Published: September 04, 2008 08:23 pm         

"Encore Tribute to the Rat Pack" hits the stage again Nov. 24

DSquared Productions would like to thank Crossville, Cookeville and surrounding areas for the huge response their "Encore Tribute to the Rat Pack." It was a two-night sellout with a reserved list of nearly 200. A condensed version of the show will be presented at Fairfield Glade's RHA dinner Monday, Nov. 24. Call Charlene (456-0148) for details.

DSquared is now gearing up for their September production of "Time (of your) Life — Malt Shop Memories, the Best of the '50s & '60s." The best songs and the best times are back at the historic Palace Theatre in downtown Crossville on Friday, Sept. 26, and Saturday, Sept. 27, at 7 p.m.

Many memorable and defining moments in American culture and history were created in the 1950s and 1960s. The first transcontinental television broadcast was in 1951; racial segregation in the schools was ruled unconstitutional in 1954; Dr. Jonas Salk developed the polio vaccine in 1955; and don't forget the important things like poodle skirts, going to the hop in your '57 Chevy so you could do the jitterbug, bobby socks and much more! An important element of that time was the music that played in the background — and sometimes took center stage! The music of that period was some of the most influential, delightful and endearing.

The biggest songs and best singers could be heard coming from the jukebox at the malt shop — where friends met and young romances began. For a time in the late '50s and early '60s, before all those sprawling, enticing malls, there were malt shops that gave teens a place to, well, be teenagers. The malt shop, a place where teenagers hung out, met and practiced social skills, enacted adolescent drama, fell in love for perhaps the first time, and — most of all — played music on the jukebox.

If you're a baby boomer or not, you should appreciate the changes that took place in the '50s and '60s. With wonderful memories of teenage love and life, the malt shop was always the place to be. So let's go to the malt shop! Go back in time, break out those bobby socks, school sweaters, letter or leather jackets, poodle skirts scarves and saddle shoes! Revisit those years with Dennis Donald, Rusty McClanahan, Patty Payne and some surprising guests!