Hops (Formal Dances)
FROM THE 1947 EDITION OF BUGLE
NOTES:
"Each Saturday evening and on the eve of certain holidays throughout the academic
year hops, according to a schedule drawn up by the hop committee, are held either in the
ballroom of Cullum Memorial Hall or in the South Gym. Hops begin at nine and except on special
occasions are stopped at midnight. Each hop is a card hop but "cutting in" on young ladies with
whom one is acquainted is permitted on encores with the exception of the first,fourth, eighth and
twelfth hops [dances]. There are twelve hops [dances] in an evening.
The hop committees are composed of hop managers elected from each class.Upon these
committees devolve the responsibilities of arrangements and conduct of the hops."
Those reading this page must understand that back in 1947 and before and forsome time
after, there was no Ike Hall for socializing, etc. Plebes were not permitted to attend hops except
during the Christmas and Spring Leave periods when they were the only class at the Academy. All
hops were formal affairs with the cadets in Full Dress uniforms, or All White depending on the season,
and the young ladies in formal floor length gowns. The hops were also "chaperoned" in that the hop
manager responsible for the hop would invite his TAC or another member of the Staff and Faculty to
attend, with their wife of course. In the quotation above, the third sentence starts"Each hop is a card
hop…". In those days, the young ladies were given a hop card (dance card) which had blank spaces
on it for the twelve dances and a cadet could request a dance with her and if she agreed, she would
write his name on her hop card thereby reserving that dance for him. One lady responded "I'm sure
they no longer use "hop cards" They were a really nice idea--gave you a chance to meet new
people--and if the drag was really "D", you weren't stuck all evening."
MORE HOP MEMORABILIA
Another grad replied:
Back when my father was a cadet (1918-1922) it was custom for virtually every cadet to go to
the HOP on Saturday night, especially including those who had no date. Ballroom dancing was a
required skill in those days and classes were given at Cullum Hall on Wednesday afternoons
with local girls in attendance.
Some of the cadets had to be forced to attend the Saturday night Hops, but not my father.
A dateless cadet who "preyed" on his friends dates as well as others was often referred to as a
LIZARD. My father became so well known for this practice that he carried the nickname LIZ throughout his 31 year military career and for the rest of his life thereafter.
As to tradition, it was the custom at Saturday dances for the girls in attendance to be
"rushed" to assure that they had a good experience. It was customary for Hop Managers to make
sure that the less attractive the girl,the longer the line of bachelors (lizards) that attended upon
was a delightful custom, insured that girls had a great time, and it is too bad this custom went away.
A 1998 grad provided the following current information regarding formalhops:
As of last year, the formal hops on Saturday night are no more. I have no idea when they
stopped, but they don't happen anymore. The cadets do have hops for the following occasions:
4th Class year: 1 formal hop during Plebe-Parent Weekend
1 formal hop during the year to learn about
the receiving line, etc.
3rd Class year: 1 formal at the end of Camp Buckner
1 formal during Yearling Winter
Weekend
2nd Class Year: 1 formal during 500th Night weekend
1st Class Year: 1 formal during Ring Weekend
1 formal during 100th Night weekend
1 formal during Grad Week Cadets can still go to Ike Hall on Saturday nights, but the
dances are not formal. The cadet radio station DJ's the dances, and the attendeesof these
dances are mostly plebes. You don't see many upperclassmen down atIke on the weekends.
What Can Be Done To Improve The Hops
from the 7 October 1949 issue of the Pointer
After dancing with my fiancé all evening, I'm usually pretty hungry, but
there is nowhere on the post to go for a snack. I don't advocate opening
Washington Hall, but it would be nice if the "Boodlers" could be opened for
an hour or so after the hop. It would also be nice if at Cullum the
refreshments were not served in the reception hall. With two hundred people
crowding around the refreshment table, it is very difficult to move around.
---------
I don't mind one light, it is those 339 other ones that bother me. I think
the new practice of using just a spot light for certain hops enhances the
evening considerably. The television set doesn't add much to the dances as
it is pretty tough for a girl to compete with a video set for her date's
attention.
---------
I would like more informal hops, although I will admit the buttons on the
full dress coat make quite an impression (or should I say indentation) on
me. I would also like t see the reception room at Cullum made more like a
living room. As for the stags, it shouldn't happen to a tac. The
television set? I don't know as I haven't seen it yet. I'm nearsighted.
CADETIQUETTE
"There are twelve hard fast rules in the Bugle Notes that if
the cadets follow them, they will get through most any
situation," said Carolyn Gaspard, West Point's Cadet Hostess. We
spoke in her office on the first floor of Cullum Hall, with the
sounds of Ballroom Dancing drifting down from upstairs.
Displayed on the tables and floors were the current programs for
upcoming 100th Night; sample wine bottles, which need to be
ordered from a local winery for the Graduation Banquet, and boxes
of glasses for the renovations of the Black, Gold and Gray room
of the Mess Hall. The office is a busy place and as we were
talking a cadet or two came by to ask "Mrs. G" a question. One in
particular inquired about Broadway theatre coupons, which she
keeps in a big black notebook.
The Cadet Hostess position was established in 1931 on the balcony
of Grant Hall. In general, the hostesses address the social
development and etiquette of the cadets. Harriet Rogers was the
first hostess, followed by her assistant Marcia Lysted in 1941.
Doris Barth, for whom Barth Hall at Buckner is named, served from
1947-57, followed by Beatrice Holland (1957-68), Patricia Byers
(68-74), and Barbara Brown (74-84). Mrs. Gaspard has held the
position since 1984 and has an assistant, Kathy Kiersey. The
office itself has moved several times over the years, from Grant
to Taylor to Cullum to Ike Hall and back to its current location
in Cullum (remodeled in '89).
Though much has changed over the years, many facets of the job
have stayed the same. The hostesses no longer act as the
matchmakers they once did, when buses with local college girls
would pull through the gates every weekend and cadets would be
paired with blind dates. LTC (R) Clayton S. Gates ('56), whose
mother was an assistant hostess to Doris Barth, recalls how his
mother "transformed (the blind date) from an art to a science
with her large status board where she paired dates by height,
backgrounds and interests. By the time the girls arrived each
weekend, each pin on the board had been hung with circular tabs
bearing the names of the pair."
One practice that has continued is the etiquette classes. They
begin in Beast Barracks when Mrs. Gaspard teaches "the basics,"
to include how to behave at a Sponsor's house, telephone
etiquette, and how to write a thank-you note. Other classes
include how to eat a formal dinner, how to give introductions and
how to propose a toast. Usually Mrs. Gaspard teaches the classes
a company at a time, at the request of the company commander. She
spends a lot of time just talking to cadets about what will be
expected of them once they are 2nd LTs. For many she is a
friendly source who can dispel the mysteries of protocol on a
variety of subjects, whether its about how to get engaged or how
to get to the city. She helps the cadets make lodging
arrangements, plan trips, and locate transportation information.
She has even taught basic cooking classes.
Recently, Mrs. Gaspard worked with the cadets in charge of
Yearling Winter Weekend. She helped them choose the gift for
General Schwarzkopf, prepare the introduction, practice the
receiving line, and prepare the cadet escorts. In these duties,
she says she "is more of a consultant. I give them an outline and
walk them through it." Currently, she is preparing for 100th
night, checking guest lists and helping the First Class cadets.
These formals are all "training exercises for the cadets." Each
company also has two "Dining-ins" a year, in the "Black, Gold and
Gray" room of the Mess Hall, where they acquire further skills in
formal dining.
With the constant "changing of the guard" at the Academy, the
Cadet Hostess provides a continuity of institutional knowledge.
She is a source of how it's been done in the past, how it should
be done, and she passes this valuable information on to the new
cadets and officers who continuously cross her path. This coming
April, Mrs. Gaspard will have spent 15 years in her position, but
has a 42 year association with the Academy, as her deceased
husband was a graduate of 1957. One thing that will never change
is the wisdom in two of her favorite sayings: "To be a truly
outstanding officer one must be well rounded" and "Good social
manners go hand in hand with military training."
From Ann Bray - Gray Matter
Source: 18 Feb 1999 Issue of Gray-Matter; Ann Bray; Association of
Graduates
The following are the twelve basic rules as they appear in the 1997 Bugle
Notes (they have not changed since they were first printed in the Notes in
the early 90s):
CADETIQUETTE
Basic
1. Introductions: Man to woman, junior to senior, young to old.
2. Opening Doors: Man for woman, junior for senior, young for old.
3. Offering Your Arm: Men offer only when assistance is required or on
formal occasions. Women in uniform never take a man's proffered arm.
4. Invitations: RSVP- You must respond within 48 hours whether you are going
to attend or not.
5. Thank You Notes: Must be mailed within 48 hours.
6. Keeping Quiet: Don't speak when others are speaking, especially at
lectures or briefings.
7. Telephone: If you are the caller - identify yourself; speak slowly and
clearly. When referring a call - ask, "May I tell him/her who's calling?"
8. Gum Chewing: Never in uniform. In civilian attire, do so quietly and
inconspicuously.
9. Chewing Tobacco: Never!
Dining
1. Man seats lady to his right.
2. Say blessing before touching anything on the table.
3. Place napkin in lap.
4. Use utensils from outside to inside.
5. Take small mouthfuls.
6. Talk only when mouth's empty.
7. Do not slurp, blow on hot liquids, or smack lips.
8. Use napkin to dab lips.
9. Divide attention between dinner partners.
Each cadet is issued a copy of the book Service Etiquette by
Oretha D.Swartz (Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, MD. 1977.)
DANCE LESSONS.
We took dancing lessons Plebe Summer, 1941. In fact, we were issued "hop
shoes"-shiny black patent leather, with thin soles through which we could
feel the gravel of summer camp's streets as we marched over to the gym,
where a middle-aged couple whose name I do not remember gave the lessons to
recorded music. My partner was my summer camp roommate, Chuck Sampson,
later first team tackle for Army. We made a delightful pair.
Jack Cushman, '44.
------------
Dance instruction? What dance instruction? We (1949) were never instructed
on how to dance. Maybe that's why they call hops "hops". I have never
forgotten a remark made by a young lady I took to a formal hop at Cullum.
(She later went on to win a Fullbright to Europe). She looked around at the
majesty of the room, the white gloves, the receiving line with Max Taylor
resplendent in his battle ribbons for freeing humanity from the tyrants, the
plaques identifying the heroes of our history, and as the orchestra struck
up a swing number and we started jitterbugging she said over the brass and
percussion, "Dancing here like this is like selling popcorn on Mt.
Olympus." And you know, she was right - a Strauss waltz would have been
more in keeping with the ambiance.
------------
My recollection of dance lessons is, as I wrote, nada - zilch. I have
however been corrected by my classmate, Ed Marks, who does recall dance
lessons. There are two possible reasons for my lapse:
1. A mild attack of "Old Timer's Disease", i.e., synapses not firing, or
2. Denial. I might have blocked out dancing with a fellow 6'3" plebe.
The above two remembrances came from Arnold Winter, '49
Click above to sign
our Guest Book.
Questions and
comments are invited via E-mail.
|
