In answer to subscriber questions, I believe that the actress is Audrey Meadows, who played alongside Jackie Gleason on the TV series, The Honeymooners.
Here is another video I made on teenagers from that time -
• 1960s Teenage Rebellio...
The image of young teenage boys flirting with older girls in soda shops, taps into a nostalgic and somewhat idealized view of American youth culture in the 1950s. Soda shops and diners were quintessential gathering places for teenagers during this era, serving as social hubs where young people could interact away from the direct supervision of adults.
In the 1950s, American society was marked by a post-war economic boom, which led to increased independence and leisure time for teenagers. This period saw the rise of the "teenager" as a distinct social group with its own subcultures, including the "greasers," who were often portrayed as the more rebellious youths. These diners and soda shops provided a public space where teens could socialize, listen to jukebox music, and enjoy sodas and milkshakes. Flirting in this context was a normal part of teenage interaction, often characterized by playful banter and showing off to impress peers and potential romantic interests.
For a rebellious teenager in the 1950s, flirting might involve more than just trying to charm someone they were interested in; it could also be a way to assert their independence and challenge social norms. Rebellious teens might flaunt their disdain for conventional manners or dress codes, adopting the styles of James Dean or Marlon Brando, who epitomized the cool, defiant youth of their day.
Rebellious flirting could include:
Sporting leather jackets, rolled-up jeans, or slicked-back hair as popularized by rock 'n' roll stars and movie icons.
Taking risks or breaking minor rules to impress others, such as racing cars, sneaking into movies, or other mild forms of rule-breaking.
Engaging in behaviors that might challenge stricter societal norms, such as public displays of affection or using new dance moves like those from rock 'n' roll.
Movies and television played a significant role in shaping these behaviors by providing a template for how teens were expected to act. Films like "Rebel Without a Cause" (1955) and "The Wild One" (1953) portrayed young people as searching for identity and rebelling against societal expectations, which resonated with young audiences of the time.
Flirting as a rebellious teenager in the 1950s soda shops involved a mix of playful social interaction and a deeper expression of an emerging rebellious youth culture that was defining itself both within and against the broader currents of American society.