But >> the Miami Dolphin cheerleaders were older. I mean, they looked older. They had makeup on. It was like, "Wow." You know, and they seem to get more sideline [laughter] area than we did. They got more sideline area than we did.
But it was it was an experience and it was so funny. It was 55° >> and a lot of us girls decided, "Wow, this is warm. Let's go swimming." Oh, >> and you had people in fur coats from Miami that were sitting on the balcony looking at us like, "What is wrong with
these people?" >> Hello, St. Louis Park. This is Dr. Cooper, assistant superintendent, and I am so excited to be here with the Hall of Fame Parkets that originated here in St. Louis Park. Sitting next to me, I
have Cindy, I have Mary, I have Teresa and Liz here. So, welcome. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Well, first off, please introduce yourselves better than what I could introduce yourselves and say what time you was a part of the Parkett.
>> Okay. My name is Cindy Lubet Kaland and I joined Parkettz in 1964 and that was the first year the Parkett cheered for the Vikings and I was in the group for three years until I graduated high school in ' 67. >> Okay.
>> I'm Mary Bashet Miller and I was in from 1973 to 1976. I got to attend a Super Bowl and uh graduated in 76. So my tenure was done. >> All right.
>> I am Teresa Bisher and I was a parket from 1978 to 1981 and um the last group that actually cheered at the Met Stadium
>> um in an open field and one of the first groups for the even the transformation of uniforms. >> Oh wow. Okay. I'm Liz Track and I uh was a parket from 1974 to 1976.
My twin sister also became a parket her senior year. So we had the opportunity to dance together and I grew up over by Fernhill. Yes. Where we grew up. I grew up by Fernhill. >> Okay. So you have all here from St. Louis Park. So just share what area St.
Louis Park are you all from? >> Well I'm from the same area Liz is. I went to Fernhill Elementary School, which is now Torah Academy, and that's over on Japa and like 28th Street. >> Okay. >> And I grew up on Glennhurst, which is the name of my street, up at the top of
a hill overlooking what we used to call France Field and then Cedar Lake, but now France Field isn't a field any longer. I think it's swamp. >> Okay. [laughter] >> We grew up in uh St. Louis Park,
obviously. And um my junior and senior high school years were on Zaron which is about eight blocks from here. >> Okay. >> So >> if if people didn't know I'm telling sisters here. >> Yeah. Sisters. >> Yes. [laughter] >> Yes.
>> Now so how did the Parkets form? I heard there was a parent group parents behind it. >> Well I'll start. Um the parkets themselves were formed in the late 1950s. Um Fran Libby was the name of the woman who helped form the group. Um and
it was a very small group at that time. Um maybe about 10 girls. Um by the time the 1960s rolled around, it became a very very um something people really wanted. The girls really wanted. So we
had maybe 90 to 120 girls try out every year. Now this is the days when we this is the baby boomer period. So I graduated with a class of about 780 kids. >> Wow. >> And the other thing I think it's important to know is that this is before
um Title N went into effect. So um there were no girls sports in those days at all. And so the only activities, physical activities you could do as a girl was either the synchronized swimming, the surf bells, cheerleading or parkets. And there was 30 of us each
year. Um, >> so out of 90 to 100 girls that will come trial, 30 will make the team. >> Well, 10 each year. Yeah. Oh, wow. >> Um, but then, um, this is probably getting to be more complicated than you want, but but Mrs. Libby, um, was our
director. She designed all the costumes. Um, I think I said once before we loved sequins and fringe and color, which wasn't something we necessarily did on the Vikings um, stadium, but um, she was very strict
with us. And we had a a point system that was a little different than yours. Ours just if you had 25 points off over the course of a year, you had to try out again. And you got 10 points off for every absence from any practice for whatever reason. didn't matter what the
reason was. >> Wow. >> So, um she was quite strict. We did not have a parent group um because she was the one in charge. [laughter] And um my final year when we we every year the park guests took a wonderful trip. My
senior year we went to um Hawaii and that year some of the parents did a fundraising. Um but that was kind of the first time parents ever really got invol involved. I know that girl other girls they had their parents were much more involved. >> Okay. So, so we're gonna go a little bit
around about how did you all get involved like how >> in parkets? >> Yes. >> Well, my girlfriend her sister was a parket sometime in 1978 somewhere in that era. I'm not quite sure. But >> she um got me to go watch her sister.
And at that time in the summertime they would have what they called park teets. So the Parkettes would teach the park petit dance that they got to perform at halftime at the Vikings. >> I watched this and I watched those girls and Mrs. Libby was still alive. So I got
to see her and her >> her strict >> you know discipline for the girls and how they performed it was just amazing. So I tried out for petites. At that time there were really overwhelming amount of
kids. So I ended up being an alternate as a park petite. >> Wow. >> Yeah. >> And but I still had to go to every practice. I had to learn the dances. >> I just didn't have the costume and I wasn't guaranteed to go. >> So the parkit was at like a younger age. >> Yeah. Nth grade.
>> My time it was ninth grade. I don't know if it >> was ninth grade all the way down like to what would you say fourth or fifth? Fourth. >> Well, even fourth grade would teach the puppet. >> Ours was just ninth grade. Yeah. >> Oh, well cuz that again our numbers were so big. >> Yes. >> Oh wow.
>> But this was at that time too the Park Betites had they were it was enormous amount of kids, girls. >> And I remember getting the phone call that I I could dance at the game and I was I didn't care what the how big or small it was. I was getting in it and I
was going. [laughter] And when I got to that field and I looked at those girls out there, I said to myself, "This is what I want. This is what I'm going to strive for. And I'm going to make it. >> Wow. Okay. >> And I did. >> You did? And you did? Well, >> she did. >> I did.
>> How did you join? And well, it was dad driven >> and it was because our parents, it was dad driven, Liz, because [laughter] um the parents were involved at that time >> and um our mother was on the board, but
also >> the parents would sell um Viking programs >> at the games and I don't know, would you say that was a way of us, you know, um >> we got a portion of the of the proceeds would go into our kitty. >> Okay.
>> Parents had a wonderful time >> and again that was at the Met Stadium. So, you know, it was a whole different ballgame really. And um really loved it and um they had gone on the trips as
chaperones and so when I was in ninth grade, >> yeah, I was kind of like trice like you're trying trying on and I was a park petite. >> Um anyway, so What? What? Great. I'll go ahead. >> Oh, I'm sorry. I was just going to say I
think my dad and my mother, they got gate D and gate D was where the players came in. >> Oh, yeah. >> So, my dad just thought, you know, he was the coolest guy because he got to talk to the players. He saw him come in before the game and this was a huge
thing. So, I think >> for him, he was like, I got to get back there. She's got to get in cuz I got to get back. >> So, it was dad driven to get to go to the games. >> Yeah. [laughter] Yeah. Because after you sold the tickets, the programs. Excuse me. You went into the game. >> Yeah. >> And what was the name of the stadium? It was
>> the Met Stadium where the Mall of America is. That was where the Met Stadium was. >> Wow. >> Okay. So, people know here is I'm from Detroit. So, >> so seeing that, ever since I came here, I've always saw the Mall of America. So, you got you got pushed into it. I want
to say push, but >> Detroit. Yeah. So am I. >> Because of the games and going. >> Okay. And then you also saw your sister as well. Yes. [laughter] >> Yeah. >> Now, Liz, how how did you join? >> Similar to what Mary did, I was also a
park patite um my twin sister and I and really the girls in the neighborhood. I actually think we were younger than like fourth grade, fourth or fifth grade maybe. >> And we practiced here outside of Central Junior High outside and then >> we performed I think it was halftime.
Um, and it was it was fabulous to be able to be on the field and all of that. >> Oh, so so practice was right right >> in St. Louis Park, right? Central uh front door. >> So So how did it get from performing here in St. Louis Park to getting to the
Vikings game? Like how did how did that take place? >> Well, why don't I start with that? Um the Vikings uh had a couple other um cheerleading groups, maybe one year at a time, but then in 1964 the Vikings contacted Mrs.
Libby, Fran Libby, and um recruited the Parkets to come. And um we got paid $50 a game. Um the Parkets kitty because we always were raising money every year for trips that we took because Parkets took wonderful trips. Um, Max Winter, who was
the, um, owner of the Vikings, um, lived in St. Louis Park. Um, in fact, they lived a block away from me and, um, I think he was interested. That's kind of how they they got in contact to begin with. >> My sophomore year, then we cheered for the Vikings. The next year the Edina
Hornets did it >> and the Rockheads they were two groups combined together and then I think they decided they wanted to go back to the Parkett because I think >> we were more dependable or something. I'm not sure what. So then [laughter] from then on from well I would like to
say we were better but you know >> what's interesting what's interesting about that is when I was Parkquette I actually thought we were the original Parkettes and it wasn't until I became on the NBC executive board that I realized that we were not necessarily
the first group. >> Cindy's was the first group of Parkquettes. Yes. To actually cheer, but like she said, there were two other teams that were from other schools. There was also a group, they were called the V Queens. >> Oh yeah. And here's an interesting kind
of connection to the Parkett. So there were seven or eight of the Vikings. And I encourage everyone to go to the cheer wall when you go to the US Bank Stadium. shows the lineage of >> the cheerleaders as well as the parkets. And so, um, the V queens, there were
seven or eight of them. >> One of the women that was on that group is actually an aunt >> of a parket that we danced with. Okay. So, there was even that connection back then. And so then um the Parkets, like
Cindy said, came in from 64 to probably 83 and cheered for the Vikings and then it evolved into um >> professional professional service. >> Was there a PMP pom group? >> So that was So the PMP pom group is what
what you're referring to is the Vikings. They are the ones that were in ' 62 or 63 and they um >> they did >> palm and they did dance and they did cheer. Much smaller group though. >> Yeah, the Vik we had pom poms. I mean
that was you know we danced with pom poms. We made our own pom poms. I could still probably make one if I needed to. >> And actually the parkets also were pom pom girls. A small group of them were pom pom girls for St. Park High and that
was part of Yeah, I was too. That was our >> And so was my sister. We that was [laughter] that was our kind of like our pay >> to >> to the district to St. Louis Park High >> for using their facilities >> because we weren't really we weren't we
weren't affiliated with the school. We had no advisor. We didn't have anything like that. We had the B. Well, we had the board and you were run by Mrs. Libby. But >> um >> so in in lie of
that we would dance at games, basketball games, St. Louis Park high school basketball games. We would provide pompom girls for football and basketball. >> And then that was our our way of of kind of paying rent. >> One of my favorite parts of being a
parkat was dancing at basketball games. Every home basketball game we danced at. It was my one of my favorite parts. So, how was practice? I mean, you all you talked about how strict it was. >> So, how was practice? Like, how many hours, how much time went into this?
>> Well, again, going way back, 1964. Um, practice two hours twice a week, every Tuesday and every Friday >> um for two hours, but it was all year long. It wasn't just during the school year. So, we rehearsed every >> even in a summer. >> All summer. >> Did you guys switch days in the summer?
>> No, we did two days a week. two days a week, even in the summer. And we were hired a lot to go around by from different groups to perform, nothing having to do with the Vikings, but um so we would be hired, I think I may may have mentioned before, the state by the
state of Minnesota, to travel around the state and perform at um all the prisons and um state hospitals and then we would be hired by private groups to go and perform. So we always had um a program
of at least four different um dances um that had nothing to do with the Vikings and there was wonderful costumes and um as I said fringe and sequins and can can number and uh we danced at the St. Paul winter carnival every year and were paid
for that. So it was it was a much broader group. for these costumes. >> There's leather, there's sequins. Who came up with the ideas? Who made them? >> Well, Miss We had We our seamstress was um Miss Gibbs.
>> She did everybody. >> Yeah. >> And I think she even did the Park Petit if I >> That was nice about her. We had a um kind of a reunion um after one of our performances. She came and she was honored by all of us for all of the work
that she did. So, she is still alive, but she did >> hand sew all of the costumes. >> I want to get back though to the question about um practices. So, in addition to >> twice a week, >> my unit leader Rebecca had us practice
at her house. Oh, multiple times. So, did we >> a week and so >> she was she wanted us to look the best and be the best. And so in addition to >> the rigor of our Tuesday, >> the organized, >> we had those extra practice.
>> We did too. >> Now, did you have the same system? You talked about points. Yes. >> Did you have the same system? So it it stayed consistent. >> I was going to say yes and no because I heard about your system, which there were a few things that I was a little upset to hear about that you had weigh-ins for example that we never ever
had weigh-ins and I think that's terrible that they did that. So, we also had we were two days a week and it was three it was three hours >> and um summertimes depending what was going on because we also did parades.
So, I don't know about you guys but in front of um St. Louis Park High School, >> right? That's I don't know it was when cars were not going by. We would practice in the street and then cars would go by and I remember do you remember that? Yes. Yeah. Um
>> do you remember that? But to the point also where we had unit practices. So we had 40 girls in our um in our group and then we were divided into five units according to height. >> And then each unit would have a unit
leader >> and >> assistant leader >> and an assistant leader. Um Tony Swiggum who was our choreographer she would have best unit at Viking games. >> So that's why you did want to practice
more. >> Mhm. >> Because she'd be watching >> big incentive. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. Yeah. Scary too. >> So [laughter] >> yeah. Yeah. >> So you performed at the Met Stadium which is an outdoor stadium. >> Yes. >> Now it gets pretty cold here in
Minnesota. >> Yes it does. How did you stay warm? I saw some videos and I mean the air is just the the the coming out of your mouth. >> I just thought that was so cool. >> Me, too. It was so fun. >> What did you do? How did you stay warm? >> We had blankets. We had
>> um I don't know what you guys had. We had what they call jagundas. >> Oh, okay. What's that? >> Jagunda is a big air moon boot. >> Oh, I remember. You remember that? And they they kind of had like a a nylon
covering over um foam. >> Foam. Yeah. And then you would you would secure them with a string in the back. And they were purple, gold, and white. >> And you know, you just prayed when you were dancing that those bad boys stayed on cuz I lost one
>> and it was hard getting it back. >> Yeah. Well, they were slippery, too. I mean, it was Yeah. Honestly, when you're that young, I don't really You don't care. >> I don't think we really cared. >> I cared. Did you? >> Yeah, I did. I cared. >> It was really cold. I mean, we had
little wool jumpers and then we had wool sweaters and that was it. I mean, we didn't have any blankets. We didn't wear jackets. >> It gets to be 10°. >> I know. Or >> negative. And um I have a picture of us the first year and we have a little tennis shoes on. Now, my second year, we
had go-go boots because that was cool in 1966, go-go boots. But and then we would put plastic bags around our feet inside the go- go to keep our feet a little warm, but and then we wore flesh colored um
>> um tights. And that was it. It was cold. It was very cold. >> I don't know what you guys had. We had ski jackets. Ski jackets. Ski jackets. >> Oh, that >> Yeah. But then we also went into leotards. >> Mhm. Right. Right. >> Right. But I have to admit that I think
we had really good seasons. I think we had one really bad day, one really bad Sunday where it was seting and raining where we had to take turns being out >> so we could sit in the dugout. So it'd be like two units would go out per
quarter and uh just because it we we didn't come prepared and all we had were those ponchos, those rain ponchos and they were splitting because it was it was um >> so cold. >> It it was cold and setleing and raining. Do you remember that? There's a picture of Sally >> and actually some of the pictures I sent
you were the costumes. The jacket Yeah. >> is in there and the rain poncho and >> we we just made it work. >> Yeah. It's amazing to hear that cuz I watched the old NFL films, the purple pe people eaters. >> That was my ear sitting out there. It's
so cold. You all just like it was nothing. >> Yeah. >> Well, I thought it was something. >> I thought Oh, I loved it. >> Honestly, my philosophy was if the Vikings are out there playing and my mom and dad who just sold all of the programs to enable me to dance, we're sitting in the stands.
>> I'm fine. >> Yeah. >> And it was And I think to Mary's point, I really only remember >> one bed. one bad game because if you think about it too, the >> season starts in the fall. >> So, we had very lovely weather and then
because we didn't >> we didn't make we didn't make it as far as we could have. The season wasn't necessarily that long. Yeah. >> December. Well, >> we pretty much made the playoffs though. Yeah, we did every year in December. Every year, >> but you made it to the Super Bowl. >> I made it to the Super Bowl. >> So, how was that experience?
>> Oh my gosh, it was amazing. It was amazing. We were in Houston, Texas. >> We cheered at the Astradome. >> Carl Casulki, who was a player that was in a motorcycle accident. >> Oh, yeah. >> Uh, helped charter a North Central
Airlines for us. >> Wow. >> Um, I didn't know that either. >> And we got flown down where normally they took buses. Um, and we stayed at the Rison in
Houston and um, I remember getting on the field and we were cramped in the sidelines. We played the Miami Dolphins. We lost, but >> the Miami Dolphin cheerleaders were older. I mean, they looked older.
They had makeup on. It was like, wow. you know, and they seem to get more sideline area than we did. [laughter] Yeah, they got more sideline area than we did. But it was it was an experience and it was so funny. It was 55° >> and a lot of us girls decided, "Wow,
this is warm. Let's go swimming." >> And you had people in fur coats from Miami that were sitting on the balcony looking at us like, "What is wrong with these people?" You know, and we were like, "Hey, it's fun." Now, >> did you make connections with other cheerleaders across the NFL and stuff like that?
>> I didn't. >> But when I was cheering, there was there weren't any other cheerleaders throughout the whole NFL. >> You were the first. >> But then, um, the Dallas, we called them the Dallas Cowgirls. It was the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders. Um, and they were the professionals. They were they had
different kinds of costumes than we did >> back in that day. Really? They were Dallas had one. Wow. I didn't realize that. And they >> they were different. As I said, they wore different costumes than we did. >> Yeah. >> They were quite a bit older. >> Yeah. >> I would say one thing too as it relates to the Super Bowl. I was a parket
>> after Mary started and then so that they went to the Super Bowl that year and then they went to the Super Bowl the next year. And so that also that team that went to the Super Bowl is I want you to go to the cheer wall because there's a picture of them. And then one
of our friends Kathy Mady gave us the ticket that her mom and dad had for the Super Bowl and we blew that up and it's on the cheer wall. So, there's so much history there >> and like Mary got the opportunity to go to the Super Bowl and
>> the next group did and it >> it was awesome. Amazing. >> So, you all have done so much and you know you talked about discipline and grit u to help you be successful and everything that you've done. So, what is something you would tell our students here in St. most part
>> I think I would tell them that if you see something just go for it. Put everything you've got into it because what you see and what you can see you shall achieve. >> Oh, I like that. >> I don't know if I could say that any better. Um
but yeah, I mean with anything with with hard work if I mean if you have a dream and and also to know that >> it does take practice and it does take practice and um with that you can you can just achieve anything and not give
up but you have to really >> you really have to put forth the effort to do so. >> So for me I would answer that. Um, so let me take a step back. Yes. Um, as on the board, we have to write letters to all of the Viking cheerleaders every
year that they, um, >> you know, it's their day of >> like special moment. And so, um, I've got some copies of them over there, but what I tell them is if you're injured,
don't let that stop you. If you are tired, >> don't let that stop you. If you need someone to help pick you up, go tap them on the shoulder. Say, "Mary, I need something. I need some help." And so, this is all about, in my mind, being a a
village. And it starts with caring. It starts with sisterhood. It starts with putting your mind in front of the situation and just avoiding, not avoiding, but um living through
obstacles because the end result >> is phenomenal. Like Mary and I don't really connect that often, but when we were doing the um interview a few weeks ago, I said, "Mayor, do you want to do it?" And so I could call her and just
say, "I need your help." >> Or Cindy, >> I I asked Cindy for pictures to put on the cheer wall of the 1964 group of Parkettes. >> I didn't know Cindy, but I knew when she
graduated. So it's take a step and it'll pay off years down the road. That's what I would say to them. So my even connection with that to just add on I'm sorry to interrupt but I think a lot of it even though it was really strict
>> is um we were we were pushed and I think that's that's it due to the fact that we were on a point system >> um and it was you go to practice if you're sick or I don't I don't get this dance will you help me like everything
that you said Liz was the way that we worked together as a community >> and we had to get >> each other through it all because if somebody looked bad, the whole team's going to look bad, right? >> So, you know, >> yeah,
>> I get mad a lot other than um I think the hard really hard work and even as Liz was saying, even when it's hard, you keep on going. Um, and I don't I taught English for 37 years and I didn't always see students have that same attitude of
this is too hard. I can't do it. >> No, you can do it. You just have to push. And if you can't figure it out, you ask for help. And I I liked what you all said about that. >> Well, I can't thank you all enough for this time talking about the bond and the history. And you truly are mean so much.
So much. this community is so proud and the legacy that you have in in bringing on to our new uh Minnesota Vikings cheerleaders and just what you've done here in St. Louis Park. So, I thank you for this time and continue to watch our Park Pride podcast.
>> Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Take it year by year, just one step at a time. It may take a little bit longer, but the way you weave will be stronger.
Just take one step at a time. Just one step at a time. >> [music] [music] >> Check it out. [music] [music]