14
The High River band at the CPR station, High RiverCirca 1915
High River, Alberta, Canada
Credits:Museum of the Highwood Archives, 980-088-021
15
Seven girls and a boy dance to gramophone musicCirca 1925
Highwood Area, Alberta, Canada
Credits:Museum of the Highwood Archives 999-037-795
16
Graphaphone and cylindersCirca 1900
Alberta, Canada
Credits:Museum of the Highwood
17
Open Air Dance PavilionIn 1933, the McDonald Brothers (proprietors of the Palm Cafe) came up with a fail-proof business idea. The men built an open air dance pavillion with a large wooden platform along the banks of the Highwood River. Open air dancing was becoming quite popular and they felt that this centre would fulfill the desire of young people to dance out of doors.
The grand opening was held on June 15th. Music was provided by the Len Davis orchestra, and jitney dancing was the order of the evening. Following the opening, the brothers planned on holding an open air dance every Wednesday and Saturday evening thoughout the summer.
The open air dance pavilion is not often mentioned in the history books and today it is no longer in High River. Perhaps it was taken down as its popularity faded. Or, perhaps it was discovered that building a wooden dance floor next to a river that floods every few years was not such a good idea.
18
Barn DancesThe construction of barns were often a community affair. Families would gather together to help their neighbours in whatever way they could. After the project was complete, the owner of the new barn would thank his helpers by holding a dance. A band would be called in and people would bring baskets of food.
In 1925, the High River Times reports a barn dance held by C.N. Cowling. Over 200 people attended. There was no cost to attend but a collection was taken up to defray the expenses of the music - which was provided by the Hammond orchestra. The party didn't break up until three in the morning and "it was said to be the finest time held in the Tongue Creek district in many years."
19
Barn under construction at Kensington farmCirca 1922
Highwood Area, Alberta, Canada
Credits:Museum of the Highwood, 983-034-053
20
"Barn Dance", by Wilf Carter. Bluebird Records.1930's
Alberta, Canada
Credits:Museum of the Highwood
21
People square dancing at a barn danceCirca 1955
Highwood Area, Alberta, Canada
Credits:Museum of the Highwood Archives, 989-037-064
22
Dances of All KindsDances marked important occasions but they were often just a good excuse for people to get together and enjoy some music. In the 1920s Cayley held an Old Time Dance and Box Social. The advertisement asked ladies to bring "lunch baskets" which were auctioned at midnight but it also stated that "undesirable characters will not be admitted". In High River in the 1930s an Overalls - Housedress Dance (with penalties for overdressing) was a popular theme. A Novelty Lawn Dance in 1934 featured a 20-piece dance band and was held on the lawn of High River's CPR gardens. There were also Grand Masquerade Dances. One such dance held in the High River Town Hall in 1922 advertised the price of admission at two dollars a couple, 50 cents for an extra lady and 50 cents for spectators.
23
Oh, How We Danced!1925-1935
Cayley, Alberta, Canada
Oh, How We Danced!
"Novelty Dance Popular - The dance floor of the I.O.O.F. hall was uncomfortably crowded on Wednesday night when over one hundred persons assembled to dance in hard-time costumes to the music of the Hammond orchestra. Prizes were offered for the most conspicuous outfits, and from the appearance of the dancers all the relegated-to-the-rubbish clothing was dug up and donned for the occasion. The result was a novelty dance which was much pleasure to all and lasted intil 2:30 o'clock in the morning."
- High River Times, April 1925
"It was Christmas night. It was bitterly cold, and this was the night of the big dance in Cayley sponsored by the Cayley Boys' Band.
When we arrived about nine o'clock there were only a few couples there. For the next hour, only men came and it looked as if the dance might be a failure. Then they began to come. In a short time the hall was full of cold young people. At last the orchestra started.
There was a scramble for girls and away we went. Every dance caused a race for girls. Due to their scarcity they became articles of value. About midnight we had lunch, which gave a short respite from dancing. After lunch, away we went again. There were quadrilles, fox trots, two-steps and waltzes. It was a giddy whirl.
One of the main features of the evening was the presentation of a gift to bandmaster George Wickens, made by Mr. LePard on behalf of the Boys' Band. When the dance ended about three o'clock, everyone agreed they had just got nicely started."
- High River Times, January 1935
Credits:
The Best Of Times, Vol 3, Published by Century Books, High River
24
Benefit Dance, Blackie17 March 1944
Blackie, Alberta, Canada
Credits:Museum of the Highwood Archives
25
Student dance at the Town HallCirca 1940s
High River, Alberta, Canada
Credits:Museum of the Highwood 007-024-009
26
Dancing at the Okotoks Elks HallCirca 1960
Okotoks, Alberta, Canada
Credits:Museum of the Highwood, 989-031-475
27
Archie HoggCirca 1955
Highwood Area, Alberta, Canada
Credits:Museum of the Highwood, 999-037-800
 |
 |
 |
 |