Teenage kicks in the 1950s
WE ALL know that after the last war, the world changed, and the people most affected by the many changes were teenagers who were now demanding more freedom to do the things they wanted to and not what their parents wanted them to do.
The biggest changes on the social scene occurred in the 1950s with the arrival of rock ‘n’ roll, and youngsters wanted to go out dancing most nights of the week.
Until then, most youngsters had gone to youth clubs, mainly run by the churches, but eventually these groups closed down because of lack of numbers. In the years that followed, the churches themselves started to close down because they no longer had the support of younger members, and attendances diminished.
The pictures on this page show young people enjoying themselves in the 1950s just before the youth clubs started closing down.
These youngsters above were too young to go rock’n’ rolling, but they still took their dancing seriously and went regularly to dancing classes. Here they are pictured at an old time dancing competition in Dewsbury Town Hall. Those pictured are members of the Victorians Dance Club and the Central School of Old Time Dancing, and the occasion is their annual dance. Over 450 dancers took part and Donald and Cynthia Greenwood, the club principals, were MCs.
Young people in Dewsbury in the 1950s pictured singing and dancing to the American square Wild Goose Chase at Highfield Congregational Church school room.
Handicraft and Monopoly at the church youth group
PETER Dransfield, aged 17, was the leader of St Peter’s Youth Group in Earlsheaton, in 1956, and one of the rules of the club was that every member had to attend evensong on Sunday before he or she could attend.
Another rule was that they had to go at least once a month to visit patients in Mitchell Laithes Hospital. The group enjoyed various activities at their weekly meetings, including handicraft classes which involved making goods to be sold at the church annual bazaar. They also played table tennis, draughts and also played records. Members were also expected to help the church run socials, dances and jumble sales.
Members of St Peter’s Church Youth Group, Earlsheaton, have a game of Monopoly at one of their club meetings.