University snake dance takes over streets in 1957

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Every Thursday, we feature an image from the StarPhoenix archives, curated by the City of Saskatoon Archives. Today, we see first-year and second-year university students weaving through cars during the annual snake dance, which was patrolled by senior students, from Sept. 26, 1957. The patrolling students were sure to let emergency vehicles through the lines while the dancers were in the streets. (City of Saskatoon Archives StarPhoenix Collection S-SP-B2372-5)

From the StarPhoenix archives:

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Students at the University of Saskatchewan held their annual riot here Wednesday night to remind Saskatonians fall and freshmen were back again.

There might have been 1,000 or possibly 1,500 who gathered for a noise parade at Griffiths Stadium. This done, they went down town to raise hell and they did.

Joining hands, in the traditional fashion they snake-danced their way along College Drive, down Munro Avenue to Twelfth Street and down Twelfth to Five Corners.

This was a departure from tradition, but repairs to the Twenty-fifth Street Bridge, their usual route, forced them to take the Broadway Bridge.

But the detour made the journey long and the extra shouting made their voices hoarse. They were dragging their feet by the time they hit the downtown area, but it was probably just as well.

That way they didn’t quite shake the city loose from its foundations.

“We want a pub in the MUB (Memorial Union Building),” they cried.

“We want Kettles,” they panted.

“One-two-three-four. One-two-three-four,” they chanted.

And many co-eds saw the inside of a beer parlor for the first time in their lives. (And it was not a single glass that disappeared from before the startled patrons).

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Then through the Capitol theatre where a resigned staff did not exactly welcome them, but neither was any resistance made.

They barged into the Arena where wrestling was in progress, tried to invade a dressing room, but were dispersed by Wee Willie Davis. Compared to Willie, the snake-dancers were a little more wee.

At the Legion Hall the snake-dance dispersed and festivities of the more conventional variety began.

Damage? Not a whit. Inconvenience? Well, a little bit. Police officers had their hands full getting traffic straightened out and many motorists were fuming.

Most people took it in the spirit of good fun which was what the students intended.

They were warned by a senior at Griffiths Stadium before they started:

“If you want to make asses of yourselves, you can. But respect property and people. What you do tonight will reflect on the whole university.”

Most of the participants were freshmen and sophomores, but senior students were nearby keeping a watch on things and ready to direct emergency traffic through the lines.

Police cruisers parked discreetly along the route (known to them beforehand) and watched quietly.

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They did not interfere because it was not necessary.

Throwback Thursday is a weekly StarPhoenix series where we revisit photos from Saskatoon’s past.

Check out our entire collection here.

What moment in Saskatoon’s history from October would you like us to revisit next? Send suggestions to jbennett@postmedia.com.

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