There was so much going on for teenagers in the late fifties and the sixties. During the week we rushed home from school to catch the Dick Clark and American bandstand on T.V. Dick Clark was the host that never seemed to age. He was considered an eternal teenager at heart.
We were glued to our black and white T.V.’s. It would be years before color T.V. came into vogue Brenda Lee sang “I’m Sorry” and Chubby Checker belted out “The Twist”. We ran to the closet to get the stick broom when we heard Dick Clark yell out: “how low can you go, let’s limbo some more!”
I held the broom high above my sister’s head as she passed under it. I lowered the broom until it was so low, she lost her balance and fell over backward, laughing uncontrollably.
The mood suddenly changed when the King of Rock and Roll. Elvis Presley, crooned softly the words to “Suspicious Minds.” The dancers from Philadelphia danced cheek to cheek as they embraced across the dance floor. No week was ever complete without tuning in to Dick Clark and the American Bandstand during the work week.
At twelve o’clock we tuned in to “top Ten Dance Party on channel six, Augusta Georgia. It seemed like every school in Georgia, at one time or another graced that dance floor on Saturday at noon. I estimate I went to that show at least six times, until I became twenty-one, and turned my dancing shoes over to my younger sister.
Emanuel County teenagers daydreamed during the week about going to the Record Hop on Friday and Saturday night. We sat in Mr. Gambrel’s Algebra class, or Miss Peacock’s Government Class, thinking about that slick, cement dance floor with that revolving colorful disco ball, spilling light onto the young people from many small towns in Georgia.
Our daydreams somehow stayed with us while walking to other classes, until we bumped into principal Bill Fordham instructing us to wake up and watch where we’re going.
If you were not a dancer, there was always a good movie playing at Highway 56 Drive-In. Before showtime, there was a long line backed up on the right side of the road waiting to get in. Mr. Bellamy and his family were perfect host as we played bingo and snacked on the best chili dogs this side of Heaven.
Sam’s Drive-in was also a destination teenager flocked to after the Record Hop or a high school sporting event. They cruised around the brick building acknowledging their friends and honking the horns.
On the long, warm Sunday afternoons, the teenagers wanted to top off their weekend in style. Sam’s Drive-in was the perfect place to enjoy French fries, Hamburgers, cokes, and meeting new friends. The pulsating colorful rocket at the entrance, welcomed you and your friends to take a break, and just enjoy yourself.
Where did the time go? We can’t go back. But the best thing we can rely on are the cherished memories, and we are thankful for that.
A note to the teenager of 2021: The teenagers of the fifties and sixties had it all. The music and lifestyle were exceptional.
