Song currently playing, "Rock Around the Clock"
Reunion Events of the Grand Rapids High School Class of 1961

rockin fifties

                        

The Rockin' Fifties

What a great time it was for all of
us who were lucky enough to live
in that magic time. And if you were
in high school then it was pure fun!
Bobbi socks, pony tails, penny loafers,
rock and roll, ducks tails, sideburns,
hoola hoops, American Bandstand,
Howdy Doody, and a zillion other things
come to mind but the thing that stands out
is the dancing! Oh how we danced!

The Marlon, Mickey's, 
a nickle coke! We could get cheeseburgers
 for a quarter, luscious milkshakes 
 and real french fries!  Yummy!

Hoola hoops swept the nation in a craze!
We all tried it and laughed to see our
Mom's and Dad's out hoola us all.


Turn tables and 45 records, 
we all had a collection...
Each one about a dollar!

You didn't find a drive through restaurant
on every corner but there were a few
drive-in restaurants back then...my favorite.......
A&W, how about a root beer float!
And those sizes...papa beer, mama beer,
and don't forget baby beer!

A bottle of Pepsi was a dime! I guess
a nickel according to this sign!  I'm
not quite that old!

Coke came in those cute little bottles, my
Mom's favorite!

Really cool cars too! and if you were a boy,
had sideburns, and one of these you were
really COOL!

Carhops to serve you, some on roller skates...
They had to be good!

Double Bubble bubble gum, with little tiny
paper cartoons folded up inside each little
package of gum. Try reading one of those
today without glasses!


Now this is a vacuum cleaner, the only
trouble is it took three people to push it.

I remember the gas wars...my big brother
would check out the prices before he bought
his gas, pretty easy to do since the gas stations
in our home town all seemed to be in the
same block....I remember it being as low as
15 cents a gallon! "Give me a dollars worth,"
he'd say! he he It was enough for a nights cruisin!
And for that buck, they pumped it for you, cleaned
your windshield, checked your oil and tires!

The only place I can remember having air
conditioning was Kremers! What a neat
dime store that was; best hotdogs in town! My sister and I spent lots
of time there checking out everything! At home
we cooled off with fans......

 

I still love those shakes......
but they go right to my hips now!
Remember when you could eat
all you wanted and never gain an ounce!

The great TV programs we had, I remember
our first TV, we were mesmerized! My Mom
fell in love with Liberace!  We rushed home from
school to watch KDAL Bandstand and learn
all the newest dances. And who could forget...
"Hey kids! What time is it?"
"It's Howdy Doody time!"
With Clarabell, and Buffalo Bob Smith!

Those days are gone but the memories
linger on....

Hey and I can still rock n roll!!

 



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Last Modified March 19, 2003