Greasers in Media, History, Marlon Brando, and his character Johnny Strabler

The greaser subculture had a tremendous effect of popular culture. 1950’s America was a time of superficiality. The age of the nuclear family had reached America. The newfound social norm of a man and a women had to have a house with a white picket fence and 2 ½ kids. Deviation from this mindset was just as bad as nuclear war. Being a rebel not only meant you were different, but that you didn’t have to give in to the American ideal of consumerism, and perfection. Greasers became a symbol for rebellion. Media jumped on the idea of this subculture and producers put their lifestyle and symbol into entertainment.

One of the first films to feature the subculture was The Wild One. It stared one of the greatest living actors of the time, Marlon Brando. The film was also a first outlaw biker gang film. Brando portrayed Johnny Strabler, the leader of the Black Rebels Motorcycle gang. He and his crew make a pit stop in western style town after stealing a racing trophy. A second motorcycle gang, led by Johnny’s rival, shake up the gang and the town.

The film went on to influence Elvis Presley’s character in Jailhouse Rock. It even influenced a fad of sideburns adorned by fellow contemporary James Dean, and Elvis. It is also rumored that The Beatles got their name form the rival bike gang in the film, alternatively titled the Beetles. Brando himself held the spirit of a greaser. He was naturally rebellious. In his youth, he was expelled from high school for riding his motorcycle through the halls. Not the brightest decisions but he still had heart. He had fended off a fellow classmate (Wally Cox) from a bully and declared himself Cox’s “new best-friend”. Thus proving that Brando wasn’t afraid to stand up for the little guy.