Final answer:
Jell-O became popular in the 1950s due to the rise in disposable income and leisure time, leading to a demand for convenient and versatile food products. Strong advertising strategies also contributed to its appeal, as with other food products of the era. Jell-O's variety of dessert mixes and other products made it a fixture in American kitchens.
Step-by-step explanation:
Jell-O became popular in the 1950s for several reasons, reflecting the era’s social and cultural landscape. The decade was marked by an increase in disposable income and leisure time post-World War II, with Americans seeking convenience in both food preparation and consumption. Jell-O, with its ease of preparation and versatility in making desserts, salads, and other dishes, fit perfectly into the lifestyle of convenient and novel meal options, including the TV dinner. This era saw the rise of the labor movement that demanded paid vacations and forty-hour workweeks, increasing the demand for time-saving kitchen products. Moreover, advertising during the time was adept at utilizing creative solutions to make products more appealing, as seen with the Campbell's vegetable soup campaign wherein the soup was poured over marbles to prevent vegetables from sinking. Similar strategies could have been used to make Jell-O appear more attractive to consumers. Additionally, Jell-O diversified its product offerings with the introduction of various gelatin dessert mixes, pudding and pie fillings, further cementing its place in the popular culture of 1950s America.