Gym Class Memories

 I don't know if this is some type of eccentric "pick-up" ball game, a gay social club activity, or merely a fraternity having their pledges refine their athletic skills, but there certainly appears to be some aggressive basketball in progress.

 A novel issue, but one which created a lot of discussion among the Physical Education teaching corps was whether cups should be a required part of the school PE uniform.  Starting about  the 1950's, about the time lawyers were starting to pursue liability cases for PE class related injuries. many school districts initiated some risk reduction measures such as removing climbing ropes, eliminated pyramid gymnastics and requiring jock cups and even mouth pieces for boys PE programs. In the era when I taught, most PE instructors used common sense and required or suggested that cups be worn when contact sports were scheduled, but I was aware teachers or schools where cups were required in ALL PE classes, regardless of activity.  It seemed that the ex-military PE instructors were more inclined to follow department uniform requirements, but the new PE teachers, still in their probationary year were the most strict. While the cup requirement was mostly intended for high school age boys, I

 In the 50's and 60's, back to school meant acquiring PE clothes, if they were not provided by the school. Certainly small town clothing, hardware and sporting goods stores sold PE necessities, but so did the national retailers. Local newspapers offered large display advertisements for gym shorts and often illustrations of jock straps.  SEARS (JC Higgins jocks were usually made by BIKE); JC PENNEY has stores in most every small town and were probably the largest supplier of PE clothes; WAL-MART frequently advertised sales on DUKE jockstraps during back to school sales. Even variety store W.T. Grant advertised socks, jocks shirts and shorts along with their pencils and Crayons.

 Some more memories “back to school” advertisements for requisite PE class equipment, jockstraps included.   The ad indicating supporters for boys with as small as 20″ waists reminds us that some schools mandated PE uniforms with jocks for grade school boys as young as 3rd and 4th grade.  And for those of you wanting to buy one of those 15 cent BIKE jocks, sorry I suspect they are sold out!

 I've acquired hundreds of vintage newspaper advertisements listing PE uniforms. If there is interest I can post many more. (Note the school supply list showing the jockstrap requirement for 4th graders. Some schools started boys in supporters at age 8)

 Schools with swimming pools typically meant PE swim class once or twice a week. While some schools required boys with long hair to wear swim caps, most boys were attired wearing only a smile.

 Navy aviation cadets enjoying a little exercise.  If they all adjourned to the same locker room shower, it must have been quite a site!  During their training, they regularly posed in jockstraps (or less) for posture and physique photos to show progress from their physical training.  Presumably, these comparative photos were included in their “201″ file or whatever it was called.   These photos should not be confused with the “posture photos” which were taken of all freshmen (male and female) upon entry to numerous universities in the early 50′s.  The students posed wearing nothing but smiles