George C Marshall High School - Columbian Yearbook (Falls Church, VA)

Page 60 text:

Decibels rise to an ear-splitting level, as the crowd cheers in unison. The pulsating rhythm of stomping feet and clapping hands reverberates through the auditorium. The building throbs with energy. The enthusiasm of the largely teenaged crowd resembles the spirit shown at an important high school athletic event. But this is no game with only a few hundred spectators. This is a concert, with thousands of people in the audience. Concerts were extremely popular events with students at Marshall. News of an upcoming concert broke over local radio stations, and word circulated rapidly. When ticket sales began, students flocked to ticket counters to insure the purchase of choice seats. Some skipped school to be the first in line. With ticket prices from five to ten dollars, concerts were not cheap en- tertainment. Gasoline expenses, parking fees, the cost of taking a date, the price of refreshments for the evening, T-shirts, and programs all added up to create empty wallets. The high expense of concert-going didn't scare off many students, though; they always managed to scrounge up enough cash when their favorite groups were on tour. Several concert connoisseurs earned the distinction of attending every major appearance at local arenas. Bubblegum music, bebop, kid rock, folk, country, jazz, blues, rock and roll, hard rock, and every type of popular music was offered at concert halls. There was something for everyone. Teenyboppers and laid-back types alike shared the same enthusiasm for concerts. D.C. and its suburbs contained concert sites ranging from intimate nightclubs to auditoriums to gigantic arenas with 20,000-plus capacities. All were visited by Statesmen. Appreciation of the music ascended with the common custom of partying during concerts. Concerts served as mammoth parties with live bands. A major complaint about concerts was the seeming shortness of groups' playing times. No matter how lengthy a concert was, students didn't want it to end. Audiences would clap, stomp, whistle, and shout for more. To encourage a few encores, crowds lit matches and flashed lighters to illuminate the concert hall. Fanatic popular music lovers made a ritual of attending concerts. Whether students almost worshipped their rock idols, or just enjoyed an evening of sound, they found concerts provided enjoyable atmospheres. In bent with the music, members of the group Stepping into the music, Bruce Springsteen Top cross the stage to give movement to does a guitar solo. As usual, the hard playing their performance. was the crescendo of the song. 50 Concerts

Page 59 text:

Bulky down jackets were popular with both girls and guys on chilly days. Bccca Bass wears hers while sitting on a car's bumper on a winter Senior skip day. Feathered back off Mike McLeod's face, this cut exemplifies the shorter hairstyles for guys. Olympic gold medalist Dorothy Hamill influenced girls' haircuts with the wedge style. The wash and wear cut appears here on Donna Cestaro. Comfortable clothes make a school day more tolerable for Billy Klugh, Ronnie Swecker, and Roger Hudson. Favorite matches for cords or jeans were flannel shirts, worn by many students. Denim skirt and matching vest suit Libby York fine as she doodles during art class. A red checkered shirt and leather boots tie her classic jeans look together. Fashion 49

Page 61 text:

T-shirts are a popular way to show apprecia- Relaxation before a concert is necessary so that tion of favorite artists. At the Key-Kcyotte the artist can give an exhilarating perform-picnic, Brian Hewitt expresses his partiality to ance. Linda Ronstadt takes it easy before her the Doobie Brothers. Capital Center appearance.