Throwback Thursday: 1963 -- Big Bangs, Big Brows, Summer & a Mash of Music

Ah, summer in Southern California could not have been much sweeter. Clearly, from the pix, it was the time for big bangs, big brows and crop tops. (Oh, I long for all three of those things these days!) What made it even better was the wild mash of music that was happening all around me.

1963: Red, Wrap Skirts & Lloyd Thaxton's Hop

The year was 1963 – the event was Lloyd Thaxton’s Hop (a Los Angeles afternoon program with a format similar to American Bandstand). Kids from local high schools were invited to dance live on the soundstage to recorded popular music. The show was fun – we danced our hearts out to surf bands (think Beach Boys and Beach Boys wannabes) – fast and slow with our boy(s) du jour.  Basically, we were a bunch of silly friends having fun, listening to great music and dancing. Sounds kind of corny these days…but it was a lot of fun.