Did people's skin tones really different in the 1950s?

Yes, people were indeed beige back then. Also, and just as we see in those same pictures you're referring to, people were 3" or 4" in height.

You live in a bizarre world. Photographs in the 1950s were not "colorized." Surprise, surprise, color photographic film was available then.

It's the result of chemicals in all the cigarettes being smoked at the time. You may have noticed even the starched collar shirts and blouses as well as the clouds in the sky have the same nearly sepia tones.

Kodachrome
They give us those nice bright colors
They give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world's a sunny day
I got a Nikon camera
I love to take a photograph
So mama don't take my Kodachrome away

Paul Simon

You are absolutely correct, Bernie, as this photo proves (the 10 cm on the folding ruler are 4 inches)

Were there talkies, too?

Sure but that was in the latter part of the decade. Before that point, state governments in the South were forced to hire Ansel Adams to determine who in the community was black and who was white.

No . . . elocutionists would stand beside the piano on which the motion picture's score was being played, and read the dialogue.

When you're a tone and all your colour is bone
You can always go browntown
When you look too beige, and other hues are the rage
It would help, to know, browntown

Just listen to the music of the traffic in the city
Linger on the sidewalk where the neon signs are pretty
How can you lose?
The lights are much brighter there
You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares

So go browntown
Things will be great when you're browntown
No finer place for sure, browntown
Everything's waiting for you

Don't hang around and let your problems surround you
There are movie shows browntown
Maybe you know some little places to go to
Where they never close browntown

Just listen to the rhythm of a gentle bossa nova
You'll be dancing with 'em too before the night is over
Happy again
The lights are much brighter there
You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares

So go browntown
Where all the lights are bright, browntown
Waiting for you tonight, browntown
You're gonna be alright now, browntown

Browntown
Browntown

And you may find somebody kind to help and understand you
Someone who is just like you and needs a gentle hand to
Guide them along
So maybe I'll see you there
We can forget all our troubles, forget all our cares

So go browntown
Things will be great when you're browntown
Don't wait a minute more, browntown
Everything is waiting for you, browntown

Browntown (browntown)
Browntown (browntown)
Browntown (browntown)
Browntown (browntown)

Back in the 1950's almost everyone not of the darker skinned folks, was suffering from the "Hunkahunka jaundice" It was horrible, almost all the people then 30 years or older died thereafter.

Ya hadda be there to feel the terror and dental hygiene.

Up here in the better country, we were spared this terrifying affliction. Why? Hoser Healthcare.

Don't be silly: you got Canadian bleach even earlier!

That is incorrect. Those earlier photographs, from the 1950s and before, that you must be thinking of would also show nothing but beige Canadians if it wasn't for the bright white glare of sunlight reflecting off snow.

I forgot all a-boot Snow White and the whole white Canadian world, my bad.

Don't imagine for a minute I'll forget this.

No Canadian really says "a-boot" . . . eh?

Aye. It's the Scots tha do it.