Clay City High School - Claytonian Yearbook (Clay City, IL)

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DIZZY DERBY If It was the epochal night of November 8, 1945. The gym was a scene of wild-eyed people milling about from one concession to another with their pocketfuls of silver speedily getting lighter, for it was the night of the Junior-sponsored Dizzy Derby Carnival. Among the highly educational features—did I say educational?—were fortune telling, penny pitching, bingo, fish pond, basketball toss, and novelty stands. It was reported that the marriage bureau received a record number of applicants while the burlesque show did its share of business. During an intermission an amateur contest was held. Darlene Jennings walked off with first place for her rendition of “Shame On You.” Several raffles were held with such prizes as a full box of Hershey bars, an angel food cake, and shotgun shells. A one-act play, “Be Home By Midnight,” performed in the study hall, received good attendance. The cast was: Mr. Jones Jim Bokenkamp Mrs. Jones Lucille McKinney Junior Colmore Rinehart Paul Don Smith Mary Bernie Mitchell Each class had a stand for obtaining votes for their king and queen candidates. The Seniors had a very good location near the entrance where cokes, pie, coffee, hot-dogs, and ice cream were served. The Senior king and queen candidates, Robert Neal Coulter and Verna Deane Pittman, received the expert backing of their diligent comrades and led their closest rivals, Galen Pittman and Barbara McCraw, the Freshmen candidates, by a wide margin of 12,500 votes to 6,131 votes. The would-be Junior rulers, Colmore Rinehart and Rosa Mae Gill, were not far behind with 5,730 votes while the 3,559 votes of the Sophomores, Don Taylor and Wandalee Fehrenbacher, carried them in last. Then came the highlight of the Dizzy Derby; the Crowning Ceremony. A pathway was cleared through the throng of people and the king and queen, accompanied by their six attendants, slowly marched upon the stage. They were presented with their crrowns by the Junior Class president. Bill Boor. Then they mounted the throne and from their regal position they gazed upon their subjects over whom they would rule during the year. After the carnival was over, the floor was cleared and a dance began with music furnished by a rented juke-box.