Evidently the 1949 Sophomore Hop was not as hopping as she hoped. Reminds me of Community‘s Aubrey Plaza and her sneer.
The Senior Ball held in April also lacked its share of fans. Note folded arms and glare.
Whoever held the stage that night proved unsuccessful in entertaining the crowd. You’d think they’d just announced WWIII.
Maybe those gals should have stayed home and listened to Jo Stafford records. These smiles speak volumes.
Well, y’all, it’s hard to believe the bicentennial was nigh on 40 years ago. Some of you were already married, some weren’t even born, and I was in pre-school, oblivious to the fashion faux-pas going on in society. Scarves and bandanas for women, pointed shirt collars for men. And prints so loud coming together in a dangerous cacophony such as this! It’s as though clothing designers suddenly decided to make garments of sofa and wallpaper material.
Other fun facts of ’76 include:
When I think about bands forming, I think about a group of dudes (yes, I realize that’s sexist) in a basement, slowly getting gigs and paying their dues for years until being launched out of obscurity. Right? But Foreigner had major hits the following year, selling four million with songs like “Feels Like The First Time.” Way to get it going right off the bat, Foreigner!
Per www.thepeoplehistory.com, the cost of living was much lower:
Average Cost of new house $43,400.00
Average Income per year $16,000.00
Average Monthly Rent $220.00
Cost of a gallon of Gas 59 cents
And a microwave oven cost $169.00. I could buy one for that price now. Although the interwebs says that sales of microwave ovens exceeded that of gas ranges in 1975, I didn’t know ANYONE who had a microwave then. I didn’t know anyone who had one in the 1970s at all. And I didn’t have one until my first college apartment. Do you recall Tappan microwaves?
As far as music goes, these were the songs the people requested on heavy rotation:
1. Silly Love Songs, Paul McCartney and Wings
2. Don’t Go Breaking My Heart, Elton John and Kiki Dee
3. Disco Lady, Johnnie Taylor
4. December 1963 (Oh What a Night), The Four Seasons
5. Play That Funky Music, Wild Cherry
6. Kiss and Say Goodbye, The Manhattans
7. Love Machine, Pt. 1, The Miracles
8. 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover, Paul Simon
9. Love Is Alive, Gary Wright
10. A Fifth of Beethoven, Walter Murphy and The Big Apple Band
So tell me–when did you get your first microwave? Did you have awful yellow and avocado green tupperware dishes to put inside it? Do you remember when earning 16K was a decent salary, and not the price of a used car? Did you vote for Jimmy Carter or Gerald Ford? Did you know the popular vote for Carter was 40 million and for Ford it was 39 million? That’s a pretty close call.
And did you know Carter was the first president to be born in a hospital? Wow! Were you born in a hospital?
What we’ve got here today is bald Brad Bourland crowning the winner of the University of Texas’s 1947 “Ugly Man Contest,” Ed Andrews. I don’t know about you, but Ed is certainly not the ugliest man to which I’ve born witness. Not by a longshot. As a result of the election, the Campus Chest received funds, which the pinned Jimmye Kimmey (that’s what the yearbook says her name is, folks) is delightfully clutching, alongside the repugnant Ed.
We’re hosting Christmas this year, and I’m already thinking about what part of kitchen counterspace will be designated as the beverage station. There will be hot coffee, freshly-brewed from freshly-ground beans, and half & half available. No one but my husband and I will use it, as my family curiously prefers their coffee black. Iced tea will be an option, so various sweeteners will also be at the ready. It’s important to have enough cups, glasses, and teaspoons. And if you make iced tea, make sure you have fresh wedges of lemon or lime. I’m no Martha Stewart, but that’s basic. Nothing worse than patronizing a home or restaurant that offers you a beverage and lacks the standard accoutrements.
Of course, they won’t be allowed to smoke inside, like these fellows (no one in the family smokes anyway), but there will be plenty of beer and wine to help the turkey and dressing go down.
And what about hot tea? I had some this morning (and then I had coffee), but it doesn’t sound good with Christmas dinner. I won’t offer that.
But like a good waiter, we’ll keep the pitchers full, and there will be plenty of ice for Lipton and Cokes because who knows? It was 80 degrees on Friday. It may be warm on Christmas, and we’ll need cool refreshment. The goal is to make everyone as happy as these ladies.
I don’t know what I like more in this one: the repeating V sweater, the paper girl’s white overalls, Mrs. Maddux’s sexy but amazingly outdated hairstyle, or the sassy stance she has, hands on narrow hips. I think it’s the stance.
Here we see some high school class officers. The XY-gene carriers all appear fairly normal. But Norma–Norma appears to have some botched surgery. I can’t quite figure it out. Clearly a female body was present for the photo, but then someone shrunk her head a la Beetlejuice, or took a head from another pic and pushed it inside the hair. Or do you suppose her head is just oddly petite? I don’t get it.
In the late 1970s, the powers that be decided that foreheads were only useful as a canvas to showcase bangs, and forehead skin should be hidden altogether. By the fall of 1979, most hip teens had followed suit and were ready freddy for school picture day.
Even Caucasion afros came forward. Baby, you make my love come down.
Often, blond boys were indistinguishable from blond girls.
Then there’s this style, which would later morph into the “He wants you, too, Malachi” style from Children of the Corn.
Fashion’s dictates did not exclude any creed nor color. Rules is rules.
This girl missed the memo. She thought Marcia Brady was still groovy. By January, she was being homeschooled.
Judge Reinhold got the memo, but he got it late. Bless his heart.
Covered foreheads made dudes look hot, like poor men’s Oak Ridge Boys. How did the ladies ever decide upon a suitor?
Coveted styles included The Future Domestic Violencer, The Camaro On Blocks, and The 7-11 Graveyard Shift.
But if the goal was to entirely cover the forehead, to the extent that one’s eyesight was in peril, then there could only be one victor. Steve Wagner, you were that man.
And lastly, I imagine this fella doesn’t mind the three ladies impressed by his skills.
I Don't Get It 