Most will agree that the 60's and
70's were an interesting period of
American history , as the Baby
Boomers tested the limits of con-
ventional values , and technology
and politics were changing at an
alarming rate . The generation that
experienced Vietnam , Woodstock ,
and the Civil Rights Movement ,
dealt with change on a daily basis.
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What some deemed rebellion , others
considered enlightenment . When
music seemed as noise to some , the
Boomers considered it as a breath of
fresh air . As the schools in the South
opened to the idea of integration , the
institutions we were all familiar with
seemed to change before our eyes .
So much was changing about our
world , and to the child of the 60's , it
was an amazing time.
Through it all , Andalusia's traditions were
as normal as ever . Homecoming parades
and dances , the Big "R", the Shamrock
Drive-In , Sub -Deb invitations , and working
for the city's Playground program all
summer were standard. On Friday nights,
the games would end in the Victory March,
where the band would lead the youth in a
giant procession around the football field
with the best Bulldog of all , "Tripod",
always under foot .
Our music , we bought from Don's Record
Shop , and through the evolution of Rock
and Roll , we began to identify with the
music styles that continue until this day .
The boys began to grow their hair a little
longer , and the girls wore their skirts a
little shorter . Flared legs became
standard and to some , became extreme.
We witnessed wider lapels, ties and belts,
at the same time that fashion models
became thinner.
While America argued the merits
of the Vietnam War , Andalusia
instilled in each of us, a sense of
Patriotism and civic responsibility.
While our piano teachers taught
us to love Bach and Chopin , we
secretly learned to play like Elton
John and Billy Joel. On Saturday
mornings , we watched The
Archies, Josie and the Pussycats
or The Monkees . On different
nights , we caught the next
Batman or Jeannie episode or
split our sides with Laugh-In ,
Carol Burnett and Saturday Night
Live .
The TV shows , ranged from
The Waltons to Love, American
Style , and the Hollywood
movies began to have more
impact than ever before . Never
before had a child had so many
outside influences , with so
many messages, colorful and
electric images danced in our
minds , and the music of the
generation surrounded us in
advertisements , movies and
the radio . In the midst of the
most color filled generation ,
the biggest event of all , the
Moonwalk , was brought to us
in stunning black and white !
