" THE PROM — IT'S A PLEASURE " 1961 COCA-COLA PROMO FILM MISS JUNIOR MISS PAGEANT XD26455

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Produced by the Jam Handy Organization for the Coca-Cola Company, this color promotional film from 1961 is entitled “The Prom” illuminates for the viewer all the steps of preparation and etiquette associated with the senior prom dance. Set in Mobile, Alabama, home to the America’s Junior Miss Pageant (f. 1958), the prom day is recounted by that pageant year's winner as she is the “ideal American high school senior girl.” The film stars Mary Frann, who won the Junior Miss title at age 18, in the lead role. Frann went on to appear as Bob Newhart's wife in "Newhart". The film features Coke products.

America’s Junior Miss Pageant (known today as Distinguished Young Women) is a non-profit that uses the pageant to provide education opportunities to girls that are seniors in high school. During the late 1950s and early 60s, Coca-Cola provided scholarships to the top five finalists of the Junior Miss Pageant.

Film opens (0:06). Opening text thanking residents of Mobile, Alabama for their cooperation and presence in the film (0:13). America’s Junior Miss contestants take to stage in large, white ballgowns and hold flags (0:35). Miss Missouri crowned America’s Junior Miss, crown placed on head, holds flowers and does celebratory walk across the stage before giving speech (1:36). Title text appears across screen (2:23). Miss Missouri (Mary) in plain clothes sits in living room set up, talks to camera about the various aspects of going to prom (2:35). Step 1 Finding a date: Mary has phone call with classmate and sports star Dick who asks her to the dance (2:37). Step 2 Transportation: Dick fixes up automobile in garden of his home (4:08). Step 3 The Dress: Mary and her mother open prom dress package in her room, try on dress (4:35). Step 4 Tell your friends: Mary drinks a Coca-Cola at the vanity in her room, talks to best friend Linda on the phone about all the details of the dress; Simultaneously Dick calls Linda to find out about the dress so he can purchase the right corsage (4:48). Step 5 Getting the corsage: Dick relays the details of the dress to the florist (5:55). Step 6 Getting ready: Mary tries on her prom dress for her parents, Dick waits in the living room and talks with Mary’s parents (6:59). Step 7 Getting to prom: Dick and Mary arrive at prom, drive up to venue in what appears to be 1959 Chevy Impala convertible (8:03). Step 8 the prom: Couples walk into venue linked arm-in-arm; Dick and Mary greet and introduce themselves to each adult chaperone (8:16). The boys fill out dance cards for their dates, determine who in the friend group they will dance with (8:54). Mary does voice over to explain dance floor etiquette from when to applaud orchestra to how to ask for a dance when its not on the girl’s dance program card; couples slow dance on the dance floor (9:28). Bucket of ice-cold Coca-Colas on display at buffet table, student gives some refreshments to the chaperones (12:20). Intermission ends and dancing resumes (13:02). The night is coming to an end, couples line up as they make their way to the exit to say bye to the chaperones (15:09). Step 9 Post-prom: Mary and Dick and some other couples in their group gather at a friend's house for some post-prom refreshments and food (15:55). Dick walks Mary to her door after the evening comes to an end (16:57). Closing message by Coca-Cola sponsor (17:16). Film ends (17:30).

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com