Proms of the past

Southeast Missourian photography staff (past and present)

Friday, May 8, 2020

It's the time of year when many high school students are typically busting out the formal wear, making dinner reservations and preparing to dance the night away at prom. But prom also looks different during the COVID-19 pandemic. As schools are closed and large gatherings canceled, students will have to — at least for the time being — forego belting Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" or Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" with their friends during the special night. Since now is what would typically be prom season, here's a look back at local prom nights of recent memory featuring the work of Southeast Missourian photographers, past and present, who were on hand to document the experience.

The dance floor is seen during Cape Central High School prom Saturday, April 27, 2019, at Ray's Banquet Center in Cape Girardeau. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)
Prom guests use a selfie stick during Oran High School's "Country Chic" prom Saturday, April 18, 2015, in Oran, Missouri. (Fred Lynch ~ Southeast Missourian)
Scott City sophomore Ethan Pratt sports an American flag vest while dancing during Scott City's prom Saturday, April 6, 2019, at Deerfield Lodge in Cape Girardeau. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Guests dance during Meadow Heights High School's "Sparkle and Shine" prom Saturday, May 2, 2015, at the Jackson Elks Lodge. (Fred Lynch ~ Southeast Missourian)

Mollie Thompson, who would later be crowned prom queen, dances with Zach LeGrand during the Oak Ridge prom Saturday, April 13, 2019, at the Jackson Elks Lodge in Jackson. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian )
Prom guests belt out Shania Twain's "Any Man of Mine" during Delta High School's prom Saturday, April 13, 2019, at the Delta Community Center. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jackson student Donya Marx sings along with OutKast's "Hey Ya!" during Jackson High School's 2019 Prom on Saturday, May 4, 2019, at the Jackson school. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Balloons sits near prom guests as Oak Ridge High School held its prom, Saturday, April 25, 2015, at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Jackson. (Laura Simon ~ Southeast Missourian)
Kelly juniors Colton Sanders and Haley Dodd, right, wait on a bench alongside Destiny Hicks, far left, and Caylie Daniels before prom Saturday, April 6, 2019, at Kelly High School in Benton, Missouri. Sanders said he chose to wear his cowboy hat as a nod to his extracurricular passion, rodeo. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)

Guests dance during Leopold High School's "Sunset in the South" prom Saturday, April 22, 2017, in Leopold, Missouri. (Fred Lynch ~ Southeast Missourian)
Elijah Enderle is crowned prom king during the Cape Girardeau Central prom Saturday, April 29, 2017, at Ray's Plaza Conference Center in Cape Girardeau. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian )
Carley House and Ryan May have their first dance after being crowned prom king and queen Saturday April 25, 2015, at the Cape Central High School prom. (Glenn Landberg ~ Southeast Missourian)
Tamilla House, center, watches the first dance after her daughter, Carley, was crowned prom queen Saturday April 25, 2015, at the Cape Central High School prom. Tamilla is joined by friends and family. (Glenn Landberg ~ Southeast Missourian)
Students enjoy themselves during Notre Dame Regional High School's prom Friday, May 5, 2017, at the Bavarian Halle in Jackson. (Andrew J. Whitaker ~ Southeast Missourian )
Students begin to gather on the dance floor at the kick-off of the Chaffee prom Saturday, April 7, 2018, held at the University Center Ballroom on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jared Neikirk takes a breather near the dance floor during Cape Central High School prom Saturday, April 27, 2019, at Ray's Banquet Center in Cape Girardeau. (Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian)