Ray, That's a really funny story. At that age, I'm sure I would
have gladly given you my place at cotillion. My memory is that
learning to dance was just kind of the platform they used for getting
us used to behaving well in polite society, and for being real close
to someone of the opposite sex, which was a little scary for some of
us. Looking back on it, it seems sweet to me that our parents were so
concerned about our social graces. And I had no idea there were
cotillions all over the place -- guess I thought mine was the only
one. I remember wearing big, black dress shoes that were probably two
sizes too big. They were teaching us boys how to lead, which meant
you took the first step, which for me usually meant stepping too far
and encountering my partner's dainty foot. Bruised toes must have
been an occupational hazard for the girls, at least for my first
partners. Just think how long-suffering our girlfriends, wives, even
ex-wives, have been! I don't remember the macaroni and cheese at
Waggener as much as I do the sloppy joes -- it seems like we had those
every other day. And the cartons of milk for 2 cents -- must have been
a milk surplus like the macaroni and cheese. Bill Bowden '61
I can't believe it! Cotillion and Macaroni
and Cheese in the same week!! My wife, Barbara, and I went to our
grandson's parent's day event this past week. (You all may remember
that I married my daughter's mother-in-law after Ellen died.) We were
invited to stay for lunch. I told Barbara that I bet they served that
same World War II surplus macaroni and cheese that they served at
Greathouse. (Thank God for Billy Reece. He would eat anything for a
nickel and we were required to eat all our food.) She told me that I
needed to get over my childhood traumas - being required to eat
macaroni and cheese, not going to cotillion, having to play the
accordian,etc. Well, it was a very nice lunch. French fries,
hamburger, green beans ....,
but there it was - macaroni and cheese -- It was just like Greathouse.
They must have opened the same cans that survived the Normandy
invasion. Visions of Cotillion flashed through my head. Was I the
only one that
didn't go to in Cotillion? Ellen went, Henry went, Bill went, Frank
went,Steve went, Sharon ent ......
Did I have C with a X through it burnt on my chest and branded as an
eternal social outcast. Barbara was kicked out of a bar for dancing on
tables and dated KA's at Duke (our version of Animal House). I missed
cotillion. Maybe one step at a time - I may try macaroni and cheese
next week. Ray
-- Ray C. Purdom
Barb, I remember it being at Big Springs Country Club.Our
parents made us go. Jim Harbolt
Bill, can you say a little more about where that building was
located? I was thinking about that and I do not have a clue. Also, I
wonder how I got there as my mother did not drive. Did I ride my bike
or walk or did I go with one of you all. Does anyone remember more
where it was located? Frank
Cotillion classes, eh? Well, somehow my mom found out about some
cotillion classes at the Louisville Country Club (we were not members)
and signed me
up. I hated it because it seemed so "stuffy" with the girls and guys
lined up on opposite walls. (Must be where the term "wall flower" came
from, huh?). The classes went on one night a week for several weeks.
There was a night from hell associated with this. Being way under 16
(I forget my age at the time), my dad drove me to the
classes and would pick me up later. Sometimes we brought others along,
too and one night Jimmy Small was there and he and I got into a
discussion about how fights were faked in movies. Since movies are in
two imensions, punches thrown don't really strike the opponent but the
opponent's reaction makes it look real. Jimmy and I somehow took it
beyond discussion and decided to try
it out. Only we misjudged the distance and I hit him and gave him a
bloody nose. We weren't really fighting so I felt very bad about that.
But here we were in the country club with a bunch of adults in shock.
Meanwhile, my dad had arrived to pick us up and parked his car under
the
club's portico. As he got out of the car, someone told him that I had
been in a fight and he ran into the building to see what was going on.
When he left the car, he forgot to leave it in park or put on the hand
brake and the car rolled down into the country club's prized rose
garden, smashing a bunch of flower plants before coming to a stop in
the middle of the garden. They had to call a wrecker to pull the car
out which destroyed even more roses. It was not a nice ride home that
night. -Jim Herron
I must have been at a different
cotillion. I went to the one at the Pendenis Club with a girl named
Susan and had a pretty good time.
Also, does anybody remember the
dances at the YMCA with the live bands. The best one that I
remember was with Ray Allen and the Carnations. Does anybody
remember a girl named Gay or Gail Manville. She might have arrived
at Waggener in '59 or '60? Ron Montgomery '60
Ahhhh - Cotillion - I remember being there, but not
happily! I was taller than most of the boys & painfully shy - not
to mention that I, too, hated my dress! UG - for me it's more a
memory of survival than fun! Guess I should be glad I can still
remember stuff! Fidele Hindman Fuller ('62)
I remember taking cotillion classes
as well. However I think that I was in the 9th grade. Sandy
Speer was in the same group. The teacher had to pair the boys
with the girls. I was one of the shortest girls in the class and
was paired up with the tallest boy. I remember being eye level
with his belt and was quite embarrassed. I don't think that
he was aving much fun either. As to doing the fox trot, I would
definitely need a refresher course. Bonnie Davis Ankrim '61
I remember the dance lessons too. Virginia Hart Parks
was the instructor. She was a really tall woman. I only
remember that Betty Talbott and Tricia Downs were there with
me. And yes the girls were on one side and the boys on the
other. Was fun if you knew what you were doing. The building
is still there. Also I remember sock hops at the YMCA called
Little Toot. Now I love going there. Pat Cary Vaughn 1962.
Barbara, Well, you and Frank have the same memory,
and it's kind of coming back to me too -- chairs against the
two walls, boys on one side, girls on the other. I think I
remember one of the girls I was paired up with once, but I
won't "out" her. If she's paying attention, maybe she'll
fess up. Counting Steve, that's four of us who remember
being there. So far, no one will own up to remembering how
to fox trot. Certainly not me.
That same building was also used as the sanctuary for
St. Matthews Episcopal Church before they built their own
place over on north Hubbards Lane. Wonder if it's still
there. It was kind of out by itself back then, since
Shelbyville Road was still being developed -- I think it
would be in the middle of some shopping center parking lot
if it were there now. Bill Bowden '61
Bah1500@aol.com wrote:
In a message dated 4/27/2005 9:05:40 A.M. Eastern
Daylight Time,
williamabowden@yahoo.com writes:
Speaking of sock hops and dancing, does anyone
else recall attending "cotillion" at what was, I
think, the St. Matthews Women's Club building
somewhere on Shelbyville Road? I think this was
1955-56 for me, the seventh grade, though it may have
been the year before or even the next year.
In general, I think they wanted us to learn how
to be proper young men and women in polite society, an
ambitious goal for some of us. For the boys, the main
goal was to not step on the girls' toes. Besides the
waltz, I remember being taught the jitterbug and fox
trot. Wonder how many of us could do a decent fox trot
today?
Bill Bowden '61
I remember being there too! I only remember two
things -- first, the girls on one side of the room, and
the boys on the other. Secondly, I hated my dress! I
don't remember what it looked like, but I do remember I
sure didn't like it. I guess I "had" to wear it because
it was the thing to wear!
Barbara Hampton Henderson
Bill,
I was there too!!!!
Steve Porter '61