Putting on a Sock Hops, Part 1
Sock hops in movies depicting the 50’s-60’s show kids dancing, great music and the latest fashion of the day. By the time the late sixties rolled around, sock hops started to go away but recently themed parties started making a comeback. People wanting to relive their happy days!
Starting out in high school auditoriums, sock hop dances originated because teachers didn’t want their students, mostly the girls, scratching the wooden gym floors with their shoes. Teachers started asking students to take off their shoes and dance in their socks. Hence the name.
The young teens would kick off their shoes and dance around in their socks. This started a new cultural trend that lasted all through the 50s and most of the 60s.
Soon, the term sock hop, or soc hop was used to describe teen parties and dances. Young people during this time period would come together to dance and enjoy the music, appropriately called Rock ‘n’ Roll! Some adults thought the name was derogatory, but soon they realized it was just a description of dance moves taken on by some of the rock singers.
Occurring mostly in high school auditoriums, sock hops were really a way for teens to kick off their troubles (not just their shoes) and enjoy music and friends. Anytime people wanted a crowd, they would advertise a sock hop, as they moved out of school gymnasiums and into malt shops and home parties.
People today, just like back int he 50’s and 60’s , love to live it up at a sock hop dance party. Some like it for the fashion, others just for the music, friends and good memories. No matter the reason, lots of fun is to be had at sock hops.