Sunday, February 21, 2010

THE 50'S A MAGICAL TIME

2-21-10...THE 50's A MAGICAL TIME

Since I grew up in the 1950's it is fun for me to reflect on some of the fun and different things during that era. Drive In Theaters bring back many happy memories! My birthday being in August was the prime season for Drive In movies. Just before dark we would all pile into a car and head for the drive In. I still remember the intermission jingle "Let's all go to the lobby" with the hot dog, soda drink and popcorn dancing across the screen.
The Drive In was the favorite place to go on a date and after the show we would go to Wimpy's for a hamburger and fries or to just congregate. At that time you stayed in your car and your food was brought to you. A tray holder was placed on the drivers side window to hold the food.





There would be couples going steady with a ring around their neck to prove it. It was just brought to attention from my teenage friends in church that "going steady" is no longer used. I asked them what do you call it now? They replied just "going out". Makes no sense to me, but that is how times change. Back in the 50's and 60's when you were "going steady," the girl would be given her boyfriends ring to wear. Because they were always too big to fit the ring would be put on a ribbon to wear around your neck. Elvis had a song called “Wont You wear my ring Up around your neck to show the world I'm yours by heck”. Sometimes the ring would be put on the girls pony tail in the place of a rubber band. Don't ask me how that worked. We listened to pretty tame music then that would soothe the soul. Moon River was one of my favorites. Pat Boone was our heart throb. Some of his songs were, April Love, Love Letters In The Sand, and Chains of Love.
The summer of 1955 with Bill Haley's song "Rock Around the Clock" changed the music we listened to forever. I was hooked. Then came Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, and the rest is history. My parents didn't like Rock N Roll at all but they put up' with it.
The clothes were in an era all their own. Cuffed Bobbie socks worn with suede "buckskin" shoes or saddle shoes that came in all color combinations and styles from light weight to the original heavier oxford in black and white. The sleeves were always cuffed and rolled on the girls short sleeve shirts, and finished off with a silk scarf around the neck. I had a bunch of different colors but not as many as some girls had. Wool skirts with the length at the middle of the calf with a slit in the back. No jeans or pants were allowed. My spindly little legs would just about freeze when outside. The favorite hair styles were pony tails, and shoulder length hair that was rolled at the ends with bangs and usually a side part. Barrettes were often used as decoration and to hold the hair away from the face.







The boys typical clothes were blue jeans with cuffed legs, a t-shirt with rolled sleeves, or a shirt with the back of the collar turned up. They wore various short hair styles ranging from the butch to slightly longer Elvis style that was combed back and held in place with Butch wax Hair Dressing into a duck tail or DA as it was called. Going to church on Easter Sunday was a sight to behold! All the women and young girls (me included) wore a hat adorned with artificial flowers.. Mine were always a white hat with yellow daisies. We always had white gloves. That is something I always had was my Easter Suit no matter how poor we were and we were poor. Week days in school we wore a dress or a skirt and sweater. There was a time there when everyone that could afford to wore them Dyed to match right down to the shoes.
Week ends were spent at home mostly. I usually slept on Saturday morning till I was made to get up but Sunday it was get up and get ready for Church. Sunday evening in the warmer days we would all walk over to Altus and spend the evening in the Park. It was great excitement to me. There was and still is an old well house. We sat there and also on park benches.



It was such a magical time for me. A time I often remember, dream of, and miss. So many things have been changed by what they call “Progress”? I'm not too sure the progress has all been good or healthy. But then That's Just MY Opinion. YEP!