Alexandria High School - Alexian Yearbook (Alexandria, MN)

Page 32 text:

1934 THE ALEXIAN 1934 Stage Force Front row-Sylvia Love, George Watters, Robert Mayer, Frances Jane Peterson. Back row-Elmer Watters, John Wohlers, Mr. Melby. Our stage force has been ably managed by Frances Jane Peterson, a senior. Other members of the hard-Working crew have been Sylvia Love, Robert Mayer, George Watters, Elmer Watters, and John Wohlers, juniors. Throughout the year, this organization has provided artistic scen- ery and lighting effects for numerous junior and senior high school stage productions. Much credit is due Gordon B. Melby, the science instructor, who has worked assiduously with the group as its director. School Patrol Under the leadership of Patrick Boland, the school patrol has ef- ficiently carried on the duties which were designated at the initiation last year. Patrol officers have been at their appointed places at all the corner crossings near the school building during the noon and afternoon recesses. They have greatly aided in the state's iight against accidents caused by carelessness in crossing streets. Claude Jackson, a senior, has acted as patrol chief. His assisting captains have been Freeland Stevens, a junior, and Roy Havens, a sopho- more. Christian Backhaus, another sophomore, has been the secretary. 28

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1934 THE ALEXIAN 1934 THE BOHEMIAN GIRL Under the leadership of Harold W. Arentsen and Gordon B. Melby, the music department and the stage force combined this year to put on the biggest musical production that has ever been attempted in this school, Balfe's Bohemian Girl . Delegations from cities within a radius of fifty miles, along with Alexandria music lovers, filled the gymnasium auditorium to overflow- ing to witness the spectacle. Approximately 1500 people attended. Few amateur organizations are capable of presenting a production of the Bohemian Girl type as well as we heard it presented here. The well-selected principals, the beautifully costumed and well-drilled chor- uses, the expertly trained orchestra, and the superb scenery and lighting effects all combined to make this opera the best ever staged by the Al- exandria music department and stage force. The solos, duets, trios, and quartets of the principals won enthusi- astic applause from the audience. Favorite renditions seemed to be I Dreamt I Dwelt In Marble Hallsf' sung by Miss Minerva Pepinsky and Then You'll Remember Me, sung by Mr. Ording. Miss Pepinsky, taking the part of Arline, and Theodore Ording, portraying Thaddeus, the Polish exile, sang the leading roles with ex- cellence. They were well supported by Superintendent L. S. Harbo of Osakis, as Count Arnheimg Pearl Oberg, as che gypsy queen, Clifford Rykken, as Devilshoof, the gypsy Chieftain, and Lynn Bauman, who played the role of Florenstein. The part of the child Arline was well portrayed by Betty Jane Landers. As the swarthy villain, Clifford Rykken excited much hilarity in the audience. Pearl Oberg played her role with all the vindictiveness necessary. As a fastidious, foppish young nobleman, Lynn Bauman was very commendable. Under the dexterous leadership of Professor Abe Pepinsky and with the aid of three university musicians and Mrs. Harold W. Arent- sen, the high school orchestra gave one of the best performances that rhc local audience has ever heard it give. Beautifully costumed under colorful lights, the ballet chorus, trained by Mr. Arentsen and led by Dona Du Beau, danced a charming interpretation of a court dance. The choruses, composed of members of the choral and glee clubs, gave just the proper amount of support necessary to the leading singers. A great deal of credit must go to Mr. Arentsen for the splendid performance. I-Ie has steadily built up the local music department in preparation for productions of this sort. To Gordon Melby, local stage director, goes much praise for the at- tractive staging. His assistant, Frances Jane Peterson, very efficiently took charge of constructing the four artistic settings for the opera. The dramatic coaching by Dr. Lloyd W. Lyons and the supervision of the costuming by Miss Alice Kolbe were also commendable. The costumes were vivid and picturesque.

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1934 THE ALEXIAN 1954 Alex lligli 'rimes Front row-Mr. Meland, Virginia Kling, Neal Nelson, Hans Lillevik, Martha Wester- berg, James Flanagan, June Schulze, Mr. Jewett. Second row-Inez Buman, Ione Sten- son, Elva Pilversack, Frances Griffith, Doris Peterson, Marion Gustafson, Victoria Tangen, Dagmar Johnson, Dorothy Pottorf, Orris Gran, William Schaefer, Bob Weed. Back row- Ruth Avelsgaard, Aaron Fadden, Doris Enger, Mary Ripley, Marian Knauf. Gertrude Langpap, Mary Avelsgaard, Emmett Shogren, Robert Drummond, Richard Carlson. Under the advisorship of Arno J. Jewett and J. D. Meland, the Alex High Times' staff has done a commendable year's work. Hans Lillevik has served as editor-in-chief of our paper during the eleventh year of its existence. Martha Xlffesterberg has been his assistant. As manager of the business department, Neal Nelson has been assisted by Aaron Fadden, Frances Griffith, and Robert Drummond. James Flan- agan has edited the sports page, while June Schulze and Virginia Kling have handled the editorship of the literary and feature columns, respec- tively. The only graduating reporter is Ruth Avelsgaardg the typists who are graduating are: lone Stenson, Elva Pilversack, Richard Carlson, and Inez Buman. Several staff members attended the Minnesota Press Association Convention held in Minneapolis in November. At the meetings, the paper received several awards for its make-up. First prize was received on second page. The first and sports pages received second prizes. Other honors won were third prize on a book review by June Schulze and honorable mention for a sports story written by Orris Gran. In january, four of the staff members were accepted by the Quill and Scroll, a national honorary society for high school journalists. Much valuable journalistic information has been imparted to the staff members during the regular and special meetings which have been held throughout the year.