In the 50's, was taking baths, rather than showers, the popular thing to do?

The apartment building I live in now, as well as the one I lived in before moving here, were both built in the late 1950’s. In both, the main towel rack – the one for the bath towel, are actually in the shower. There is a smaller one for hand towels, over the toilet.

Now, there was wall room in both of these bathrooms for a bath towel rack, but it was installed on the back wall of the shower. I have gotten around this issue by putting a hook on the back of the door for bath towels, but it just seems to be really poor planning.

Can anyone offer a good reason as to why these bathrooms were built with a towel rack actually in the shower?