Sock hop

A sock hop or sox hop, often also called a record hop[1]: 199  or just a hop, was an informal (but officially organized) dance event for teenagers in mid-20th-century North America, featuring popular music.

The term sock hop came about because dancers were required to remove their shoes to protect the varnished floor of the gymnasium.[1]: 200 

History

In 1755, Samuel Johnson defined hop as "a place where meaner people dance."[2] In America by the 1800s it came to mean "a dance where there is less display and ceremony than at regular balls",[3] and later "a social event at which people mix together and dance in an informal way."[4]

Dances in the U.S. were publicized as "sock hops" as early as 1943.[5][6] Also, in 1943-44 "sock hops" were held by the American Junior Red Cross to raise funds during World War II.[7][8] By 1944-45 some high-schoolers’ dances were being publicized specifically as “sock hops” across the U.S.[9][10][11] [12][13] A national magazine cited the fad among Oklahoma City teenagers in 1948.[14] Sock hops were commonly held at high schools and other educational institutions, often in the school gymnasium or cafeteria.

The music at a sock hop was usually played from vinyl records, sometimes presented by a disc jockey.[1]: 200  Occasionally there were live bands. In later years, "hops" became strongly associated with the 1950s and early rock and roll.[1]: 200  "At the Hop", a song by Danny & the Juniors that debuted in 1957, names many popular and novelty dances and otherwise documented what occurred at a hop.[1]: 199–200 

In subsequent decades, with the widespread popularity of sneakers and other types of indoors-only footwear, the practice of removing shoes was dropped. The term then came to be applied more generally to any informal dance for teenagers.[15]

Revival

The term caught on in England in the late 1970s during a British rockabilly revival, led by groups like The Stray Cats. "Life Begins at the Hop", a song celebrating sock hops, became the first charting single for XTC.[16]

See also

  • Sokkie - a similar idea in South Africa
  • School dance - modern incarnation of sock hops, shoes typically being mandatory for safety purposes (to avoid slipping and falling, shoe theft, etc.)
  • Prom - formal school dance in North American high schools, usually held for seniors (and sometimes juniors in a 'junior prom') at the end of the school year
  • Social dance
  • Bobby soxer

References

  1. ^ a b c d e McBride, Tom; Nief, Ron (2014). The Mindset List of the Obscure: 74 Famously Forgotten Icons from A to Z. Sourcebooks. ISBN 9781402293474.
  2. ^ Johnson, Samuel (1755). A Dictionary of the English Language. Retrieved November 1, 2025.
  3. ^ Bartlett, John Russell (1848). Dictionary of Americanisms (PDF). New York: Bartlett and Welford. p. 181. Retrieved November 1, 2025.
  4. ^ "Collins English Dictionary". Retrieved November 1, 2025.
  5. ^ "Phoenix Pledges Entertain at Novel 'Sock Hop'." The Signpost (Ogden, UT), 14 January 1943, 3.
  6. ^ "High School Graduates to Get Diplomas June 3--Dance at Armory Will Be Principal Social Feature." Evansville Courier and Press, 28 April 1943, 15.
  7. ^ "Two Schools Launch New Bond Drives." Southtown [Chicago] Economist, 24 October, 1943, 1.
  8. ^ "Juniors to Hold Important Jobs in War Fund Drive". Evening Star. Washington, DC. 1944-02-27. p. 37.
  9. ^ ”McClouid Hi School—Girls League Dance.” Siskyou Daily News (Yreka, CA), 2 April 1944, 2.
  10. ^ ”Hi-Tri’s Sock Hop Well Attended at Y.W. Last Night.” Daily Gazette and Bulletin (Williamsport, PA), 27 April 1944, 5.
  11. ^ “High School Students Raise $1100 For War.” Marion (IL) Weekly Leader, 18 May 1944, 2.
  12. ^ ”Swing and Sway—In Sock Feet.” The Marshall (TX) News Messenger, 13 December 1944, 5.
  13. ^ ”Cotillion Club Will Sponsor Dance Friday.” Hinton (WV) Daily News, 25 January 1945, 2.
  14. ^ "Teen-Agers". Life. 1948-12-20. p. 67.
  15. ^ Partridge, Eric (2006). The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English. Routledge. p. 1811. ISBN 9780415259385.
  16. ^ Bogdanov, Vladimir; Woodstra, Chris; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2001). All Music Guide: The Definitive Guide to Popular Music. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 425. ISBN 0879306270.
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