Jitterbug Nights at the Rec

Cut a circle out of felt. Cut the circle large enough so it falls to your mid-calf or ankle. Cut a hole in the middle and attach a narrow waist band. Applique a poodle cut from felt in a contrasting color. Pink poodle on black felt was very “groovy.” Wear it with an extra wide, black, patent- leather cinch belt and a blouse with the collar turned up, “natch.” Black suede flat loafers to finish it off. Everyone wore black suede shoes for dress. And don’t forget penny loafers in brown or black with a brand-new shiny penny slipped into the special slot on the top of the shoe. (Or, remember the zinc silver-colored pennies issued during the war?) We wore long oversized sweaters over our jeans, which were, of course, always rolled neatly up to the knee. I made all my own skirts, but used my babysitting money for the blouses. I babysat for a dollar fifty a night! We loved to dance at the “Rec” center at Moline High, and Frank Sinatra, “The Voice”, who was quite the “rage” made us all swoon. The Jitterbug was our favorite, Wow! Could we ever Jitterbug. The same dance that’s made a comeback all across the country, now. Dancing was definitely my passion. Everyone cut their own hair in those days because we kept our hair long. I can’t remember anyone with short hair. We mostly set it in pin curls with bobby pins. We also rolled our long hair around a “rat” so it looked like much longer hair rolled up. The rat was a switch of some kind of mesh that came in different sizes and lengths. The hair could be rolled over and around it staring in the front at the forehead and temples then gracefully continued all the way to the back of the neck. This was “the look” of the Forties. The rat could also be used to roll an elaborate bun at the back of the head with all of your natural hair pulled straight back tightly. It was considered “really neat.”