Gary:”Wow another great year. My back brace is gone, I turned 17 on May 27th and was heavily involved with running the Dances.
One thing I wish to mention, which applies to the previous posts, 1954/55/56, was a teenager’s appearance. We did not have a lot of money, but I had a part time job and clothes were important (this would stay with me my entire life, while in Sales in the 70′s I owned 32 Suits, 70 Shirts, 40 Ties with matching Puffs, 22 pairs of shoes, various colours). I did not look like Elvis, so I did what ever I could to look good.
One thing that I have not mentioned is Hair. I have always had lots of it (including today), I spent a lot of time combing and styling and of course I had to use some Vitalis with V-7 or else some Brylcreem.
I knew, because my mother told me, that sometimes I used too much stuff in my hair, so I guess that’s where the term “Grease” came from. It was on my pillow at night.
No, we did not all wear Jeans with rolled up cuffs and cigarette packages rolled in the sleeves of our Tee Shirts; that’s for TV. That style existed, but not to the extent that it is portrayed today.
My life was changing. For the first time since late 1956, I had a “Steady” girlfriend and would be with her until late 1958.
Judy Muir and Gary Copeland
I guess looking back “Judy Muir” was my first love, whether she sees it that way, well who knows.
The other great thing in 1957, was Dick Clark’s “American Bandstand” went National. We watched the program on a Buffalo Station WKBW and Judy and I would go to her house or mine, after school and practice dancing. We got very good and won quite a few dance contests.
Now Judy was the “Older Woman”, I think she was 10 months older, but it meant she was one year ahead of me and would graduate earlier and that would be what eventually ended our relationship.
I still took the bus and walked. I still had my job at the Post Office.
My first flight in a commercial airliner (TCA: Trans Canada Airlines) took place in 1957, Toronto to New York City, where I was in the audience for the Ed Sullivan Show (Buddy Knox was on the show) and I also got to see my first Broadway musical, Lil’ Abner.
What does a 17 year old teenager remember about 1957.
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Ford introduced the “Edsel”
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The first Test of the Atlas Missile explodes at Cape Canaveral (It was televised)
Vanguard Missile Explosion
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The Soviet’s put “Sputnik” into orbit. It was fascinating and scary.
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The Russian’s put a Dog into orbit.
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The first Cancer scare vs. smoking was announced. I still smoked back then; it was cool, but I have not smoked for Forty Years
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American Bandstand is on the air in August, first song played “That’ll Be The Day” by Buddy Holly and the Crickets. (that’s all of this useless information I have in my head)
Dick Clark
American Bandstand Dancers
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“The Adventurers of Ozzie and Harriet” TV Show would put a 17 year old “Ricky Nelson” up front singing “A Teenagers Romance” and “I’m Walkin”. The show would skyrocket and he would quickly become a Teen Idol (One of my Favourites).
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Little Richard, in reaction to Sputnik would announce he is going back to the church and giving up show business.
He would throw Thousands of Dollars worth of rings and Jewellery into the water, in Australia. He would go back and forth a few times between show business and the church. -
Frankie Lymon leaves the Teenagers.
Frankie Lymon
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One song by two different artists would both reach #1 for the first time in History. The Song: “Young Love” – Sonny James sang the best version; Tab Hunter sucked.
Marty Robbins
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Tab Hunter
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In January Elvis would make his last appearance on Ed Sullivan, singing 7 songs. We would not see him on TV for three more years.
Sports:
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Milwaukee Braves win the World Series, beating the NY Yankees.
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Detroit Lions beat the Cleveland Browns 54-14
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Montreal Canadiens win the Stanley Cup, beating the Boston Bruins
Movies:
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Best Actor: Alec Guiness / The Bridge on the River Kwai
Alec Guinnes
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Best Actress: Joanne Woodward / The Three Faces of Eve
Joanne Woodward
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Best Film: The Bridge on the River Kwai
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Of Course as a Teenager we went to see
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Best Rock and Roll Movie
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12 Angry Men ( One of My Favourite’s) /
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Sweet Smell of Success /
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Old Yeller /
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Witness for the Prosecution /
New on TV in 57:
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Have Gun Will Travel /
Richard Boone: Have Gun Will Travel
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Make Room for Daddy
Danny Thomas as “Daddy”
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The Restless Gun
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Tales of Wells Fargo
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Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
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Leave it to Beaver /
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Perry Mason /
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Some of The Fantastic Cars of 1957:
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Corvette
57 Chev Corvette
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Oldsmobile Rocket 88
57 Olds Rocket 88
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Cadillac Eldorado Brougham was $13,074 in 57
57 Cadillac Eldorado
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Ford Fairlane
57 Ford Fairlane
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Ford Thunderbird (last year for the two seater, sad)
57 Ford Thunderbird
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Lincoln Continental Mark II, it’s last year
57 Lincoln Continental
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Edsel (it would only last 3 years)
57 Edsel
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Plymouth Fury
57 Plymouth Fury
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Desoto Adventurer
57 Desoto Adventurer
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Studebaker Golden Hawk (supercharged)
57 Studebaker Golden Hawk
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Some of the new Artists of 1957:
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The Everly Brothers
Dick Clark and The Every Brothers
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other new artists of 1957:
there were so many songs, These I enjoyed the most.
Sonny James
Tab Hunter
Little Richard & The Upsetters
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