Phoenix Highland Games 1980s

[Riverkilt]

Looking for a pic of a sign for another thread ran across photos I took at a Phoenix, Arizona Highand Games sometime back in the 1980s. Would guess they're about 25 years old. Not old enough for Vintage. Kind of shows how things don't change - that's one definition of Tradition.

Here are some dancers.







Maybe our dance experts can identify the dances.

[Riverkilt]

And here are the athletes. Games were held at the Central High School field back then.







And the crowd with Camelback Mountain in the background



And tartans

[Riverkilt]

And Pipers





And drummers



And the signs that started the quest for these old pic in the first place.





And I'm guessing Todd and other resident historians can validate the accuracy of the last sign.

Ron

[MacKay71]

Great pics!

[Chas]

Here are some dancers.



Maybe our dance experts can identify the dances.

I believe that this one is the Irish Jig - she is waving her fist at her husband for some 'marital crime' that he has committed - she is required to look 'Fierce'.

Really great pictures Ron - I remember days just like that.

Regards

Chas

[GMan]

Outside of the hair styles, nothing looks different than today. Just goes to show the timelessness of the Kilt.

[JRB]

Cool pics. Is it just me or has has the length that the average gentleman wears his kilt changed by a couple of inches since the mid 80s? In your pics it looks like the kilts fall at the top of the knee (the historically correct length). From my experience at highland games in the past few years, kilts more often fall below the knee. I wonder of it's just a fashion trend that will change over time like all trends.

[dfmacliam]

I was thinking the same thing, the kilt is timeless.. I bet we could go back even further and see that things remain the same...

[macwilkin]

And I'm guessing Todd and other resident historians can validate the accuracy of the last sign.

Ron

I'll have to do some research on some of those, Ron, but I would bet my friend Marshall Trimble knows about the majority of them. I'll send it to him with your permission.

I have heard of the legend of Tam Blake, who was reportedly a member of Coronado's expedition in 1540 -- Tomas Blaque.


Great photos, btw -- Nice to be reminded of my days in the Valley (25 years ago), although I don't think we ever went to the games, more's the pity!
T.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Cool pics. Is it just me or has has the length that the average gentleman wears his kilt changed by a couple of inches since the mid 80s? In your pics it looks like the kilts fall at the top of the knee (the historically correct length). From my experience at highland games in the past few years, kilts more often fall below the knee. I wonder of it's just a fashion trend that will change over time like all trends.

All those guys who wore their kilts above the knee in the 80's are now twenty years older and twenty pounds heavier. Now those same kilts have to be worn somewhat, er... lower on the waist than when they were first made, and consequently fall below the knee. :-)

In all seriousness, though, a lot of the kilts that I see at Highland Games that are below the knee are also being worn much too low on the waist. They generally look like they fit properly at one time, but the wearer has gained weight, meaning the kilt will no longer fit at his proper waist, so he has to wear it low on the hips to get it to fit. In other words, the kilts were not bought intentionally to be below the knee, they just ended up that way over time.