On this day 57 years ago, the city of Santa Cruz, California, banned public performances of rock & roll music as “detrimental to both the health and morals of our youth and community.” The precipitating event to this rather dramatically Pyrrhic victory over degenerate be-bop gyrations was a performance by Chuck Higgins and His Orchestra. Here’s Chuck many years later performing his big hit “Pachuko Hop” in London.

YouTube video

Our ideas can save democracy... But we need your help! Donate Now!

Ed Kilgore is a political columnist for New York and managing editor at the Democratic Strategist website. He was a contributing writer at the Washington Monthly from January 2012 until November 2015, and was the principal contributor to the Political Animal blog.