From the Archives: Square dancers take over San Diego carrier 65 years ago

As Summer began in 1956, the aircraft carrier Kearsarge welcomed an invasion of 6,300 square dancers to its flight deck.

From The San Diego Union, Friday, June 22, 1956:

Square Dancers Take Over Carrier

The squeak of fiddles and shouts of callers replaced the roar of jet planes aboard the carrier Kearsarge last night as 6,300 square dancers crowded the flight deck for an evening of dancing.

The novel hoedown was a preliminary to the fifth national square dance convention which opens in San Diego today.

The carrier was docked at North Island. Its flight deck was filled to capacity by the dancers in colorful western costumes. A few sailors in navy blue danced the intricate steps with the civilians.

Two sailors from the repair ship Ajax and the father of one of them, called the Square-D Toon Twisters, provided the music.

June 22, 1956 page from The San Diego Union features photos of square dancers on the carrier Kearsarge.

(U-T)

The square dance aboard the Kearsarge was one of several trail end dances held throughout San Diego last night under sponsorship of the Heartland Square Dance Federation.

Mrs. Ruth Engle, president of the federation, said they were called trail end dances because they meant the end of the trip had been reached for an estimated 15,000 square dance enthusiasts who came here from all parts of the United States.

Among the larger trail end dances last night was one at the Spring Valley Community Center sponsored by the Calico Twirlers Club.

Searchlights from the Kearsarge pierced the sky as the thousands of square dancers rode across the bay in motorboats for the dance aboard the carrier. For many of the visitors this was their first visit aboard a ship of any kind.

Rear Adm. J.M. Carson, Pacific Fleet air Force chief of staff and Capt. E.O. Wagner, commanding officer of the Kearsarge, welcomed the visitors.

Carson told the group the Navy was pleased to have been able to assist in opening the square dance convention.

Masters of ceremonies for the evening were Ron East and Frank Dyson. Fifteen callers from the Heartland Federation alternated in calling the square dances.

Interspersed with the regular dances on the program were round dance exhibitions by three groups. They were lifted to the flight deck on one of the carrier’s elevators.

Volunteer Navy square dance callers directed several of the dances.

Mrs. Engle said arrangements for the dance aboard the Kearsarge were made with Vice Adm. Alfred M. Pride, Pacific Fleet Air commander.

Among the callers were Kip Muse, Clarence Montgomery, Al Schaeffer, Marion Ashtron, Pete Mighetto, Helen Mighetto, Gladys Rongey, “Hoppy” Hopkinson, Al Rider, Roy close, Bill Keller, Wally Riggs, Sylvia Conkie, Don Frank, Juan Frank, Ralph Miller and Stan Bryan.

Exhibitions included “The Rock and Roll Waltz” by the Candle Lighters, “Rainbow Round My Shoulder” by the Rainbow Twirlers and “Rosen Cavalier Waltz” by the Rhythm rounders.

The convention will open formally today with registration and opening ceremonies in Balboa Park at 9 a.m. Square dance and round dance workshops will be held in the morning in the Balboa Park club, the municipal gymnasium, the recital hall and federal building.

Clinics on the round dance, contra and the square dance are scheduled in the early afternoon with a waltz quadrille clinic and workshops at 3 p.m.

A cavalcade will be held in the Balboa Park bowl at 7:30 p.m.

Impromptu dancing will be held almost continuously during the day at various locations in the park.

The federation has 28 clubs in the San Diego County with a membership of 3,000.