Mariemont High School Prom in Time Magazine

Fifty-two years after the original event, a picture of the Mariemont High School Junior-Senior Prom at Kenwood County Club appeared on page 16 of the May 17th, 2010 issue of Time magazine. What was so special about this prom is that it was the first really extended hour prom in the United States and lasted almost 32 hours. At the time Life magazine took pictures and they appear in their June 9th, 1958 issue. Easily identifiable in the original picture are Don Hughes with Joyce Robinson (now Getz) and Jim Rockaway. Perhaps some of you can identify others.

Essentially the evening started with a spaghetti to strawberry cake progressive dinner including informal games before the “formal but highly energetic dance”. Following that, students embarked on a river boat for an all night cruise with dancing to a jazz combo. Some students weren’t allowed to attend that part since they were required to keep to their normal midnight curfew. Some of those students were happy with the continued restriction since they felt they were more awake to enjoy the following day. Breakfast in the morning was back at the school followed by a short rest period. Then it was on to Coney Island for a day of rides, “snoozing in the sun” and other entertainment. Nightfall saw probably half the group enjoying yet another dance at Coney’s Moonlight Gardens. The rest had gone home to bed.

It is interesting that this was the first Prom for Terrace Park students at Mariemont High School. The Terrace Park High School’s last year was 1957.

1957 High School Prom