When crowds packed the OB for HS games...

[Applecane]

Back 50-70 years ago, there'd be crowds of 20,000-40,000 to watch Edison and other schools play at the Orange Bowl.
Do I have that right? I see mentions of it from time to time.
Why did HS football attract such big numbers and when did that era end? And why did it end?
Maybe for lack of options before the Dolphins and the Heat?
Dunno.

 

[GOCANES05]

Back 50-70 years ago, there'd be crowds of 20,000-40,000 to watch Edison and other schools play at the Orange Bowl.
Do I have that right? I see mentions of it from time to time.
Why did HS football attract such big numbers and when did that era end? And why did it end?
Maybe for lack of options before the Dolphins and the Heat?
Dunno.

We actually had caravans of cars leaving Southwest Miami senior high school in the 70’s a couple hours before we did , it was awesome.

I’d be sound asleep at home about 12-1 AM windows open and here my own friends papering my house, they’d yell go back to sleep This is a master piece lololol

Packed stands overflowing to visitors side , we couldn’t get off the buses.

When we played MH in the OB , there was about 2-3 K .

Best time of my life the 70’s at SWMSH .

 

[ncncanes]

Yup - I remember Miami High & Nth Western both playing there

High School football was big bc as you said - it was just the Dolphins

 

[Felonious Monk]

That was before pornography was easily available on the internet.

 

[Fzac75]

Back 50-70 years ago, there'd be crowds of 20,000-40,000 to watch Edison and other schools play at the Orange Bowl.
Do I have that right? I see mentions of it from time to time.
Why did HS football attract such big numbers and when did that era end? And why did it end?
Maybe for lack of options before the Dolphins and the Heat?
Dunno.

My old man told me the stories, he graduated from Miami High in 1969, in those days Miami High vs Coral Gables was THE game. Heard stories from the likes of Edwin Pope, Greg Cote, Bob Rubin (could never stand him) etc. saying the same.

Gotta understand locally at the tme here outside of UM there was nothing else really, outside of spring ball at Bobby Maduro. Fins came in ‘66 and were irrelevant until Shula showed up. Canes were a mid program, and in Florida high school at that time Miami High and Gables were the football powerhouses.