Is this thread still going? Being one of those who hit adolescence during the Folk Scare, (really, Bruce?) my friends and I glommed on to it largely because mainstream muzak was just so bad, and lots of people thought so. We were definitely reacting against the 50's, which had to be the nadir of American culture (except for the beats).

Folk music was still seen as pinko, rightly or wrongly. The way I understand it, organizers in the 30's needed entertainment for the meetings they put together, and, having no money, they improvised with do-it-yourself entertainment, which is still the idea, in my book. (and that of my current club, Friends of Acoustic Music, and whichever club I joined in my travels.) Mary Travers learned "Motherless child" from Paul Robeson. We loved Chad Mitchell becuase the group was irreverent. The music was about something real. I had great Burl Ives records -- still do; I work with kids. Play "Oh freedom" every Black History month and talk about it. etc etc.