East Grand Rapids High School - Interlochen Yearbook (East Grand Rapids, MI)

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HISTORY or THE EAST END KIDS Buzz and Susie had a date for the movies, and the only good picture in town appeared to be the East End Kids in The Class of '41. When they arrived at the darkened theater, the feature picture was just beginning. Across the screen fiashed the interior of the Barnard Building and the shadowy figures of twenty-three little boys and girls, dressed in the starched pinafores and lacy collars of Pre-Depression 1928. There was little Dorothy Ballard who had that you-know-what even then, and four small boys in short pants dancing attendance. Funny, but they looked suspiciously like jack Dutmer, Homer Preston, Christopher Southwick, and Gaius Perkins. Mary jean Bechtold and Donna Van Oosten were squatted on the fioor with Aura Bae Cooper and Judy Louks, fitting bolts and nuts onto the playhouse, while Fred Currier and Clark Wierhake, those confirmed woman-haters, glowered over them. Nancy Seidman and Clarence Webb were standing in the corner, en- gaged in a tug-of-war with each other's hair, with jerry Mulder trying unsuccessfully to pacify them. Barbara Drew, the human dynamo, was busily straight- ening pictures on the wall, as john Higbee and Bob Anible watched, fascinated, over her shoulder. In the corner sat two prim, quiet youngsters, Eileen Kollen- berg and Marian Swarthout, who were known as the model students of the kindergarten class. Loraine Wyngarden, May Egner, and Betty june Thompson were engaged in whispered conversation concerning the scandalous length of that Eleanor Eaton's skirts, while El blissfully unaware of the commotion she was caus- ing, played jacks with john McReynolds and Bob Heuvelhorst. Aren't they funny? laughed Susie. They're so little I could hardly recognize them at first. The scene shifted abruptly to show the first grade room in the Wealthy Street building. All the familiar faces were there, with one addition, a shy, sweet, little blonde, who answered to the name of Mary Ellen Pleune, and who inspired a violent love in the manly bosom of Robert Heuvelhorst. l remember that, chuckled Buzz. It was 'Le Grande Passion' of the first grade class. Then he became silent, for the scene was changing again. Beau Brummel Phil Heyboer, Gloria Hamilton, who fancied herself a female Tarzan, and chubby, charming Vir- ginia Widney, entered the room that second grade year. I can't get used to seeing such little punks, roared Buzz while the camera paused at the door of the third grade room. Dick Barrie, who, even then, was addicted to tootling on tooters, and jane Farrant, a mentally magnihcent moppet, entered the class along with all the other students. That was the year when the future Class of '41 was first initiated into the delights of writing lines for misdemeanors. The scene shifted to the fourth grade room during the Christmas party. All the little boys and girls, in- cluding two well-behaved new arrivals, Harley Muste and Charles Mettam, were sitting in hushed silence as the Christmas play was enacted. The play proved a great success, the only mishap having been jerry Santa Claus Mulder, who, on the morning of production, had-of all things-fallen down and broken his arm! The camera focused next on the fifth grade class- room. Among the new recruits that year were Carolyn Stolz, whose coy smile, even lthen, wowed the male sex, solemn-faced john Moore, who stayed every night after school to polish the apple and to wash boards for teacherg and Kenny Johnson, a shy, shrinking ten- year-old who had conceived a violent dislike for those female creechurs. My, my, observed Susie,-her tongue in her cheek, how times have changed! The sixth grade ushered in a new phase in the history of the East End Kids, who,1 as both Buzz and Susie agreed, were performing wonderfully. In the first place, they had reached the ,High School building at last. In the second place, some of the sixth graders became socially conscious. Misses Carolyn Stolz, Nancy Seidman, Virginia Widney, and Messieurs Christopher Southwick, Charles Mettam, Gaius Perkins, and Clar- ence Webb joined Miss Travlis' Wednesday afternoon dancing class for cultured little boys and girls. Buzz whooped with laughter at the rare sight of the three young ladies and the four young gentlemen stumbling valiantly over each other's toes. New joiners to the merryxflock in the sixth grade were a quiet miss, Eleanor De Young, an industrious lad, one Steve Wurzburg, and Betty Verhey, who con- fided that her main ambition was to travel. To Colorado, maybe? murmured Susie, and Buzz exploded in another fit of glee. The scene changed again, this time to the hall in front of the Senior room. There, gazing in passionate adora- tion at one Theodore Burba, were huddled three- fourths of the seventh grade girls. Their general philosophy at this stage might have been summed up thus: Clark Gable! Humphl What's he got? Tyrone Power! Poof! A mere punk. Theodore Burba! Ah, there's a man! However, one severe lecture put them in their places, and Ted Burba went the way of all for- gotten idols. Among new entirants were Patricia Clark who arrived just in time to this Burba Battallion for Lovebitten Brats, and Fred joseffy, an earnest, up- standing young man in half-pants. In the eighth grade there was a great influx of males, much to the satisfaction of some young ladies. Appear- ing on the scene was Richardl Gauthier, a modest, un- assuming youngster, plus three future football heroes, Murray Dewar, Bill Travis, and Dick Howald. That year four of the girls QI won't embarrass them by call- ing them by namej who had been acting very silly, got their just desserts. While taking a siesta on the lawns during school hours, they werje espied by Miss Water- man, who gently but firmly returned their wandering feet to the straight and narrow path. fThough the plot of this movie does not profess to contain a moral, let that experience be a lesson to all you erring underclass- men -- crime does not pay., I The shot of the ninth grade room showed many new faces. Six blushing beauties,l Jacqueline Deeb, Barb Wickman, Betty Apollonio, lLois Newman, Beverly Hawkins, and Doris Dingeman joined the cast, while the male contingent consisted. of Bob De Young, jim Johnson, and Harland Smith. 'The camera dwelt briefly on the Latin Play, in which most of the East Enders

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Doris Dingeman leaves her friendly smile and twinkling eyes to Carolyn Craig. Barb Drew leaves for Barb Borough several dozen pairs of sport shoes--even the leopard ones, and that's some sacrifice! jack Dutmer can't decide whether to leave his man- about-school air to Bill Remien or Seth Bidwell. Looks like you boys are going to have to toss Qcensoredj - draw straws! El Eaton bequeaths that be---eeeutiful blonde hair to the freshman girls-to keep something from the last of the Eaton clan for one more year. May Egner le.aves her two-inch fingernails to the bevy of glamour girls in the junior class. jane Farrant passes on her uncanny memory for his- toric events to Mary Lee Higgins. We would gladly have her will this great ability to several underclassmen, but the hearts of the faculty might not stand it. Romeo Gauthier leaves his gre.at profile to Miss Berg's art class - where it will get plenty of apprecia- tion. As if it didn't in regular classes. Glo Hamilton and Bev Hawkins leave their in- separable friendship to Nancy TenBroek and Ellen Platte. Loie Newman yields her diet list to any one person who c.an walk by a chocolate-covered doughnut sale with a glassy eye. Oh well, she didn't really want to leave it anyway. Gaius Perkins leaves one of his Polynesian print shirts fautographed in the lower left-hand cornerj to Miss Prange for her hall displays. jack Philbrick leaves a lock of curly hair for each Junior high school girl. fThe others will please not try Hornig in!j Momie Pleune turns over her awe-inspiring ward- robe to Ann Goodspeed. Homer Preston fEast's Rover Boyj endows Gordy johnson with a complete set of Hardy Boy mysteries. And Gordon such an innocent lad! Miss Nancy: Ann Seidman tearfully leaves her luscious red formal freminiscent of the Senior Rummage Salej to the Freshman girls. Shoehorns will be supplied on request or by dialing 3-1345. Harland Smith, our pride and joy, bestows upon Don Matheson his sudden, sarcastic remarks. As Harland would put it, Wouldn't th.at Rockerfeller? Chris Southwick offers to exchange a pair of slightly used vocal cords for a tenth year Latin book. fGosh sakes, Chris, you don't need a tenlb year to say Amo, Amas, Amat!j Connie Stolz passes on her infectious giggle to jill Vandenberg. That is, if the chemistry class isnlt able to mix a good substitute. Being strictly a philanthropist, Marian Swarthout leaves to future Trig classes her ability to recognize figures. No remarks, please. Betty june Thompson leaves a gilded athletic re to Ruth Rich on the condition that Ruth be ma responsible for winning the faculty-student volley game next year. Bill Travis bequeaths a pair of swaying shoul to Jeanne Busch. Donna Van Oosten passes on her title of Quee the Paint Brush to Sally Berry. Betty Verhey requests that her senior achieverr be held in trust for a certain junior. Harold Wagner surrenders two battered jitte shoes and papers on the art of Rug-Cutting to I jane Phillips. Clarence Webb is more than willing to leave handwriting. However, owing to pressure from 1 sources, he'll carry it along to college profs , Barb Wickman leaves a white Hag of peace to Krul's sixth hour study hall. Zazu Widney and Colona johnson have mu agreed that all rehearsals and the Hnal productio Act Three, Scene Two of The Youngest be rese for Mary Hibbard and jim Snow. Clark Wierhake le.aves a polished apple for year's Civics Class. Loraine Wyngarden leaves her jolly nature joe Doak's joke Book to Mr. Yates. Barb Williams and Kenny Johnson leave their l in the clouds, because two years make for permz roots! Steve Wuriburg passes on his drums to Bud Bal which are to be used in the Band Room betweer hours of 11 :50 A.M. and 1:00 P.M. In witness thereof we have hereunto set our and seal this twelfth day of june, one thousand hundred and forty-one. fSignedj VIRGINIA WIDNEY Witnesses: ANNETTE CUMMINGS BENTON YATES ....-t...-,v,,a,,,..,.,..,.....a..a...,,..,...a.....a..aa..W..s , I a ai 'R ' .BLT ., .ff . , A 3 - .cet ,5 '. .ir gf. ,Z i- f gig fs L 5 ff T ' L y fcfa Q 4 r . P a Fx, ii X T ' 'i f ' ,J , . 4 .. T '. Q we V . y 2 M-1 w-ts 7 W , , . vt ' , t sa 'Q '-f',', . ,Y 1 f Q . A ' - is ' 2 Q E f,...,.,..,,,,,,,.,,i,v,,,.,,.,,,4.,. W.. ,.,.a.cm.........N .., .M .

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participated. The main attraction proved to be Clarence Webb, cavorting around the stage in a knee-length tunic. Poor Clarence! Born two thousands years too late! The tenth grade passed without mishap, an occur- rence unusual in the history of the Class of '41, Several of the boys made the football team, and several of the girls developed severe crushes on them. Two splendid workers joined the list of characters in our movie that year, conscientious Jeanne Brackett and always-merry Lloyd Berry. The reels on the eleventh grade were notable chiefly for an excerpt from the junior Play, june Mad. Buzz and Susie nearly rolled in the aisles in appreciation of Patty Clark's beauty mask and Betty Apollonio's unduly long underskirt. Then the camera turned to the junior-Senior Reception. Susie could almost feel the heat of that night although she sat now in an air-cooled movie house. Despite the warmth, however, it had been a grand success. Three newcomers, added to the cast of the East End Kids, were shown walking across the screen. They were Barb Williams with guess who? and the Bignall twins, Rex andQGerry. The coming of the Senior year marked the climax in the plot of the class history. New arrivals who had come just in time for the finale and curtain bow were Vilas Allen, Milton Krieg, Jack Philbrick, Harold Wag and George Barr. And what a finale it was! T were Hashes of the class' two rummage sales, ' Gerry Bignall running hither and thither, a lampsl on her head, there was a shot of the class hayride, ' all the Seniors singing songs, eating wienies, and g ing hot chocolate, there was a brief glimpse of Christmas party, showing the prize-winning Chrisi tree surrounded by the triumphant East End Kids. 'l came the scenes from the Senior Class play, ' Youngest. jim Johnson and Jinny Widney, too vincing for comfort as the sweethearts, were on l to thrill an audience again, while the rest of the went through their paces with a spirit that did t credit. And then at last commencement night. It was n that the gaiety that had sustained the Class of through thirteen years at their beloved East High lacking that night. There w.as no joy in those sixty- solemn young faces p.assing slowly down the corridi their caps and gowns. For a long time the cal dwelt on their fading figures. Then, with a bur: music, The End flashed over the screen. And so the Class of '41 passed into history, im talized forever, if not on film, at least in the hear the boys and girls who had comprised it. PROPHECY OF THE CLASS OF 1941 The machine, which was labeled Visit 1951 for Sl was a huge thing, covered with all sorts of levers and buttons. Susie was frankly confused, but Buzz pro- fessed a great knowledge as to the functions of a time machine. You sit there, Susie, and put on those earphones. l'll go over here and start the motor. Buzz, I'm scared, wailed Susie. Don't expect any sympathy from me-this was your idea! said Buzz, as he threw the switch. Sud- denly, everything was dark, and a rushing noise filled their ears. Buzz and Susie blinked amazedly around them. They were standing on a strange street corner, virtually deserted except for a small magazine stand. Uncertainly the two made their way toward the stand. Golly, where do you suppose we are? asked Susie in a worried voice. Search me, mumbled Buzz. Let's investigate. As they reached the stand, Susie gave a gasp of astonishment. Look, Buzz, here's a book in the twenty-five-cent edition by Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth John- son FD0me.rfir Prolzlemf and How I0 Solve Them. I wonder if that's the same Kenny johnson we used to know? Look inside and find out, suggested Buzz, his eye roving over the other publications. Why, here's a magazine called, Time Today. Looks something like the one we used to study in Civics. Why of all the- look, Susie, it's edited by Stanton E. Ellett. Listen to this! 'Time Today, an improvement over the Time of yesterday, is now under a new management, headed by Stanton E. Ellett, who has recently resigned from his position as Principal of East Grand Rapids High School. QSee Peoplej' Golly, this if like Time, declared Buzz, flip over the pages. Listen to this under People, ' Nancy Seidman, well-known educator, has just t over the reins of government in her new capacit Principal of East Grand Rapids High Schoolf Ar think we used to know her. Susie, however, dec the Domertir Problem! of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth j son, did not hear him. Buzz turned back to National Affairs, by time thoroughly engrossed in Stanton E. Ellett's p cation. There, under Presidential Campaign vi photograph of two familiar faces with the cap john Higbee, Republican Presidential Candi shown with his efficient campaign manager, Fred rier. Mr. Higbee has a 50-50 chance to oust Roost according to jack C. Philbrick of the Philbrick P Higbee always talked about being president, Buzz, but I never thought he'd get this far. Buzz, listen! Mrs. Kenneth johnson is Barb liams! cried Susie excitedly, raising her head fron Dowerzir Problemr to make this startling stater It says herelf' But Buzz had reached the Foreign News and already deeply involved in the hair-raising adven of Barbara Ray Drew, world-renowned big-3 hunter, and her famed photographer, Robert He horst. Miss Drew and Mr. Heuvelhorst, so the ri stated, were chased halfway across Africa by a rz rhinoceros, after they had accidentally stepped 0 tail. Another article described the unusual diploi success achieved by Clark Wierhake and Fred jo United States naval and aeronautic experts at Buenos Aires Pan-American Conference, where noted horsebreeder, Senor George W. Barr, brc