When I think back to being a Saskatchewan, small-town teenager in the late seventies and early eighties many thoughts and images come to mind. You may be able to relate to some of them.
FASHION AND BEAUTY
Hair
- long, natural and parted down the middle
- not sure what was with my funky, cow-licked bangs
Makeup
- dark blue eye shadow
- heavy black mascara
- heavy black mascara
Jewelry
- neck chokers in leather, macramé or velvet
- mood necklaces and rings
- ID bracelets
- hoop earrings
- birthstone rings, necklaces and scarf pins
- ankle bracelets
Purses
- brown leather sling shoulder bags
Clothing
- bright, patterned colours
- silk blouses
- graphic t-shirts
- velvet and velour outfits
- wide legged jeans rolled up at the bottom
- jeans with patterned insets in the bottom outside seam
- brown leather sling shoulder bags
Clothing
- bright, patterned colours
- silk blouses
- graphic t-shirts
- velvet and velour outfits
- wide legged jeans rolled up at the bottom
- jeans with patterned insets in the bottom outside seam
- jean jackets
- two-piece bathing suits
- two-piece bathing suits
- jean cut-off shorts
- school and team jackets
- bunny hugs (and we drank Vico too!)
- school and team jackets
- bunny hugs (and we drank Vico too!)
1973 My brother and I on a visit to Uncle Otto & Auntie Martha’s in Saskatoon
Shoes
- suede with wedge heels and a logo on the side such as Adidas or Pepsi
- running shoes year-round
- black platform high heels
- thongs - on your feet!
- running shoes year-round
- black platform high heels
- thongs - on your feet!
ENTERTAINMENT
School Dances
- These were huge social events and teens from neighbouring towns would go to each others' dances. - The single guys stood at the back of the small community hall, scoping out their prospects.
- It was very dark with a disc jockey on the stage pounding out the tunes.
- A revolving disco ball hanging from the center of the ceiling provided a cascade of light in different shapes and colours.
- Teacher supervisors breaking up the skirmishes that inevitably occurred.
I remember walking out of the hall with my friends after a dance trying to be cool, discussing where the after-party was. I looked up and there was my Dad parked right in front of the hall in his big, brown truck with the cap on the back, waiting to pick me up. I was mortified.
Movies
- Drive-ins - people trying to sneak extra friends in for free in their trunks
- Movies at theatres staring Clint Eastwood, Farrah Fawcett, Sally Field, Burt Reynolds, Al Pacino, Charles Bronson, Sylvester Stallone and John Travolta.
Popular Movies
Grease
Smoky and the Bandit
Jaws
American Graffiti
Animal House
Saturday Night Fever
Rocky
Superman
Every Which Way But Loose
TV Shows
Charlie's Angels
WKRP in Cincinnati
The Waltons
The Partridge Family
Little House on the Prairie
Starsky and Hutch
Happy Days
Dukes of Hazzard
Bands and Favorite Songs
April Wine - "Tonight Is A Wonderful Night To Fall In Love”
Tommy James and the Shondells - "Crimson And Clover”
Terry Jax - "Seasons In The Sun”
Nazareth - "Love Hurts”
Bay City Rollers - "Saturday Night”
Bee Gee's - "Run To Me”
ABBA - "Dancing Queen”
Credence Clearwater Revival - "Who'll Stop The Rain”
Alice Cooper - "School's Out”
The Beatles - "Let It Be”
Rolling Stones - "Angie”
Driving Around
On weekends the teenagers in the area would drive around town and eventually meet up at the "bullpen" to discuss the plans for the evening. The “bullpen" referred to the open area at the end of Main Street, the spot where the police parked when they were in town, thus the name.
Other forms of entertainment
Parties
Camping
Going to the city for pizza
Spending time at the lake
School and community sports
EMPLOYMENT
Most of my friends and I had jobs during the summer. I worked as a waitress at the cafe in the town when I was fifteen. The next two summers I was part of a government-sponsored summer works program. A group of students was hired to do maintenance work at the lake, golf course, hall and arena. We sanded, painted, trimmed trees and cut grass.
TRANSPORTATION
I didn't have a vehicle and was seldom permitted to drive my parents. The Hubs and I dated all through high school, so he squired me around.
The Hubs loved vehicles and changed them often; listed below are the names of the vehicles he had during this time.
1968 Galaxie
1972 Plymouth Satellite Sebring
1976 Plymouth Sport Fury
1978 Ford Ranger Lariat
I didn't have a vehicle and was seldom permitted to drive my parents. The Hubs and I dated all through high school, so he squired me around.
The Hubs loved vehicles and changed them often; listed below are the names of the vehicles he had during this time.
1968 Galaxie
1972 Plymouth Satellite Sebring
1976 Plymouth Sport Fury
1978 Ford Ranger Lariat
POLITICS
Pierre Trudeau was Prime Minister of Canada. Gerald Ford and then Jimmy Carter were president of the United States.
COMMUNICATION
Land Line Telephones
I vividly remember taking calls from the boyfriend with everyone in the house listening to our conversation. Today's teenage generation of cell phone users will never know the satisfaction of being able to slam the telephone receiver down on someone they are mad at.
Thank you for reading!
Land Line Telephones
I vividly remember taking calls from the boyfriend with everyone in the house listening to our conversation. Today's teenage generation of cell phone users will never know the satisfaction of being able to slam the telephone receiver down on someone they are mad at.
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