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Buzz brings up something that was true even for the Lower Umpqua area. The effects of the Depression hung on pretty tightly, and we locals tended to regard the, ahem, Okies and Arkies as being somewhat beneath us--and one reason was because they tended to wear dungarees/bluejeans. Girls, of course, were still required to wear dresses or skirts at school; trousers of any sort were verboten, for much if not all of the 1950s. But when they got home, girls often put on pants, usually a variety of shorter pants (but not shorts) called "pedal pushers." That's what those two girls are wearing in the photo up there.

Like "Dungaree Doll," BLUE DENIM singled out those who wear bluejeans as being somehow not quite right. There was also a popular song that definitely did this--the guy is hardly a role model--though in that case, the jeans weren't blue, but black. We coastal Oregon kids embraced the song, even though it was sung by Vaughn Monroe (at least he did a version), since it seems to take place in Oregon--that screamin' diesel is headed for California), and on the coast at that, because that's where Highway 101 is. It's also a fun song to sing while driving on Highway 101.

He wore black denim trousers and motorcycle boots
And a black leather jacket with an eagle on the back.
He had a hopped up cycle [pr. sickel] that took off like a gun
That fool was the terror of Highway 101

He never washed his face and he never combed his hair.
He had axle grease embedded beneath his finger nails.
On the muscle of his arm was a red tattoo
A picture of a heart saying "Mother I love you."

He had a pretty girlfriend by the name of Mary Lou
But he treated her just like he treated all the rest.
And everybody pitied her 'cause everybody knew
He loved that doggone motorcycle best.

Chorus: He wore black denim trousers and motorcycle boots
And a black leather jacket with an eagle on the back.
He had a hopped up cycle [pr. sickel] that took off like a gun
That fool was the terror of Highway 101

Mary Lou, poor girl, she pleaded and she begged him not to leave.
She said "I've got a feeling if you ride tonight I'll grieve."
But her tears were shed in vain and her empty words were lost
In the rumble of his engine and the moke from his exhaust.

He took off like the devil, there was fire in his eyes.
He said "I'll go a thousand miles before the sun can rise."
But he hit a screamin' diesel that was California bound
And when they cleared the wreckage all they found

Were his black denim trousers and his motorcycle boots
And his black leather jacket with the eagle on its back.
But they couldn't find the cycle that took off like a gun
And they never found the terror of Highway 101.....