The influence of American culture and practices in Australia was widely manifested through music, radio, cinema and television throughout the 20th century. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay At the end of World War II, America became a global economic power and was an inspiration to countries like Australia, where the war had had negative effects. Australia has been more than welcome into American culture and has adapted many beliefs and practices throughout the century. Popular music and radio in Australia was heavily based on American sources, as Australians were attracted to the rock-n-roll style. American artists such as Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley and Bill Haley, who popularized the rock'n'roll style, were widely recognized throughout Australia and debuted in 1955, when Bill Haley's "Rock Around the Clock" became a major hit and established an era for rock music. After the introduction of television in 1956, radio stations became increasingly dependent on "teenagers'" newfound thirst for American music. Radio announcers often used American accents on stations such as ABC to make the products seem modern and exciting, clearly showing the high status of Americans in our society. Australian teenagers were addicted to American theme songs and so radio stations adapted them into their everyday songs via the American Youth Model. The entertainment technology of car radios and the like was followed by their American counterparts. The 1950s saw a shift in Australian music from British to American. Australian cinemas were rarely produced during the 1950s with virtually no Australian stars or ideas. In 1952, approximately 75% of films shown in Australia were American and the rest were British. Many of them were aimed at teenagers who were going through the rock 'n' roll era with films such as "Rebel Without a Cause" and "Blackboard Jungle." Australia's well-known exposure to the American way of life depicted in 1950s films corresponded with the rock 'n' roll era and a shift towards the teenage fashion industry. Despite the growing success of local films, American blockbusters continue to gain popularity. By the 1990s, cinema remained a vital aspect of the entertainment industry and Australians, regardless of new technologies. Research by the University of Technology Sydney analyzed the results and found that American films still topped Australian films and dramas in the top 8, while Australian-produced films and dramas themselves were not very popular. American cinema technology was also very advanced and American filmmakers had abundant budget and technology, making Britain and Australia not easy competitors in the cinema business. In many cases, this meant that American creative output was of a higher standard than that of other countries. Between 1956 and 1963, almost all content broadcast on Australian television originated overseas. Of these, 83 percent were Americans, with the rest from Britain. Many local programs produced during this period were also based on formulas established by American programs and were not distinctively Australian. In 1959, the ten most popular programs on television.