Leominster High School - Magnet Yearbook (Leominster, MA)

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THE MAGNET As Agnes said, “Isn’t that Barbara Paul across the hall with Kenneth Arris?” we made room for the newly arrived classmates. “Why, yes,” answered Toolin. “As Walter Winchell would have said back in ’32, ‘They have been seen places together’.”’ livery three dances, we were entertained by some novelty acts, consisting of unique selections by Ruth Appley; Edgar Beaulieu, a rising young impersonator; and Dorothv Kmery, a second Kate Smith, who was popular in 1932. Robert Capone gave a very vivid description of a gangster’s life—merely an impersonation of a character, not a relative. Grace Burns and Geneva Desorcie gave a dance specialty from their vaudeville act, which was at this time a box office attraction. Pennery suddenly remembered his list of refusals from those who were unable to attend the reunion. He, being a reporter, knew what all our absentees were doing. “Albert Christoforo is playing for the Yankees and doing well, too. Wallace Smith is a pitcher for the same team. By the way, you people must think I’m a genius; however, I shall do my best. Danny D’Onfro is trying for the National Golf Championship. Alexander Dupee is a marathon runner. Oh, yes, and George Gates is an automobile racer. Incidently, he’s competing at Indianapolis next week.” “Next?” I asked expectantly. “Vernon Harrington,” he continued, “is the owner of some thoroughbreds, one of which is expected to get the blue ribbon at Saratoga next month. Howard Lane runs a night club in New York, which is patronized by famous people of the day. Another person who has done well for herself is Anita Leighton, an art student who has a splendid art studio in this city. Her work is considered excellent. Milton Merril is writing a collection of verse. Have you heard that Alice O’Connell is teaching kindergarten and is engaged to be married very soon? I think I’m getting along famously, don’t you?” We all nodded in the affirmative. “Francis Perry is in the moving business,’ continued Pennery, “and is progressing rapidly. Paul Rand has inherited his father’s service station on Main Street. Edward Robinson has the Cadillac agency in this town. Didn’t you know that? Edward Verge, Francis Taylor, and Harold Anderson are successfully demonstrating cars for him. Here’s a bit of news for you. Kathleen Norris, that famous writer, has recently acquired a per- sonal maid, our old friend, Dorothey Carter. Oh, and another person who sent his regrets was John Grimley, who is vice-president of the Liggett Drug Stores. Milton Harvie owns a sheep farm out West. Let’s boost the wool industry! And say, when I heard from Paul Oozoonian, he offered special rates to his old class. He’s an aviator at the Boston airport. Michael Little is an assistant coach at Columbia.” “Who’s next?” I inquired. ‘“Hariett Smith,” was the reply. : “T read only yesterday,” I answered, “that she has left, as a missionary, to convert the heathern in Africa.” “You did contribute something, finally, didn’t you?’? mused Pennery. “Tast month, while traveling through Canada, I encountered Benny Tata, who is a member cf the Mounted Police. That’s all there are; there isn’t any more.” “Oh, he deserves a leather metal,” sighed Agnes. We ended our tenth reunion with the singing of the old alma mater’s song, “Three Cheers jor L. H. S.” b ELLEN SWEENEY AGNES HACKETT WILLIAM PENNERY

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THE MAGNET tended, but I soon learned that Donald McCaffrey was master of ceremonies. Looking a little to my right, I recognized Albina Grinkis, who is owner of a cheese factory in Cuba. She was accompanied by Margaret Joy, who had recently come into a fortune. Directly behind them sat Joseph Gargulinski, proprietor of a large produce company. A few seats over were Alvin Bourne, owner of a chain of shoe stores, and his wife. Two rows ahead of me were two old classmates, Dorothy May and Arthur Leahey. They are employed by John Despotopolus, owner of the National Banana Company. At this juncture, our master of ceremonies came in from behind the curtains and presented a special attraction, before the play, John Carrescia and his Cotton Club Synco- pators. Among the able musicians we noticed Bill McAulay, of course, at the drums; Geno Salvatore, caressing the violin, and Kenneth Collins, jazzing the piano. He attracted much attention because he was bouncing on the piano stool in rhythm with the music. His “Cab” Calloway yell was noteworthy; John Hobb’s dancing feet and puffed up face were a striking contrast to the music he blew out of his flute. William Grimes played the saxa- phone and sang a novelty number with imitations. Alessandro Pizziconi tooted a trombone. The well presented play followed. Simone Fife and Malcolm Johnson were the leads. Another interesting character in the play was Bessie Lanza, who in real life is a teacher with Alfrieda Fiske, in an exclusive boarding school for girls. Alexina Lafave led in the applause when her friend, Miss Lanza, made her entrance. At the end of the second act, Pennery was informed that he was wanted back stage. We next saw him being led before the audience by the spokesman for the evening. He made the announcement of the coming dinner dance at the club. His speech was well given and it brought back vividly the night of the Senior play. He soon joined us for the third act and informed us that Douglas Eaton and Roger Hill had charge of the lighting effects, their business being electricity. The next morning we proceeded to send out invitations for the dance. The first went to Clemence Allaire, who was studying French with Marie Baril and Mary McGrath in New York. Another was sent to Catherine Dolan, who is superintendent of nurses in the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. The next group were sent to girls who are now nurses; namely, Dorothy Caswell, Mildred Piper, Winifred Callagher, Ruth Grabner, Leatha Leahey, Mary Murray, Mary Reagan, Arline Saunders, Alice Smith, Irene Smith, and to Mildred Wass, who is school nurse in Springfield. The next invitation was sent to Muriel Sherwin, now head librarian of the Worcester Public Library. Another was written to Roberta Wass, who is employed as governess at the home of the headmaster at Andover Academy. Barbara Sawyer was the next name on our list. She is private secretary to Lowell Caswell, a breker. The names of Margaret McColl and Blanche Savage, models in a salon of Madame Strut-Around in Vienna, were the next in order. The next two who were to be recipients of invitations were Margaret Mahan, private secretary to Clemont Dupont, and Margaret Hammer, owner of a canned chicken factory in Iowa. I next wrote an invita- tion to Margaret Davidson, hostess of the Hamilton Hotel in Bermuda and Jeanette Cap- lette, leader of a group of biologists who are analyzing coral on that island. That completed our list. The following week at the club we were greeted by Herbert McKenny, president of the club. While we were talking, a group entered, and we saw Anne Burdett and her newly acquired millionaire husband, and Everett MacDonald, with his fiancee. The hostess of the evening was none other than Edith Farwell. She designated some of the distinguished guests present. ‘On your right, two tables over, is Earl Caisse, city editor of the New York Times, accompanied by Doris Coulliard.”’ “Is that Ray Carr over there?” drawled Killay. “Yes,” answered Edith, “he has just come Fast with his wife from his cattle ranch in Wyoming.” Thereupon our hostess left us to announce the famous piano team Westine and McRae. Hazel Clapper and Leona Dohla followed in a dance number. While dinner was being served, we noted that our waitresses were Marion Wilfert, Mary Walsh. and Evelyn Porter. Pennery suddenly spied an old friend at another table, the former Rena Mackey, now Mrs. Paul Chase. Seated at the same table were Laurette Lyonnais and Hiland Kingston. Francis Toolin, a reporter for that flourishing Leominster news journal came over to our table with Warren Bentley, football coach at the University of Southern California.

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