("Teds") of the previous decade. The term Greaser only came into use later when Hells Angels or hippy bikers started being the norm in the 1970s.

In Australia and New Zealand, the term Bodgie was used for the same phenomenon. A female equivalent term was Widgie

In Estonia - Lõngus (Greasers - Lõngused).

In Scandinavia - Raggare.

In South Africa - Ducktails.

In France - Blousons Noirs (litt. "black jackets"}.

In The Netherlands - Nozems or the Amsterdam variant Dijkers.

In Ireland - Nadsacks from the Gaelic "Gnad" meaning grease or oil.

In the German Sprachraum (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) - Halbstarke or Rocker (directly borrowed from British slang).

Revival

Today there are recurrent revivals all over the world of these infamous music/fashion sub-cultures. Just as punk and rockabilly continue on to this day, movies like American Graffiti and Grease saw the Greaser culture revive in the late 1970s and remain popular to this day. 21st century Greasers focus on 1950's fashions, more tattoos, Rockabilly, and a passion for classic American "Hot-Rods" and custom cars, like the 1932 Ford, 1959 Cadillac or a 1949-51 Mercury.

Greaser (1950s)

Fashion

Alternate names

Revival

See also