When the Mountain Top Historical Society held its first sock hop last October, “Everybody had a great time,” vice president Steve McGinnis recalled. “We had 90 to 100 people, and the dance floor was full.”
The society wanted to repeat their success a few months later, but “we didn’t want people to get tired of a sock hop.”
So in March they held a Sadie Hawkins Dance, where the traditional costume would be an outfit reminiscent of the L’il Abner comic strip, rather than a sock hop poodle skirt.
And the music would be country.
As it turned out, the guests “weren’t that interested in country music,” McGinnis said. “The DJ realized it and started to play rock and roll.”
That was more like it. The dance floor filled.
“We are rock and roll people,” said Steve’s wife, Mary McGinnis, who wore a yellow poodle skirt to a Wednesday morning photo shoot to advertise this year’s dance.
She was joined by her friends Anne Wambold in an orange poodle skirt and Rose Geiser in a “Pink Lady” jacket, and the three women took turns naming artists of the ’50s and ’60s whose music they likely will hear at the “Memories of WARMland” event.
Del Shannon … Johnny Maestro and The Brooklyn Bridge, Neil Sedaka, Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, the Beatles … the list went on.
“We want to see as many people on the dance floor as possible,” Mary McGinnis said, recalling that highlights of last year’s event included “80 year olds under the Limbo stick” and “Mrs. (Kathleen) Button leading the ‘The Locomotion.’ “
People danced “the Stroll,” too, the women said, recalling a dance where couples took turns showing off their fancy footwork between two lines of people.
“People danced from the time it started until the end,” Steve McGinnis said.
If you’d like to repeat that feat this year, this year’s sock hop will take place 6 to 10 p.m. Oct. 7 at the Broadway Tavern. The $20 ticket price includes hamburgers and hot dogs. A cash bar will be available, and people are invited to bring their own snacks.
Clothing of the ’50s is suggested but not required. Music will be by DJ Linda.
Tickets are available at the Rotary Club’s Farmers Market outside Crestwood High School 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Sunday or by calling 570-474-6942
Proceeds of the dance will benefit the Historical Society and its projects. This week, members have been painting the interior of their historic New Haven Railroad caboose, which is parked along Route 309 near the intersection with Route 437.
“We’re hoping to have Santa here for the kids this year,” Steve McGinnis said. By the time the holiday season arrives, he said, society members hope to have the caboose’s cast iron coal stove in working order and providing heat for Santa and the young visitors.
