The Lindy Hop organization I’m part of (Toronto Lindy Hop) is doing a “School Spirit” theme night and while I was working on the invite banner I ended up finding some pretty amazing vintage cheerleading images and thought that it would make a great blog post. So here you go, some of my favorite vintage cheerleading images for your enjoyment (with some historical notes on the side). Go Team Go!

Male Cheerleading

Cheerleading – The Vintage Photos

Brief Cheerleading History

Cheerleading was originally an all male sports in the late 1800’s. Characterized by gymnastics, stunts, and crowd leadership, cheerleading was considered equivalent in prestige to an American flagship of masculinity, football.  As the editors of Nation saw it in 1911:

…the reputation of having been a valiant “cheer-leader” is one of the most valuable things a boy can take away from college.  As a title to promotion in professional or public life, it ranks hardly second to that of having been a quarterback.*

Indeed, cheerleading helped launch the political careers of three U.S. Presidents.  Dwight D. Eisenhower, Franklin Roosevelt, and Ronald Reagan were cheerleaders. Actor Jimmy Stewart was head cheerleader at Princeton (“The Manly Origins of Cheerleading” by Lisa Wade, PHD).

Saturday Evening Post Cheerleading

It wasn’t until 1923 that the University of Minnesota introduced the first women cheerleaders at their sporting games. Although women continued to participate as cheerleaders in various parts of the USA after 1923, it wasn’t until the 1940s that women became the majority of cheerleading’s athletes during an era when the university men students left the country to fight in World War II.  Today, women consist of more than 90% of the world’s cheerleaders (“History of Cheerleading” International Cheer Union”).

Vintage Cheerleading Photos

Late 1930’s Cheerleaders (1938). I want to be the girl in the front of this line…adorable!

1930s Vintage photo of 1938 Cheerleaders

1940’s Cheerleaders (1948). The pleated skirts are so fun!

1940s Vintage Photo of 1948 Cheerleaders-Men & Women in 1940s cheerleading uniforms.

1940s BCheerleaders vintage photo: E.E.Smith Senior High School 1948.

1940s Black Cheerleaders vintage photo: E.E.Smith Senior High School 1948 Vintage Yearbook photos

Ohhh pants on the cheerleaders-1950s vintage photo.

1950s vintage photo of 1950s Cheerleaders in 1950s cheerleading uniforms.

Saddle shoes!! My Fav!! Cute 1950s Cheerleaders!

1950's Cheerleading photo of three young women in 1950s cheerleading uniforms and saddle shoes posing for a photo at a game.

1950s Vintage Photo of Cheerleaders at Wayne State University.

1950s Vintage Photo of Cheerleaders at Wayne-State University

By the 1960’s shorter skirts have made an appearance and I now think it must be way easier to do some of those pyramids with less material on the legs lol 🙂

1960s vintage photo of 1960s cheerleaders in 1960s Cheerleading uniforms.

photo credit: Beatrice Photos

vintage cheerleaders photo.

Now I’m super inspired to try to recreate one of these cheerleading outfits for the dance but since I don’t have the best legs I will 100% be going with a longer skirt 🙂

Blog note: If you like the vintage sports images, I also have a bowling post as well.

Further Reading:

Liz 🙂

5 Comments on Cheerleading-The Vintage Photo Edition

  1. I’m sure your legs are amazing and strong and dance-tastic! Don’t hold yourself to a silly, fabricated standard of beauty, but just be YOU!!!

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