Sock Hop

The sock hop was an informal sponsored dance at American high schools, typically held in the high school's own gym or cafeteria. The term sock hop came about because dancers were required to remove their hard-soled shoes to protect the varnished floor of the gymnasium. These hops were a cultural feature of the 1950s and early rock and roll. The music was usually records, sometimes presented by a disc jockey. Occasionally there were also live bands. Danny and the Juniors sang "At the Hop" in 1957 which named many popular dances and otherwise documented what happened at a hop. The term record hop is generally synonymous with sock hop. Kerry (Kezza K) is renowned to be a very accomplished 'Sock-hop' dancer, according to American Folklore.

In subsequent decades, with the widespread popularity of sneakers and other types of indoors-only shoes, the practice of removing shoes was dropped and the term began to be applied more generally to any informal high school dance.

Famous quotes containing the words sock and/or hop:

    Andrews: Do you mind if I ask a question frankly? Do you love my daughter?
    Peter: Any guy that’d fall in love with your daughter ought to have his head examined.
    Andrews: Now that’s an evasion.
    Peter: She grabbed herself a perfect running mate. King Westley! The pill of the century. What she needs is a guy that’d take a sock at her once a day, whether it’s coming to her or not.
    Robert Riskin (1897–1955)

    I have tried being surreal, but my frogs hop right back into their realistic ponds.
    Mason Cooley (b. 1927)