Beaver Country Day School - Senior Yearbook (Brookline, MA)

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for Fillies, celebrate this evening the fifth anniversary of their establishment. They therefore present a special program of the We Mind Your Business' Quiz Show. Where were you last night?’’ The show was on. After various preliminaries, Whitic turned to the business of the evening. And now we take up our spyglass and ask our familiar question, ‘What's new with you?’ Is there anyone in the studio audience this evening brave enough to answer? Don’t forget, if you're getting in a rut, and haven’t learned anything since your school days, now’s the time to begin. We'll teach you—free! And if you're an apt pupil, you’ll receive the reward of your labor, and if you have some new bit of information, we ll buy it from you! We love to learn, you know! Ah! That’s the spirit! I sec two hands right together over there. Come right up, and we'll sec how fresh and sparkling your information is. Or arc you coming to learn? Well, whichever it is, we’re glad to have you with us this evening.” As Whitie paused in her running patter, I turned and saw coming up the aisle behind me, Ruth Benjamin and Sally Browne, Sally following a discreet distance behind her boss. Well,” said Whitic as they reached the stage, “and what is new with you this evening?” Why,” answered salesman Ruth, thoughtfully, ”1 can’t think of anything newer than the new Town and Country Deluxe Club Coupes. New plastic upholstery . . . And genuine unbreakable glass body,” chimed in Sally. “New for Town . . . ,” continued Ruth. And New for Country,” concluded her secretary. “Well, that is news!” declared Whitic ”1 think wc shall have to present these ladies who cannot forsake their duties even in the evening with the object of their devotion ... a Town and Country Deluxe Club Coupe!” So the triumphant salesman and her secretary departed to the tune of much hand-clapping and cheering. After Ruth and Sally came several more contestants, a short and tender tinkle from Phyllis’ xylophone, and a glamorous song from Miriam. Then Whitic stepped to the microphone again. Now, ladies and gentlemen,” she began, because this is such a special show, and wc don't want anyone to miss Miss McCarthy’s Perpetual Motion , we are [37]

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Class Prophecy The cJock on the wall outside said seven-twenty as I pressed into the BCDS studio, buried in the milling crowd that was trying to get scats for the special Fifth Anniversary of Frilly Frocks for Fillies Show. Rosie had called me up just the night before and offered me a ticket. She said it was going to be a very unusual show. It took me some time to settle myself comfortably in all that crowd, but when I was finally seated, there were still three minutes left before we went on the air. I saw Rosie in the control booth, looking as calm and composed as ever, but I guessed from the way Pat, her secretary, was rushing around on last-minute errands, that Rosie was more nervous than she looked. On the stage, too, last-minute preparations were in order. Whitie apparently, was politely stating to the sponsor and three accompanying dignitaries, that she could not make the advertisement as they wished. Sherrie was gracefully insistent; Jan Wogan, Phoebe and Dabby supported her. From my seat in the first row, I could hear Sherrie repeat, “Frilly Frocks for Fillies make a Budding Beauty the Belle of the Ball. Jane’s sharp advertising sense nodded approval, and Phoebe and Dabby, their artistic eyes seeing the Budding Beauty bobbing about the ballroom in a frilly, Frilly Frock, also nodded emphatically, but Whitie was determined, though tactful. “It will take three seconds too long to say that twice,’ I heard her say. “Couldn't you substitute ...” I couldn't hear what it was Whitie wanted to substitute, because suddenly there came a clatter of xylophone hammers from the other side of the stage. Phyllis had come out and begun to limber up. I remember hearing that she was going to play a new and very complex version of “Perpetual Motion in honor of the occasion. The orchestra was warming up also, under the distinguished baton of Joan Sheplcy, conductor of the BCDS all-girl orchestra. Most of the cast seemed to be present, but I still couldn’t find Miriam. She was to sing on this program. I searched first the stage, then the control booth. There she was! She looked as lovely as usual, conferring with the evcr-mirthful Margie about the sound-effects. Margie served double purpose in the studio. Not only was she an excellent sound-effects director, but was also hired to touch off the audience’s laughter in the proper places. All she had to do was giggle her infectious giggle to create an outburst from the assemblage. It seemed forever to the expectant audience, but finally the three minutes passed, all last-minute bustle ceased, the light flashed on over the control booth, and Whitie stepped forward. “Good-evening, ladies and gentlemen. Our sponsors, Frilly Frocks [36]

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now going to choose lucky numbers from the telephone book and invite those we call to listen in We will also tell these fortunate people about the contest that closes the program; the prize for the person who can tell us something we don't already know about Perpetual Motion' All right! Here goes! Eenie mccnie minie mo . . . the first number to be drawn is that of the Wcstside Mental Hospital I think they will probably be able ro tell us something we don't already know! Hello! May I speak to Dr Fitzgerald, please? This is the Frilly Frocks for . . . Thank you, Miss Woll. To the studio audience, The head of the institution is busy at the moment, but her secretary says she will give her the message. She and two distinguished members of the staff—the head psychologist, Dr Wechsler, and the chief physiotherapist, Miss Barbara Hall, arc listening to the program. They find it extremely refreshing, especially Dr Wechsler. She likes to study our techniques—Oh, thank you, Miss Woll. I hope she can find time. Goodbye . . . Well, now let’s sec . . . our next number seems to be that of the-----Theatre. This is just about intermission time so we might be able to catch some of the cast. Hello! Yes? Who is this, please? The scenery crew? Ginny Biddle and Wendy Grey? This is . . . oh, you're listening to We Mind Your Business . Are any of the cast listening? Whitie turned to the audience. Sheila Cordinglcy, the scenery designer, is there and a few of the cast; one of the dancers, Ethel Lectc, and the leading singer, Dotty Rau. The others are too busy—they don't know what they're missing, I tell you! It seemed that everyone we called after that was ignorant of the tremendous show then in progress. Four numbers were rung before we found anyone who was listening. The first number was that of a boarding school. Four teachers were there, trying to decide what program to listen to. The athletic teacher, Miss Shepard, and Miss Bliss, the chemistry teacher, were both in favor of the Blue versus Brown baseball game ... it was a big league game! But Miles. Briggs and Fourcl, who tauglu Russian and French respectively, wanted very much to hear the latest Shostakovich masterpieces to be played by the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Our persuasive announcer had very little difficulty convincing them that they could settle the matter by listening to Frilly Frocks. Next came the office of the up and coming international paper, The Eager Beaver . All!” I thought, surely the staff of this paper will be listening in. The Eager Beaver is advertised as the paper that knows all, tells all . But alas and alack, they were too busy getting out an extra to listen. However, Gail Falvey, the editor, did promise to send her photographer-reporter team of Ritchic-O’Neil over in time to get the big story for the extra. The third place called was a summer camp. Miss MacLure, the secretary to the head of the camp, answered the telephone. She said the camp head, Miss Blanchard, was having a conference with the counselors at the moment, but she knew that four of the counselors would rush to listen the minute Miss Blanchard let them go. They always did. Whitie asked for their names so she could send them a letter of congratu- [38]