IDK if this is for a logo or text, but Clarendon comes to mind.

It will be for text used in a logo.

Forget about the fifties -- the Coke logo dates from the eighties.
Probably just wants something cosy and retro and custom, with lots of alts and swashes. Try House Industries or Veer.

Have a look at Bello as well.

Custom-drawn lettering will give that '50s look.

- Lex

Thanks jupiterboy - I think that's the kind of thing he's after.

Try this
http://www.fontbureau.com/fonts/Casey

Pivo

Pivo makes you want to go out and order a tall cool pilsner brewed in the Czech Republic :-)

ChrisL

Look in the speciment books of Photo-Lettering, Inc. They are filled with 1950's stuff. Many type designers earned their living by doing hand-lettered headlines. When this happend a font was sometimes generated for photo composition and became part of the Photo-Lettering library. One of these artists worked for me in my font department. He did the Buxom font for me while receiving royalties from Photo-Lettering.