Originally found in high architectural designs, screen walls made of pierced, decorative concrete masonry units became ubiquitous across the American suburban landscape by the Atomic Age (1950s-1960s). This brief examines the history, application, technical issues, and preservation concerns for decorative concrete blocks, particularly as related to their exterior use. Key concepts include post-war suburban design, post-war material innovation, post-war DIY trends, and high design versus vernacular interpretations.