“This is the third in a series of three articles, responding to
questions about my early childhood and teenage years.”
What was the TV show that you never missed?
My addiction to the dance show, American Bandstand, began in 1956. Monday through Friday from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. our 12-inch television set controlled my life. With the exception of taking a break during the commercials to prepare dinner for Mama and me.
The regular dancers on the show were “real to me” and “lived” in my “fantasy community”. Some were enemies; many were friends and, a few I even considered as my best friends. My favorite dance on the show was the “The Stroll.”
I talked on the telephone for hours with my girlfriends about the popular girl dancers — their dancing styles, boyfriends, friendships, fashions, and hairstyles. All of this information we gathered, shared, and debated everyday. Our reviews based solely on what we observed during this 90-minute show.
But, after three years of following this show, not one of us asked the question, “Why no Black dancers ever appeared on the show?”
Confess what did you wear as a teenager that you would never wear now.
I loved clothes as a teenager. Frankly, I love clothes today. But, I digress.
One of my favorite outfits, as a teenager, was the wide tailed, felt skirt with the Poodle on a Leash and a coordinating blouse.
Mama felt a young woman was never fully dressed unless she had on a “princess slip.”
A new or stiffly starched petticoat under the skirt was mandatory if you wanted that perfect look.
Nicely polished black/white shoes and complementary bobby socks completed the look.
As I look back on my childhood and teenage years, for the most part, they were happy times. I am Grateful to God for these beautiful memories.
SeasonedSistah 
Yvonne, in 1958-1960 I lived in Bethesda MD. Our little friend down the street
had a older sister that went to American Bandstand every week. I saw her countless times getting into the car with her ponytail, saddle shoes & poodle skirt 🙂 Good memories!
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Great read
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Hard to believe but I was too young (b.1960) but I remember my favorite show was Soul Train. No kidding. I did the same thing. Watched it obsessively, loved the fashion and music, copied all the dance moves, would have given anything to have an afro. And I tried with my stringy 10 year old hair, braiding and teasing it until my Mom finally explained to me that I could never have hair like Diana Ross no matter how much I wanted it. To this day, I think a long afro is the last word in elegance. Did you see the cover of Oprah?
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Luved Oprah’s hair. In a future post I will talk about natural hair and share a photo of my daughter who is now 51-years-old wearing an Afro and her daughter now a 22-year-old reliving the style of the 60s. Styles always typically revolve — do you agree? Thanks for taking the time to visit my blog.
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