Jane Gromelski
Do you remember dancing at Sock Hops in the high school gym? We couldn’t wear shoes because the finish on the gym floor might be damaged, but our moms were not happy with us when the bottoms of our socks were no longer white. Fortunately, the finishes on wood floors today no longer require the sacrifice of sock bottoms to protect the wood floors and, better for us and our arches, we can wear shoes on the dance floor.
November 5, MountainView Ballroom, will be the site of a ‘50s and ‘60s Sock Hop. Better yet, we can keep our shoes and our arch supports on. There will be a live band, 3 Jacks and a Julie—also known as Wild Ride when they are playing for Country Western dancers. There will be food to satisfy the inner teenager, chicken or hamburgers, potato chips, fresh fruit—a nod to those who wish to eat healthy—and homemade cookies. Buffet style. And a cash bar, because our teenage dreams came true and we can now legally drink alcohol; iced tea for those who don’t.
3 Jacks and a Julie will play many of our favorites from the 50s and 60s—The Everly Brothers, Elvis, Roy Orbison, the Beach Boys and even Frank Sinatra. Julie had the songs from movie The Coal Miner’s Daughter memorized so she could perform them all when she was five years old; there is a recording to prove it. Frank toured up and down the West Coast in bands from the age of 18. From Alaska to Pocatello, Idaho, he won awards as a Frank Sinatra, Elvis and Roy Orbison impersonator. The musical experience of the four members of the band adds up to over 120 years. When they play the Righteous Brothers’ Unchained Melody there isn’t a woman listening who won’t want to be up on the dance floor in her partner’s arms, swaying to the music—go ahead, ask them, they will play it again. It is one song guaranteed to have everyone out on the dance floor.
Tickets for this night of nostalgia will be on sale in the MountainView Office; they are $25 per person, all inclusive. You can also buy tickets online at DVPAC.net. Doors and cash bar will open at 5:00 p.m., the buffet will be served at 5:45 p.m. and the band will start performing at 6:30 p.m. They will play until 9:30 p.m. Wear your poodle skirt and saddle shoes or your 50s – 60s costume or dress as we do today. Come and listen to the band or come and dance. This promises to be a very entertaining evening. Return to those youthful days; let’s have fun at a (sockless) Sock Hop!
I hope we see you there.