Everything about Greaser Subculture totally explained
Greasers are a predominantly working-class
youth-based subculture that originated in the 1950s among young
eastern United States and
Southern street gangs, and then became popular among other people.
Their name came from their
greased back hairstyle, which involved combing back hair using
hair wax,
gel or
pomade. The greaser style was imitated by many youths not associated with gangs, as an expression of rebellion. In the 1950s and early 1960s, these youths were known as
hoods. The term
greaser reappeared in the following decades during a revival of 1950ish popular culture (for example
American Graffiti,
Grease duo,
Happy Days,
The Outsiders,
The Wanderers).
Fashion
Common items in a greaser's wardrobe included
Sir Guy shirts, white or black
T-shirts (often with the sleeves rolled up); white
A-shirts (as outerwear); Italian knit shirts;
Daddy-O-style shirts; black, blue or khaki work jackets, black or brown
trenchcoats, Levi denim jackets; leather
motorcycle jackets; gray or black waist length Cabretta leather jackets; quilted work jackets; blue or black
Levi's 501 or 505
jeans (with the cuffs turned up about four inches); baggy cotton twill work
trousers. These were referred to as baggie grays, baggie blues or sandbags. As this became fashion, clothing makers responded with outrageous colors like fluorescent green. Motorcycle boots, such as
harness boots and
engineer boots; army boots; tapered toe Italian shoes;
brothel creeper shoes;
cowboy boots;
Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars basketball shoes;
bandannas; stingy-brim hats and flat-caps and chain wallets.
Tattoos were also very common, particularly for teenage males who wanted to portray a "tough guy look" in a way to be feared and respected. Tattooing for greasers became more popular towards the late 50's (57 and up) as tattoos became less exclusive at the time and appealed more to hoodlums and punks rather than the selected few that tattoos had been originally associated with.
Common hairstyles included the
pompadour, the "
Duck's Ass" 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, Dax, Black & White and Murray's.
Revivals
The term greaser reappeared during in the 1970s in the United States, during a revival of 1950s youth culture. One of the first manifestations of this revival was a 1971 American
7 Up television commercial that featured a 1950s greaser saying "Hey remember me? I'm the teen angel."
Movies featuring greasers included
The Lords of Flatbush (1974),
Grease (1978) and its
sequel, (
Grease 2),
Eddie and the Cruisers (1983),
Cry-Baby (1990), and
The Outsiders (1983), a more accurate and tragic portrayal, in the lower class, Southern environment that the culture originated in. Greasers also appeared in the
Happy Days television series (1974-1984).
Andrew Dice Clay dresses and acts like a greaser during his comedy act.
In
2007,
World Wrestling Entertainment introduced a
tag team on their
SmackDown! brand featuring "greasers"
Deuce 'N Domino along with their poodle skirt wearing, roller skating, gum popping valet
Cherry.
Greasers also appear as one of the six school cliques in the 2006
Rockstar Vancouver video game
Bully.
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
Teddy Boys and Ton-Up Boys. In the
United Kingdom, the term greaser only came into use in the 1970s, when
Hells Angels and
hippie bikers became prevalent. Members of rival subcultures in the UK, such as
skinheads, sometimes referred to greasers simply as
grease.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Greaser Subculture'.
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