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Prom History

Prom History. The beginnings. Beginning from the co-ed banquets in the 19 th century, the word ‘prom’ comes from “promenade”, which is the act of showing guests formally at a party. The prom was a middle-class replication of the upper-class’s debutante balls.

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Prom History

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  1. Prom History

  2. The beginnings • Beginning from the co-ed banquets in the 19th century, the word ‘prom’ comes from “promenade”, which is the act of showing guests formally at a party. • The prom was a middle-class replication of the upper-class’s debutante balls. • In textbooks, the prom is said to have started becoming a tradition in the 30s and 40s, but some historians believe it actually started as early as the late 1800s. • Cotillion was the first major formal event for most young adults at the time.

  3. Early 1900s • When high school proms began in the early 1900s, they were relatively simple affairs. • 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.

  4. 1950s prom • During the post-World War II, in 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. • It was during this era that attending the prom with the “right date” began to take on special significance.  • 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.

  5. The ‘70s & ‘80s • The high school prom began to take on an almost iconic status as a rite of passage from high school into adulthood. • 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. • This indicated that prom had become an important life event for young adults.

  6. Slight changes over the years • Nowadays, teens no longer wear their Sunday best attire to the prom. Teens usually opt out for elegant and elaborate dresses and suits or tuxedo. • 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. • 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.

  7. What hasn’t changed • 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.

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