Indiana Jones' 1957: The world beyond crystal skulls

Indiana Jones' 1957: The world beyond crystal skulls

By Susan King, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

What was going on in 1957 — the year “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” is set?

It was the height of the Cold War, with those evil Commies in the Soviet Union.The Ant Farm and the Frisbee were introduced. Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz rung down the curtain on their beloved sitcom, “I Love Lucy,” in the spring, even though it was still No. 1. Rocker Little Richard also abruptly ended his musical career — until 1964 — and enrolled in Bible college.

In “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” Indiana (Harrison Ford) finds himself pitted against Soviet agents. He also gets a new sidekick, Mutt (Shia LeBeouf), a greaser with a cause, and reunites with the love of his life, Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen).

So when Indiana wasn’t saving the world or teaching in college, perhaps these were the movies and TV shows he would have watched and songs he listened to during his free moments in 1957.