The nineteen-fifties were a wholesome, simple time. Families ate dinner together, watched Leave it to Beaver, and the cost of a loaf of bread was a mere fourteen cents. With war a very real part of their past, present and possibly their future, being anti-communist was a very important part of daily life. It was in the 1950’s that “under God” was added to the pledge of allegiance, and many people were arrested under suspicions that they were not acting as patriotic as they should. So, it was understandable that the boys and girls in high school really enjoyed de-stressors like drive-in-movies or nights under the stars at make out point. What they most looked forward to though, was going to the local Soc Hop.

Soc Hop

Soc Hops were held on the school grounds, generally in the gymnasium. To save the varnished floors from being damaged by all the dancing, the students were made to take off their shoes and dance in their socks. Dressing up in a 1950’s costume this year for Halloween would be a fun blast from the past. Just make sure to be careful about which Soc Hop you attend. Chances are you’ll just see all the same people, girls with their hair done up in high ponytails and pink ribbons, boys with crew cuts, poodle skirts, button down shits, sweaters and letterman jackets. But consider if something went wrong, and when the dance was scheduled to end you made your way towards the exit, only to find that the doors wouldn’t open. Imagine being stuck in a continuous loop, spending the rest of eternity dancing to the same songs unable to rest for more than a few minutes at a time. Imagine that you had to do it all with a smile on your face and without speaking a single ill word of the situation. What seemed like fun originally, might turn out to be someone’s worst nightmare.

May we reconvene under the blood red moon,
-Black Widow