1965. Americans Hidden Sexual Obsession Exposed

This clip is from a 1950 television documentary on the subject of teenage sex and venereal disease. In the 1950s, America’s relationship with syphilis underwent a dramatic shift. The era opened with a sense of triumph that quickly gave way to a sharp, unexpected crisis involving teenagers and young adults. At the start of the decade, it seemed like syphilis was on the verge of eradication. The discovery and mass production of penicillin in the mid-to-late 1940s allowed doctors to cure a patient in days, causing national infection numbers to plummet to an all-time low by 1956. However, this initial success bred complacency. Funding for public health clinics was cut, and tracking efforts slowed down. By the late 1950s, the disease staged a massive comeback: By the end of the decade and into the early 1960s, reported cases of primary and secondary syphilis surged sharply. Shockingly, nearly half of all new infections were occurring among teenagers (ages 15–19) and young adults (ages 20–24). Left untreated, the bacterial infection was devastating. It would enter a latent phase before returning years later to cause blindness, profound hearing loss, severe heart disease, paralysis, dementia, and death. Because the surge was concentrated heavily among young people, the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS), local governments, and community organizations launched an aggressive, multi-pronged counteroffensive. The centerpiece of the 1950s prevention strategy was rapid epidemiology. The government deployed a small army of public health field representatives across the country. When a young person tested positive, a representative would interview them confidentially to discover all of their recent sexual contacts. The field reps would then literally race against the clock, tracking these individuals down in towns and cities across state lines to get them tested and treated before they could spread the bacteria further. To catch latent infections and protect future children from congenital syphilis (which mothers pass to their babies), almost every state in America made blood testing a legal requirement to get a marriage license. If a young couple wanted to get wed, they had to prove they were clear of the disease first. Recognizing that teenagers wouldn't read dry medical pamphlets, public health departments turned to mass media, pop culture, and sensationalism to spread awareness. Public high schools began introducing health classes specifically focused on "VD" (venereal disease). Health agencies sponsored dramatic radio plays and warning announcements just the video I am posting. In communities across the country, teenagers were exposed to educational films with striking, urgent titles meant to emphasize that early detection saves lives.