Sock Hop

Sock Hop

"Sock Hop" or "soc hop" (rarely) is a term coined in the 1950s in the United States, following the growth in popularity of rock and roll, to refer to informal sponsored dances at American high schools, typically held on the grounds of the high school itself in the gymnasium or cafeteria. Music was often recorded, sometimes live.

Initially the term referred to the practice of removing one's shoes in order to dance in stocking feet, typically to spare the floor from the scuff marks of dress shoes.

In "Ready Teddy" (1956), Little Richard sings:

:All the flattop cats and the dungaree dolls:Are headed to the gym for the sock hop ball

In the 1973 classic motion picture American Graffiti which is set in 1962 two kids named Steve and Laurie attend a high school freshmen sock hop dance. In one scene all the teens are dancing to "The Stroll" where a close up of their feet shows them dancing in white or black socks without any shoes.

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

Record Hop refers to a hop at which disc jockeys played records. The number-one song of 1958 "At the Hop" by Danny and the Juniors, describes the scene. Sock hops were often record hops and vice versa.


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  • sock hop — n. Informal an informal dance where participants dance in their socks, popular esp. in the 1950s among high school students * * * …   Universalium

  • sock hop — n. Informal an informal dance where participants dance in their socks, popular esp. in the 1950s among high school students …   English World dictionary

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  • sock hop — noun In the 1950s, informal sponsored dance at American high schools, typically held on the grounds of the high school itself in the gymnasium or cafeteria …   Wiktionary

  • sock hop — n. dated a dance for young teenagers at which they may dance in stocking feet …   Useful english dictionary

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  • Sock 'n' Buskin Theatre Company — Sock ‘N’ Buskin (abbreviated to S ‘n’ B) is a student run, community based theatre company, located at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada. HistorySock ‘N’ Buskin was formed in 1943, one year after the formation of Carleton University itself. The …   Wikipedia

  • Sock It 2 Me — Infobox Single | Name = Sock It 2 Me| Artist = Missy Elliott featuring Da Brat B side = Pass Da Blunt Release The Tension from Album = Supa Dupa Fly Released = October 21, 1997 Recorded = 1997 Format = CD Single Genre = Hip hop/R B Length = 4:21… …   Wikipedia

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