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Channel: @DavidHoffmanFilmmaker
In this video I am presenting clips from the classic 1966 documentary "Sixteen At Webster Groves - Webster Groves Missouri. It was produced by filmmaker Arthur Barron who I was honored to work for on several of his films. Webster Groves is clearly not typical as its teenagers were upper-middle-class and richer. Remember that about 40% of the huge baby boomer generation say that they participated in the activities of the 1960s. This video presents the views of a portion of the 60% who didn't participate and who essentially looked forward to living just like their parents did. I would not call them typical teenagers but they are certainly representative of a group who was just fine in the 1950s.
Many commentators talk about the fact that they would rather have lived during this time and then one of these people then to live in today's world which they see as trash relative to how these people lived. Although I did not spend much time working on this production, I did some film work with upper middle-class white 1960s baby boomer era teenagers and their attitudes and behavior we're not dissimilar from what teenagers felt in the 1950s in the suburban white "American dream" middle class. There were many rebels who looked like other teenagers at that time but were not. I remember a conversation that I had with the producer where he said that in this community, there seem to be almost no rebels.
It would certainly be fascinating to talk to these people today but unfortunately, I don't have the names of any of the people who participated in this film. Hopefully some will watch this clip and choose to comment.