Tumwater High School Sweethearts Look Back to High School Life in the 1960s

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Allen Hanna poses with his ’57 Chevrolet on graduation day, 1969 from Tumwater High School
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By Katie Doolittle

tumwater auto spa1965: a great time to be a Tumwater T-Bird. The fledgling high school had tons of support from the close-knit community. Proud parents packed the stands to cheer on an already noteworthy football team. Students followed the strict expectations set forth for them, yet still found plenty of time to unwind at drag races or drive-in movies.

To me, the descriptions sound almost unbelievable, a nostalgic cross between Leave It To Beaver and American Graffiti. Yet I suppose I’m living proof that it actually happened. After all, 1965 was the year my parents met.

“We’ve been together since we were infants,” jokes Garry Gideon. Actually, he met Toni Smith during his junior year. “There she was, this annoying little frosh, trying to set me up with her friend.”

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Tumwater High School sweethearts, Toni Smith and Garry Gideon, attend a dance in 1968.

Toni insists that she wasn’t annoying, but perky. Garry just chuckles. When I prod for information about their first date, it’s her turn to laugh. “Oh, I didn’t actually go out with him when he first asked me. Or, come to think of it, the second time either.”

Much of Toni’s hesitance had to do with her friend’s crush on Garry. But once that friend gave her blessing, Toni and Garry began dating. Their social life was typical of the era, filled with plenty of school dances and athletic events. Often, they’d head to the Sunset Drive-In, located at the current site of Tumwater City Hall. Socializing was a bigger draw than the cinematic double feature, and kids always tried to sneak in for free. Garry recalls friends hiding in car trunks, or vehicles coming in the back way after the first movie started.

Locally speaking, pizza was still a relatively new food. Garry can easily remember life before Shakey’s and Luigi’s Pizza Parlor opened nearby. And though Tumwater students patronized these restaurants, the hang-out of choice was Eagan’s Big Tom Drive-In. The parking lot was usually packed with students snacking on burgers, Goop, and crinkle-cut fries.

Automobiles were a big part of teen life. Allen Hanna, class of 1969, describes his adolescent self as “a spoiled car enthusiast.” His father kept an auto shop and also ran the local auto wrecking yard. “I had to work for it, but I could pretty much get anything I wanted,” says Allen.

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Allen Hanna poses with his ’57 Chevrolet on graduation day, 1969 from Tumwater High School

Access to parts enabled him to drive three different cars throughout high school, his favorite being a 1957 Chevrolet. He remembers gas being as low as 28 cents a gallon, which made cruising an affordable and fun activity. Sometimes, several kids would gather for illegal racing at the “quarter mile,” an industrial area south of the high school. To promote safety, teens were encouraged to race on tracks in Shelton and Puyallap.

Today’s teenagers would recognize some aspects of 1960s life. For instance, the current academic emphasis on math and science is nothing new—although back then, the focus was driven by Cold War fears and Space Race ambitions.

Then, as now, post-secondary education was encouraged. “[Our parents] lived through the Depression and World War II,” says Marty Gideon, class of 1969. “They wanted something better for their kids.” Still, there was plenty of training for those who didn’t plan on college. Garry remembers a class on mechanical drawing. Marty recollects multiple skills-based shop classes. Typically, only males took these electives.

“Girls could take any class that they wanted,” says a 1965 graduate, “but most took classes to become teachers, nurses or secretaries.  Some girls weren’t sure what they wanted to be, so they took classes that would get you into college.  I remember being the only girl in my calculus class.”

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Tumwater photo courtesy of Allen Hanna

Home Economics was a required course for females. Toni remembers units on cooking, sewing, and nutrition. She also recalls a strict dress code. Females—both staff and students—were required to wear blouses and modest skirts until she graduated in 1968. A fellow alumna elaborated: “Our skirts had to be a little below our knee. Every so often our female PE teacher checked the length by having us kneel on a bench. The skirt had to touch it.”

In contrast, male students wore fashionable sweaters, slacks, preppy shirts, and super-tight jeans. Male teachers, however, had to wear suits and ties. Toni still remembers one staff member being required to change clothing when he wore slacks and a turtleneck to work.

“Then go-go boots and mini-skirts came in,” Garry recalls. “They couldn’t fight the tide.” The dress code relaxed, and other changes came swiftly as well. Garry doesn’t recall fretting the draft when he graduated in 1966, but three years later it was definitely on Marty’s mind. Eventually, both Gideon brothers would be drafted during the Vietnam War.

Though time has certainly changed both Tumwater and the Baby Boomers, certain fundamentals remain the same. “I don’t think it is tougher to be a kid today than it was in our day,” says Allen Hanna. “We just had different issues.  I still think that if you take responsibility for yourself, and work hard, there are still opportunities and good things will come to you.”

 

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