Photos from Red Bank High School proms of the 1950s in a display at borough hall. (Photos of photos by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

“This was when young women wanted to look pretty, instead of sexy,” said Red Bank court clerk Fran Pastoriza, as she studied a newly installed display of photos just outside her office Wednesday.

“They wanted to look like movie stars, not the sexpot-of-the-day,” she said.

“Oh man, she is beautiful,” said Jerome ‘Bird’ Hicks, as he studied an elegant young woman – ignoring the fact that the woman already had a date. “I am in love.”

Their sentiments were prompted by the an array of pictures from Red Bank High School proms from the 1950s now in the lobby display case at borough hall.

Some proms were held in the gymnasium of the high school, which now serves as the middle school. (Click to enlarge)

The display, installed by borough librarians, features photo from the collection of longtime RBHS teacher and photographer Anthony Trufolo, of Little Silver.

Trufolo, now in his 90s, “came to the history room two weeks ago with a huge collection” to donate, library director Elizabeth McDermott tells redbankgreen.

She immediately set about mining it for a a prom display “because it’s the season,” she said.

McDermott is planning to post a sports display using Trufolo’s pictures in September.

The building that served as Red Bank High School became the middle school upon the opening of Red Bank Regional High School, serving Red Bank, Little Silver and Shrewsbury, in 1975. Here’s some history on the district.