The Fascinating History of Prom in America There is a rich history of high school proms, which is an endearing ritual of transition for America's teens, that spans from early ceremonial practices to today's lavish spectacles. Modern proms have their origin in similar practices of long past, including Greek symposia and Roman coming of age rituals. Ancient Traditions That Inspired Prom In America, the phenomenon started to take shape in the late 19th century, with evidence of a first-ever 'Junior Prom' in 1879 at Harvard University, later adopting high school culture in the 1920s with the rise of teen socialization. The Golden Age of Prom: 1950s–1970s Proms acquired strong cultural momentum in mid-20th century, especially between the 1950s and 1970s, which was characterized as the 'Golden Age of Prom,' with proms becoming full-blown affairs that were no longer just school dances. It was brought about by post-war prosperity, together with changes in soci...