1950s Cabbie Reveals What "Real" Men Did & Didn't Do. An Ordinary Guy Speaks His Truth

David Hoffman
David Hoffman
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Published 2019-02-05
Melvin considered himself an ordinary 1950s Washington DC guy. We interviewed him in 1989 as one of the characters for my television series, Making Sense Of The Sixties. He was frank and honest about what he remembered and how he felt about it at the time when this interview was made. Obviously not every man at that time felt like he did. But my experience interviewing hundreds of men at that time who had grown up in the 1950s and 1960s is that many more felt like Melvin then would admit to it in the 1990s when some level of political correctness and decency changed how men expressed their feelings and to some extent how they actually felt. Melvin describes hanging out on the street, something many did in the 1950s. Not being too impressed with the political movements of the 50s and the 60s. Staunchly anti-Communist and anti-Russian. Not into the sexual revolution. When I was doing my television series we did some research on what percent of the 60s generation, the baby boomers, felt that they were part of the 60s generation and participated in its activities, social or political. A very small percent were political activists during the 1960s. A much larger percent felt that they were part of the social cultural activities of that time – long hair – freer sex – marijuana – rock 'n' roll – more loose social activities then the moral rules parents and schools taught back in the 1950s. I call Melvin and "ordinary" guy because that is how he saw himself. He was a cabdriver for most of his working life and enjoyed it. Some ask about his accent. I believe he was raised in Delaware.
You can see more of him here -    • Ordinary 1950s Man Didn't Get The Sex...   #1950s
All Comments (21)
  • @DavidHoffmanFilmmaker
    Full video on my Channel named “1950s Cabbie Reveals what Real Men Did & Didn’t Do. An Ordinary Guy Speaks His Truth”
  • @gab31282
    This was filmed in 1989. He thought society was going downhill then. Imagine if he saw all the confusion and crazy shit going on today.
  • @dawnye1
    When an elderly dies: it’s a library that goes to ashes.
  • @TysonDylan0
    "I get off work, I go home, and I shut my door" I appreciate how relatable this is
  • @PockASqueeno
    This is why I adore the elderly so much. Listening to old people’s wisdom and hearing them talk about their lives is so fascinating, eye-opening, and frankly humbling.
  • @crxpilot13
    Melvin H Baker died December 25, 1991 of congestive heart failure at Frederick Memorial Hospital in Maryland. White house tour guide, taxi driver, and a Boy Scout leader! RIP Melvin, thanks for sharing your memories. You will be missed!
  • @ravenwilson7979
    This is why documentaries are so important. If we don’t interview people about their experiences, we’ll misinterpret the past.
  • @joeychick9045
    If half of the kids today had a father like this. This is a real man.
  • @meepenjaap7999
    Everybody's life is interesting. Can't believe I never saw this channel. I graduated HS in 1980. I fully think the loss of trade classes is what is missing in society. We had auto shop, printmaking for newspapers, electronics, wood shop( I was the only girl in this class). Then we had creative classes like art, ceramics, drama, sewing and cooking. It is a great way to go into a trade or just learn how to take care of yourself.
  • @bluewatersnipe2227
    Grew up in the 2000’s. My dad owned a convenience store and a lot of the older fellas used to come and sit and watch TV. Quite a few vets from the WWII and Korea generation, I learned a lot from those guys and I’m lucky to have had that opportunity.
  • @jackspring7709
    These interviews with those from generations past are invaluable. I was lucky enough to be around when the WW1 generation were still alive. They were stoic, solid, tough without putting on an act, and strong: I feel very lucky to have known them.
  • @Mike-xt2ot
    This gentleman should have had a career as a narrator. Great voice and tone for telling stories
  • @patrickhutchison5343
    I like this guy. Level headed. Has opinions but doesn’t think he knows everything. Open to ideas but he is who he is.
  • @stockyphilb7663
    The 80's were a great decade for documentaries! Fantastic to hear this gentleman's opinion. Thank you for posting!
  • @ClydeYouTuber
    A sensible man, and a great thing to listen to. Plenty of people like this still exist, but viewing him talk is like a time-capsule. We learn from history, whether it be good or bad. That's how we avoid repeating it. Censorship doesn't help us, otherwise those at the top dictate what's "right."
  • @briand5170
    “College shouldn’t be 10k a semester” Oh if only he could see it now
  • @ghostpuppet31
    This is called the 'straight talk', no bs, no hype, no agenda, no made up crap. Truth resonates and it shows in the face and tone of voice. Live and learn, from people who lived a real life.
  • @mikemcmullan8781
    I was a high school teacher in '93. One of my co-workers was about 25 years older than I and had been in education 30 years. I asked him about students and what he thought about their education. He said that writing skills had definitely declined, but test scores had increased (SAT/ACT). Overall, he remarked that thinking skills were seriously lacking and that the best indicator for a child's success in school was dependent on the amount of parental involvement -- more involvement, better students, better learning.