IDEAS . . . that really work . . .

by Greg Meyer

Bobby socks, saddle shoes, calf-length skirts and sweaters are the current vogue at the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District—at least in its Rock 'n Roll Dance classes.

Each week 40 couples have danced and rocked to the music of the 50's, 60's and 70's in a special class which grew out of an idea by a resident.

In the day and age of American Grafetti and nostalgia, the sweet sixteen parties, sock hops, record hops, saddle shoes, and the local soda fountain gatherings revived memories of that age. It is evident in the dances and the special types of music popular today. Even many of the local night spots now feature entertainment by musical groups which include songs from the 50's and 60's.

This couple is demonstrating the techniques used for the 1950 Blue Morgue style of the jitterbug at the Homewood Flossmoor Pork District Greaser Ball.

The program evolved as two 10 week classes—one for adults and the second for teens. Facilities for the class were arranged at a local school. Arrangements were worked out with a local record shop for the use of a stereo and a number of records plus assistance with the promotion of the class.

The class stressed feeling for the music and doing your own thing. The class began with the dances of the 50's and then moved into the 60's and finally the 70's. The participants were shown evolution of the period, the differences of the music and the influence of the time.

Dances ranged from the jitterbug (the Blue Morgue style), the twist, jerk, bugaloo, boggie, stroll, cha cha and the self-expression dances of the 70's.

Dancing is strictly for fun. The instructors love to dance, and feel that dancing can keep you very young, physically fit and comfortable in social situations. The class afforded opportunities for all levels—some of them who just wanted to dance and brush up on some of their steps.

No rock 'n roll class would be complete without a Greaser Ball. The evening gave the air of a sock hop at the local high school about 20 years ago. They came with leather jackets, white socks, saddle shoes and lettermen sweaters.

Special attractions were the Lettermen, Elvis Presley, Dion and the Belmonts and other famous recording artists of those periods.

For a short period of time they revived those memories, as they tried once again those dances as they "rocked, rocked, rocked around the clock."

For more information on this program contact Greg Meyer, Supt. of Rec., Homewood-Flossmoor Park District, 18350 Har-wood, Homewood, Ill.

by Frank Duzs

The first outdoor artificial ice rink in northwestern Illinois went into operation in January of 1974, but due to a series of mechanical problems the facility received limited use in its first season of operation.

This year, however, the Sterling Park District facility has received tremendous usage by the general public. The 85' x 85' rink was purchased in February of 1973 from the Eastside Commercial Club of St. Paul, Minnesota for an unbelievable sum of $6,000.00. Another $1,500.00 was set aside to dismantle the rink and transport it to Sterling. The rink components include a 50 ton package chiller, headers and rink pipe, Brine tank, cooling tower and pumps which have been valued upwards of $120,000.00.

A 20' x 60' corner of a maintenance building connected to the rink site was designed to house a rink lobby, manager's office including skate rentals, rest rooms, and mechanical room to accommodate the ice chiller.

Along with recreational skating the facility is being programmed to accommodate skating lessons and hockey clinics. The rink is lighted for evening use and music is piped to the rink for the patrons' enjoyment.

Until this time the Sterling Park District, like many other districts, have always had to rely upon the weather to produce natural skating surfaces. The success of this venture will lead to the rink's expansion as well as the possibility of enclosing the entire surface. The funds for this purchase were donated by interested citizens of the community thereby making it a total Sterling effort.

Illinois Parks and Recreation July/August, 1975