Curtis High School - Yearbook (Staten Island, NY)

Page 58 text:

ittlitt ll txtttttlllii An old Curtis custom which occurs year after year is the Christmas Alumni Reunion. Former Curtis students look forward to it as a time when they can come back to their Alma Mater to see their former teachers and friends, and to reminisce about hthose good old daysn. At last year's reunion, aside from the usual college crowd, there were many boys wearing uniforms of the Various branches of our armed forces. As usual, tea and cookies were served in the foyer while teachers and alumni chatted about old times and new. As an en- joyable finish to the day, the old students strolled down to the boys, gym, not for exercises this time, but for dancing. 'S-A.

Page 57 text:

V ,, ,V ,ATM ,qw ,xy V., A, W K WATER BALLET Curtis adds another event to its fast growing list of extra-curricular activities-The Water Ballet-a spectacular program put on annually by the water-minded boys and girls of Curtis. In this yearis presentation, a variety of Hgures were executed by the swimmers, among which were the star and fountain formations. Several humorous features were also part of the program. Au obstacle race in which boys wore nightgowns and carried candles brought forth roars of hilarious laughter. An old-fashioned picnic at the beach was staged as another main event, in which bathing suits of the gay nineties were worn by the participants. Exhibition diving was performed by Jimmy Barnes, and at the close of the performance, the boys, aroused to gay spirits, submerged their good-natured coach, Mr. Gaffney, into the pool. The huge success of the Vffater Ballet is due to the able leadership of Miss Ripley and Mr. Gaffney. Together with the mermaids and mermen, these two teachers put on a never-to-be-forgotten spectacle.

Page 59 text:

'Twas the night before Christmas-Wait a Minute! 'Twas a few minutes before the Christmas pageant. Thats itl A puff of powder. a dab of lip stick. and a comb through the hair. and the pageant was on. With a medieval castle as its background, girls and boys in costume sang and danced. Authentic carols of the 12th century were sung by the Curtis Choir under the direction of George S. Dare of the music department. The duel between St. George and the Turk was an exciting and hilarious part of the pageant. The click- ing swords and the final blow provided breathless entertainment for the entire assembly. At the finale the cast formed into a procession and marched along the aisles of the auditorium as they sang the last of the Christmas carols.