LIFE at an Ohio Prom That Kept Going, and Going, and Going . . . (1958)

Time.com ^ | March 29, 2012 | Liz Ronk

[lowbridge]

In 1958, LIFE tagged along as students danced at an Ohio high school prom. And went riverboating. And danced some more. And had breakfast. And rode roller coasters. And danced some more. . . .

-snip

Students at Mariemont High School near Cincinnati came close to the ultimate this year when they put on a “prom” that lasted almost 32 hours. It started with a progressive dinner (spaghetti to strawberry cake), followed by a formal but highly energetic dance. Then the students boarded a river boat for a cruise and dancing to a jazz combo. Dawn found them somewhat subdued and back at the school for breakfast. Sent home for a short rest period, they emerged refreshed and descended on an amusement park. By nightfall half the students had discovered they were mortal and had gone home to bed. The rest whipped up another dance. “It keeps getting better and better,” one said, “as I get more and more numb.”

[Dr. Sivana]

Sigh!

You didn’t need a Suburban or full size van when you can fit 13 people in a Ford Fairlane convertible.

The fellow and his date can both exit the car on the passenger side because of full bench seats and no giant honking center console, just car and AM radio.

You don’t have to worry about bare bodies popping up on the screen at the movie you are viewing together in public.

These were better, better times for nearly all.

[lowbridge]

Many, MANY more great photos of this prom to be enjoyed here:

http://retrospect.sid-hill.us/moments_in_time/1950s_lookback.htm

[11th_VA]

That’s when America was great - I seem to recall reading a poll recently, Americans were most happy in 1957 - probably before Sputnik ...

[LongWayHome]

Thanks.

[Grams A]

True our parents couldn’t reach us but we always went where we said we were going and our parents knew everyone else’s parents. But as I recall there was not a lot to do which got you in trouble. The worst things we did ever did was sneak a cigarette, contribute to the windows steaming up at the drive-in, or date a Catholic when you were not one. We never destroyed property unless it was at Halloween when we pushed over someone’s outdoor toilet or on the 4th of July and put a cherry bomb in a mailbox. Always home by Midnight on Friday and Saturday. Dating was not allowed when school was the next day. All the kids I knew worked all day Saturday.

Nobody randomly attacked anyone, we left our homes and cars unlocked with no fear of anyone breaking in or taking our property.

It was a great era.

[chuckee]

Thank you, Lowbridge. I really enjoyed the photo album

[Mears]

“All the kids I knew worked all day Saturday.”

—

Me too.

I worked all day Saturday and Monday evenings at F.W. Woolworth in downtown Boston.(There were no malls yet)

I took the trolley through the subway and had no fears,even alone on Monday nights at (9:30-10:00). I was 16-17 when I worked there and the streets were safe.

We had very little——but I didn’t even know it. :-)

Off topic but do you remember poodle skirts?

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[Grams A]

Do I remember poodle skirts? All the girls had one, full circle and made out of black felt. Had to be worn with lots of petticoats all starched and able to stand alone. Adorned with poodles on the front. What a hoot! Guys wore white button down oxford cloth shirts and starched, ironed khaki pants with a buckle on the back between the pockets. All the pants had a sharp ironed in crease. Everyone I knew always had sprinkled clothes in their frig waiting to be ironed.

I worked Monday and Thursday evenings in a clothing store from 5 to 9 p.m. and all day Saturday for the huge sum of $.76 an hour. Guys pumped gas, washed cars or bagged and carried out groceries.

[Mears]

Good memories of the 50s.

Here I am now with one of my granddaughters running the Marathon tomorrow-—it’s her first so we are all on pins and needles.

In the 50s only men ran——and it was actually more fun to watch,now it is so mobbed it’s like a zoo.I stay home,watch it on TV,and can track her route with some GPS thingie that the runners have on their bib number.

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