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

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him and he called my attention to his private sec- retary, Lois Stegenga. She was as quiet and retiring as ever, but I knew that she efficiently took many cares' off the shoulders of the busy statesman. HI couldnit get along without herf, John con- fessed. i'Do you remember .Iohn Bissell, the carpet- sweeper magnate? He's been in Washington the past six weeks, lobbying for big business. And then there's Lou Cork. She's been a Congress- woman for quite awhile, and now she's Speaker of the House. She wants Nancy Harkness, the able ambassador, sent back to London, but I want her to go to Paris this time. Did you know that Fred Perkins was appointed Secretary of the Treasury last week? Look at her, she's drawing more of a crowd than I am. I glanced in the indicated direction and saw the glamourous Margot Beaver, who had been Peggy Furbee until Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer had changed her name. She was Hollywood's most beautiful movie star, and had been officially given the title of Sweetheart of the U.S.A.',. I wondered if she remembered when we had called her HThe Sweet- heart of the Senior Classf' The lights were dimming again and I hurried back to my seat just in time to see Elizabeth Bloom- strom come in. Liz had become a distinguished architect, and had recently received great acclaim for designing the PeninsulariState Building in Detroit, the tallest building in the world. With Libla was Ted Aalsburg, a civil engineer of inter- national reputation, in collaboration with whom Liz was said to be designing a bridge across the Atlantic Ucean. Pat Crothers. her efficient and self-possessed private secretary, accompanied her. Suddenly there was a commotion, and the manager came out on the stage, raising his hand for silence. 'fls there a doctor in the house? he inquired. A tall, vaguely familiar man arose. He had handsome features, graying hair, and a gray mous- tache and goatee. I realized with a start -that it was none other than Bill Torgerson. Can I help?', he asked. 6'Tom Finch, the famous test pilot, has just been injured trying out a new parachute. He jumped from the Empire State Building and the 'chute didn't open. They brought him in here. Would you come and take a look at him? Dr. Torgerson disappeared backstage, but in a minute he was back. 'There should be an imme- diate operationf, he saidf I am afraid Captain Finch has hurt his head badly. I am not a surgeon, unfortunately - Is there anything I can do? All eyes turned to a pretty girl who was making her way toward the stage. HDL Anne Pattersonlii exclaimed Dr. Torgerson in relief. You'are the only brain surgeon in the world who can save Captain Finchln MI can't do it alone, Dr. Patterson replied. I must have a psychiatrist as ja consultant. The audience was tens with excitement, for Tom Finch was a nationa hero. .Louis Wickman soon appeared in the doorway of -the centre aisle. He had been informed of the need for a skilled psychiatrist and had come in from the street to volunteer his services. A call for nurses went out. and Jeanne Schapp, Dorothy Snapp, and Ellen Platte came forward. These three girls had saved the lives of countless soldgrfrs at the risk of their own during -the Second . orld War, and upon their appearance it was felt that the idol of the populace had some chance for recovery. The little party disappeared into the wings of the theatre. followed by Captains Arthur Clements and Joseph Pierce. I remembered that during the war these two, with Tom, had been known as the Three Musketeers of the Air , and it had been due to 'if Q rj' l --.. r 7

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PROPHECY OF THE CLASS OF ,43 For a long time that evening I listened to my radio. I had nothing else to do until it was time for me to dress to go to the theatre, where I was to see a new play called School Days , the biggest hit Broadway had seen for years. But for the time being I sat back indolently, while the radio played my favorite programs. The first one I heard as I twirled the dial was Seth Bidwell in f'Tell It To The D.A. . This pro- gram was one of the nationis favorites, since Seth in person presented some of his own experiences as the young and successful District Attorney -of New York, where he had been called after a short but brilliant career as a criminal lawyer. Everyone knew that Sleepy had almost single-handedly put down the crime wave after the Second World War. A sports broadcast by Gerald Muir followed. Geraldis play-by-play descriptions of football games and his shorts in the movies rivalled Ted Husing's in popularity. Then came the Crown Cola Hour, starring Martha Roderick singing the music of Will Gay Bottje. Bill's music equalled that of Gershwin in the eyes of both critics and public, while Marty had man- aged to combine successfully an opera career with domestic life. She had been happily married for several years. An added attraction on this musical program was Eugene Bellis, who had been hailed as the most superb crooner of his time. I turned off my radio just as the announcer remarked that these programs had been made pos- sible through the expert technical assistance of the noted radio engineer, Bill Oliver. It was time for me to leave for the theatre. I happened to know that School Days dealt with a supposedly fictitious graduating class, but that the class in question was none other than the senior class of 1943 of East Grand Rapids High School. I was eager to see what had become of my old classmates and to find out how accurately I had guessed when I had written the class prophecy years ag-o. From my seat in the third row on the aisle, I noticed Roberta Ames, scribbling busily on a tablet. Bert was the editor of a nationally syndi- cated gossip column which finally drove Walter Winchell from the tabloid field in disgust. Carefully scrutinizing all the members of the audience was Boy Clements, the brilliant detective and head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Two rows back I spotted Phyllis Buckman, edi- tor of '4Clubby Clothes , which sold more copies per issue that either '4Vogue,, or G'Mademoiselle . With her was Bob Chance, the original and clever fashion designer, whom we had all expected to become a band leader. I noticed that Phyll was looking fixedly across the aisle, and following the direction of her gaze, I saw George Gregoire, proprietor of Gregoire's Model Agency. With him were three of his beautiful models: Nancy Ten Broek, Jeanne Moore, and Susanne Wade. In a private box I caught a glimpse of General .lim Cowdery who had distinguished himself so signally during the Second World War. With him were .LaVange Coleman, head of all the W.A.A.C.'s in the United States, Phil Cornelius, the eminent aeronautical engineer, and Paul Olsen, a pilot who probably knew more about dive bombers than any other man alive. The house lights were dimming and I had time only to glance at my programme to see that 'iSchool Daysi' was produced, directed, and acted in by Ted Brink, with Phyllis McVoy as the leading lady. Ted had frequently been compared by critics to a cross between Orson Welles and Noel Coward, while Phyllis had been a brilliant actress even in high school. This pair was frequently known as HThe King and Queen of Broadwayw. The play was apparently to be a series of short sketches regarding the lives of each member of the senior class. Patty Muir was the first occupant of the stage. She wore the pointed slippers and bouffant skirts of a ballerina, and I remembered having heard that she was the premiere danseuse at the Russian Ballet that winter. Bob Cole, foot- ball coach at the University of Michigan, whose crack teams had won the Big Ten championship for the past seven years, was said to have gotten the idea for one of his most successful plays from a dance step of Patty's. Jerry Byrne was the next occupant of the stage. In his businesslike-looking overcoat and soft hat with a pencil behind his ear, he presented the per- fect picture of a busy reporter. There was no need to explain the situation, for everyone knew that Jerry was one of the top reporters and news ana- lysts in the country. The end of the first act had come, and I arose and wandered out into the lobby. I saw John Mackay, Senator from Michigan for twelve years, standing there in a crowd of admiring friends and autograph seekers, all wishing him well in his campaign for re-election. I went over to speak to N-gitffllllff 0 xi 0 . - JF A ' ts ell LIB

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their valor, more than to any other single cause, that the Armistice had finally been signed in 194-5. The Three Musketeers, by the way, had always modestly ascribed their success to the fact that their planes had been designed by that genius of aeronautical construction, Ernest Malkewitz. As the play was resumed, Gerry Potter, who had taken the place of Edgar Guest in the 1950's, recited some of his own poetry. Few had suspected Gerry of poetic leanings, but I knew he was des- tined to be either an author or a violinist because of his hair. Secondly we were confronted by a group of successful businessmen. Among them was Bob Boyer, who had started life as a part-time insurance salesman and had risen to the presidency of a great company. Next in line was Chuck Loper, editor of the New York Daily Timesf' He was known and respected as an able formulator of public opinion. ,lim Smith, the multi-millionaire, was also in the group, having gained a monopoly of the automobile business, he sold more cars than Henry Ford. Dean Spalding, known as one of the cleverest stock operators on Wall Street, was among those present, as was Bill Webb, who lived on a large farm in Ohio and sold prize vegetables and stock. His estate was said to be one of the most beautiful in the country, having been designed by Tom Warren, who was at the top of the landscape gardening profession. The famous Betty Van Antwerp next made her appearance. She was famous because she had become a welder, and was one of the best in the business. She was so good that a song, Betty, the Blowtorch Gal had been written about her. The song ousted 4'Rosie, the Riveter from the Hit Parade List in two days. The third attraction was greeted with riotous applause. Bud Powers had become a forester, and in the memorable summer of 1947 had vanquished almost single-handedly a gigantic forest fire which had threatened to engulf the entire state of Michigan. Next the audience was entertained by a short lecture from Bill Haynes, the noted traveler and explorer. One of the most romantic figures of the age, Bill was to the fifties what Richard Hali- burton had been to the thirties. Further entertainment was afforded by Bob Paley, who had risen to fame and fortune by teach- ing his own system of muscular development. He was at the top of his profession, although he was rivalled by Bob Healy, who, even as a little boy had been inspired by the ambition to be 'fa big strong man like daddy. Louanne Johnson, head of a famous cosmetic house and a woman captain of industry, was next called to the attention of the audience, followed by Winnie Knape, chief buyer for Saks Fifth Avenue. Saks had more than trebled its turnover since Winnie had held that position. Charlene Golay, one of the most beloved figures in public life, made her appearance next. Chuckie had gone to Germany after the war to do recon- struction work and teach the ideals of democracy to the German people. Returning to the United States ten years later, she had met Frances Paquette, who had been doing brilliant work in the field of social service. They had established a settlement house in New York comparable to .lane Addams, Hull House, and both were justly revered for their great services to the American people. Edward Fritz, the mathematical genius who had discovered the hfth dimension, and Bruce Clark, whose work in the field of chemical research had been astounding the scientific world, then made brief appearances. The act was concluded by some thrilling stunts by Joan Poisson, who had become a professional roller skater. During the brief intermission, between the second and third acts, the manager came out on the stage and announced that Captain Finch had been saved and had now almost completely recovered. The announcement was greeted with thunderous cheers from the audience, although I heard some irrev- erent person near me mutter a'Tom was always like that.'7 The last act depicted a great state university in which several former East students were teachers. Doris Knol was the efficient and quietly erudite librarian, and Charlene Poisson was one of the professors in the College of Business and Public Administration. Marian Pray was a brilliant pro- fessor of college biology, advanced physics, and electronics, while Jinny Verhey utilized her tact and her ability to handle people as Dean of Vffomen. Bruce Veltman had become a teacher of organic chemistry, while he conducted brilliant chemical experiments outside of class hours. When the play was over, I found myself next to Admiral Jacob Markham. Admiral Markham, the hero of the South Pacific, had been to the Navy what General Cowdery had been to the Army dur- ing the war. HI read your last book, Gail, he remarked. MWC always thought you'd turn out to be a writerln . 4--X of MMM: if ?3 i Merc 'Q F Nuff IT v I ' X tc . JD!