HOW FASHION AND MUSIC CHANGED OUR CULTURE
Rock & Roll emerged. I can only imagine how the older
generation felt as the music changed from Big Band to this new loud beat and electrical
instruments. Music in the 1950s changed the world. The clothing styles changed
drastically. Guys wore jeans and leather jackets (in Vernon the guys wore their
letter jackets); girls wore pedal pushers and scarves. Family morals, though,
remained conservative through it all. American Bandstand hosted by Dick Clark
from 1952 -1989 aired on Saturday mornings.
It featured teenagers dancing to the Top 40 songs.
45 RPM records were popular, and with an older brother and
sister, we were in good supply of the most current tunes. I remember most Saturdays were spent in
downtown Vernon meeting up with friends to take in a movie and then wandering
around town. Mother would drop us off at the Herring National Bank where we
would eat at Jacks, a well-known hamburger place where hamburgers were cooked
on an open griddle. We would then walk to The Plaza on the Main Square and take
in the current movie. Afterwards, we would wander in and out of stores,
eventually making our way to Norsworthy Record shop. It was fun to check out
the current music there because they would give us several 45s and we could
take them to the listening booths in the back of the store.
The Beatles - 1960s - Original Vinyl Record 02 Stock Photo - Alamy
