Promtacular!

Prom In The Charmin Forest

Posted on June 21, 2010 by promtacular! in 1960s Prom, Backdrop FAIL, Pairing With White, Shine On! | 3 Comments

Year: 1962

We’ve had far too few images from the 50s and early 60s here, which is why I’m pleased to be kicking off this week with Sue’s prom photo.

There’s nothing especially “!” about the attire featured here. Nothing about Sue’s dress or accouterments makes you wonder what she was thinking (see: any and every dress from the 80s). She looks impeccably put together, and her handsome date looks proper (if ever so slightly formal). But then, formals really were formal once, and I’m certain his militant stance — he could break into a salute at any moment — was merely his version of looking polite.

I am still a little unsure about when and wherefore bouquets were used in place of corsages. I find that very confusing because it makes Sue look more like a bridesmaid than a prom-goer.

Mostly, though, this is a lovely snapshot of a lovely couple, who doesn’t have to explain away any magenta and black lace or glitter or perms.

I’m not sure why there’s crumpled-up toilet paper stuck into the (indoor) tree(?) in the background, but I’m sure it has some sort of cultural relevance I’m just not understanding. Handy for blotting one’s lipstick, though!

The Great Stone Shortage of the 1960s: Exhibit B

Posted on March 23, 2010 by promtacular! in 1960s Prom, Backdrop FAIL, Bizarre Backdrops, Blame the Photographer | 7 Comments

Year: 1960s

In this photo, Jeff’s aunt has let her hair down. Literally. And while she’s still pairing her pastels with white, we see she’s opted to trade in her white shoes for black. Bold move.

What’s better(?), though, is that she’s opted to trade in her shoulder-tarantula for a shoulder-cockatoo. Much more spring-like if you ask me.

Meanwhile her date has clearly joined a band. (At least his ankles stayed warm.)

Mostly, I cannot get over that the same prom committee got together and decided yet again to paint a wall of a wall. “But this time it will be, like, round stones!”

Oh, well then.

p.s. I love how the wall cuts off before the photo does (see upper right).

p.p.s Is the plant floating in air?

The Great Stone Shortage of the 1960s: Exhibit A

Posted on March 23, 2010 by promtacular! in 1960s Prom, Backdrop FAIL, Bizarre Backdrops, Pairing With White | 3 Comments

Year: 1960s

If nothing else, this photo of Jeff’s aunt goes to show you that good taste never goes out of style. I daresay she could show up at a prom tomorrow and fit right in. (I mean, if it weren’t March and she weren’t 40+ years older than the other prom attendees.)

I think it also goes to show you that having a feathery black thing resting on your shoulder when you’re otherwise wearing pastels is an odd choice. Not to skeeve you all out, but the longer I look at it, the more her shoulder strap appendage starts looking like the tarantula from The Brady Bunch episode where they go to Hawaii.

Or maybe the love-child of Thing and Cousin It from the Addams Family.

Otherwise, she looks lovely.

Her date looks pretty snazzy, too, given that he’s wearing a jacket in shiny mustard yellow. I’d just have to point out that his pants legs are about 3″ too short — even for the 60s — and that he will regret that choice later if his date’s shoulder strap decides to crawl down her dress and go on the hunt.

Here’s my question: If you’re going to go through the trouble of painting a faux backdrop, why paint a backdrop? Were stones in such demand that a stone wall was actually aspirational? I envision a prom committee meeting where someone suggests the backdrop of a picket fence, and someone else suggests a sunset, and then someone exclaims, “We should paint a picture of a wall!” and then everyone agrees nothing could be better. Because I can’t think of why.

But? And? What is that pink thing between their heads?

That’s Right. I Said LEGO.

Posted on March 04, 2010 by promtacular! in 1960s Prom, Aquanet! | No Comments

Year: 1964

The back of this found photo says: Faley, I haven’t known you for long. But I am glad I got to. I hope you’ll have fun in your senior year and the Prom. Love, Paulina.

I think we are all glad that Paulina and Faley got to know each other.

I mean, that is one rad pompadour. I don’t have the faintest idea what kind or how much product was needed to achieve that level of lift, but Faley’s doing something right. I mean, I think. That was the goal, in 1964? Height? To look as much like male LEGO hair as possible? Because if so: job well done.

Meanwhile, it’s not as if I need to draw attention to Paulina’s hair. It’s just that if you measure, you’ll note that it’s bigger than her head, and almost exactly the same size as Faley’s. Almost as if on purpose.

Her dress is fantastic. It almost looks like someone tried to pull the dress down over the tulle underneath (must…get…down…) but it was no use. The dress receded and the tulle won.

Notice how the curtain in the background suffered the same fate? Like, the pretty curtain was hung over some other, uglier curtain that also forced its way into the picture. As though the ugly curtain and tulle were in cahoots.

Lastly, this backdrop is almost perfectly suited to the occasion, except for that handful of lonely stars that wandered into the shot on the right. Like at the last minute, someone on the prom committee panicked: What do you mean, “flowers on a pedestal”?!?! Where are the ribbons?!?! Where are the bows?!?! Quick! Someone get me construction paper and tape!”