West Reading High School - Vaquero Yearbook (West Reading, PA)

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i THE 1934 BEACON 35 Alumni Play The third annual production of the dramatics division of the West Reading High School Alumni Association was staged March 22nd, and 23rd. The comedy, Once There Was a Princess was coached by Miss Helen Ahrens. This production was very well received and no efforts were spared to make it a success, The Alumni Association each year sponsors a holif day dance and a commencement dinner dance with the graduating class as guests of honor. The association sponsors the awards of the bronze, silver and gold pins for scholarship in the High School. April 13, 1934. The Dramatic Club of West Reading High School presented a play entitled 'LThe Golden Touch. The characters were as follows: King Midas .......v....,..,.....,.... Thomas Holsclaw Marigold, his daughter .............. Virginia Kuhn Althea, spirit of his dead queen Jane Drenning The Stranger ........................ Ralston Bingaman Hagen, the chancellor ....,..,,,,..,.. Luther Shultz Graff, El Servant ............. ........ R obert Ensslen Mescha, Graff's wife ,,,,,,,,,,.,,,,,,,,,,,,, jean Mays Amiel, a page .....,................ Margaret Zartman Gomer, a peasant ...,...............,...... Peter Ponzol Cooks ............ Byron Wolfe, David Eckenroad Scullery Boy ,...,.,,,......,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Werner Vogel The Yellow Shadowi' Strange sounds, strange disappearances, and arms lifting people into unknown terrors-and through it all some comedy to relieve the tension the action produces. All these happenings took place in the Senior class play, The Yellow Shadow. Betty Wertz played the part of Mildred, who went to a lonely island to take possession of a house that had been bequeathed to her. The mysterious Chinaman was played by Richard Maurer and Charles Alderman provided a great deal of humor in the role of il liick sheriff. The coroner, jenny Steel, was not quite sure what her duties were-it was the lirst murder in the county. fln private life she is Madeliiie Reutherj, Ruth Weiirich played an excellent lead as Alice Perkins, a chum of Mildreifs and Marjorie Guest as Hazel Wzlyiie was presented as an easily upset old maid under psychic influence. Velma Turbitt and Robert Shearer played the parts of Nell and Jed Travis, a strange couple which was very much under suspicion. Donald Schoelkopf did an excellent bit of deceiving as attorneys sometimes do. His name was Gilbert Wright. John Ellis was just himself playing the part of Herbert Nlarvin. He had lived in Singapore. We had a capacity crowd and they all liked this thriller, an out- outstanding event of the school year. ORGANIZATION NEWS Adult Education The Adult Education movement in West Reading received impetus this year through the aid given by the Federal Government. The government as a part of its relief program pro- vided money for supplying teachers for classes in education and recreation for adults. In cooperation with this movement the School authorities offered the use of the building and in the month of December classes were started in Household Arts, Public Speaking and Politif cal Economics. Later, classes were formed in typewriting, Practical Science and Gymnasium for men and for women. The seven classes now have an enrollment of about eighty men and women. The classes are made as interesting as possible without using books or requiring any homefwork. They are largely discussional in nature, with the inf structor leading the discussion. It is to be hoped that this movement, started as a relief measure, will be continued as a per- manent part of the educational program of the community. Knittin, Needles This club was organized by the Senior girls, under the guidance of Miss Humma. The ofhcers of the club were as follows: President, Catherine Behrenshauseng Vice' President, Eleanore Rhoadsg Secretary and Treasurer, Dorothy Deysher. The members are: Dorothea Schlottman, Dorothy Bohn, Edna Fisher, Florence Finger, Janet Foultz, Dorothy Deysher, Marjorie Guest, Lola Heller, Madeline Rhoads, Eleanore Rhoads, Catherine Behrenf shausen, Velma Turbitt and Ruth Angstadt, The club sewed clothing and provided for a needy family in West Reading during the Christmas holidays. In April the Club made a complete Baby Layette, which was to be given to a needy family in West Reading. The girls enjoyed many social meetings, and many good times together, so they hope the Senior Girls of 1935 will continue the active and enjoyable work of the 'LKnittin Needles.

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34 THE 1934 BEACON Twofpiano numbers Minuet E! Gavotte SaintfSaens Introduction Rachmaninoif Malaguena Lecuona Wilma Mae Yoder-Florence Hartz Plank Twofpianos Roses from the South StraussfHeilig Marvanna Keim-Russell F. Heilig Senior Card Party Cn January 26, 1934 the Senior Class held a card party which attracted quite a few people. Cake, candy and soft drinks were on sale and prizes were offered to each table. West Reading Wins Debate from Mt. Penn 3-0 Decision February 23, 1934. The West Reading affirmative won the debate Resolved that the United States should adopt the essential features of the British system of radio operation and control, from the Mt. Penn negative debating team by a 3fO decision here tofday. The West Reading team consisted of Marie Kruecke, Velma Turbitt, Betty Wertz, Janet Foultz as alternate. Mt. Penn was represented by joseph Richter, Herbert Gross, Bertha Kalish, Dorothy Wentzel as alternate. The judges were Dr. Eugene Page, Rev. Thomas Rhoads, and Mr. E. Raymond Henf dricks. The debate was attended by the pupils of the high school and members of the faculty. West Reading Wins Debate Ar Boyertown February 23, 1934. Our negative debating team won a 1 to O decision at Boyertown. The question for debate was, uResolved: That the United States should adopt the essenf tial features of the British system of radio conf trol and operation. There was only one judge, Mr. William T. Wagner, as the officials of Boyer-town High School were unable to obtain any other judges. The speakers for the West Reading team were Jane Drenning, Edna Fisher and Ruth Angstadt. They were assisted by Mildred Focht, Marjorie Guest, Foster Griihth and Robert Shearer. The speakers for Boyertown were: Ruth Yoder, Captain, Jack McDay, Herbert Leinbach and Charles Hartenstine. Have You Seen Redn Under the direction of Miss Kline February 29, 1934. The pupils enjoyed a play produced by the Junior Class entitled, Have You Seen Red? The cast of characters are as follows: Jared fRedj Sims ................ Thomas Holsclaw Bobbie Adams ....... ........ Mother Sims ...... Father Sims ........ Ione Sims ........ Jack Adams ..... Billy Sims ....... Carol Clark ......... Hilda ............... Denny .......... Kirk ............................ ..... .Ralston Bingaman ............Ruth Reber ................Luther Shultz .Margaret Yeagley ...........Bruce DeTurk ........George Hinkley ..Pauline Zechman Evelyn Bagenstose .James Dalrymple .........Peter Ponzol Gregory Lamoure ........ ......... R obert Keller Sylvestre Lamoure ....... .......... L eonard Kamm Mrs. Clark ........................... .......Serta Schmidt St. Patrickis Dance and Card Party On Friday, March 16, 1934, a St. Patrick's Dance was held in the West Reading High School gymnasium by the Senior Class. The Gymnasium was decorated unusally beautifully and uniquely, with green boughs, crepe paper and cardboard pipes and other symbols of St. Patricksf A canopy of ballons was hung up and the ballons were dropped after intermission. Bob Mason's Serenaders furnished the music. Cards were also enjoyed.

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36 THE 1934 BEACON Dramatic Club The Delta Mu Theta Dramatic Club was organized January 5, 1934. ,The following were elected officers for the year: President-Ralston Bingaman Vice-President-Virginia Kuhn Secretary-Ruth Reber Treasurer-Jenner Wilson Miss Kline was chosen as advisor. Several weeks later Margaret Yeagley was elected Manager and Luther Shultz, Production Manager. A number of programs were held during the season at the meetings. The Gathering of Nuts was given, The Storm was read by Margaret Yeagley and The Lover's Errand was enacted by members of the club. The apprentices attended their first meeting March 9, 1934. The requirements for member' ship were discussed with them. The Dramatic Club is now preparing a prof gram for the assembly, The Golden Touch. The purpose of this club is to create a finer appreciation for drama and arts in the minds of the pupils. Journal Club Among the new enterprises that have been organized, is the Journal Club. This group of Senior High School Students is endeavoring to produce a school paper. At its first meeting our officials were installed: George Hinkley, President, and Robert Landis, SecretaryfTreasurer. ' Our first paper was satisfactory, considering that it was our first publication. We hope to produce a more successful paper next year. Debating Club The second year for the West Reading High School Debating Club, organized under the directorship of Mr. Yeich, found the member' ship numbering an unlucky thirteen-unlucky for opponents. The principal activity consisted, of course, in preparing for the County Inter' High School debates, with the question:- Resolved that the United States should adopt the essential features of the British system of radio operation and control. For study and preliminary debate, the Club was divided on the two sides as follows: Aflirmaf tive: Turbitt, Wertz, Thompson, Maurer, Foultz and Krueckeg Negative: Drenning, Focht, Fisher, Angstadt, Shearer, Guest and Griffith. From these were chosen, as county competition speakers, for the Aflirmative, who debated at home: Turbitt, Wei'tz, Kruecke and Foultz as alternate. The Negative Speakers, who debated away, were: Drenning, Fisher, Angstadt and Shearer as alternate. Chess In january, a chess club was organized in West Reading High School. There were about 20 members in this club, who played after school. They also taught several other students to play the Royal Game. The members enjoyed many good games of chess although no one was crowned the chamf pion. Nevertheless, there are several good players in the club. Mr. Lantz is our advisor and a good chess player. The members are as follows: Donald Bagenstose, Charles Alderman, Donald Schoelf kopf, Leonard Young, Curtis johnson, Thomas Atkinson, Evelyn Bagenstose, Dante Ponzol, Robert Landis, Hans Buhler, Ralston Bingaman, and Mary Jane Thompson. Hi-Y Club The West Reading HifY held weekly meet' ings on Tuesday evenings at 7:30. These meet' ings were for transacting business and for plan' ning for the future. A number of learn to dance programs were sponsored in the High School Gym by the club. The club visited the observatory of Mr. YVebster, of Wyomissing, where a lecture was heard and the members were allowed to look at some of the constellations. Induction ceromonies were held at the Y. M. C. A. for inducting new members, these were colorful services and are not easily for' gotten. The club was much interested in the ROYAL GAME OF CHESS. Many of the members were taught the game by others of the fellows who knew how. Varsity Letter Club The Varsity Letter Club was organized under the direction of Miss Lenhart and Mr. Shaner. The eligibility for this club is having earned a Varsity Letter in any one sport. The officers of the club are: President, Peter Ponzol, Vice' President, Richard Merritt, Secretary-Treasurer, Jane Drenning.