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A Short History of Proms in the United States
The Webster’s New World College Dictionary defines the word Prom
as “a ball or dance, as of a particular class at a school or college.” It is an abbreviated form of the French word promenade, which is a walking review of the guests at the beginning of a formal dance or ball. Many towns in England have a promenade or walk where in the past it was customary, on Sundays, to stroll in one’s Sunday’s best.
The first proms were reported to have been staged in the late 1800’s in the Ivy League colleges and universities in the northeastern United States. They were most likely modeled after the formal cotillions and debutante balls held by America’s rich and famous for their children. One of the first reported references to a prom was found in an 1894 journal entry of a student from Amherst College in Massachusetts where he reported on his invitation to and attendance at a “prom” at nearby Smith College.
Proms during this time were most likely, in all reality, chaperoned senior-class balls held at the end of each school year and restricted to the members of the senior class. One of the goals of these affairs was to help develop social skills and etiquette in the students.
The balls or proms were really quite plain. Students would wear their church clothes; very few, if any, would purchase special clothes for the evening’s festivities.
As the economy of the United States began to improve after the depression years, students began to have access to automobiles and enjoyed the freedom they brought to partygoers. While the early proms of the 1920’s often featured a social tea and dancing, the proms of the 1930’s and 1940’s more resembled an annual senior class banquet where the participants dressed in party clothes and danced. This is the time period that proms first make an appearance in high school yearbooks.
During the post-World War II economic boom of the late 1940’s and 1950’s, the prom began to be increasingly recognized as one of the most important school social events of the year, easily pushing past more traditional homecoming and seasonal holiday dances and events. The increased social status of the prom as an event also translated to instant school social status for those named, usually by an election of their peers, to the prom royal court as the prom king, queen, prince or princess. It was during this era that attending the prom with the “right date” began to take on special significance. Additionally, female students began giving more thought and attention to clothing for the prom, often shopping for a special dress just for the event.
The location of the proms also began to change during the post-war boom years. In previous decades, proms and school dances were held in the school gym or cafeteria. As the 1950’s came to a close, a shift was seen from school venues to more sophisticated locations such as hotel ballrooms, country clubs, commercial banquet halls and local convention and civic centers. Correspondingly, proms evolved into evermore expensive, themed events with numerous national companies focusing on developing and providing elaborate theme packages and party goods exclusively for high school proms.
In the 1970’s and 1980’s, the high school prom began to take on an almost iconic status as a rite of passage from high school into adulthood -- a life event for high school students. As the first formal event in their lives, the prom became the ultimate coming-of-age party for high school juniors and seniors.
Many popular films marketed to teenaged audiences over the past three decades either focused on the prom or included the prom as an important part of the storyline, indicating just how important a life event this has become for young adults. This annual ritual is a high point of films such as “Pretty In Pink,” “Just One of the Guys,” “Night Before,” “Never Been Kissed,” “Not Another Teen Movie,” “Whatever It Takes,” “Ten Things I Hate About You” and many more. The horror film genre was also well represented with films like “Carrie,” “Prom Night;” “Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night 2” “Prom Night 3: The Last Kiss;” and “Prom Night 4: Deliver Us from Evil.”
Proms have continued to evolve over the years. The prom now usually features a sit-down dinner and dance. Many proms also will include pre-prom activities such as a grand march and a post-prom party usually sponsored by the PTA and/or a local chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).
The proms of today have become much more elaborate and expensive productions. Off-campus locations have become the norm, with schools in coastal cities even booking cruise ships as prom locations. The ultimate venue for holding a prom to date, however, still has to be when President Gerald Ford’s daughter Susan’s senior prom was held in the White House in 1975.
Gone are the days when students wore their Sunday suits and dresses to their proms. According to research done by the University of North Dakota at Fargo’s Department of Home Economics, the typical prom couple spends an average of more than $500 on prom. Costs include buying or renting formal clothing, grooming, flowers, prom tickets, photographs and limousine rentals.
Other things have changed as well. While traditional etiquette calls for the boy to ask the girl to the prom, girls have become more assertive and some will ask a boy to be their prom date. Non-traditional couples are also becoming more commonplace at proms.
Some things, however, remain the same. Many high school students feel that prom is the most romantic night of their lives. Competition to be chosen as a member of a prom royal court is always intense. Proms and after prom events continue to be chaperoned by teachers and parents and sometimes include outside security personnel for the prevention of violence and drug or alcohol abuse.
And what about colleges and universities where the prom tradition began? Surprisingly there are still quite a number of institutions of higher education that quietly hold a prom every year.
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