| Saturday Night - Date Night USA (1966) |
| A personal account of The Way It Was in 1966. |
It had been a long week at school and I was ready for Saturday Night
and the weekend. Of course, I already had my regular date lined up for
Saturday night. And, I was looking forward to it as it was the main thing
to aim for in those days - because in a small town like Rockingham,
there were not a whole lot of activities to plan for on a weekend.
This was another typical week of my teenage years in high school
growing up like any other young man of that time. But this week was a
little different. Dad had just bought a new 1966 Chevelle Super Sport
396! I couldn't believe my dad would buy such a car. After all, he traded
in a 1959 Chevy Impala, brown and white - not exactly the kind of car
he had just traded for. But my dad had always been a sporty kind of guy.
He always liked flashy and bright colors. I guess that is where I got my
taste for colorful clothes from.
The same week dad bought that car, I had to go out to Longs of
Rockingham to purchase some new pants - heck, I had to dress sharp in
order to impress my future wife - and - I had to look cool in that new
396! Longs was the place to go to get the newest fashions. Around this
time, madras pants were the fad. I had to have some! I went and bought
a pair and paid the outrageous price of $20! Boy, when I got home with
those pants, I caught heck from my dad. He couldn't believe I had paid
that much money for a pair of pants. I loved those pants so much I took
a photo of me and my brother Keith - (to send to my brother Randy in
California, whom was in the Navy at the time) - and I was holding those
pants to show Randy the new style.
During this time, there was another fad going around at school. Guys
were taking sandpaper and using it on their penny loafers. It would make
the loafers look like suede - don't ask me why we wanted our loafers to
look like suede. This was the thing to do, so I went along with the crowd
and sanded down my shoes to be in "style" - which gave the shoes a
kind of rust looking color.
I would have everything ready by the time Saturday night rolled
around. The madras pants were ready, my shoes were hip, and, of
course, I had a cool yellow alpaca sweater to top it off. Boy, talking
about feeling cool, I thought I was the coolest guy around. There was
one thing left to do. Wash and wax that brand new Chevelle - aztec
bronze, 4 on the floor, black vinyl top, black leather interior, scoop on
the hood, and the coolest looking mag wheels you had ever seen! This
was a task that took all day Saturday to complete - I mean, I had to get
this car spotless and shining for my date that night. And, I did - just ask
my wife....she always said I liked that car more than her!
As a senior in high school, I felt on top of the world on Saturday nights
- I mean, after all, I had a classy girl as my date, (my wife) and one of
the coolest cars around - and fastest! This was the highlight of the week.
We usually took in a movie at the Richmond Theatre in downtown
Rockingham and then would head for Tom & Sarahs or Seagos ....or just
cruised around Hamlet and Rockingham to see if we could find any of
our friends. But most of the time, we would end up in the "ballpark".
That was where everyone would usually end up or the "clay hole" or any
dark location for a little necking.
After our date was over, I would take her home and cruise back to Tom
& Sarahs usually. That's where most of the guys would end up to discuss
their night and - cars. Many times we would have a race lined up right
down Hiway 74 - starting at Toms. That Chevelle had 325 horses and
was pretty fast. I raced Ford Fairlane GTs, Corvettes, Buick Specials,
Plymouths and other Chevelles. I just think God I didn't kill myself or
someone else while doing this. But I made it through all these times and
am happy I can share these memories.
Like the title above says -Date Night USA - 1966 .....this is my account
of what it was like during those days gone by.
and the weekend. Of course, I already had my regular date lined up for
Saturday night. And, I was looking forward to it as it was the main thing
to aim for in those days - because in a small town like Rockingham,
there were not a whole lot of activities to plan for on a weekend.
This was another typical week of my teenage years in high school
growing up like any other young man of that time. But this week was a
little different. Dad had just bought a new 1966 Chevelle Super Sport
396! I couldn't believe my dad would buy such a car. After all, he traded
in a 1959 Chevy Impala, brown and white - not exactly the kind of car
he had just traded for. But my dad had always been a sporty kind of guy.
He always liked flashy and bright colors. I guess that is where I got my
taste for colorful clothes from.
The same week dad bought that car, I had to go out to Longs of
Rockingham to purchase some new pants - heck, I had to dress sharp in
order to impress my future wife - and - I had to look cool in that new
396! Longs was the place to go to get the newest fashions. Around this
time, madras pants were the fad. I had to have some! I went and bought
a pair and paid the outrageous price of $20! Boy, when I got home with
those pants, I caught heck from my dad. He couldn't believe I had paid
that much money for a pair of pants. I loved those pants so much I took
a photo of me and my brother Keith - (to send to my brother Randy in
California, whom was in the Navy at the time) - and I was holding those
pants to show Randy the new style.
During this time, there was another fad going around at school. Guys
were taking sandpaper and using it on their penny loafers. It would make
the loafers look like suede - don't ask me why we wanted our loafers to
look like suede. This was the thing to do, so I went along with the crowd
and sanded down my shoes to be in "style" - which gave the shoes a
kind of rust looking color.
I would have everything ready by the time Saturday night rolled
around. The madras pants were ready, my shoes were hip, and, of
course, I had a cool yellow alpaca sweater to top it off. Boy, talking
about feeling cool, I thought I was the coolest guy around. There was
one thing left to do. Wash and wax that brand new Chevelle - aztec
bronze, 4 on the floor, black vinyl top, black leather interior, scoop on
the hood, and the coolest looking mag wheels you had ever seen! This
was a task that took all day Saturday to complete - I mean, I had to get
this car spotless and shining for my date that night. And, I did - just ask
my wife....she always said I liked that car more than her!
As a senior in high school, I felt on top of the world on Saturday nights
- I mean, after all, I had a classy girl as my date, (my wife) and one of
the coolest cars around - and fastest! This was the highlight of the week.
We usually took in a movie at the Richmond Theatre in downtown
Rockingham and then would head for Tom & Sarahs or Seagos ....or just
cruised around Hamlet and Rockingham to see if we could find any of
our friends. But most of the time, we would end up in the "ballpark".
That was where everyone would usually end up or the "clay hole" or any
dark location for a little necking.
After our date was over, I would take her home and cruise back to Tom
& Sarahs usually. That's where most of the guys would end up to discuss
their night and - cars. Many times we would have a race lined up right
down Hiway 74 - starting at Toms. That Chevelle had 325 horses and
was pretty fast. I raced Ford Fairlane GTs, Corvettes, Buick Specials,
Plymouths and other Chevelles. I just think God I didn't kill myself or
someone else while doing this. But I made it through all these times and
am happy I can share these memories.
Like the title above says -Date Night USA - 1966 .....this is my account
of what it was like during those days gone by.
| So, as the Train of Life keeps chugging along, another page written of my Childhood Memories of.... Rockingham Remembered. |
|
|