Notes
Admin or Biographical History: The Star Prowler square dance club was founded in 1970 and lasted until 1995. During this time, the club enjoyed a robust membership, moving into the Broomfield Grange in the early 1970s every first and third Saturday of each month to dance.
Square dancing, often associated with American folk dance, generally involves four pairs of dancers forming a square and facing the center, being prompted to change formation or step by a "caller." For the Star Prowlers, the caller would remain on stage facing the dance floor to call out directions by microphone. At least three callers presided over the Star Prowlers' dances through its history: Larry Buhler, Dave Kennedy, and Larry Reichert.
In addition to scheduled dances, the club would hold themed dances and events, such as the Hillbilly Dance, Yellow Rock Dance, Chicken dances, square dancing workshops, and graduation dances for new members (where each graduate would cross dress), each with their own unique traditions. For example, the Yellow Rock Dance saw the caller of a square dance tell the performers at certain times to switch partners at the corner of the dance formation by hugging the new partner. Traditions such as this helped to make different dances feel like annual events for the club to get together and celebrate.
The club also had its own special banner, and would visit 48 other square dance clubs across Colorado to "steal" their banners by dancing at them (or vice versa). This would prompt the club whose banner was stolen to dance at the opposing club to retrieve theirs. This tradition was practiced nationally by several square dancing clubs, and served as a friendly, social competition that allowed clubs to visit one another. The club would also fly its banner proudly at community events in and around Broomfield, such as the annual Broomfield Days parade. The banner was created by Prowlers Sarah Ann Smith and Ruby LeMasters.
[History written with information from donor Sarah Ann Smith and information from scrapbooks]
Custodial History: Scrapbook is part of a collection of four, donated to the Broomfield Depot Museum by Sarah Ann Smith in 2017. Smith and her husband, Joseph Smith, were both members of the Star Prowlers square dancing club from the 1970s to 1995. The scrapbooks were originally compiled and kept by Sarah Ann.