Category: 1960s

Cosplay 1961

61 Round Up

Not sure what’s going on here, whether it’s a Greek college costume party or Halloween or what. I do know that stuffed animals that size are on the pricey end, and usually don’t belong to adults, unless it was won as a carnival prize on a date.

I’m all for fun and frolic and costume parties, but only for an evening. I deplore the current subculture of cosplay. Detest anime. Loathe manga. I don’t understand the lengths to which grown people play pretend and the time and money and travel spent to escape their real lives. I understand being a child at heart, enthusiasm, awe, seeing the world with fresh eyes. But playing dress-up with other grown-ups as a lifestyle? Perhaps I’m a crotchety old fart, but I don’t get it.

Folksinging Club Of ’65

The students at Hammond High School in Alexandria, Virginia sure seemed to enjoy their folksinging. And they must have been on the cutting edge of the term, as “folk rock” wasn’t used in the U.S. music press until June of 1965 to describe The Byrds’ music.

Perhaps Bill was singing Peter, Paul, and Mary. But maybe he was hammering out “Mr. Tambourine Man,” much to their delight.

Some fellows gave private sessions.

And maybe, just maybe, they might reach the critical acclaim of Joan Baez and Bob Dylan.

http://www.mojo4music.com

Proper Way To Pump

October 1964

Back in 1964, nobody cared what Mrs. Robert F. Young’s first name was. Ladies essentially lost both their first and last names and simply became Mrs. Spouse’s Name. That would suit me just fine, as my husband’s name is easy to say. Perhaps y’all should start calling me “Mrs. Jimmy” from now on. In any event, these were still the days when readers had loooong attention spans and were willing to spend not only an hour on a magazine article, but several minutes on an ad.

When Students Took Books To School

Anchor 65

P.S. They really don’t use books any more. At least not here. Our school district leases Lenovo laptops to students once they enter middle school and they can continue with the same one for years. Families pay for them yearly. Back in my day, we were issued used textbooks and we covered them with paper ads, such as Mrs. Baird’s bakery or Big Red. We had to fold them just right at the corners to keep them in place.

This is one I’ve actually kept for 40 years. Any of you recall doing this with paper bags?

Alexandria, Virginia 1965, Part IV

Today we wrap up the memories from 1965 with this image of gals on the bus. I haven’t taken public transport in years because HYGIENE, but one gal looks positively GIDDY to be aboard. Is she sheltering her project from Nosy Nellies?

Next, we have two of America’s favorite things: cars and dogs. You may notice Susie O’Hazza’s name listed under the kennels, which she owned and operated, and where she bred, raised, and showed Champion Great Danes. Per her 2008 obit, she and her husband spent 17 winters in the Cayman Islands. Isn’t it amazing how quickly we can access information these days?

These ladies seem to be scratching their heads at all those tubes and wires.

Typing class, an ancient relic, once offered at business school–and one with an easy phone number!

Oh, dear. this is why we don’t wear pleated shorts. They do not flatter. They almost appear to be jodhpurs that have been chopped at the knee.

And we end with this image (of another gal in another pleated skirt), presumably endorsing her check or completing paperwork at the bank. Note the gumball machine and the countertop. Is that Formica?