Benson Polytechnic High School - BluePrint Yearbook (Portland, OR)

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30, -T - .n-.PQ..LY - UESLJ ...Wa First Row: .X. Palmer, Dorothy Dickenson, Louise lluckner, C, Bailey, Maxine Koons, P. Frey, Virginia Thompson, Dorothy Chapman, S, Naimark. Second Row: K. Murhardt, M. Henderson, A. Arndt, K. Rose, XV. Cliessman, L. Simpson, T.. Amort, li. Otterstedt, P. Sinclaair Cfczss Play Stop Thief, a farcical play in three acts by Carlyle Moore, was presented by Benson at the Lincoln High Auditorium on the on the evenings of April 4 and 5 before audiences totalling twelve hundred people. Mrs. Bess Vtfhitcomb coached the play. The first week was taken up in tryouts held in room 28. Three weeks was the actual time given to the study of the play. Mrs. VVhitco1nb, Mr. Parcher, and the business Staff did all in their power to make f'Stop Thief a success in so short a time. Only one dress rehearsal was held, so it can be readily understood just how hard the entire class play cast had to work in order that the production be as nearly perfect as possible. Rehearsals were held in Mrs. NVhitcomb's office, where furniture, etc., was placed so as to correspond to the stage setting in Stop Thief . The cast is not flattering Mrs. Whitcomb the least bit by addressing her as their most worthy and beloved coach, because they know what she has to contend with during the production of a school play in which amateurs take part. The play was a suc- cess financially and artistically as an ar- dent admirer put it. The june '24 class wishes to thank Mrs. lYhiteomb for the efficient coaching and the faculty and students alike for the hearty support given them during the playing of Stop Thief . The june '24 class is also grateful to the young ladies that participated in Stop Thief . Their acting was splendid, and

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We APOLY IBl L? june 'Z 4 Class A The june '24 Class was organized Octo- ber 13, 1923. The officers elected to serve till graduation were: President ............ ........ B ill Reed Vice-President ...... ..... L ouis Amort Secretary ....... . . . Lauren Harris Treasurer ..................... Kyle Rose Sergeant-at-Arms ........... Niel Remore Secretary of Publications. .W. C. Chessman Mr. Phillip Parcher, instructor of me- chanical drawixig in room 28, and faculty adviser of the Camera Club, was chosen as faculty adviser of the Class. One of the two important undertakings of the Class is this Poly Tech. To publish this issue the Class elected Clarence Bitts editor-in-chief, and Leslie Lloyd, business manager, to Work with the Poly Tech Ad- visers, Miss Drummond, Mr. Athey, and Mr. Skei. The Poly Tech is full of pictures and passages which serve to remind us of all those things, pleasant or otherwise, which marked the more-or-less eventful course of our years at Benson. Every Senior treas- ures his Poly Tech because it is the one product which was put out by HIS class. ln this Poly Tech we have succeeded in putting that which other staffs dreamed of. VVe have succeeded in putting into this book a picture of the entire Studentbody and Faculty of the school. Under the leadership and persistent efforts of Leslie Lloyd, the advertising campaign of the Poly Tech has been a success this term. The total amount of advertisements secured being greater than that secured by any former Class. Mr. Lloyd's assistants were: Delmar Johnson and Arthur Naylor. Arthur Anderson did very good work in get- ting ads although he was not on the staff. The complete Poly Tech Staff as selected by the Editor, Business Manager, and Ad- visers is as follows: Editor in Chief ............. Clarence Bitts Business Manager .... ..... L eslie Lloyd Assistant Editor. .. ....... Harry Lang Assistant Editor ........... Earnest Austin Shop Editor ....... .... F rancis Peterson Sport Editor ..... ..... I .auren Harris Assistant Sports ....... ...., E dgar Bader Artist ...................... Kenneth Paul Assistant Business Mgr.. . .Delmar johnson Assistant Business Mgr. .... Arthur Naylor The other undertaking of the Class was a play. The Class decided to give a farce comedy, Stop Thief , and to have girls to take the feminine parts instead of having boys take these parts as was originally sug- gested. The Class was very fortunate in getting Maxine Koon, Virginia Thompson, Marian Dickinson, Louise Buckner and Dorothy Chapman to take these parts. All who saw the play will agree that the Class was right in having feminine characters for these parts and fortunate to get such girls as these to take these parts. The play was very successfully put be- fore the public in the Lincoln High School auditorium on the evenings of April 4 and 5. The last january Class has decided to hold a Grand Reunion in january, l929, and the june Class is planning to meet with them. We trust that the classes following us from now until january '29 will follow suit and make the reunion at that time one of the biggest and best reunions of high school alumnae that ever will have been held. Remember! Juniors and Sophs, and even Freshmen! In january '29 the Grand Re- union of Benson Alumnae. QMaybe we'll have a new gym or an auditorium to meet in thenj. A few days before the Class Play was given, the june Class held a Dress-up- Day -the first event of its.kind ever held in the history of Benson. It was predicted that this attempt would result in failure. due to the non-coeducational nature of the schoolg however, the june Class has shown that it is possible to show a little Class Spirit without the help of the gentler sex. On the day of the dress-up , Seniors were to be seen in every manner of garb that could be imagined. From their straw hats, derbies, and tin helmets to their white Oxfords, caulked boots, and sandals they showed that they had the spirit without which no class can be a success.

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g POLY IB! TECH St their prompt attendance at all rehearsals was commendable. The success of the class play depended largely on the feminine roles. And it was a success! Miss Maxine Koon played the role of Lola Pratt in the play entitled Seven- teen presented by the january '24 class of Washington High School. Miss Koon, as Mrs, Carr , in Stop Thief , was second to none in acting the part of an elderly, fussy type of lady. Credit must be given to her for her most extraor- dinary portrayal of Mrs Carr . Several of the audience had the nerve to inquire if Maxine naturally had that tone of voice. Miss Thompson as Nell, the lady's maid in Stop Thief, played the part of a maid exceedingly well, but she was still better as a crook's accomplice. Miss Louise Buckner played the role of leading lady in the play entitled, Mamma's Affairf' presented by the January ,24 class of Franklin High School. Miss Buckner, as Joan Carr in Stop Thief, played her part to perfection. Some thought her a professional actress. Miss Marian Dickinson of the June '24 class of Washington High School, as Madge Carr in Stop Thief, was simply exquisite as a young fiance to James Cluneyf' Miss Dorothy Chapman of the june '24 Class of Lincoln High School, as Caroline Carr in Stop Thief, was stunning. She nearly succeeded in vamping the burly Ser- geant of Police. Arthur Palmer, as James Cluney, could not have been more excited if he had been a bridegroom and a kleptomaniac. Kenneth Murhard, as Mr. Jamison, played the part of an elderly business man just as if he really had been one for years. Carson Bailey, as Dr. Willoughby, could easily have given Valentino a few good pointers on making love. Samuel Haimark, as Rev, Spelain, was a scream. He captured more than his share of laughs. We are almost certain that Sam- uel will enter the ministry . Louis Amort, as Jack Doogan, played the role of leading man. He could hold his own against any gang of crooks, and the best detectives too. It takes Louis to squeeze out of tight places. Alvin Arndt, as joe Thompson, the de- tective, set a good example for any amateur would-be detective to follow, but even the best of them sometimes miss their clue. Max Henderson, as Sergeant of Policef' and his fellow officers, Leroy Simpson as f'Officer O'Malley, Kyle Rose as Officer Clancey,', and Edward Ottersteadt as Of- ficsffr O'Brien, are close rivals to Portland's cel ent squad material here. Peter Sinclair, as A Chauffeurf' can cer- tainly Hstick ,em upn when he is looking into the barrel of an automatic in the hands of a desperate man. Peter need not go hun- gry, so long as chauffeurs are needed. Paul Frey, as XVilliam Carrf' suddenly finest. graduated into an elderly, absent-minded gentleman who caused a laugh a minute. The school orchestra played several de- lightful numbers during the performance. The business staff for Stop Thief was as follows: Coach ............... Mrs. Bess Whitcomb General Assistant ...... Mrs. Philip Parcher Business Manager. . .NVilliam D. Chessman Asst. Bus. Manager ....... Earl McCulloch Stage Manager ................ Kyle Rose Property and Costume Manager.. Gordon Chief Electrician . . . ..... Clifford Cox Asst. Electrician . .. .... Frank Blount Head Prompter ............. Peter Sinclair Asst. Prompter .............. Edgar Bader The cast for Stop Thief appeared in the order in which are named: Joan Carr ................ Louise Buckner Mrs. Carr ................... Maxine Koon Caroline Carr. . . .... Dorothy Chapman Madge Carr ..... ..... M arian Dickinson Nell ......,... . . .Virginia Thompson VVilliam Carr . . . .......... Paul Frey James Cluney ..... ...... A rthur Palmer Mr. Jamison ............ Kenneth Murhard Dr. Willoughby ..... ....... C arson Bailey Rev. Mr. Spelain. .. .... Samuel Naimark Jack Doogan ..... ...... L ouis Amort joe Thompson ............... Alvin ,Arndt Sergeant of Police .,....... Max Henderson Police Officer O'Malley .... Leroy Simpson Police Officer Clancey .......... Kyle Rose Police Officer O'Brien. .Edward Otterstedt A Chauffeur .............. ..Peter Sinclair