FW: History Of PROMENADE =)

A History of Prom

Proms of the twenty-first century are elaborate affairs dominated by designer dresses, fancy stretch limousines,
and incredible competition for a place in the prom court. Popular literature and movies of the day increasingly
focus on prom themes, and teenagers may spend months planning and preparing for the all-important night. With all of
the significance attached to the proms of today, it seems a bit surprising that the event has existed in all of its
splendor only since the 1950s. While formal dances for young people were common as early as the late 1800s, proms
began to take on today’s iconic status in a teenager’s life only as America recovered from the Great Depression and
World War II. During their relatively short history, proms grew from simple affairs in Sunday dress to extravaganzas
where competition for the best prom dress, the best date, and the best prom court distinction took center stage.

Prom Etymology
The term “prom” comes from the word “promenade,” meaning a march of guests into a ballroom to announce the beginning
of a formal event or ball. During the Victorian era in the United States, when social class distinctions were much
more important than they are today, it was not uncommon for members of the upper class to hold grand balls where
each guest was announced before entering. A similar event for younger people, the debutante ball, was also quite
common among the upper classes. In a debutante ball, girls who were entering a certain stage of adolescence
officially “came out” into the dating scene to meet appropriate suitors their parents had selected. Strict etiquette
was a must at these balls, and young girls and their escorts wore only the finest of apparel.

First Proms
The first proms came about as middle-class replications of the grand debutante balls. Parents in the middle class
noticed and admired the poise of the debutantes and wished the same for their own young teens. Thus, proms were
created as less expensive, less elaborate affairs where teenagers could meet in their finest clothes to share dinner
(and sometimes dancing) while learning social etiquette together.

While evidence of the first high school proms was not recorded in high school yearbooks until the 1930s and 1940s,
historians believe proms existed at the college level well before that time period. Taking evidence from the journal
of a male student at Amherst College from 1894 which detailed a prom he had attended at earby Smith College,

historians believe proms were common affairs at colleges in the nineteenth century (Marling 2004). While “prom” may
have then been nothing more than a fancy name for a regular junior or senior class dance, its classification as a
special night was definitely in existence and it would only continue to grow in status during the coming century.

Proms and High School
At the high school level, proms were likely a regular event by the early 1900s. These turn-of-the-century proms were
generally simple affairs where youth came only to dine together in their Sunday best. However, by the 1920s and
1930s, dancing had also become an essential element of the prom. Rather than a simple gathering, the prom was now an
annual class banquet where students met with each other and danced afterward.

By the 1950s, Americans were enjoying more affluence than ever before, and the importance and fancy nature of proms
grew in relation. Proms began to move from high school gyms to hotel ballrooms or country club banquet halls, and
competition for the best dress and the best escort greatly intensified. Prom also developed into a hallmark moment
in a teen’s life, and being voted “prom queen” became a very important aspiration and distinction for young girls
(Marling 2004). Indeed, as expensive prom dresses and fancy tuxedos became the norm, prom became less of a simple
gathering of young people and more of a time to show off and be admired.

Proms of Today
Today, prom continues to be an important event in a teenager’s life. The prominence of prom and prom themes in
popular literature and films attests to its importance at the high school level. However, while expenses and
extravagant themes for prom continue to rise, proms are also beginning to grow more and more liberal in the twenty-
first century. It is now not always required for a teen to have a date to attend the prom--and many teenagers are
choosing to attend the prom in groups, making the night less of a date event and more of a meaningful way to
commemorate high school friendships. Gay and lesbian youth are also revolutionizing the meaning of a “prom date,” as
same-sex couples are becoming increasingly more common at proms. While the prom will likely continue to be an
important event in most teenagers’ lives, in many ways its meaning and iconic status are splintering. Some youth see
it as the ultimate high school event, while others see it simply as a fun and fancy way to celebrate high school
life and friendship.

References
Marling, Karal Ann. 2004. Debutante: Rites and Regalia of American Debdom. University Press of Kansas.
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