Prom
Way back when I was in high school we didn’t have prom, but we did have something similar. It was called the Junior/Senior Banquet. Every Junior or Senior could take one guest and it was a big deal to get invited when you were a freshman or sophomore.
I went to a very small high school where girls out numbered the boys. And because I am six feet tall, there were very few boys taller than me. It was also hard finding a dress that was long enough, but Mom always helped me find the perfect dress.
Prom Then
My prom story is funny now, but it wasn’t then. My date picked me up wearing a white suit. It was pouring rain but we managed to get to our event without getting too wet. Then afterwards we went to my friend’s house. There were so many of us there that we had to park in her yard. When it came time to go home my date’s car was stuck in the mud. He put me behind the wheel (big mistake) and told me he was going to push us out. You can guess what happened. I gunned it and mud covered him (and the white suit) from head to toe. It was a sight I’ll never forget. FYI- he never asked me out again.
The picture above was submitted by Annette Hepner-the cutie in blue. Here’s what she had to say about prom, “1974 Junior Senior Banquet at Barren River Lodge. A family friend Eddie England made my dress and I still have it. Theirs were store bought. If I remember right, Gary Mc and David W. Presented a large poster to Cortez Butler and got lots of laughs. We ate a nice meal and a skit was presented. Not a lot of money spent but we looked forward to it all year. These two girls and I are still BFFs.”
From Laura Reed – 1987 MCHS prom ? I think my dress came from Gladys K’s, a popular dress store at the time which guaranteed that only one girl from each county could buy that particular style of dress so we wouldn’t get shocked with a last minute twinsie! One of my good friends from Monroe Co ended up with the same dress for her prom, so when my wedding came along a few years later she let me borrow her prom dress so that my bridesmaids could wear the two matching prom dresses. Ronnie was wearing a very stylish “Don Johnson” tux ?. I sang “Cherish” with a couple friends & we got so tickled while we were singing! Still have lots of great memories from prom with my now husband of almost 30 yrs!
Now that’s a very, long prom date! They are an amazing couple and good friends of ours.
From Carolyn Cawthorn London – In the 70’s you had a meal at the prom, my junior year my dress came from a store in Glasgow, Kentucky and it cost $19.99. My senior year I borrowed a dress from my friend, Johanna Compton. I just know we didn’t spend like they do now, but we had a good time.
From Elaine Ambrose – Prom 1968. I wore glasses because my parents refused to allow me to get contact lenses, even though I earned the money. I still don’t understand some things… The 12-inch-high hair balanced the black glasses.
I think you were beautiful, Elaine, and you are even more beautiful now. Visit Elaine at ElaineAmbrose.com
From Micah Wilson Bennett – I went to prom 3 times. My favorite, by far, was with my now husband. (It was also the first year it was held at the highschool.)?
Amy Wilson Neighbors -One thing hasn’t changed (in 24 years)….prom is so much fun when spent with friends!! (I agree, Amy)
From Jessica Tucker – Best Friends then- Best Friends now.
Prom 2001. It was the first Prom held at MCHS (it had been held at the Cave City Convention Center for years until 2001)
From Amanda Jeffries Steffey- This was 1993 I think. ????? WOW, that really puts perspective on the aging thing!!
Prom Now
I started teaching in 1990 at the same high school I graduated from in 1974. One of the biggest surprises was “The Prom” and how things had changed! The dresses were more expensive, the process of getting ready more elaborate and the girls looked like they all could be going to the Oscars!
This lovely gal is the daughter of Laura and Ronnie Reed, the couple pictured above who went to prom together and then got married. Her name is Jerrica and this is what she wore to senior prom. Her mom, Laura said, “She had always had an idea of what style/color prom dress she wanted. Just on a whim I grabbed this dress, and after trying on several she came right back to this one again. We were very blessed that Jerrica has always enjoyed doing her own hair/makeup, etc. so she took care of doing all that, including making her own bouquet. The year before she made her own bracelets to match her green dress.”
This is the Reed’s other daughter, Annika. Laura said, “Annika hasn’t attended a prom yet, but the other day she had fun just trying on some dresses at Michelle’s Consignment Boutique. I think we all agreed that this one was one of our favorites, so if she goes to prom next year we will have an idea what style/colors to try.?
From Michelle Shaw Gillentine – My daughter’s prom in 2018 was very different from mine in the mid 80’s. Doesn’t she look lovely in red?
This picture shows all kinds of different styles of dresses. I actually had these girls (and a couple of the guys) in class when they were 7th graders. And one couple is my future daughter-in-law and my son. I’ll let you guess which couple. (Hint-remember I’m very tall)
I love all the pretty colors and the girls all look gorgeous, don’t they? This is the one night they get to be movie stars and I love seeing them all dressed up.
What do you remember about your dress? Which styles do you like best? What do you see as the biggest difference between prom then and now?
Author
Both proms I went with a guy because I thought I had to have a date. Now I wish I’d just gone by myself. I guess that’s why they say hindsight is 20/20. FYI- I love the dream! Why don’t I have good dreams like that? Jealous! Take care Bonnie and thanks so much for stopping by. Do come again!
Author
I said the same thing to my husband just yesterday. If I could do high school over it would be so different. I was tall and skinny and felt like the biggest geek in the world. I had NO self confidence and was painfully shy. Unfortunately there are no “do overs” for high school. My daughter, on the other hand, was very self confident and went with a girlfriend to prom. Thanks for commenting, Teri!
Funnest post ever!!!! I enjoyed seeing how the times changed and reading your comments. Your son is the handsome tall gentlman with the girl in black dress, right?
Honestly, I didn’t go to prom. I wish I had the confidence now that I had then. I would have gone alone!
OK sorry that was sad.
I did have a freakishly cool dream recently about prom dress shopping. I’d travelled somewhere and gotten invited to some sort of prom for grownups. I’d packed in a carryon, casuals only, so I went to a thrift store. Started by looking at my favorite blue-greens, nothing nice at all – something white with embroidery caught my eye, fit perfectly, there was a shawl and boots somebody loaned me and I looked like Stevie Freakin’ Nicks. I came out of the dressing room and twirled and my friends stood up and cheered.
Woke up feeling like I could do anything.
(unfortunately didn’t run with it but it was a good start to the day!)
My senior prom…well, I was depressed because we’d moved going into my junior year and everything felt broken. But there was a nice guy named Kerry who was a fellow nerd and we’d gotten to be friends and I invited him because I was supposed to go with somebody.
I wish I could remember his last name. He was a good guy. I hope he got a great job and is having a great life.
I didn’t like my dress very much. I got tired of shopping.
We had those same silver stars hung on thread for our backdrop.