Poolville was typical Small Town, Texas. Farming community - lots of watermelons. Carter's General Store had been on the square for many decades even at that date. Willhite Seed Store another long time fixture. Girls' basketball was half court and an avidly watched sport. Songs on the radio had titles of "Rambling Rose", "Silver Threads and Golden Needles", "Hey, Paula", and "Telestar". FFA and FHA ( Future Farmers of America and Future Homemakers of America) chose a Sweetheart and a Beau. Penny loafers, sweaters, fluffy petticoats, letter jackets and cuffed jeans were everyday attire. Oh, and don't forget the tiny velvet bows that clipped into the bouffant hair just above the short bangs.
The school ran from first grade up to the twelfth in the same bulding. Two grades to a room. Every year a Christmas play was performed in the gymnasium. Every student in the school had a part. There was also Her Majesty's Court with two Favorites (Dukes and Duchesses) from every class as well as a King, Queen, Prince and Princess. The play in 1963 was entitled Santa and the Spacemen. It was so exciting! I was a Moon Maiden (front row, second from right) and had a shiny white ballerina-like costume complete with netted puffed sleeves and a TIARA! Moon Maidens even wore makeup! Other major players in the production included Neptunians with black hooded capes which gave them a Bela Lugosi appearance more so than some alien being, the Detectives in bow ties and black brimmed hats ( come to think of it, they looked more like minature Fred Astaires!), Venus Maidens, Jupiters with purple horns ( but not one-eyed nor people eaters), Gnomes, and Uranians dressed in clown suits? Remember, this was a small town with limited budget.
But, the show stoppers were the Little Red Men from Mars. First and second graders in long red tee shirts and red tights , which of course, happened to belong to most of the Mars mens' sisters! Giggle. My younger brother almost refused to go onstage in those red tights. (very far end, shortest Martian) Didn't help that I had laughed and teased him unmercifully behind the stage before their grand entrance. "We're the little red men, the little red men, the little red men from Mars, we are. We come from the stars...." and I forget the rest of the tune. The music was not canned or electronic. Played live on a piano by the music teacher and the performers sang.
To quote Simon and Garfunkel, this was a time of innocence, a time of close-knit communities and families. The whole town came to see the Christmas Court and Play. America was still years away from a walk on the moon, and Mars was populated by midget scarlett men as far as we knew.
