Alcester High School - Cubette Yearbook (Alcester, SD)

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Yesterday Once More The decade was over and who was sorry? A new decade had begun and who was optimistic? Clear- ly those at Alcester High looked with hope at the future, yet memories of the 70’s linger on in the hearts of those who grew up then. The 1980’s found Americans having fewer chil- dren, living an average of 69 years, and moving from cities to suburbs. Although these statements are fairly widespread, they didn't directly affect the average student at AHS. A subject closer to their hearts, or rather pocketbooks, was skyrocket- ing gasoline prices, which produced a generation of trained conservers. The latter part of the decade showed a parking lot full of the smaller breed of econo-cars, rather than the larger, luxury models. The nation was also faced with a scandal that touched nearly all classes of life. A Poll released in 1970 revealed Richard Nixon as the most admired American, yet by the end of the decade he was the most talked about man in the U.S. for that period, only this time for his role in Watergate. The event shook the country and its effects were endless. Politicians who were ruined numbered in the doz- en as well as giving citizens a skeptical view of government as a whole. During the mid 70’s much attention was focused on the skies. Men at NASA guided the Viking ship through the atmosphere and space with the aid of powerful telescopes to land it on Mars, making it the first such ship to be touched down successfully on another planet. In 1978 people all over the world watched the sky with anticipation, loking for a piece of the falling explorer, Skylab, which finally landed in Australia. Student at Alcester, along with people of the whole nation, celebrated our country’s bicenten- nial, a major event of the year in 1976. This was also the year when James Earl Carter was elected President of the United States, partly because of his image of honesty, a most desireable trait after Watergate. Fashions and trends were a major news item in Alcester too. Styles switched from leisure suits and white belts to cigarette-leg designer jeans, but even though the designers took to printing their initials on the outside of jeans, Levis still held the honors of being top sellers. Below the knee dress- es, also known as “midies”, pushed the miniskirts over the edge, only to find they were surviving to reappear in the 80’s. There were also those who tried to experiment with new hairstyles. Some blew it dry, while others had it shagged. Some liked it straight, and others opted for a permanent

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Upper right-Homecoming A burns as Jolynne Crawford and Kris- ten Treiber look on. Upper left-A typical study hall scene Above- Macho Matt shows off Cub shirts sold by A Club Below- This must be a result of Muppet mania Lower right- Freshman girls display feeling of “togetherness 3

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Upper left- Enthusiastic booster at District Tourney, Upper right- 8th graders display hats during Spirit Week, Home- coming 1979; Middle left- Swing Choir members practicing on Weird Wednes- day during Spirit Week; Middle right- Miss Lund “Clowning around” on Halloween as Lisa Swanson and Nancy Berdale give encouragement; Above- among classes Mr. Bergjord seems to have had enough; Sharon Peterson prepares for next class; Pep Band lifts spirits at Pep Rally; Mr. Carlson giving art lessons to Jackie, Brenda, and Toshia. wave. Jewelry and other essentials for the “in’ crowd were pierced ears, mood rings, contacts, and eventually digital watches. Calculators of all types were a familiar sight around school. If you were lonely, you talked to your plants, and if they wouldn’t listen, you talked to your pet rock. Adi- das shoes were the status symbol, because they meant you were a member of that ever growing crowd of health enthusiasts. People rode bicycles, became dedicated joggers, but only if they had all of the right high-priced equipment, and played tennis. When they realized that tennis was a very difficult game, they switched to raquetball. A major point in the entertainment scene was the death of “The King of Rock and Roll”- Elvis Presley. His was a life which touched both stu- dents of AHS and their parents. He influenced music more than most singers could hope for, and his style will be a landmark in the history of mu- sic. The Bee Gees led teenagers in the disco craze, a movement developed by John Travolta in “Satur- day Night Fever”. Stevie Wonder, Willie Nelson, KISS, Abba, Elton John, Fleetwood Mac, ZZ Top, and Boston were singers and bands whose names will long be remembered. Farrah Fawcett and Bo Derek reigned as pinup queens of the decade, while Bruce Jenner, Eric Estrada, and Robert Redford were favorites among the girls. Popular movies include: “Godfather I and II”, “Star Wars”, “Love Story”, “Jaws I and II”, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”, “Omen”, “M A S H”, “Kramer Vs. Kramer”, and, of course, the TV movie blockbuster, “Roots”. Television also led to the popularity of Jim Henson’s “Muppets”, and subsequently the Academy Award nomination of Miss Piggy, and outspoken but loveable puppet. Some not so loveable characters in the news were the Ayatollah Khomeini and a group of mili- tant students who seized the U.S. Embassy in Iran and took captive 50 American hostages. This news and other world events prompted talk of renewing the draft and including women, but soon Congress decided against registering women, even though equal rights crusaders were all for it. And so, this was the news, and the people who made it real, and important. The changing times, and the events they were marked by had left their sign on the students at AHS. It was the close of an era, but only the beginning of a new challenge for those who would face it. Yes, the past was gone, and always would be, but many will forever cher- ish thoughts of friends, being young, and the times they called the best of their lives. 5