About Sock Hops

A sock hop lives up to its name--it's an event where everyone dances around in their socks. Though they reached their popularity during the 1950s, they still haven't died out. You can often find sock hops taking place at schools, senior citizen centers and some churches. Their current popularity tends to be wrapped up in nostalgia, as those who lived through that time period get to relive it, and those who weren't alive back then get a glimpse of what life was like in the 1950s.

History

Sock hops became popular in the 1950s and correlated with the growing interest in rock 'n' roll. These dances were usually held in high school gymnasiums or other on-campus facilities, such as a recreation room or cafeteria, that could provide a significant amount of space for dancing. The idea of dancing in one's socks came about because school officials did not want the hard-soled shoes that most people wore back then to scratch and scuff up their floors, so they had the dancers remove their shoes.

Features

Many who participated in sock hops danced to a variety of '50s music, which included lively beats and catchy tunes. Due to their upbeat nature, dances such as the Mashed Potato, Hand Jive, and the Twist were popular at sock hops. An added bonus to dancing in one's socks was the fact that dancers could slide more easily along the smooth floors, allowing them to perform moves, such as the twist, with more ease than they would be able to in rubber-soled shoes.

Effects

Though they began more than 50 years ago, the popularity of sock hops still remain. These dances are mostly held in middle schools, junior highs and high schools because their innocent nature and musical choices can be seen as being more appropriate for young teens than today's current musical stylings and dance trends. For many, a sock hop will be the first dance they are able to attend. Sock hops have also had an effect on the media and entertainment industries. Little Richard wrote a song called "Ready Teddy" that references sock hops. "At the Hop," a song by Danny and the Juniors, has become an Oldies classic (and, naturally, "the Hop" is a sock hop), and movies such as American Graffiti depict the culture of sock hops.

Time Frame

Sock hops maintained their popularity among the youth in the '50s and even into the '60s. However, they lost steam in the late '60s and early '70s when funk, disco and psychedelic music took over. In addition to eliminating sock hops, these music styles also eliminated the need for partners, as they could be enjoyed by one's self or in a group setting but not necessarily with a partner, as there was no need for hand holding.

Identification

In addition to the dance's stand-out characteristics, including their high school gym backdrop and no-shoes policy, sock hops could also be identified by the participants' wardrobes. Girls wore poodle skirts, ankle socks (bobby socks) and clean, crisp, usually white buttoned-down collared shirts that were tucked into their skirts. They usually tied their hair back into ponytails that were topped off with a large ribbon tied into a bow. Bobby pins were also used to keep hair in place. Boys tended to wear collared shirts with sweater vests and khaki pants. Others, sometimes referred to as "greasers," wore tight white shirts and blue jeans, and girls wore form-fitting pencil skirts with cat-eye glasses and scarves tied around their necks.