Post World War-II America saw an economic boom unlike any time before. Many veterans returned stateside from their victory at war to attend college, buy homes, and start families. Not all citizens felt the benefit of the resulting economic boom, however. Lower- and working-class families still felt the lack of economic opportunity. Minority groups such as Italian-American and Hispanic-American citizens encountered many roadblocks to prosperity during an otherwise booming period in America. Disillusioned by the lack of opportunity in post-war America, many of these people became drawn to counterculture elements like fast cars and rock and roll music. With this, the greaser subculture was born.

The Greaser Subculture

The greaser subculture had many notable characteristics. Greasers are often portrayed with a signature fashion sense. The pompadour haircut, sides slicked back with pomade, is a commonly used look to portray the greaser subculture. Denim jeans, a leather jacket, and military boots or Converse shoes completed the greaser appearance. Although greasers are typically portrayed as male, they also had female counterparts. A leather jacket worn on top of a poodle skirt or straight-leg pants was the look of the female greaser.

Clothing was not the only noticeable characteristic of the greaser youth. Early greasers had an association with doo-wop music. But greasers came into the public eye around the time that rockabilly was gaining traction as a form of popular music. With the introduction of Elvis Presley to mainstream culture, the greasers finally had a public figure they could identify with. Rockabilly, and rock and roll music in general, quickly became tied with the greaser subculture.

Greasers were often perceived to have an extensive mechanical knowledge. With the greasers’ love of fast cars and rebellion, the hot rod was the perfect car to associate with this subculture. Racing custom-built cars became a popular pastime. In media, greasers are often portrayed racing their cars, an image solidified by the T-Birds, the fictional gang portrayed in the musical Grease.

The Hot Rod

With the economic boom that followed World War II in America, more people owned cars than ever. Technological advancements made cars easier to build and more affordable. Combined with the increased prosperity and growth of suburban households, car ownership spiked. For the greaser of the 1950s, that meant owning a hot rod. A hot rod is generally considered to be a car that has been modified in an effort to produce more power and speed. Hot rods had been around for decades, as people had been tweaking cars to gain speed since Prohibition. But the foundation of the National Hot Rod Association in 1951 increased the appeal for a custom-built speed machine. The mechanical knowledge of the average greaser put them at an advantage when it came to hot rods and racing their machines.

The Impact of the Greaser on Popular Culture

The greaser has had a lasting impact on popular culture in the United States and around the world. Greasers have been portrayed in film, television, and theater since the 1950s. From James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause to Marlon Brando in The Wild One and John Travolta in the film adaptation of Grease, greaser subculture has had a lasting impact on American cinema.

On television, the character of Arthur Fonzarelli, or “Fonzie,” on Happy Days was a portrayal of the stereotypical Italian-American greaser. Fonzie was depicted with a leather jacket, denim jeans, and slicked-back hair. A mechanic by trade, Fonzie upheld many of the greaser stereotypes portrayed in media.

In recent times, a resurgence of greaser culture has been forming. With shows such as Riverdale depicting the stereotypical greaser as a main part of the plot, the subculture is expanding to a new generation in modern times. Through popular depictions, and with the tendency for fashion trends to repeat themselves, it’s possible for the greaser subculture to achieve a full resurgence with today’s youth.