Calling someone a Beatnik in the mid-20th century was seen as an insult and a way to cast aspersions on their moral decency, since Beatniks were considered degenerates and being Square was seen as way more keen.
Parents freaked out when their kids came home dressed in that dark Beatnik garb, and many feared for their children's souls because, as we all know, Hell is full of poets and bongo players.
So moms and dads naturally didn't want their daughters becoming Beatniks, much less hanging out with that lowlife crowd, and they battled this Bohemian menace with the almighty makeover.
This video shared by British Pathé looks ridiculous by today's standards, since subcultures are now mainstream and "edgy" stores like Hot Topic exist in every mall in America.
So maybe it's about time for all those Squares to be treated like lowlife scum!
-Via Dangerous Minds
ew, ew, ew!