Averill Park High School - Threshold Yearbook (Averill Park, NY)

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lam ffophecy OLLOWING our class day picnic we decided to have a theater party at the Troy Theater. It was an excellent show entitled Nostradamus and people who saw it predicted that you could really see into the future if you were in the right frame of mind. We went in as a group at seven o'clock that night and enjoyed the show immensely. l wouldn't say that we could tell what is going to happen in the future, but it did arouse our imaginations considerably. They were aroused so much, in fact, that I suggested that we go a few blocks below Congress Street on Second Street to see Troy's most famous oracle who calls herself Madam Marie. There are fakes and fakes but the predictions of Madam Marie are phenomenal. You can imagine the surprised look on Marie's face when she saw our large number, but she escorted us in. The lights were very dim and it took a while before our eyes became accustomed to the semi-darkness. There was a weird atmosphere about the place. You could feel the cold shivers on your back. You knew that something was going to happen and you wondered what it would be. You wanted to know - and yet you didn't want to know. If the future held happiness and success, you anticipated the revelation: but if it held unpleasantness, you shuddered. Madam Marie let us into the main reading room and promised that she would hold a group seance. It wasn't customary, but she thought that it might be arranged if our group would concentrate and act as one mind. We were seated on what seemed to be a bleacher some- what elevated. There in the middle of the room below us on a heavily draped table was a glistening crystal ball, quite large in proportion and shining with a peculiar light. The inside of the glass kept changing in color: cloud formations took place and as you gazed at the ball you would swear that a part of the cloud formation became alive and took on your appearance. The miniature figure would dance around and smile and chat with the other figures. Even before Madam Marie sat down to un- veil the future we knew that something startling was going to take place. We sat enraptured. The crystal ball, only fifteen inches in diameter, suddenly filled the room and we looked into our own faces. They did not seem to recognize us at all, but went on acting as if they were a separate body. Madam Marie assured us that we would be pleasantly surprised by what was going to take place and warned us that any outbreak would spoil the seance. 28

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We give and bequeath to Herbert Clark, Arthur Ferguson's ability to play basketball and his art for making baskets. Marion Ewald reluctantly gives Russ to any girl who wants to go to all R. P. I. affairs. We give and bequeath Katherine Knapp's wittiness to Charles McAllister to add to his own. To any girl who Wants a trim figure we give and bequeath Edna Malik's athletic enthusiasm. To the Centralian Staff of the coming years we give and bequeath Mary Teal's mimeographing job. To Douglas Beck we leave the pleasure of acquiring James Craw- ford's trigger laugh. Attention girls! We give and bequeath Elaine Mallouk's list of acquaintances in Troy High and Catholic Central to any girl who wants loads of dates. To Craig Kingsbury we give and bequeath Clyde Rescott's small physique and coordination. To any fellow who can't control his hair or has the time to try we give and bequeath Gale Mosher's wave. We give and bequeath Ralph Wehnau's cheerleading ability to Richard Senter. John Dreis slyly leaves his mania to argue to the students of any class who wish to prolong their lesson. We give and bequeath Beatrice Teal's and Helen Krause's affection for each other and ability to get along well together to Lura Adams and Roberta Zweig. To Florence Lake we leave Lois Rescott's effervescence because she has plenty to spare. To Grace Saxby we give and bequeath Dorothy Casey's ability to snag a husband. To Clara Belle Leavenworth we give and bequeath Nancy Wid- strand's interest in science and her good marks in the subject. Doris Jesse's ladylike manner we pass on to Hattie Williams. We give and bequeath Dolores Vincent's diamond ring to any girl who hasn't high hopes of receiving one someday. We give and bequeath Jean Horton's sparkling soft brown eyes to Joan Lampert. To Mr. Stahlman we give and bequeath our appreciation for' his advice, cooperation, consideration, and his everlasting patience. b To our teachers we give and bequeath our hearty thanks for the help and encouragement they have given us and our gratitude for their trying to give us what we need to meet the world. We give and bequeath to the student body piles of homework, dread- ful thoughts of final exams and happy high school years! In testimony whereof, we hereunto set our hand and seal, in the presence of the witnesses named below, this 13th day of June in the year nineteen hundred and forty seven. Witnesses: Kilroy Charlie McCarthy Mortimer Snerd 27

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As we sat gazing at the figures before us Nancy Abbott took the forestage. She was immaculately dressed in a costume designed by Pat Burnett, New York's famous costume designer known from continent to continent and excelling the most notable Parisian designers. Nancy's tall stately figure is ideal, for there are no more short, plump women. Science has revolutionized the human figure. Her glamorous Titian hair is the envy of all the fair sex and she is a symbol of beauty. As we Watch- ed, Nancy and I visited the Cupboard Emporium, covering an acre of ground and catering to the elite of Northern New York. It has gained world-wide reputation for its French Cuisine under the direction of the white-capped chef, Jimmy Crawford, who speaks more elegant French than the French themselves, and the aroma of his cooking actually makes your mouth water. Besides the famous cooking there are most spectac- ular nightly floor shows, dazzling chorus girls, swooning crooners, and the smoothest tap dancer you've ever seen. As we were eating our entree some glamorous chorus girls glided 'across the glistening floor in perfect harmony. As we watched them go through their act we recognized Lois Rescott, Helen Dziadyk, Marion Ewald, Milly Sturgess, and Ileen Wilday in the large group of over forty. While we were waiting for our main course to be served, a brown- haired maiden came by our table calling in a lilting voice, Cigarettes, can- dy, chewing gum. The voice sounded very familiar and I asked Nancy who it was. Why, that's Nancy Widstrandf' It seemed incredible that we should meet so many of our school mates right here. But our surprises weren't ended for the next number on the program was a crooner who shadowed Bing and Frankie - Ciale The Voice Mosher accompanied by the inimitable Rita Lesinski. We had heard so much about his singing and her playing that we wondered if it were true. It was truly marvelous, but being of sterner stuff than the teen-agers, we did not so easily succumb. They made quite a scene shouting and rushing for his autograph, The enchantment of The Voice wasn't enough for the evening. We were even more spellbound by the soft shoe tap dance of Clyde Rescott who could cartwheel, backflip, and frontflip without losing time with the music. Across the room from us we heard a familiar giggle and than a shout. Hi! Marge! Hi! Nancy! Won't you join us? It was none other than Dot Casey and her husband, Frank. We joined them at their table and began to talk over old times. You can imagine our surprise when Dot told us that Phyllis Dixon and Norma Bailey were now the proprietresses of the Cupboard. After the show we rushed back to congratulate Norma and Phyllis on their Wonderful entertainment and they suggested that we hold a re- union for the members of the Class of 1947 the next evening after the 29