We didn’t go to concerts and pay $60

Memories of the 50’s

PART 1

We didn’t go to concerts and pay $60.00 for a seat. It was different back then. Do you remember the “Friday night Hops” in your high school gym? If you don’t, you’re not old enough. If you do, then you’re a product of the “Nifty 50’s.” I am old enough to remember--but not too old of course, to tell it.

I was the “cat’s meow,” with my poodle skirt, saddle shoes and pull-over banlon sweater. After a few washings, there would be these white head sort of thingies growing. Gross! A girl would need to use her dad’s razor to remove them. Umm, did you wear your sweater with a chiffon scarf or a collar? Mine was hand-crocheted angora. Oh, I wore my pink chiffon on my blonde ponytail. I was real hip!

Pop-it beads? Remember those? We popped different colors together. Voila! You had a necklace and bracelet for every outfit. Reasonably priced too. You could buy them for less than a dollar. I still believe that’s where the term “mix and match” originated.

Today, pop-it's come in jumbo size. You know. They’re used to teach eye and hand coordination to the grand babies. There’s a lot to be said about that--coordination. If a guy grabbed you in the wrong place, these beads would scatter from your locker to your homeroom!

Part 2

Memorabilia shops can make you feel very old or very poor, which ever comes first. A poodle skirt today sells for an arm and a leg. They are not genuine of course. Made of cotton, they are not made of real felt. Have you seen the price of an entire outfit? A complete ensemble including pink skirt, white blouse, black crinoline, black belt and pink scarf is only $119.95, folks! This is definitely, a great sale. If you buy it this week, they’ll even throw in a pair of bobby socks and a pair of cat eye sunglasses for free! A real bargain for a costume party, huh?

What’s a crinoline you ask? They were those scratchy, undie petty coats, made out of netting. Sorry, I don’t have a newer version of the word. They made your skirts stand way out. You looked like you were standing over an air vent. No wonder our grand kids laugh at those black and white photos!

Remember meeting at the diner after the hop? You and your date walked in, looking way too cool. You looking like an upside down air balloon and him looking like a duck’s ass with his new DA haircut. Can you dig it? If he walked like a duck and his nick- name was “Ducky” that was even better. He treated you to a hamburger, fries and coke. He even gave you some quarters to play the jukebox. He definitely had ulterior motives in mind.

How did six couples ever park and pet in one Chevy? Can you imagine three two-ply ruffled crinolines, beneath six yards of sweeping skirt multiplied by three? We never made it easy for them, did we? Remember that one applique? You know--the cute little satin poodle on a gold chain? The chain caused a few problems, I can tell ya!

Midnight was my curfew. I was checked for torn crinolines, broken poodle chains and hickeys. I can tell you this. If I failed the test, there was no dance for me next Friday night. Wow!

By Janice March