Bennett High School - Beacon Yearbook (Buffalo, NY)

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,rumours as 1955-56 Wfe enrolled in what might be considered the autumnal season of our years at Bennett. First carrie the football games. How proud we were to have representatives on the cheerleaders squad--.Iudy Seyse and jim Guilford! In this world of burnished orange and yellow pomporns. Ray Skaine was given Honorable Mc-ntirrn on the All- High team. It was during our Junior year that Bennett presented Arsenic and Old Lace, the first play to be produced in five years. The Class of 1957 was represented by George Strauss, Phyllis Mack. and David Frey, who car- ried leading roles. In March we had the opportunity to elect our class officers. To these positions of honor and trust, we named Larry Edelman, President, Gail Chinell, Vice-President, Sheila Rush, Secretary, and Tom Klein, Treasurer. YVhen our ofjficers had been elected, we looked forward to Junior Day. It was on this day that we were formally introduced to the student body. Jayne Truckenport and George Strauss were the winners of the annual Mercer Speaking Contest. Ken Kreinheder told of his trip to New York which had been conducted by the Rotary Club of Buffalo. Assemblies always constituted an important part of 4-1? our life at Bennett. The Fisher Body Guild presented an interesting program on automotive design. Gail lVIesne- koff relived her trip to Israel with the school by showing colored slides. The true meaning of brotherhood was understood when a letter of appreciation from Bennetl's newly adopted Korean brother was read. Bob X'N'ells was back with such stars as -Iackie -Iocko and the Four Voices. Under the direction of Mr. Kub- litx, Bennett presented its own celebrities in the film Nc Go To Bennett. The annual Variety Show was also an important part of our junior life. We were very happy to capture the gaiety of the lX4ardi Gras on our own stage. Spring ofhcially arrived and so did baseball. lYith our boys in top shape, we won first place and tl1e coveted Cornell Cup. The tennis team set a city record by secur- ing every berth on the All-High team. We eagerly looked forward to the Junior Prom. XYith the committees in full swing and the ticket sales mount- ing, our anticipation increased. The big night camel How delighted we were with our brightly decorated ball- room and the dreamy music of jack Barshter's Band! Some of the golden Moon Glo sifted off onto us, and we Juniors went home radiant with the knowledge that memory had painted this perfect night in colors that would never fade. Then carrie those final exams in which we were sure that Tom Klein would make good. for he had main- tained the highest average for the academic year. As we left Bennett in June. we looked forward to our Senior year, and hoped it would be as successful as those in the past. W SENIORS --f 1956-57 Seniors at lastl It just did not seem possible, but here we were at the opening of a new school year. It was not long before we began to want our class rings and cries of 'WN'here is the jeweler?' resounded from the walls. The fall sports program was off with a bang when three new Senior cheerleaders were selected. For the second time in our years at Bennett the basket- ball team won the Yale Cup. The swimming team did fairly well also, finishing fourth in the All-High meet. Class Day and the Senior Prom finally arrived and what an exciting weekend they formed! Afterwards we settled down to some good hard studying in preparation for exams and Graduation. And so, we came to the close of our last and winter season of high school life. It really was not so long and cold as we thought it might be. Rays of sunshine crept in everywhere, bringing the black and white world of the classroom to life. We wish to thank all those who made our stay so pleasant, and those who created so many fond memories for us. Thank you. and goodby.

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SENIOR CLASS HISTORY Have you ever realized how much your four years at Bennett resemble the four seasons of the year? The Freshman year is like spring. Everything is new and fresh, waiting for discovery. During the Sophomore, or summer year, the excitement wears off, and deep, richly colored memories are developed. Our Junior days are similar to autumn and we gather in knowledge, as the farmer gathers his golden harvest. The Senior year seems, at first, like a bleak, winter day, but soon we can see the approach of another new and exciting season. FRESHMEN 4 1953-1954 How vivid and fresh are our impressions of that first day at Bennett, as vivid and fresh as the colors of spring. After surviving the traditional hazing, we ran into a barrage of registration cards, white ones, yellow ones, all colors. Suddenly we were startled to hear a trumpet sound forth, followed by homeroom notices, and an an- nouncement stating, f'This is BBS, the Bennett Broad- casting Systemf' Of course, classes soon began and we were forced to find our way around the hallowed halls of Bennett. The upperclassmen were most helpful with f ' ln advice such as, Go down those stairs to the ca eteria After the first scrambled days, we had the opportunity to explore the innermost workings of our new home. We discovered the Student Council, and sent Dick Kulick to the Executive Committee, as our Freshman Repre- sentative. Tom Klein and George Strauss were among the first to discover the secret of study, and they arose from the multitude to lead the class in scholastic standing. En masse, we discovered, too, that Bennett has an as- sembly every week. During one of our first programs we were honored by the presence of Pruth McFarlin, an unusually talented tenor and a victim of infantile para- lysis. In November, Mr. John Sloan presented us with an interesting program on the effects of liquid air. To our amazement, by treating a banana with liquid air, he was able to use it as a hammer. He even drove nails into a piece of wood. Later in the year Dr. Harvey Rice, President of Buffalo State Teachers College started everyone thinking by asking, 'fAre you a thermometer or a thermostat? Then, to show our appreciation for all the assemblies we had enjoyed, we presented The Fresh- man Assembly of 1953-54! Many of us created skits, songs, and dances centering on Abe Lincoln. February brought 'fCarnival', time to Bennett fthe Variety Showj. Tom Hendricks, Peter Cormack, Judy Seyse, and Bernie Levine added their talents to this spectacular production. In girls' sports we frosh put up a noteworthy fight. We were runners-up in every sport. Our first year proved to be even more successful in the inter-school sports program. We won several games on the gridiron, and Bennett teams brought home the basketball trophy. We secured second place in the city baseball contest and one of our classmates, Don Dreyfuss, made All-High in tennis. judging by our first year at Bennett, we were well on our way. EU SOPHOMORES - 1954-55 'fSummertime, and the livin' is easy,', - or at least that is the way we pictured our Sophomore year. Our life was painted in the deep, rich colors of mid-summer. Everyone was glowing and sparkling with the thought that we were no longer those little Freshmen. But we finally settled down to a year as dignified, yet fun-loving 'fwise fools. It's magicln we cried as General Electric presented some startling effects with chemistry in Bennett's auditor- ium.' We saw strawberry sodas foaming out of test tubes and an electric train being run by sound. Kelly green was prominent on St. Patrick's Day when we were excited by a visit from the talented Colgate Thir- teen. In addition, we learned that the 'fMagic Carpet,', or the Variety Show, had made a safe landing. It was during this year that two words became known as synonyms for terrific assembly! They were 6'Bob Wells. Everyone developed red hands from applauding Robert Wagner, Russell Armes, Marian Caruso, and the Four Lads when they appeared on our stage. Wfe had a little bad luck in football that year, but when the basketball season arrived, we improved to finish in a tie for second place. The swimming team did even better. Splash! Bennett was off to an almost un- believable season, which ended with our team the winner at the exciting All-High meet. The student body re- ceived a real thrill when the tennis and baseball teams captured the Bapst and Cornell Cups respectively. Of course we went to classes too. Most of us turned green whenever we even thought about geometry home- work. We swore we would never look at another triangle. However, one exception proved the rule 5 he was Roy Levitch. In English we met Will Shakespeare and Julius Caesaru despite our valiant efforts to evade them. Our classmates became active in extra-curricular ac- tivities. Dick Kulick was re-elected to the Executive Committee. Ethel Ward and Linda Fried did a fine job of editing the Sophomore Column of the BEACON. While it did not seem possible, the halfway mark had been reached in our high school career.

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THE IOURNEY In the beginning, there was chaos, The tempo was fast and uncertain, But a few were wise and guided us. They created a semi-conforming mass, And thus we embarked. At the start we were frightened and shy, For much lay ahead. We knew not How Fate, with her caprices, would greet us. Yet we were willing to try ourselves, Yea, even eager. Our confusion soon subsided. So, as the naivete wore off, We found among our fellow itinerants Souls to be explored, welcomed as friends, Ideals to be aired. The months continued their endless cycle. We knew that one-fourth of our journey was through, And sensed that as we must assimilate, We must also grasp all possible. They did not let us tarry. Onward we went, and became almost Too secure. Idlers called us wise foolsj' And perhaps we were. There was much nonsense, But we were young then and knew no better. Still the wise ones led us higher. And we followed them and lo! It was good, for they strengthened us And gave us much we can never lose. The wise ones surely guarded us from many pitfalls, And we are grateful. Before we knew it, our wanderings were half done, And, as before we had been too confident, now Again we were unsteady, as at the first, For although much was behind us, we knew Even more lay ahead. On we trudged and our toil was heavy. Our bodies grew and our minds matured, And we chose new leaders, for, though The wise ones had been kind to us, we desired Men from our own ranks. It was nearly over and our goal loomed bright. The last trail was hard, we underwent much. We were examined and found Ht to complete Our pilgrimage. Yea, the finale, we thought, Certainly was unavoidable. And hail! We finally arrived at journeyis end, And - strange - it was not really the terminus, For, though our circuit through your hallowed halls of learning, Oh Bennett, is no more, we must continue still, Our travels now to be on the Road of Life. 18 jane Ann Vogel